Once upon a time, in the great country
of Washgookawilly, there lived a hairdresser by the name Gilliband. He was
poor, but very happy in his life. He trimmed people’s hair and shaved their
beards and made them look the way they wanted to. Every man and child in the
land knew him well. And he enjoyed that popularity to the fullest of its
extent.
King Solomon looked after his people
with love and care. Everyone loved and respected him, and so did Gilliband. He
was twenty one when Prince Berthold was born. Just like everyone else,
Gilliband, too, was eager to take a look at the little prince. ‘You can’t see
the Prince for another four years,’ the King had said. Little did he know then
that a huge life-changing opportunity was on its way.
One day, a messenger came by and
delivered a message; a message he would remember for the rest of his life: the
king wants to see you. He was surprised and tensed. What does the king want
with me?
Unlike the things he had imagined, the
king welcomed him with a big smile on his face.
‘Welcome, Gilliband. I’ve heard a lot
about you.’
‘Thank you, your majesty,’ Gilliband
said, bowing his head.
‘I may need your services from now on,
for which you’ll be paid handsomely,’ the king said.
‘As you wish, your majesty,’ Gilliband
said.
And then the king had taken him inside
the royal chamber. For the first time Gilliband was given the opportunity to
see Berthold. As he stood there, looking after the little prince, the King told
him a secret he needed to carry in his heart as long as he lived. In return,
the king would make his life a bed of roses.
‘I give you my word, my king. I talk to
no one about this. Until my last breath,’ Gilliband said.
The king heaved a sigh of relief and
held him by the arms. ‘I knew I could count on you.’
Thus began a new life for Gilliband.
From an ordinary hairdresser he now became a royal hairdresser. There was a
celebration in his neighborhood. Some were happy for him, some were jealous,
but everyone congratulated him.
Gilliband’s new job as the royal
hairdresser went on smoothly. He was one of the fortunate people to witness the
growing up years of Berthold. No one had any doubt he would grow up to be a
great king like his father. And Berthold’s respect for Gilliband only grew with
each passing day.
Eight years later Gilliband got married.
Even the king, the queen, and the prince attended the wedding and wished him
luck for his future. It was one of the biggest occasions of the year. If some
people were surprised as to why the king gave so much importance to an ordinary
hairstylist, they didn’t evince it. Three years later Gilliband’s wife gave
birth to a baby boy. It was, once again, celebrated with great fervor.
Prince Berthold was growing up fast. Washgookawilly
was enjoying its peace and serenity. But things didn’t remain the same. Several
years later King Mighton of Gandalokas attacked Washgookawilly. To everyone’s
shock, King Solomon was killed in the battle. Although Berthold, who was now
the king, avenged his father, the void was too conspicuous.
King Berthold proved to be a great king
like everyone had prophesied. ‘Your father would have been proud of you,’
Gilliband told Berthold one day.
Years passed and Washgookawilly only
prospered more and more under the rule of Berthold. But then, Gilliband grew
old, too. And one day, he passed away. The only man outside the palace to know
the secret of Berthold was gone; the man who had steadfastly protected the
secret, who had not even talked about it to his wife or son, had gone forever.
Upon losing his loyal hairdresser, King
Berthold became despondent. ‘Who will share my misery now?’ he wept in the
nights. The man who had trimmed his hair and kept his secret was no more. It
was no doubt a big loss for Berthold.
What is the secret that bound Gilliband
and King Berthold? Why was Gilliband, an ordinary hairdresser, given so much
importance by the royal family? Now that Gilliband is dead, what will happen? Who
will guard the secret now? Read The Story
of King Berthold to know the answers to these fascinating questions.
Answers that will surprise you and enchant you beyond means.
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