Beneficent always believed whatever she was told.
For a while, when they were young, her sister Angrat often took advantage of her sister’s gullibility. Beneficent could be sent on wild goose chases of all varieties, often to hilarious results. Angrat told her a true princess would be able to feel a single pea through nine mattresses, for example. Beneficent spent the entire summer convincing herself she was adopted. Which Angrat, naturally, carefully said nothing to confirm or deny.
But eventually, even Angrat grew mostly tired of such games. It was always much too easy; her sister’s empty head never provided any challenge.
So the two sisters lived together in relative peace, until Queen Elishka decided the young witches were old enough to attend their first year away at boarding school. They packed their brooms and traveled to Madame Zelda’s Coven of Primary Witchery for the Spring term.
Beneficent proved proficient with Scrying and Divinations, especially the crystal ball varieties. Angrat excelled at Hexes and Curses, with a minor in Weather.
One morning, they were out gathering herbs in the swamp for Potions class. Angrat spied a frog on a lily pad, and promptly hatched one of her better schemes.
“Ben,” said Angrat. “Do you know the story of the Frog Prince?”
Beneficent didn’t.
“It’s an old tale. There is a cursed prince somewhere near here, a handsome and rich one. Supposedly, he was cursed for offending the Swamp Crone herself.”
“His curse is to remain a frog forever, until a princess whose heart is pure breaks the curse with a kiss.”
Angrat enjoyed the rest of their day in the swamp, as Beneficent grabbed one frog after another and eagerly osculated each amphibian on its little froggy nose.
As always, Angrat marveled at her sister’s eagerness to embrace any tall tale offered.
Nothing came of the smooches.
***
Toward the end of term, Beneficent was walking by the well when she heard a faint cry from below:
“Help, I’ve fallen in the well, can you lift the bucket please?”
She turned the crank and pulled up the bucket, an inside was the greenest, wartiest frog Beneficent had ever seen.
“Thank you miss, I feared being stuck in the well forever. I am Très Charmant.”
Beneficent’s eyes widened.
“Are you an enchanted prince, Très?” she asked.
“Why, yes I am. How did you know?”
“My sister told me of your curse. I believe I can help you.”
Beneficent lifted the frog to her lips and bestowed her finest kiss.
***
Within the year, Queen Elishka announced the wedding of Princess Beneficent to Prince Très.
Angrat attended, but in foul humor. She’d never suspected there was a real prince.
At the reception, Princess Beneficent listened while Très pronounced his eternal love and everlasting devotion to the most beautiful witch in all the land.
Beneficent always believed whatever she was told.
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