About the Cat Queen

     Have you ever heard of the Cat Kingdom? One such kingdom was located beyond two speckled hills, three prickly mountains, and ten rainbow rivers.
     It was ruled by the wise and just Cat Queen, Martha the First. Her slender body was covered in a snow-white, silky coat. She gazed at the world around her with forget-me-not blue eyes.
     She sat on a throne made of hornbeam wood. Her tiny paws were crossed, and she purred contentedly. Everyone loved her for her gentle and friendly nature.
     She took exemplary and devoted care of her subjects.
     Everyone in this flourishing realm received a free bowl of warm milk each day, along with a honey cake filled with ground raisins and almonds.
     The queen issued a decree that after lunch, everyone was required to take a mandatory one-hour nap.
     That year, the kingdom was preparing for a grand celebration. Twenty-five years had passed since the founding of the feline empire.
     The whole land was looking forward to celebrating this important day. The biggest preparations were underway in the capital city, Catstown. All the houses, streets, alcoves, and parks were festively decorated. Fragrant flowers and colorful ribbons lined the squares and facades. Every house displayed a flag with the royal insignia.
     The decorations took an entire month to complete.
     On the first Saturday after Easter, guests arrived in Catstown from all directions.
     From early morning, a feline band played in the courtyard, conducted by an old grey tomcat.
     The festivities peaked in the afternoon. Local residents and foreign guests gathered in the vast palace gardens.
     The symphony orchestra played the national cat anthem.
     The crowd shouted: “Hosanna! Hosanna! Long live our wise queen!”
     Then the well-wishers lined up. They wished the queen all the best and good health.
     After that, the free entertainment began.
     On this special day, a huge array of all kinds of sweets was prepared for the public.
     Cat confectioners created extraordinary treats, and there was truly plenty to choose from. The wide tables groaned under the weight of decorated whipped cream cakes, delicate vanilla stollen, punch cookies, cinnamon gingerbread, nut roulades, marzipan candies, fluffy cream rolls, and other amazing goodies.
     Of course, the fine chocolate cat tongues were not to be missed.
     The celebration lasted late into the evening. The queen went to bed last, as she had to see off all the visitors and distinguished guests.
     The next day, something strange happened. Two dark carriages stopped in front of the palace. The first, a smaller coach, was drawn by a pair of blue tomcats. The second, a larger closed carriage, was pulled by a trio of ginger tomcats.
     A black cat witch stepped out of the carriage and immediately asked to be announced to the queen.
     The queen was very surprised by this. She had heard various unpleasant rumors about the sorceress.
     Nevertheless, she received her.
     The witch bowed deeply and said in a sickly sweet voice: “Most illustrious queen, although you did not invite me to yesterday’s celebration, I have not forgotten you. I have brought you a gift.”
     “I did not ask anything of you.”
     Before Martha the First could react, the witch muttered: “Meow-me-meow.” She clapped her paws, and at that moment, six sturdy ginger tomcats appeared. They were the ones who had pulled the large covered carriage. On their shoulders, they carried a wide bed made of pure gold.
     The queen looked at the gift uneasily.
     “What am I to do with such a treasure? For years I have been used to my simple oak bed.”
     “Surely, Your Royal Highness, you cannot sleep on an ordinary wooden bunk,” insisted the visitor. “It does not befit your social standing!”
     There was nothing to be done. The ruler could not refuse the gift. She did not want to offend the witch.
     The handsome tomcats grabbed the old bed and carried it up to the attic.
     The witch took her leave of the queen in a hurry.
     That evening, Martha the First lay down in the luxurious bed. As soon as she pulled the feather blanket over herself, she immediately fell asleep.
     In the morning, the maid was very surprised that the queen was not yet awake. She was always an early riser, waking everyone else. And today, she was still sleeping!
     “Let her sleep! She has not had much rest in recent days.”
     At noon, the servant carefully entered the chamber. The queen lay in bed, sound asleep.
     “Your Highness! Your Highness!” the maid whispered quietly.
     The ruler did not move.
     “Your Grace, it’s time to get up! The sun is already high in the sky. Noble guests are waiting for an audience!”
     But the queen did not open her eyes.
     The lady-in-waiting came closer and gently tickled Her Majesty under the chin.
     She breathed peacefully.
     The maid was frightened. She ran out of the bedroom in tears and told everyone what had happened. Three royal cat doctors were called immediately.
     The learned medics tried to wake the sleeper. One even pinched her left paw. In vain.
     “Our queen seems to have fallen ill with a sleeping sickness!” the honorable scholars agreed.
     “What will you do about it?” asked the courtiers.
     The wise heads just shrugged.
     “Perhaps she has been bewitched by some supernatural force,” the first chamberlain suggested.
     “If that is true, then our medicine is powerless against spells and magic,” said the esteemed doctors.
     “I’d bet my tomcat soul that the cat witch has her claws in this!” said the royal master of ceremonies.
     The doctors left, unsuccessful.
     That same day, the supreme cat council was hastily convened. They had the devastating news proclaimed throughout the land.
     The subjects were sad and unhappy. They sincerely mourned their kind and beloved ruler.
     Black banners fluttered everywhere.
     Time passed slowly. The queen had slept for an entire week!
     The peace was disturbed by a strange event.
     A mysterious, adorable little kitten appeared in the palace. No one knew where it had come from.
     It immediately announced: “I know how to break the evil curse!”
     “You?” the cat community laughed. “Even the renowned scholars couldn’t manage that! Go home to your mother! You still have milk on your whiskers.”
     But the tiny kitten would not be dismissed.
     It said: “If the queen does not lie in the golden bed, the magic will not work!”
     “Maybe it’s right,” the courtiers admitted.
     And indeed, when the first chamberlain carried the cat queen out of the bed in his arms, a miracle happened. Martha the First came back to life.
     The joy of the courtiers knew no bounds.
     “What is all this noise? Who’s disturbing me? I was having such a nice nap,” said the first cat in the land. She yawned contentedly and stretched long.
     “It’s as if I’ve slept for days. And what beautiful dreams I had about our kingdom.”
     The courtiers smiled sweetly and gently stroked her paws.
     Then they told her what had happened. The queen listened attentively. She was ashamed that she had been so deceived and tricked. She ordered her old bed to be brought back.
     “What shall we do with the magic bed?” asked the maid.
     The queen already knew the answer:
     “Take the golden bed to the goldsmith. Let him melt it down in the furnace and make as many small medallions from it as there are cats and tomcats in the land. And this little kitten, my savior, I hereby elevate to the nobility!”
     As she commanded, so it was done.
     From that time on, every subject wore a pink velvet ribbon around their neck, with a small golden plaque hanging from it. On the back was depicted Queen Martha the First, and on the front, the brave little kitten.
     When the news reached the cat witch, her heart burst with rage.
     But no one pitied her.
     And so peace and tranquility reigned once again.
 
 

Translated into English by artificial intelligence.