The Baker's Cake .

- "Of course, Your Majesty. When would you like me to deliver it?" "This evening, please."

- Vedika Lad

O nce upon a time, there lived a baker who was an expert at baking bread but not very good at making cakes. His shop was always crowded with customers buying bread, but those wanting cakes never visited his store.

One day, the king suddenly arrived at the baker's shop. "How can I help you, Your Majesty?" the baker asked politely. The king replied in a quiet voice, "A cake." The baker was surprised because no customer had ever asked him for a cake before. Since there was no other bakery in the village, the king had no choice but to order from him.

Trying to hide his hesitation, the baker said, "Of course, Your Majesty. When would you like me to deliver it?" The king said, "This evening, please." The baker thought for a moment and then said confidently, "It will be my honor to serve you."

After the king left, the baker began preparing the cake. At first, he doubted whether he could finish the cake in time, but soon he put all his effort into it. The cake went into the oven, and after some time, the timer rang. The cake was perfectly baked.

Next, the baker started making the frosting. While he was confident about baking, he was unsure about frosting since he had never made it before. Unfortunately, the frosting wasn't enough to please the king. Then, he thought of adding sprinkles, but he only had one sprinkle left, and it was dull in color.

Finally, he decided to decorate the cake with berries and cherries. Since he often baked bread with berries, he had plenty on hand. The cake looked beautiful adorned with the fresh berries.

As he was putting the cake into a box, a royal messenger arrived with a note from the king. It read, "Dear Baker, if you have finished the cake and are going to pack it, please write my daughter's name, 'Gloryna', on the box, as it is for her birthday. Also, if possible, place two candles and a wooden knife with it." The note was marked with a royal seal that the baker had never seen before.

The baker followed the king's instructions carefully, placing the candles and knife with the cake. He then loaded the cake into his small van and headed to the palace, arriving just in time for the cake-cutting ceremony.

The king opened the box, hoping the cake would be good. To his delight, it was exactly what his daughter loved! Gloryna adored berries, especially blueberries, and noticed that the cake was decorated with plenty of them.

As she cut the cake, berries fell from the top, filling her with excitement. The king was equally happy.

After taking the first bite, Gloryna's eyes sparkled with joy. She urged her father to try it. Taking a bite, the king exclaimed, "Wow! This is the most delicious cake I have ever tasted." The baker was overwhelmed with happiness and tears filled his eyes.

Word spread in the village that the king and his daughter loved the baker's cake. From that day on, the baker became very popular, and his shop was filled with customers craving his cakes.