Once upon a time, a girl was married to a husband she never saw, as he was only home at night and forbade any light. Curious, she lit a candle one night and saw a handsome man who immediately began turning into a bird. He told her she would see him no more unless she served seven years and a day to restore his human form. He gave her three magical feathers from his side, granting any wish spoken through them, and left her to work as a laundry-maid in a great house.
Using the feathers, the girl effortlessly completed her laundry work, becoming the most valued servant. Three male servants—the butler, the coachman, and the footman—each courted her, offering their life savings. She tricked each into fetching his money, then used the feathers to enchant them: the butler was stuck battling unruly shutters all night, the coachman was trapped trying to gather blowing laundry, and the footman could not stop spilling brandy.
The master grew suspicious as his men behaved strangely. One day, overhearing the servants argue about who she had tricked worst, the girl used the feathers to cause a fight that ended with all of them, including the master, tumbling into the pond. She then ended the spell and blamed the men for the chaos.
When the seven years and a day were complete, her husband, now restored to human form, returned. He revealed he had known of her clever use of the feathers all along. He took her from servitude, instructed her to return the servants' savings, and they departed for their castle to live happily ever after.