Chapter :

Once upon a time in the kingdom of Java, there was a wise king who had two beautiful daughters. The elder was named Candra Kirana, and her younger sister was Dewi Galuh. Though both princesses were lovely, they had very different personalities. Candra Kirana was kind and humble, beloved by all the people. Dewi Galuh, on the other hand, was arrogant and mean, making her disliked by everyone.

One day, the king called Candra Kirana to his chamber. He wanted her to marry Prince Inu Kertapatih, a noble and handsome prince. Overjoyed, Candra Kirana accepted the proposal. However, Dewi Galuh also had her eyes on the prince and wanted him for herself. Jealous and furious, Dewi Galuh decided to take drastic action.

She went to a witch and asked her to curse Candra Kirana. The witch agreed and cast a spell on the unsuspecting princess while she was playing on the beach. In an instant, Candra Kirana was transformed into a golden snail. “The curse will only be broken when you find your true love,” the witch cackled before tossing the golden snail into the river.

In a nearby village, an old woman was out fishing by the river. As she pulled in her net, she discovered a beautiful golden snail. Mesmerized by its beauty, she took it home. The next day, as the old woman went about her daily work, the golden snail magically transformed back into Princess Candra Kirana. To repay the old woman’s kindness, Candra Kirana cleaned the house and cooked delicious meals. When the old woman returned home, she was amazed to find her house spotless and her table laden with food.

"Who could have done this?" she wondered aloud.

This continued for several days, with the old woman finding her house immaculate and plenty of food waiting for her each evening. Curious, she decided to find out who was helping her. One day, she pretended to leave for work but stayed behind to watch. To her astonishment, she saw the golden snail turn into a beautiful girl. Bursting into the house, the old woman startled Candra Kirana. The princess explained everything to the old woman, who was both sympathetic and determined to help.

Meanwhile, Prince Inu Kertapatih had been searching far and wide for his beloved Candra Kirana. He traveled through remote villages, refusing to give up hope. One day, weary and thirsty, he stopped at a villager’s house to ask for water. To his amazement, he found Candra Kirana there. The moment they reunited, the witch’s curse was lifted, and Candra Kirana returned to her true form.

Overjoyed, Prince Inu Kertapatih brought Candra Kirana back to the palace. They invited the kind old woman to live with them in gratitude for her help. The king punished the witch and Dewi Galuh for their treachery, ensuring justice was served.

Candra Kirana and Prince Inu Kertapatih were married in a grand celebration and lived happily ever after, their love shining as brightly as the golden snail that had once held the princess.