Golden Touch Gone Wrong: A Magical Short Story for Kids
Character Introduction
- King Midas – A rich but greedy king who loves gold more than anything.
- Princess Marigold – His kind-hearted daughter who values love and laughter.
- The Mysterious Stranger – A magical figure who grants King Midas his wish.
Prologue
Long ago in a shining kingdom, King Midas ruled with a golden crown and a heart full of wishes. He had everything—grand castles, sparkling treasures, and the admiration of his people. Yet, his desire for more gold grew each day.
His daughter, Princess Marigold, often reminded him, “Papa, the best treasures are not shiny—they are the ones we hold close to our hearts.” But Midas only smiled, dreaming of a world made of gold.
One day, his wish came true… but not in the way he expected.
Part 1: The Golden Dream
Once upon a time, in a land of sunshine and songs, there lived a very rich king named King Midas. He lived in a tall marble palace, with golden gates and sparkling floors that gleamed like the sun. But none of that ever seemed enough for Midas.
Each morning, he would walk through his treasure room filled with shiny coins, golden cups, and glittering jewels
he would whisper with wide eyes. “I wish everything I touch could turn into gold. Then I’d be the richest man in the world!”
But not everyone in the palace thought the same way. His daughter, Princess Marigold, loved soft things—like the giggles of children, the warmth of hugs, and the smell of fresh flowers in spring. She often reminded her father, “Papa, your smile is worth more than all your gold!”
One quiet evening, as the moon peeked over the hills, a mysterious stranger appeared at the palace gates. He wore a long silver robe that shimmered like stars. His eyes were calm, yet deep—like they held a thousand secrets.
“I’ve heard your wish, King Midas,” the stranger said in a gentle voice. “You shall have the Golden Touch. Everything you touch will turn into gold—starting at sunrise.”
King Midas clapped his hands with joy. “Thank you, thank you! This is the happiest day of my life!”
But the stranger raised a finger. “Be careful what you wish for, Your Majesty. Not all treasures shine.”
Then, just as quietly as he had come, the stranger disappeared into the night.
Midas could hardly sleep that night. He imagined golden trees, golden food, and even golden birds. He smiled so wide, he barely noticed the soft whisper of the wind—one that sounded oddly like his daughter’s voice:
“Some treasures can’t be touched… only felt.”
Part 2: A Kingdom of Gold
The next morning, King Midas leapt from bed, his eyes sparkling with excitement. The sun was rising, and so was his dream! He reached for his blanket—and gasped.
The soft cloth turned into shining gold beneath his fingers.
“It worked!” he shouted, dancing across the room. “Everything I touch turns to gold!”
He touched his slippers—gold.
He touched the curtains—gold.
He even patted the windowsill—and it gleamed like sunshine.
His servants stared with wide eyes as he ran through the palace, turning door handles, vases, and even fresh fruit into glittering treasure. Wherever Midas walked, the world shimmered behind him.
“Papa?” came a sleepy voice from the garden. It was Princess Marigold, watering her flower bed.
“Good morning, my golden princess!” Midas beamed, stretching out his hand.
She stepped back. “Why is the grass so hard? Why are my flowers frozen stiff?”
Midas chuckled. “They’re not frozen—they’re gold now! Isn’t it wonderful? I’m turning our kingdom into treasure!”
Marigold looked at the once-colorful garden, now stiff and still. The roses were no longer red—they were cold and sharp. Even the butterflies had flown away.
“Papa,” she whispered, “gold is pretty… but it doesn’t smell sweet. It doesn’t laugh. It doesn’t grow.”
Midas smiled anyway. “Oh, my dear, you’ll understand when you’re older. This is the best thing that’s ever happened to us!”
But when breakfast was served, King Midas had a small problem.
He picked up a loaf of bread. It turned to gold.
He tried a juicy apple. Gold again.
Even a spoonful of soup hardened in an instant.
His stomach growled. His eyes blinked.
“Hmmm…” he said softly, “Perhaps gold isn’t very tasty.”
But still, he waved away the worry. “No matter! I’ll just learn to eat later. For now, more gold!”
And so, the king continued through his golden kingdom, touching everything with pride, not knowing the greatest lesson was still waiting to be learned.
Part 3: The Golden Mistake
By the afternoon, the entire palace glittered. Trees stood like golden statues, fountains froze into still, metal shapes, and even the birds avoided the garden now.
