A Palace of Gold
Long ago, in a beautiful land called Phrygia, there lived a king named Midas. His palace was the biggest and shiniest in all the land.
"More gold!" King Midas would shout every morning. "Bring me more treasures!"
The king's servants scurried through the gleaming halls, carrying golden plates and jeweled cups. The walls sparkled with precious gems, and even the floors were lined with gold trim. But for King Midas, it was never enough.
Little Princess Marigold, the king's daughter, watched her father count his coins every day. Her sweet face would wrinkle with worry when she saw how obsessed he was with his treasures.
"Daddy," she would say, tugging at his royal robes, "won't you come play with me in the garden?"
But King Midas barely looked up from his counting. "Not now, my dear. These gold pieces won't count themselves!"
The palace gardens were full of beautiful flowers and singing birds, but King Midas never noticed them anymore. He spent all his time in his treasure room, running his fingers through piles of gold coins.
"Gold, glorious gold!" he would sing to himself. "Nothing else matters as much as you!"
One day, Princess Marigold brought her father a lovely bouquet of flowers.
"Look, Daddy! Aren't they pretty?"
King Midas frowned at the colorful blossoms. "They're nice, my dear, but they're not worth anything. Now, if they were made of gold…" His eyes got a strange, faraway look.
The palace workers whispered among themselves about their king's strange behavior:
"He cares more about gold than people!"
"When was the last time he attended a royal feast?"
"Even his breakfast plates must be solid gold!"
“The king loves his gold more than anything in the world,” they would say. “More than food, more than fun, maybe even more than his own daughter!”
At night, when everyone else was sleeping, King Midas would walk through his treasure rooms, touching each golden object lovingly. The moonlight made everything shimmer and shine.
"If only," he whispered to himself, "if only I could have more gold than anyone has ever had before. If only I could turn anything I touched into pure gold. Then I would be truly happy!"
Little did King Midas know that somewhere, in the magical realm of the gods, someone was listening to his wish. Someone who would soon teach him a very important lesson about being careful what you wish for…
The stars twinkled outside his window, and a warm breeze carried the sweet scent of flowers from the garden. But King Midas noticed none of it. His mind was filled with only one thought: gold, gold, and more gold.
That night, as he drifted off to sleep in his golden bed, with its golden pillows and golden blankets, King Midas dreamed of mountains of treasure. He had no idea that his life was about to change forever, and that his greatest wish would soon become his worst nightmare.
The Divine Visitor
The next morning, King Midas woke up to strange sounds coming from his garden. Through his window, he saw a group of people dancing and laughing. In the middle stood a jolly man wearing a crown of grape vines.
“Who dares make such noise in my royal garden?” King Midas grumbled, rushing outside.
“Welcome, King Midas!” Dionysus called out cheerfully. “We’re celebrating because my friend Silenus found his way back to me, thanks to your kindness!”
King Midas remembered the old man he’d helped last week. The stranger had lost his way and looked tired. Midas had given him food and a place to rest.
“That old man was your friend?” Midas asked, surprised.
Dionysus nodded, his grape crown bobbing. “You showed great kindness to him. For that, I will grant you one wish. Ask for anything you want!”
King Midas’s eyes lit up like stars. This was his chance! He didn’t even have to think about it.
“I wish that everything I touch would turn to solid gold!” he exclaimed.
“Are you sure?” Dionysus asked softly. “Sometimes the best gifts in life aren’t made of gold.”
“Oh yes, I’m very sure!” Midas nodded eagerly. “Nothing would make me happier!”
Princess Marigold, who had been watching from behind a rose bush, felt worried. “Daddy, please be careful!” she called out.
But King Midas wasn’t listening. He watched in amazement as Dionysus raised his hands and sparkly magic swirled around them. ✨
“Your wish is granted,” said Dionysus. “From this moment on, everything you touch will turn to gold. But remember – a gift can sometimes be a burden.”
King Midas couldn’t wait to try out his new power. He reached out and touched a small flower. PING! It instantly became solid gold!
“It works! It really works!” he shouted with joy. He touched a stone – PING! – pure gold! He touched a tree branch – PING! – more gold!
When he looked back to thank Dionysus, the god and his celebrating friends had vanished. Only Princess Marigold remained, watching her father with worried eyes.
“Look, my dear!” Midas called out excitedly. “Your father is now the most powerful king in the world! Everything I touch becomes precious gold!”
He danced around the garden, touching things at random. Flowers, rocks, benches – everything turned to shining gold. The morning sun made his new creations sparkle beautifully.
