A king had seven beautiful daughters who slept in the same room. Every morning, their shoes were found to be worn out, but no one knew how or where they went at night. The king promised that whoever solved the mystery could choose one of his daughters to marry and eventually become king. Many princes and nobles tried but failed, and the king beheaded them for their failure. A poor and hungry young man, who was a former soldier, was caught stealing apples from the king's garden. He was brought before the king, who offered him a deal: if he solved the mystery of the worn-out shoes, he could marry one of the princesses. The young man accepted the challenge but was warned by the eldest princess to drink a special wine to become invisible. The young man discovered that the princesses danced every night in an underground castle with princes from a neighboring kingdom, with whom they were in love. The princesses' fathers had been enemies for years, and the marriages were arranged to strengthen the army. The young man kept the secret and eventually fell in love with the youngest princess. In the end, the princesses confronted their father, refusing to marry the princes he had chosen for them, and the king ultimately accepted their decision.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. A king had seven daughters, each more beautiful than the other.
2. The princesses slept in the same room, and their shoes were worn out every morning.
3. No one could explain how the shoes got worn out.
4. The king ordered a cry throughout the kingdom, offering one of his daughters as a wife to whoever could solve the mystery.
5. Many princes, knights, and nobles tried to solve the mystery but failed.
6. The king cut off the head of each person who failed to solve the mystery.
7. A young man, who was a former soldier, stole an apple from the royal garden.
8. The young man was caught and brought before the king.
9. The king offered the young man a chance to solve the mystery of the worn-out shoes in exchange for a reward.
10. The young man agreed to try and solve the mystery.
11. The king provided the young man with a magical cloak that would make him invisible.
12. The young man was instructed not to fall asleep while trying to solve the mystery.
13. The young man failed to solve the mystery on the first two nights because he fell asleep.
14. On the third night, the young man discovered that the princesses were dancing with princes from a neighboring kingdom.
15. The princesses and their princes were in love, but their fathers did not approve of their relationship.
16. The young man agreed to keep the secret and not tell the king about the princesses' nighttime activities.
17. The princesses and their princes wanted to be together, but they knew their fathers would not allow it.
18. The young man decided to tell the king the truth, even though he knew it would put him in danger.
19. The king was angry when he found out the truth, but the young man stood up to him.
20. The film is based on a fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm.