The Princess Who Would be a Prince or Iliane of the Golden Tresses
Once upon a time, a powerful emperor mourned the absence of a son. He had three daughters, and though he loved them dearly, he longed for a male heir.
One day, the emperor devised a test. Across three swinging bridges, each enchanted, he stood in wait, threatening to transform into fearsome beasts: a wolf, then a lion, then a twelve‑headed dragon. He commanded that any who dared pass must do so unflinching. When the time came, his eldest daughter approached, but at the sight of the wolf on the first bridge, she fled in terror. The middle daughter tried likewise and failed against the lion.
At last, the youngest daughter, brave and determined, mounted her father’s old war‑horse and climbed onto the first bridge. The wolf lunged, but she held fast. Undeterred, she continued. On the second bridge, the lion roared, and still she pressed on. On the third, the twelve‑headed dragon reared. There, and only there, she paused and then, neither fear nor flight slowed her. She crossed undefeated, proving her courage and resolve .
Her triumph granted her freedom to leave the kingdom, and she journeyed to serve a powerful neighboring emperor. There, she heard of a terrible giant (or zmeu) who had kidnapped the emperor’s beloved daughter, Ileana Sînziana. Hidden in folds of disguise, she offered her sword and steel, resolved to win the princess’s freedom. With unmatched bravery and skill, she rescued Ileana, defeating the giant and bringing her safely home .
In gratitude, the emperor entrusted her with another mission: recover his herd of enchanted mares that the dragon had looted. Again, she rode to their lair and reclaimed them by wit and courage .