In the great kingdom of Oroba, a wise and mighty king ruled with his two queens and their daughters, Adaugo and Chinenye.

One morning, one of the queens called Adaugo aside and asked her to go out and work to make some money. Without complaining, Adaugo accepted and set out with courage in her heart. As she walked through the winding paths, she noticed a tall tree covered in dry, dusty leaves. Strangely, the tree spoke, “Kind princess, please help me remove these dirty leaves.”

Adaugo could have ignored it and continued her journey. But something inside her told her to stop. With gentle hands, she cleaned the tree, removing every withered leaf until it stood proud once again. The tree whispered a soft, “Thank you,” as she smiled and moved on.

A little farther down the road, Adaugo saw a dirty dog stuck helplessly in a miry path, whimpering and shaking. “Please, help me,” the dog pleaded. Without a second thought, Adaugo bent down, washed the dog clean with water from her bottle, and pulled it safely out of the mud. The dog barked joyfully and wagged its tail in thanks.

As she continued, she reached a sparkling river where three old women dressed in shining robes stood waiting. They smiled warmly and said, “We watched your kindness. As a reward, take this basket of gold, jewels, and beautiful clothes.” They also told her that wherever she went, flowers would bloom under her feet.

When Adaugo returned home, the entire palace was amazed. The queen who had sent her out was proud, but the other queen grew jealous. Quickly, she sent her daughter Chinenye to walk the same path, hoping to receive even greater riches.

But when Chinenye reached the tree, she mocked it and walked away. When the dog cried out, she hissed at it and kicked sand in its face. At the river, the three old women appeared once more, but this time, their faces were full of sadness. They gave Chinenye a basket filled with insects, thorns, and rotten fruits.

When Chinenye returned, the palace was filled with a terrible stench. The king gathered everyone and praised Adaugo, declaring her a true princess of Oroba.

From that day, Adaugo became a shining example that true greatness lies in kindness, humility, and the heart.