The years went by and as the prince grew he became ever more charming and all who saw him couldn't help but smile; for a grin they would do anything, and when he spoke to them people were indeed happy and felt honoured to have to themselves any small moment of his time. Only the princess did not fall under his spell and though they had been close, she left one day, and the prince cried. And though he was sad for a long time after that, his charm remained and he could melt the heart of anyone his green eyes rested upon.
The prince would often roam the kingom for he loved to meet people and talk to them, and he was glad that he had chosen so well and that he had such a power to bring joy to people's hearts. One day he came across a girl polishing tables in a tavern and he spoke with her as he did with many people and she gazed at him, amazed that a person like him would pay her such attention. She offered him a drink and he accepted and she was filled with such excitment by this simple act that for the rest of the day her spirits were lifted to the sky as she went about her work. And the prince went on and visited many people, and for a small time he would give each of them his gift and they too would be gleeful as they conducted their business.
Sometimes when the prince told the story of how he got his gift, his friends would shake their heads and remind him that magpies were tricksy birds and not to be trusted. But he could charm even them and he looked around at his kingdom and saw that despite life being hard in that place, each day his happiness spread to make even the most painful work more bearable for everyone.
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