A king, lying on his deathbed, called his most trusted servant, Faithful John.
国王在临终前召唤他最忠诚的仆人，忠实的约翰。
“Promise me,” the king said, “that you will protect my son and guide him wisely.”
“答应我，”国王说，“你会保护我的儿子，明智地引导他。”
Faithful John swore an oath and stayed true to his word.
忠实的约翰发誓效忠，并始终履行诺言。
When the young prince became king, John advised him and ensured the kingdom thrived.
当年轻的王子继位成为国王时，约翰为他出谋划策，确保国家繁荣。
One day, John showed the new king a portrait of a beautiful princess.
一天，约翰给新国王看了一幅美丽公主的画像。
The king fell in love instantly and declared, “I must marry her!”
国王立刻爱上了公主，并宣布：“我一定要娶她！”
John warned him, “Winning her will not be easy. Many dangers lie ahead.”
约翰警告他说：“赢得她并不容易，前方有许多危险。”
But the king insisted, so John prepared for the journey.
但国王坚持要去，于是约翰为这次旅程做了准备。
Disguising themselves as merchants, they traveled to the princess’s kingdom.
他们乔装成商人，前往公主的王国。
Using wit and diplomacy, John gained the princess’s trust and convinced her to meet the king.
通过机智和外交手段，约翰赢得了公主的信任，并说服她见国王。
On their journey back, John overheard three ravens discussing a curse on the king.
在返回的途中，约翰听到三只乌鸦讨论国王面临的诅咒。
“The first danger is poison in the wine; the second is a deadly attack; and the third is the princess’s transformation into stone.”
“第一道危险是酒中毒药；第二道是致命的袭击；第三道是公主将变成石头。”
John vowed to protect the king without revealing the prophecy, as doing so would turn him to stone.
约翰发誓保护国王，但他不能透露预言，否则自己会变成石头。
At the wedding feast, John discreetly threw the poisoned wine away.
在婚宴上，约翰悄悄把毒酒倒掉。
Later, he shielded the king from a hidden assassin’s attack.
之后，他挡下了刺客的致命攻击。
Finally, when the princess began to turn to stone, John performed a secret ritual to save her.
最后，当公主开始变成石头时，约翰完成了秘密仪式救了她。
The king, unaware of the sacrifices, accused John of treachery and sentenced him to death.
国王因不知约翰的牺牲，指责他背叛，并判处死刑。
As John was about to be executed, he revealed the prophecy and his actions.
在行刑前，约翰揭示了预言和自己的所作所为。
The truth broke the curse on the princess, but John turned into stone as foretold.
真相解除公主的诅咒，但约翰如预言所说变成了石头。
The king, filled with regret, placed John’s statue in his room and mourned his loss.
国王悔恨万分，把约翰的雕像放在房间里，并深深悼念他。
Years later, the king and queen had children.
多年后，国王和王后有了孩子。
One day, the king heard a voice from the statue, saying, “If you sacrifice what is dearest to you, I will return.”
一天，国王听到雕像发出声音，说：“如果你牺牲最珍贵的东西，我就会复活。”
The king, though heartbroken, killed his children and smeared their blood on the statue.
国王虽然悲痛，但杀了孩子，将他们的血涂在雕像上。
John was restored to life and immediately revived the children, who were unharmed.
约翰复活后，立即使孩子复活，他们毫发无伤。
The family rejoiced, and Faithful John continued to serve the king and kingdom loyally.
全家欢庆，忠实的约翰继续忠诚地服务于国王和王国。
His unwavering devotion and ultimate sacrifice remained a legend of true fidelity.
他坚定的忠诚和最终的牺牲成了忠诚的传奇。