But Princess Marigold noticed something strange. The golden flower didn’t smell sweet anymore. The golden branch didn’t sway in the breeze. The golden bench felt cold and hard.
“Father,” she said quietly, “the garden doesn’t feel alive anymore.”
King Midas was too excited to hear her. He rushed back into his palace, ready to turn everything he owned into precious gold. His footsteps echoed through the halls as he ran, leaving golden footprints behind him.
Little did he know that his greatest dream was about to become a terrible nightmare…
The Touch of Gold
King Midas raced through his palace, touching everything in sight. Each item turned to gleaming gold with a magical *PING*! Soon, his throne room sparkled like sunshine.
“Look at all this beautiful gold!” he sang, dancing around. “I’ll be the richest king ever!”
But then his tummy started to rumble. It was time for breakfast! King Midas sat down at his fancy table, ready to eat.
He picked up a juicy grape – *PING* – it turned to solid gold! He tried to drink his milk – *PING* – the cup and milk became golden!
“Oh no,” he whispered, his smile fading. “I can’t eat gold!”
Princess Marigold came running in. “Daddy, what’s wrong? Why aren’t you eating?”
“Everything I try to eat turns to gold,” he said sadly. His stomach growled louder.
He reached for a soft bread roll – *PING* – more gold! A fresh apple – *PING* – golden too!
“But Father, how will you eat? How will you drink?” Princess Marigold asked, her voice shaking with worry.
King Midas started to panic. He couldn’t touch any food or water without turning it to gold. His wonderful gift was becoming scary!
He ran to his bedroom and fell onto his bed – *PING* – the soft blankets turned hard and cold. His pillow became a block of gold!
“What have I done?” he cried. “I can’t sleep on gold! I can’t eat gold! I can’t drink gold!”
The servants tried to help. They brought him food on long wooden spoons. But even those turned to gold before reaching his mouth!
Hour after hour passed. King Midas grew hungrier and thirstier. His golden palace felt more like a prison.
“Maybe Dionysus was right,” he said to himself. “Maybe the best gifts aren’t made of gold.”
Princess Marigold watched her father suffer. She wanted to give him a hug to make him feel better. But King Midas jumped away!
“No, my dear! Don’t come close!” he warned. “I can’t touch you! I don’t want to turn you into gold!”
The king looked around his golden palace. Everything sparkled, but nothing felt alive anymore. No soft pillows, no warm food, no sweet-smelling flowers.
“I was wrong,” he whispered. “All this gold means nothing if I can’t hug my daughter or eat a simple meal.”
Tears rolled down his cheeks as he realized his terrible mistake. But even his tears turned to golden droplets as they fell.
The sun began to set, turning the sky golden – but this time, the beautiful color made King Midas feel sick. He had never felt so alone in his giant golden palace.
Little did he know, his worst nightmare was still to come…
A Father’s Heartbreak
The golden sunrise brought no joy to King Midas. He hadn’t slept all night on his hard, cold golden bed. His throat was dry, and his stomach hurt from hunger.
Princess Marigold tiptoed into his room. “Good morning, Daddy! I brought you flowers to cheer you up!”
“Please stay back, sweetheart!” Midas called out. But she didn’t hear him in time.
As she ran toward him with the flowers, his elbow brushed against her arm. *PING*
“NO!” Midas screamed. “My baby! My precious daughter!” His voice echoed through the golden halls.
He stared at her frozen golden face. Her sweet smile was now cold metal. The flowers in her hand sparkled lifelessly.
“What have I done?” he sobbed, falling to his knees. “I’d give up all the gold in the world to have you back!”
The servants heard his cries and came running. They gasped when they saw the golden princess.
“Help!” Midas begged. “Someone please help my daughter!”
But no one could get close to him. He was too dangerous to touch.
All day long, Midas sat beside his golden daughter. He couldn’t even wipe away his golden tears.
“I was so foolish,” he whispered. “I thought gold would make me happy. But you were my real treasure all along.”
As night fell, Midas made a decision. He had to find Dionysus. Only the god could help him now.
“I’ll do anything,” he promised the silent golden statue. “I’ll give up everything I own. Just please, let me save my daughter.”
The king who once loved gold more than anything now hated its very sight. Every golden thing in his palace reminded him of his terrible mistake.
For the first time in his life, King Midas understood what really mattered. Not gold. Not riches. Just love.
He packed nothing for his journey. Everything he touched would turn to gold anyway. As he walked past his treasury, he didn’t even glance at the piles of gold.
“Hold on, my darling Marigold,” he whispered to his frozen daughter. “Daddy will find a way to save you. I promise.”
