The Headless Princess
by W. R. S. Ralston · from Russian Folk Tales
Original Story
The Headless Princess
THE HEADLESS PRINCESS.[364]
In a certain country there lived a King; and this King had a
daughter who was an enchantress. Near the royal palace there
dwelt a priest, and the priest had a boy of ten years old, who
went every day to an old woman to learn reading and writing.
Now it happened one day that he came away from his lessons
late in the evening, and as he passed by the palace he looked
in at one of the windows. At that window the Princess happened
to be sitting and dressing herself. She took off her head,
lathered it with soap, washed it with clean water, combed its
hair, plaited its long back braid, and then put it back again in
its proper place. The boy was lost in wonder.
"What a clever creature!" thinks he. "A downright
witch!"
And when he got home he began telling every one how he
had seen the Princess without her head.
All of a sudden the King's daughter fell grievously ill, and
she sent for her father, and strictly enjoined him, saying--
"If I die, make the priest's son read the psalter over me
three nights running."
The Princess died; they placed her in a coffin, and carried
it to church. Then the king summoned the priest, and said--
"Have you got a son?"
"I have, your majesty."
"Well then," said the King, "let him read the psalter over
my daughter three nights running."
The priest returned home, and told his son to get ready. In
the morning the priest's son went to his lessons, and sat over
his book looking ever so gloomy.
"What are you unhappy about?" asked the old woman.
"How can I help being unhappy, when I'm utterly done
for?"
"Why what's the matter? Speak out plainly."
"Well then, granny, I've got to read psalms over the princess,
and, do you know, she's a witch!"
"I knew that before you did! But don't be frightened,
there's a knife for you. When you go into the church, trace a
circle round you; then read away from your psalter and don't
look behind you. Whatever happens there, whatever horrors
may appear, mind your own business and go on reading, reading.
But if you look behind you, it will be all over with you!"
In the evening the boy went to the church, traced a circle
round him with the knife, and betook himself to the psalter.
Twelve o'clock struck. The lid of the coffin flew up; the Princess
arose, leapt out, and cried--
"Now I'll teach you to go peeping through my windows, and
telling people what you saw!"
She began rushing at the priest's son, but she couldn't anyhow
break into the circle. Then she began to conjure up all
sorts of horrors. But in spite of all that she did, he went on
reading and reading, and never gave a look round. And at daybreak
the Princess rushed at her coffin, and tumbled into it at
full length, all of a heap.
The next night everything went on just the same. The
priest's son wasn't a bit afraid, went on reading without a stop
right up to daybreak, and in the morning went to the old woman.
She asked him--
"Well! have you seen horrors?"
"Yes, granny!"
"It will be still more horrible this time. Here's a hammer
for you and four nails. Knock them into the four corners of the
coffin, and when you begin reading the psalter, stick up the
hammer in front of you."
In the evening the priest's son went to the church, and did
everything just as the old woman had told him. Twelve o'clock
struck, the coffin lid fell to the ground, the Princess jumped up
and began tearing from side to side, and threatening the youth.
Then she conjured up horrors, this time worse than before. It
seemed to him as if a fire had broken out in the church; all
the walls were wrapped in flames! But he held his ground
and went on reading, never once looking behind him. Just before
daybreak the Princess rushed to her coffin--then the fire
seemed to go out immediately, and all the deviltry vanished!
In the morning the King came to the church, and saw that
the coffin was open, and in the coffin lay the princess, face downwards.
"What's the meaning of all this?" says he.
The lad told him everything that had taken place. Then the
king gave orders that an aspen stake should be driven into his
daughter's breast, and that her body should be thrust into a hole
in the ground. But he rewarded the priest's son with a heap of
money and various lands.
Perhaps the most remarkable among the stories of this class is the
following, which comes from Little Russia. Those readers who are
acquainted with the works of Gogol, the great Russian novelist, who
was a native of that part of the country, will observe how closely he
has kept to popular traditions in his thrilling story of the Vy,
which has been translated into English, from the French, under the
title of "The King of the Gnomes."[365]
Story DNA
Moral
Facing supernatural evil requires strict adherence to protective rituals and unwavering courage, or it will consume you.
Plot Summary
A young boy secretly observes a princess magically removing and reattaching her head. After he tells others, the princess falls ill and dies, requesting the boy read psalms over her for three nights. Guided by an old woman's protective rituals, the terrified boy endures two nights of escalating supernatural attacks from the reanimated princess. On the third morning, the King discovers the open coffin, and upon hearing the boy's account, orders the princess's body permanently dispatched with an aspen stake, rewarding the boy for his bravery.
Themes
Emotional Arc
fear to triumph
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
The mention of Gogol and 'The Vy' connects this tale to a rich tradition of Slavic folklore concerning supernatural entities, particularly the 'vy' or 'vampire-like' creatures that require specific rituals to defeat.
Plot Beats (13)
- A young boy sees a princess remove, wash, and reattach her head through a window.