But King Midas didn’t care. He twirled in the golden halls, laughing. “I am the luckiest man alive!”
Then came little footsteps.
“Papa!” called Princess Marigold, running toward him. “The cook says you can’t eat! Your guards are worried. And look—our dog Goldie won’t stop barking at the golden trees!”
King Midas knelt and opened his arms. “Come here, my sweet girl! Let your father hug the one thing he loves most!”
Marigold smiled and leapt into his arms.
The moment his hands touched her dress—she turned to gold.
Her smile froze. Her laughter stopped. Her warm, beating heart was now cold and still.
King Midas’s breath caught. “No… No! What have I done?!”
He held her golden hands. “Marigold, speak to me! Please!”
But there was no sound. No giggle. No warmth.
The king fell to his knees, tears running down his cheeks. Gold coins clattered from his pockets, but he didn’t care anymore.
“This isn’t a gift,” he sobbed. “It’s a curse!”
The wind whispered again, like it had the night before. Only now, it sounded like his daughter’s voice—faint and sad.
“You wished for gold… but I was your real treasure.”
For the first time, King Midas didn’t want gold. He wanted his daughter back. He wanted her laugh, her hugs, her voice calling out, “Papa!”
The palace gleamed in silence, but the king’s heart felt darker than ever before.
Part 4: A Wish Unwished
King Midas sat beside the golden statue of Princess Marigold all through the night. He didn’t touch anything. He didn’t eat. He didn’t sleep.
“I thought gold would make me happy,” he whispered, holding her golden hand. “But what is gold without laughter? What is treasure without love?”
The palace was silent, except for the gentle ticking of the great hall’s clock. Then—a soft glow filled the room.
The mysterious stranger had returned.
He stepped forward with eyes full of quiet wisdom. “You seem troubled, Your Majesty.”
King Midas jumped to his feet. “Please! Take it back! I don’t want this gift anymore. I’d give up every coin, every jewel, even my crown—if I could only have my daughter back.”
The stranger nodded. “You’ve learned the cost of your wish. Greed is heavy, but love is light. Are you ready to choose again?”
Midas fell to his knees. “Yes! I would trade all the gold in the world for one more hug from Marigold.”
The stranger raised his hand and whispered a spell only the stars understood. The golden touch vanished from Midas’s hands like morning fog.
“Go,” he said gently. “Wash your hands in the river behind your palace. Then sprinkle the water on whatever you wish to return.”
Without a moment’s delay, King Midas ran barefoot to the river, plunged his hands in the cool water, and rushed back, a golden jug cradled in his arms.
He poured the sparkling water over Marigold.
And then…
She blinked.
She smiled.
She threw her arms around him and whispered, “Papa.”
Part 5: A Heart of Gratitude
King Midas held Marigold tightly, never wanting to let go.
“Oh, my sweet girl,” he whispered, tears in his eyes. “I nearly lost you… all because I wanted more gold.”
Marigold looked up at him and smiled. “But now you know what really shines, Papa.”
From that day on, everything changed.
Midas ordered the golden trees to be removed and real ones planted in their place. He asked the cook to make a feast—not of gold, but of warm bread, sweet berries, and bubbling stew. He returned treasures to the people and spent his time walking through gardens, listening to birds, and reading stories with Marigold by candlelight.
He even let Goldie the dog nap on his golden throne. “It’s just a chair,” he chuckled. “But this pup? He’s priceless!”
The kingdom grew brighter—not with gold, but with laughter and kindness. Children played in the palace courtyard. Flowers bloomed in every color. And King Midas, once the greediest man alive, became the wisest.
At night, he would tuck Marigold into bed, brushing her hair gently. “You are my true treasure,” he’d say.
And she’d reply, “And you are the richest king in the world.”
But now, it had nothing to do with gold.
Conclusion
King Midas thought riches would bring happiness, but it was love, laughter, and the people he cared about that made his life truly golden.
He never asked for the golden touch again.
Because the best treasures aren’t touched by hands—they’re felt by the heart.
Moral of the Story
“Be careful what you wish for. Some things, once lost, can never be bought back.”
“Not everything that glitters is gold.” – William Shakespeare
FAQ
1. Why did King Midas want everything to turn to gold?
Because he believed gold would make him the happiest and richest man.
2. What happened to Princess Marigold when he touched her?
She turned into gold, and it made King Midas very sad.
3. What lesson did King Midas learn?
That love and family are more valuable than any treasure.
Do check the other stories too.