With determination in his heart, King Midas stepped out of his golden palace. His quest to find Dionysus would not be easy. But he would walk to the end of the earth if that’s what it took to bring his daughter back to life.
Through his pain, Midas had learned the hardest lesson of all – some things are worth more than all the gold in the world.
The Mountain Journey
King Midas walked through dark forests and over steep hills. His feet hurt, but he didn’t stop. He had to find Dionysus to save Marigold.
“Every step I take is for you, my dear daughter,” he whispered to the wind.
Along the path, golden footprints followed him. Every leaf and twig he touched turned to shining metal. Birds flew away when they saw him coming.
On the third day, Midas met an old woman carrying water.
“Please,” she called out. “Could you help me with this heavy jug?”
Midas stopped and shook his head sadly. “I cannot touch your jug, kind woman. Everything I touch turns to gold.”
The old woman smiled wisely. “Ah, you are the one seeking Dionysus! He lives high up on Mount Tmolus, where the grape vines grow wild.”
Midas’s heart jumped with hope. “How can I reach him?”
“Follow the purple flowers,” she said. “They mark his sacred path. But beware – the mountain is full of tests.”
Thanking the woman, Midas began climbing. The mountain was steep and rocky. His royal clothes got torn, but he didn’t care anymore about looking like a king.
“I’m no longer the greedy king I was,” he thought. “I just want to be a good father.”
As night fell, Midas found a cave. Inside, piles of jewels sparkled in the darkness.
Midas laughed sadly. “Once, I would have stayed here forever. Now these jewels mean nothing to me.”
He walked past the treasure without a second look. The next morning, more purple flowers appeared on his path.
Higher and higher he climbed. The air got thinner, and clouds swirled around him. His golden touch left a glittering trail behind him.
On the fifth day, he heard music floating down from above.
“Almost there,” he told himself. “Hold on, Marigold. Your daddy is coming with help.”
The path ended at a magical garden. Grape vines grew everywhere, and the air smelled sweet with wine.
In the middle of the garden stood Dionysus, playing his flute.
“Welcome, King Midas,” the god said. “I’ve been waiting for you.”
Midas fell to his knees. “Please, great Dionysus! I was wrong to want the golden touch. I’ve learned my lesson in the most painful way.”
“Tell me what you’ve learned,” Dionysus said kindly.
“I learned that love is worth more than all the gold in the world. Please help me save my daughter!”
Dionysus nodded slowly. “Your heart has truly changed, Midas. There may be a way to break this curse…”
The Golden Lesson
Dionysus pointed to a valley far below. “See that river sparkling in the sunlight? That’s the Pactolus River. Its waters have magical powers.”
“If your heart is truly pure now, the river will wash away the golden touch,” Dionysus explained.
Midas’s eyes filled with tears of hope. “What must I do?”
“Walk into the river at sunrise. Let the water flow over your head. If you’ve really changed, the curse will leave you.”
Midas raced down the mountain. He didn’t care about the thorns that scratched him or the rocks that hurt his feet. His daughter was waiting!
When he reached the river, the sky was turning pink. Midas waded into the cool water.
“Please work,” he whispered. “Please let me hold my daughter again.”
The sunrise touched the water. It began to glow with magic light. ✨
Midas took a deep breath and ducked under the surface. The water tingled all over his skin. When he stood up, golden sparkles were floating away down the river.
Quickly, he picked up a stone. It stayed a stone!
“Thank you! Thank you!” he shouted with joy.
Midas ran all the way back to his castle. His heart was pounding as he burst through the doors.
“Marigold!” he called out. “Daddy’s here!”
He touched his daughter’s golden hand. Slowly, the gold melted away like sunshine. Pink returned to her cheeks. Her eyes opened and sparkled.
“Daddy!” she cried, jumping into his arms.
Midas hugged her tight, crying happy tears. “I’m so sorry, my precious girl. I’ll never let greed come between us again.”
“I love you more than all the gold in the world,” he told her.
From that day on, Midas was a different king. He shared his wealth with the poor. He filled the castle with flowers instead of gold. Most importantly, he spent time playing with Marigold every day.
Sometimes, people would ask him if he missed his golden touch.
Midas would just smile and hug his daughter closer. “I already have the most precious treasure anyone could want – love.” ❤️
The sand in the Pactolus River still glitters with tiny bits of gold. They say it’s left over from when Midas washed away his curse. But Midas never went looking for it. He had learned that the richest people aren’t the ones with the most gold – they’re the ones with the most love in their hearts.