- The boy, amazed and frightened, tells everyone what he saw.
- The princess falls ill and dies, requesting the priest's son (the boy) read psalms over her for three nights.
- The King summons the boy for the task, which he accepts reluctantly.
- The boy consults an old woman, who advises him to draw a protective circle with a knife and never look back while reading.
- On the first night, the princess emerges from her coffin, threatens the boy, and conjures horrors, but cannot breach his circle.
- The boy endures the night by continuously reading and not looking back.
- The old woman gives the boy a hammer and nails for the second night, instructing him to nail down the coffin and place the hammer before him.
- On the second night, the princess's attacks and conjured horrors are worse, including an illusion of fire.
- The boy again perseveres by following the old woman's instructions, and the princess retreats at daybreak.
- The King finds the coffin open and the princess face down; the boy explains everything.
- The King orders an aspen stake driven into the princess's breast and her body buried in a hole.
- The boy is rewarded with money and land.
Characters
The Princess ⚔ antagonist
Can remove her head and reattach it. Has long hair.
Attire: Implied to be wearing a nightgown or undergarments while dressing in her room.
Vengeful, powerful, deceitful (pretends to be ill), easily angered.
Image Prompt & Upload
A young woman in her early twenties with a cold, imperious expression and sharp, calculating eyes. Her platinum blonde hair is styled in an elaborate, severe updo adorned with black diamond tiara. She wears a form-fitting gown of deep crimson velvet with structured shoulders and a high collar, accented with onyx jewelry. She stands rigidly upright, one hand resting on a black marble throne, the other holding a silver scepter tipped with a dark gem. The setting is a shadowy, grand throne room with towering pillars. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Priest's Son ★ protagonist
A boy of ten years old.
Attire: Simple clothes appropriate for a boy of his station and era (e.g., tunic, breeches).
Observant, initially fearful, courageous, obedient (to the old woman), steadfast.
Image Prompt & Upload
A young man in his early twenties with a lean, determined build. He has short, neatly combed dark brown hair and clear, thoughtful hazel eyes. He wears a simple but well-made off-white linen tunic, a dark brown woolen cloak fastened with a small wooden clasp, sturdy leather boots, and carries a worn leather satchel over his shoulder. His posture is upright and resolute, his expression focused with a hint of quiet courage as he looks toward a distant horizon. He stands at the edge of a misty forest path at dawn, the first light filtering through the trees. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The King ◆ supporting
Unknown
Attire: Royal attire, such as a crown and robes.
Grieving (for his daughter), authoritative, just (rewards the boy), decisive.
Image Prompt & Upload
A middle-aged man with a neatly trimmed white beard and kind, wise eyes. He wears a golden crown adorned with red gemstones, a rich crimson velvet robe with gold embroidery over a white tunic, and polished brown leather boots. He stands tall with a dignified, slightly weary posture, one hand resting on the pommel of a simple sword at his belt. His expression is calm and thoughtful. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Old Woman ◆ supporting
Unknown
Attire: Simple, practical clothing of a peasant woman or teacher (e.g., headscarf, plain dress).
Wise, knowledgeable (about the Princess's true nature), protective, resourceful.
Image Prompt & Upload
An elderly woman with deep wrinkles and kind, twinkling eyes. She has silver hair pulled back into a soft bun beneath a white linen headscarf. She wears a simple, long-sleeved dress of faded blue wool over a petticoat, with a patched brown apron tied at the waist. Her hands are clasped gently in front of her, holding a small, woven basket. She stands with a slight, gentle stoop, offering a warm, knowing smile. A small thatched cottage with a smoking chimney is visible in the distance. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Locations
Princess's Palace Window
A window in the royal palace through which the Princess can be seen. It is late evening.
Mood: mysterious, private, unsettling
The priest's son witnesses the Princess detaching and cleaning her head.
Image Prompt & Upload
A grand arched window of carved pale stone, adorned with intricate floral motifs and framed by climbing roses. Beyond the clear glass panes, a twilight sky fades from soft lavender to deep indigo, with the first stars beginning to appear. The window's interior sill glows with warm, golden candlelight, casting soft shadows on the stone. Through the glass, one can see a distant royal garden with sculpted hedges and a softly lit fountain. The air is still and serene. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
The Church
The church where the Princess's coffin is placed. It is dark at night, becoming filled with conjured horrors and an illusion of fire.
Mood: eerie, terrifying, supernatural, sacred yet defiled
The priest's son reads psalms over the Princess's coffin, enduring her supernatural attacks and conjured horrors over three nights.
Image Prompt & Upload
Midnight in a desolate gothic church. Moonlight filters through shattered stained glass, casting fractured blue and silver beams across cold stone floors. Eerie, ghostly green fire dances in the air, illuminating the vaulted ceiling without heat, revealing shadowy, amorphous shapes clinging to the arches. The central altar is shrouded in deep gloom. Thick cobwebs drape over wooden pews, and the air is heavy with dust and a faint, unnatural chill. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
