The love potion

Once upon a time, there was a prince who, despite his stature and riches, was unhappy. He was unhappy because he neither understood nor felt the true meaning of love. He consulted with the king's court of advisors, but no one could help him. The prince was engulfed with gloom.

An old woman who has been a life-long servant for the imperial court approached the prince. The servant told the prince about a rare flower on a mountain peak at the edge of the kingdom. The dew of the flower is a love potion, and anyone who drinks the dew would know the secrets of true love.

The prince hastily trekked toward the mountain peak. There standing alone in the vast emptiness of the mountain was a single flower with indescribable colors. He carefully transferred the dew to his palm, so as not to break the flower. He was elated now that he had the love potion on the palm of his hand.

He slowly sipped the love potion, and almost spat it out immediately. It was both bitter and putrid. It was like thorns going down his throat. He was half-convinced to spit it out, but he decided to gulp it all down.

The prince didn't feel anything different except for the rumbling in his stomach. He journeyed back to his palace, but still, nothing changed. He was still ignorant about the meaning of true love. The old servant told him that it was a test of the determination and courage of the drinker. She advised the prince to travel to the mountain peak and drink the love potion again, promising that the determination and courage of the prince would be rewarded with what he seeks.

The prince, with mixed enthusiasm and wariness, traveled back to the mountain peak. The flower stood there as beautiful as he left it. He put the dew on his hand and placed it near his mouth. The bitterness of the love potion haunted him, but he was determined to go through with it. He sipped the love potion. It was surprisingly sweet. It tasted like fresh honey that was meant only for the queen bee. He quickly drank the remaining love potion, relishing the heavenly taste.

Right at that moment, he felt a deluge of emotions. Everything seemed more beautiful. He was overjoyed. Tears slowly flowed from his eyes. He knew the meaning of true love. But love wasn't the only thing he learned. He also realized that...

The love potion is sweeter the second time around.