Shadowing Practice: The 12 Dancing Princesses | Secrets of the Midnight Dance - Learn English Speaking with Video
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The Twelve Dancing Princesses A big shout-out to Angela,
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Alina, Hasi, Hirakazi, Sanya, Pratima,
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Katerina, and Monsieur Pompadour for requesting today's story.
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There once lived a wise but troubled king in a wide and prosperous kingdom.
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His castle stood upon a high hill of white stone, with banners fluttering in the clean mountain wind.
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Though he ruled justly and was admired by his people, the king had one persistent worry that cast a shadow over his otherwise peaceful days.
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The mystery of his twelve daughters, the twelve princesses of the realm.
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They were each lovely, graceful and kind in their own way.
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The eldest, Princess Adelheid, was steady and thoughtful, with a level gaze that could quiet a room.
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The youngest, Princess Lynette, was bright-eyed and full of wonder, quick to laughter and ever curious about the world.
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Between them were ten more sisters.
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Gentle, fierce, scholarly, mischievous, each a treasure to the king.
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Yet, for all their virtues, they carried a secret they would not share, no matter how much the king questioned or pleaded.
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For every morning, without fail, their silken dancing shoes were found utterly ruined.
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Heels worn thin, toes scuffed through, ribbons frayed.
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Each daughter had a dedicated lady-in-waiting, and each night the king himself locked their bedchamber with a heavy iron key.
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Still, by dawn, twelve pairs of shoes lay in tatters at the foot of each bed.
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At first, the king thought it a prank.
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Then he suspected magic.
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Then he began to fear something worse.
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Some enchantment that might one day steal his daughters away.
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And so he proclaimed throughout the land...
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A message from the king!
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Whosoever can discover where my daughters go at night, and how their shoes are worn thin, shall have one of them for a bride and inherit my kingdom.
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But if after three nights he fails to uncover the truth, he shall forfeit his life!
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Many princes came, bold and confident.
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Many swore they would solve the riddle easily.
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But every one of them failed.
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For each night, the princesses offered the observer a cup of wine.
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And each night, without exception, the young man drank, fell into a deep,
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enchanted sleep, and woke to find twelve pairs of shoes ruined and his doom awaiting him.
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Soon, fear spread among nearby kingdoms.
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No prince dared come, no nobleman volunteered.
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The castle grew heavy with silence and the king's hope dwindled.
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Far away, a soldier named Henry had just been honorably discharged from service.
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He was known for bravery, wit, and a heart that sought fairness above all else.
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With a small coin purse, a sturdy walking stick, and little more than the clothes on his back, he set out to find new fortune.
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Though he had no noble blood, he carried himself with quiet confidence.
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Yet even he had heard whispers of the King's decree and the unsolved mystery of the ruined shoes.
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One crisp morning, he came upon a crooked old woman standing by the roadside.
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Good day, young man.
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Where is it you travel? to the king's court.
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He seeks one who can uncover the whereabouts of his daughters.
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Perhaps I might succeed where princes have failed.
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Many better equipped than you have lost their lives, soldier.
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Better equipped, perhaps, but not necessarily wiser.
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She reached into her cloak and withdrew a piece of white fabric that shimmered strangely in the morning sun.
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This is a cloak of invisibility.
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Do not drink the wine they give you.
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It is enchanted to send you into a deep, dreamless sleep.
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Thank you so much, wise mother.
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You may well have saved my life.
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Oh, I have done no such thing.
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What you do with these gifts will decide that.
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She hobbled away, leaving him alone on the road, full of resolve.
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When the soldier arrived at the castle, dusty from travel, the guards laughed at the thought of a common man solving the mystery.
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But the king, desperate for hope, received him nonetheless less.
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You are no prince.
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True, but I am determined, and determination is not bound to royal blood.
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Very well.
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Three knights you shall have.
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Fail, and you know the cost.
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The princesses were summoned to greet him.
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Adelheid, the eldest, stepped forward with poise.
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We welcome you to our home.
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May your stay be peaceful and restful.
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The soldier only bowed in return.
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The soldier's chamber was arranged beside the princess's own.
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From his bed, he could hear whispers and soft laughter through the wall wall.
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As evening approached, the princesses visited him again, bringing a cup of dark wine.
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He accepted the goblet, brought it to his lips, but cleverly allowed the wine to spill into a hidden pocket in his sleeve.
