Candle Bride

Once upon a time, there was an ugly boy. He was short, thin, and dumpy, had one leg longer than the other, and his eyebrows were so thin that you may think that he had none. The ugly boy plant crops for a living so his nails were stained with mud and his dress was covered in dust. He had nothing to call as family or friends. He lived on a small hut near the forest and he never complained.
One by one, the village boys married the local girls, and on their way to the path, each pairs would always prance and go smiling all the way. At the weddings, the ugly boy always stood at the back of the church, smelling slightly of sweat and mud. The villagers gossiped about the ugly boy. They wondered what he did to all the money he earned. The ugly boy never bought dresses, never made new repairs to the house, and never drank in the village tavern.
Now, it so happened that outside the village, in a great damp swamp, lived an old candle-maker, with a little known to black magic, was famed for the quality of her work. One day the old candle-maker heard a knock on her door. When she opened it, the ugly boy stood there. In his hand, he held six gold coins.
“I want you to make me a wife,” he said.
“Come back in a month,” she replied.
Well, the old candle-maker was greatly moved that the ugly boy had entrusted her with such an important task. She resolved to make him the best wife she could. She made the candle bride slim, and long of legs, and all the other things man like. She made her caring and elegant of neck, with brows that were elegant and well-spaced. Her hair was a fine dark brown, with greenish eyes.
When the day came, the ugly boy knocked on the candle-maker’s door. She says, “Today is too soon. She will be in the church tomorrow, at ten.” The ugly boy went away, and spent the day washing the dust off his dress.
Later that night, there was a knock on the door of the village tailor. When the tailor opened it, the candle bride stood outside.
“Lend me a dress please,” she said. “I am getting married tomorrow, and I can not go to church naked.”
“Aaa… Aaa…” The tailor was so astonished with the beauty and grace of the girl and he immediately gave her the prettiest dress.
Next, there was a knock on the door of the village shoe-maker. When the shoe-maker opened it, the candle wife stood there.
“Lend me some shoes please,” she said. “I am getting married in the morning, and I can not go to church barefoot.”
“Aaa… Aaa…” The shoe-maker was mesmerized by the beauty of her long legs and he immediately gave her the prettiest shoes.
Then, the candle bride went to the village inn.
“Give me a drink please,” she said. “I am getting married tomorrow, and I wish to celebrate.
‘Aaa… Aaa…” The inn-keeper was captivated by her soft, calm voice and he immediately poured her the most delicate wine he had.
When the ugly boy went to the church, he was so pleased to find his wife so pretty, and so well turned-on. The villagers went as well to witness the wedding. They were all surprised to see the ugly boy getting married to a lovely lady.
“I should have been the lucky groom,” said the tailor. “Last night she went to my house and I gave her that wonderful dress she’s wearing.”
“No, it was me who must be her groom,” said the shoe-maker. “Last night she went to my house and I gave her those luxurious shoes she’s wearing.”
“You two must be mad. I am the one who must be her groom,” said the inn-keeper. “Last night she went to my inn and there, we shared the most delicious wine that I kept.”
The three boys quarreled in silence for a while until; they have decided that if they could not win the beautiful bride, the ugly boy must not too. And they created a horrible plan.
One day, while the ugly boy was busy planting crops, and his wife was left alone in their house, the tailor went to him for a talk. “You must be lucky to have married that loving wife of yours,” the tailor said. The ugly boy looked at him, “Yes, she’s very caring and intimate,” he replied, while wondering why the tailor talked to him since, they never did it before.
On the other hand, while left alone in the house, the candle bride heard a knock on their door. When she opened it, the shoe-maker stood there. “I saw your husband with another girl. Check him for changes when he got home, and if I were you, if ever I found one I will immediately leave him alone forever,” he said to the lonely wife. The candle bride worriedly thought of the news told to her.
The dusk came and the ugly boy decided to go home. On his way, the inn-keeper, holding a bottle rushed towards him and spilled his dress some wine. The smell immediately covered him but, he just ignored it since he’s already dirty looking.
When he came home, his wife was waiting for him outside their house. She looked weary and she immediately checked him for changes.
“You smelled of wine! Did you go to the village tavern and drink with another girl?” she said to him.
“No, I spent my whole day working. The inn-keeper just spilled some wine on my dress,” he replied.
“You’re lying,” the candle bride said. “Somebody told me that you have been spotted with another girl. We can not go on like this, I’m sorry to tell but, I’m leaving you now.”
The ugly boy got mad. He never experienced a raging emotion like that before. His sight got dimmed and long before he noticed, he already set the whole house on fire. His candle bride easily got caught on fire and burned. While dying, the candle bride looked at him, still with intimacy and affection. He felt sorry for what he did, so to show his wife his faithfulness to her, he ran towards the fire and embraced his melting bride. They both got burned and died on the fire.
When the day came, the news immediately spread to the whole village. The tailor, the shoe-maker, and the inn-keeper felt sorry for what had happened.
They said, “We tried to break them apart but, their love had bonded them so tight. Even in death, they’re still together and never apart.”