Plot

Prince Lassman wanders on the hunt. He curiously enters the castle spring there magically by fairy mother Cleo as another absurdly unselfish wish from Helene in desperate attempts to meet the impossible demands of her wicked ingrate stepmother Gertrud, who expects Helene to slave at all kinds of jobs. They picnic in the wood, fall in love at first sight and agree to meet back there. However the king insists Lassman should honor the promise made at a neighbor king's daughter Josephine's birth to conclude an alliance by marriage, which they heirs only learn now. Lassman risks being repudiated to seek his true love, but finds her gone and Gertrud lies she was killed by (imaginary) robbers. Heartbroken, Lassman accepts his political duty. Helene wanders off and disgusted by Gertrud and moves in with an old goat herd, who prospers with her self-reliant help, and gets famous enough as seamstress to be recruited for Josephine's wedding dress. Lassman spots her and goes for love.—KGF Vissers

Helene is forced by her evil stepmother Gertrud to work that cannot be done. When she built a castle for her with the help of the fairy Cleo, there should only be room for Helene in the basement. Cleo locks Gertrud in there without further ado. A prince, Lassmann, passes the castle. He and Helene fall in love and want to get married. The prince rides home to tell his parents about Helene and learns that he has been promised to the king's daughter of the neighboring kingdom - Princess Josefine. Lassmann flees to return to Helene. He falls off his horse in the forest and loses consciousness. Helene goes looking for him, but the two miss each other. When Lassmann finally gets to her castle, he only meets Gertrud there. She claims that Helene was killed in a robbery. Lassmann returns home sadly and agrees to marry Princess Josefine. Helene thinks Lassmann forgot her. The grief threatens to overwhelm her when she finds a lost lamb and also work with an old shepherd. Helene spins wool, has the shepherd swap it for fabric and develops skills in sewing beautiful clothes. She likes the new job and brings Helene money and recognition in the market. Princess Josefine also became aware of Helene's booth and hired her as a tailor for her wedding with Lassmann. Josefine admires Helene for her independence and invites her to the wedding as a bridesmaid. But Prince Lassmann recognizes the woman he believed he had lost and breaks off the wedding. Helene flees. After a dramatic encounter in Gertrud's castle, the two finally find each other. Josefine releases Lassmann. Thanks to a spell by Cleo, Gertrud remains trapped in the castle forever. King Albert gives the couple his blessing after all, and Helene and Lassmann tie the knot for a life together with equal rights.