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Then he lay back, closed his eyes, and breathed deeply, imitating sleep.
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For a long time the room was still.
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Then, Russell.
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Russell movement stirred on the far side of the wall. Is he asleep?
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He drank the wine.
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Of course he did.
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They always do.
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Come, sisters.
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It is midnight.
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He rose silently and crept to the doorway, throwing the invisibility cloak over his shoulders just as he heard three gentle taps on the floor.
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With a soft rumble, the stones shifted.
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A hidden trap door opened, revealing a staircase that spiraled into the earth.
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He followed, invisible and silent.
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The staircase emptied into a vast cavern, lit by glowing crystals overhead.
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Before them stretched a forest of trees whose leaves shimmered like liquid moonlight.
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A forest of silver.
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The sisters gasped softly as they stepped inside.
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It is as beautiful as ever.
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The soldier, wanting evidence, snapped off a small twig.
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Crack!
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The sound echoed.
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What?
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What was that?
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Only the wind.
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Let us hurry.
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But she looked over her shoulder once, as though sensing something amiss.
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Beyond the silver forest lay another, more radiant still.
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A grove of gold, where the branches shone like molten sunlight.
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The air was warmer here, fragrant with an unfamiliar perfume.
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How it glows tonight. Be careful.
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Henry broke off a golden branch, tucking it beneath the cloak.
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This grove seemed to hum faintly beneath his feet, as though magic itself pulsed in the roots.
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The final grove sparkled so brilliantly that the soldier had to shield his eyes.
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Diamond leaves hung from every branch, catching the light and scattering it into a thousand glittering prisms.
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It feels like touching starlight.
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Again, the soldier took a piece, small but unmistakable.
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The crackle of snapping crystal made several sisters jump.
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That was not the wind!
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Something is strange tonight, but we cannot turn back now.
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Past the Diamond Forest lay a vast underground lake.
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Hundreds of lanterns floated upon its surface, casting rippling reflections across the water.
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At the shore waited twelve boats, each rowed by a handsome prince, dressed in garments of deep, shimmering blue.
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Good evening, fair princesses.
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Good evening.
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Each sister stepped into a boat, and Henry slipped into Adelhides.
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The prince frowned.
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Your boat feels heavier tonight, my lady.
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You are tired.
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Row on.
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Henry held his breath as they crossed the lake, lanterns drifting past, the water whispering beneath the oars.
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The palace on the far shore gleamed brighter than any castle above ground.
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Its towers were formed of silver, gold, and crystal.
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Its windows shone like the eyes of a thousand stars.
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Inside, music echoed through a grand hall, played by unseen musicians.
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The princesses joined hands with their waiting partners and danced gracefully and tirelessly until their shoes began to fray.
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Adelheid danced with seriousness, as though compelled by something deeper than joy.
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Henry watched all, collecting a golden goblet from the feast table for proof.
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Just before sunrise, the music ceased.
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The princes bowed their farewells.
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The princesses hurried back, their shoes tattered and their faces flushed flushed.
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Once more, the boats carried them across the lake.
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Once more, they passed through the groves.
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Once more, they climbed the secret stairs.
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Henry raced ahead to lie upon his bed just before the eldest princess peeked into his room.
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He sleeps as deeply as any of the others did.
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The second night played out much the same.
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Again, the princesses offered wine.
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Again, the soldier pretended to drink.
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Again, he followed them through the groves and across the lake.
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This time, he listened closely to their hushed conversations.
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Do you ever tire of this enchantment?
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Hush!
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We must not speak of it.
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By the third night, the sisters were visibly uneasy.
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Something follows us.
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Nothing is there, sister.
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You fret too much.
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But Adelheid's instincts, though correct, were thwarted by the invisibility cloak.
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Again, the princesses danced until their shoes were destroyed.
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Again, Henry gathered evidence.
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And at dawn, the sisters crept to their beds, unaware their secret had run its course.
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The next morning, the king summoned the soldier.
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Your three knights are complete.
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Have you discovered the truth, or must I carry out the penalty?
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I have discovered everything, your highness, and I come bearing proof.
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A ripple of shock passed through the court.
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The twelve princesses, dressed beautifully but standing stiffly, froze at his words.
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It is over then.
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He placed upon the table the silver branch, the golden branch, the diamond twig, and the golden goblet.
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Gasps filled the throne room.
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He then described in vivid detail the groves of precious trees, the Lake of Lanterns, the boats with their mysterious princes,
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and the magnificent underground palace alive with music.
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Is this true?
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Yes, Father.
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We were bound by an enchantment laid long ago.
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Each night we were compelled to return to that underground kingdom and dance.
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We could tell no one, nor could we resist.
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Bound? By.. by whom?
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By a curse placed upon our mother's bloodline long before we were born.
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It commanded
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that twelve daughters must dance for twelve princes of the underworld until the enchantment was broken by one who followed without sleeping.
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My daughters, why did you not come to me?
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We could not speak of it.
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The enchantment forbade us.
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The moment the truth was revealed, the magic broke.
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Far beneath the castle, the underground princes and their glittering palace dissolved into mist, never to appear again.
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The king approached the soldier with gratitude.
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You have freed my daughters.
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You have kept your courage where many others fell.
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You shall have your reward.
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Choose whichever of my daughters you wish for your bride.
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Your Majesty, I choose Princess Adelheid.
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A soft sigh rose from the court.
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Some expected him to choose the youngest or the most playful.
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But the soldier had seen Adelheid's strength, her leadership, the burden she bore as the eldest.
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I would be honored.
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You broke the enchantment that chained us.
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I owe you not fear or obedience, but gratitude and respect.
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Then it shall be so.
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Their wedding took place soon after, celebrated with feasts that lasted for days.
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I promise to be your steadfast companion.
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And I promise to be your constant love.
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The soldier, now a prince, proved a wise and just man.
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The twelve princesses, freed from the knightly enchantment, flourished.
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Lynette pursued music.
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Isolde became a skilled healer.
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Rowena studied diplomacy.
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Adelheid ruled at her husband's side with keen insight and quiet strength.
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When the old king grew too weary to sit upon the throne, Henry and Adelheid succeeded him.
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Together they ruled with fairness, courage and compassion for all.
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And it is said that never again did the castle's halls echo with the sound of ruined slippers.
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The enchanted groves, the lantern-lit lake, the underground palace, these faded into legend,
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remembered only in whispered tales.
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But for those who believed, the story of the twelve dancing princesses lived on,
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passed from generation to generation as a reminder that courage,
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wisdom and kindness can break even the oldest enchantments.
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Thank you.
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Why Practice Speaking with This Video?
This charming fairy tale is perfect for english speaking practice! The story’s vivid descriptions and conversational tone create a natural context for learning. You’ll hear how to share stories, express curiosity, and describe emotions—skills you can use in daily conversations. Plus, the mix of narrative and dialogue makes it ideal for shadow speak (repeating lines aloud to mimic rhythm and tone). By practicing with this video, you’ll build confidence in speaking fluently while enjoying a classic tale!
Grammar & Expressions in Context
Let’s break down key structures to boost your skills:
- Past continuous tense: "His castle stood upon a high hill... with banners fluttering." This tense adds detail to past scenes—great for storytelling. Try saying, "I walked through the park, with leaves falling around me."
- Conditional phrases: "Whosoever can discover... shall have one of them for a bride." This formal structure (common in tales) shows cause and effect. Practice: "Whoever finishes first shall choose the game."
- Descriptive adjectives: "bright-eyed and full of wonder, quick to laughter." Pairing adjectives paints vivid pictures. Use this in daily talk: "My friend is kind-hearted and always ready to help."
Common Pronunciation Traps
Improve your english pronunciation by tackling these tricky words from the video:
- Enchanted: Don’t rush the "ch" sound—say "en-CHAN-ted," not "en-SHAN-ted."
- Prosperous: Stress the first syllable: "PROS-per-ous," not "pros-PER-ous."
- Silken: The "l" is soft—"SIL-ken," not "SILK-en."
Use the shadowing technique: Play a short clip, pause, and repeat it aloud, matching the speaker’s pace and intonation. This helps you master natural rhythm. Keep practicing, and you’ll notice your speaking flow improve in no time!
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | was admired · were found · are worn |
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | have failed · have lost · have done |
| Relative clauses who / which + clause — extra information about a person or thing | one who can · one who followed · those who believed |
| Superlatives the -est / the most … — the top or bottom of a group | The eldest · The youngest · the oldest |
What is the Shadowing Technique?
Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.