The Proud Princess

Long ago, a king and a queen lived in the kingdom of Arokoade. They had a very beautiful daughter called Ewa, whose beauty surpassed that of any other maiden in the kingdom. The princess was well-loved and pampered, but she eventually became proud. When Ewa came of age, her parents decided it was time for her to get married. Many suitors came to seek her hand in marriage, but she refused them all. Princes, hunters, and warriors all hoped to win her heart with gifts, but she was never satisfied with them. She rudely dismissed them from her father’s court whenever they came seeking her hand. She always had one complaint or the other about them.

News of the beautiful but haughty princess spread far and wide, and more men sought her hand. At this point, her parents had begun to despair as to whether she would ever get married since she seemed to reject and insult every man that approached her.

One day, an extremely handsome man came into the town and sought her hand in marriage. He was a well-built and handsome man, and he brought numerous gifts for the princess and her family.  Ewa was so enamoured by this young man that she instantly became carried away; despite her parent’s reservations about not knowing him or anything about him, she refused to listen or heed anyone’s advice and insisted on marrying the stranger.
After much persuasion, the king realized his hands were tied and that she had made up her mind to marry the stranger; the marriage ceremony was conducted, and typical of the king’s fashion, everyone had plenty to eat and drink. 

After receiving their parents’ royal blessings, the new couple prepared to leave for the groom’s home. As was the custom of Arokoade land, and especially since the princess was involved, many servants accompanied the couple, carrying different goods that the princess was expected to start her home with.

The journey took them deep into the forests, and they did not stop to rest for once. Whenever the princess asked when they would get to his home, her new husband promised her soon. One by one, he dismissed the guards, servants and maids that accompanied the princess, and she was left to bear the load they had carried.

The princess saw it as strange that her husband never offered to help her carry any of these heavy things that she had to carry, but she sought excuses for him, saying that perhaps males don’t bear loads in his village. As the last escorts were sent back, Ewa once more expressed concern over the endless journey and the need to send her help back, but he assured her of many more servants upon getting to his home.

At a point in their journey, the handsome couple had to cross a stream, and upon crossing, the groom’s features began to change. Gradually, he stopped looking human. His ears became longer and hairier; his eyes came closer together and looked very mean. His teeth began to protrude as they became sharper and longer.

The once handsome man became a hideous monster. Upon noticing this transformation, Ewa screamed, but no one could hear her. Her once handsome husband was actually a monster. He had taken her deep into the forest where he resided. He pointed to a cave hole, telling her it would be her home. He had heard of her pride and decided to assume a human form in order to teach her a lesson. At this point, the proud princess realized that her fate had been sealed, and she was doomed to a life as the wife of a beast and a cave as a home.
She regretted all her past actions and prayed for a second chance, but it was too late for her. Her pride had cost her her freedom and luxurious life.
In business, excessive pride can manifest as arrogance, unwillingness to learn or adapt, resistance to constructive criticism, and a tendency to take all credit for successes while ignoring team efforts, ultimately harming relationships and hindering growth. Excessive pride can cause stunted growth, damaged relationships, missed opportunities, and a decline in overall success by hindering learning. It also fosters arrogance and makes individuals resistant to feedback and collaboration.