The Runaway Princess

The Runaway Princess

《出逃的公主》

Chapter 1. The Happy King. There was once a happy king. He lived with his queen and her little sisters in a magnificent mountain palace.

第一章 快乐的国王。从前有一位快乐的国王，他和王后以及王后的妹妹们住在一座宏伟的山顶宫殿里。

The palace was filled with treasures and wonders. The most wonderful of all was a magic donkey who could turn straw into gold. But the king's happiness did not last, for his dear queen fell ill. The doctors said she didn't have long to live. Promise me something, she begged her husband.

宫殿里满是奇珍异宝。 其中最神奇的是一头魔法驴子 它能把稻草变成金子。 可国王的快乐没有延续多久，因为他深爱的王后生病了。 医生说她时日无多了。 答应我一件事，她恳求自己的丈夫。

Anything! voted the king. Don't marry again! She whispered, until you find a wife as good as me! And then she died. Now the king's heart grew cold. As the years went by, people begged him to remarry. Who will rule after you? You need a child!

什么都可以！国王立刻应道。 不要再娶了！ 她轻声说，除非你找到一个和我一样好的妻子！ 随后她就去世了。 从那以后国王的心变得冰冷。 一年年过去，臣民们恳求他再婚。 您之后谁来治理国家呢？ 您需要一个继承人呀！

But he always refused. There is no one as good as my queen, he snapped. And so he grew old and cruel, with only Anna, the queen's sister, for company. Chapter 2. A Proposal Princess Anna was much younger than the queen, but she grew up to be just as beautiful and even more kind.

可他总是拒绝。 没人能比得上我的王后，他厉声说道。 就这样他日渐衰老，性情也愈发残暴，只有王后的妹妹安娜陪伴在他身边。 第二章 求婚 安娜公主比王后小很多，长大后她和王后一样美丽，甚至比王后还要善良。

In time, even the king noticed how lovely she was. Now, I can keep my promise, he decided. I shall marry you. Anna's heart sank. She couldn't marry this cruel old man. But she was too afraid to tell him. Then she had an idea. I will set him an impossible task.

日子久了，连国王都注意到她有多可爱。 现在我能遵守我的诺言了，他打定主意。 我要娶你。 安娜的心一沉，她不可能嫁给这个残暴的老头。 可她太害怕了，不敢直接拒绝他。 这时她想到了一个主意。 我要给他出个完不成的难题。