As for the young prince, when he found the beautiful stranger had disappeared and left no trace behind her he was so filled with grief and disappointment that he fell desperately ill. Doctors came from far and near to attend him, but they could do nothing for him. He remained sunk in melancholy, and at last the queen mother began to fear that unless some remedy was found he would die from sorrow.
All this was talked about in the kitchen, and when Maria heard how the prince was pining away for love of the beautiful stranger she made up her mind that it was time for her to make herself known. Therefore one day when the other servants were not looking she made a little cake, and in it she hid the magic ring that the prince had tried upon his finger that last night of the carnival. Then she caused word to be carried to the queen mother’s ears that it was said by an old woman in the kitchen that she could cure the prince if they would only let her try.
At first the queen mother paid no attention to this talk but as day after day passed and her son grew no better, in despair she sent for the old woman to come to her.
Maria put the little cake upon a golden plate, and carrying it in her hand went to attend the queen.
She found her majesty seated in a room with all her attendants around her, and as soon as she entered the queen began: “Old woman, it has been brought to my ears that you have said you can cure the prince. Is this true?”
“Yes, your majesty,” answered Maria. “It certainly is true that I said it, and it is also true that I and I alone can do it.”
“That is a brave boast for you to make,” said the queen. “And what would you advise us to do for him?”
“Here is a cake which I have made myself,” said Maria, “and in it is something which will surely cure him. That is, it will cure him if he eats the whole of the cake. If however even the smallest portion is thrown away all its virtue will be lost, and it will do him harm rather than good.” This she said because she was afraid that if a part of the cake were thrown away the ring might be in it.
When the attendants heard the old woman say all this so gravely they began to laugh, for it sounded very silly. The queen mother however rebuked them and bade them be silent. “These old women,” she said, “often know remedies that are unknown to the doctors. There may really be some virtue in this cake that will restore our son if he will but eat it.”
She then bade the old woman leave the cake and presently she carried it in to the prince with her own hands.