As the king grew older, he began to wonder which of his daughters should inherit the He decided to test their love and wisdom.

One day, he called his daughters to his chamber and asked them, How much do you love me?

His eldest daughter, Lavinia, responded, Father, I love you more than gold and diamonds.

The king nodded and thanked her.

His second daughter, Helena, said, Father, I love you more than the richest treasure in the world.

The king smiled and thanked her as well.

Finally, his youngest daughter, Isabella, stepped forward.

With sincerity in her eyes, she said, Father, I love you more than salt.

The king was taken aback and his face clouded with disappointment.

Salt, how can you say that you love me as much as a common seasoning?

he asked.

Feeling misunderstood, Isabella quietly left the room with a heavy heart.

Feeling insulted by Isabella's answer, the king decided that she did not deserve any part of the kingdom and banished her.

Isabella left the palace and wandered into the forest, where she soon found shelter with a kindly old hermit who took her in.

As she grew older, she learned many skills from the hermit and became wise and strong.

Meanwhile, back in the kingdom, the king soon realized the error of his ways.

Due to a sudden drought and an error in trade agreements, the kingdom faced a severe shortage of salt.

The people's food became tasteless and the land grew weak because salt was essential for preserving their supplies.

The king, seeing his people suffer, finally understood the true value of salt and what his youngest daughter had meant.

Overwhelmed by regret, he sent out search parties to find Isabella and bring her home.

In the forest, Isabella and the hermit had heard of the kingdom's plight and brought a large supply of salt they had gathered and preserved.

When they arrived at the palace, the king wept with joy and sorrow.

He embraced his daughter and asked for her forgiveness.

Isabella, with tears in her eyes, forgave her father and the kingdom began to thrive once more.

The king declared Isabella as the wisest and most deserving of his daughters and she inherited the throne.

Under her rule, the kingdom flourished and people always remembered the lesson that true value sometimes lies in the simplest things we often take for granted.

And so, the kingdom lived in peace and prosperity.

And all lived happily ever after.