Once upon a time, in the narrow alleys of Malá Strana in Prague, there lived a greedy and selfish woman named Dorota. She was known for her cold-heartedness and indifference towards others. Despite her great wealth, she never shared with the poor or the needy. Her heart was as hard as stone, and no one in all of Prague liked her.

One day, a stranger appeared at her house by the stream. He looked very peculiar, with a long cloak, a black hat, and eyes that shone with a strange, dark light. It was the devil in disguise. He knew what Dorota was like and decided to punish her for her greed.

He knocked on her door, and when she opened it, he said, “Good day, Mistress Dorota. I have heard you have great wealth. I am a merchant from distant lands and would like to make a deal with you. I will provide you with even more riches than you have now, but you must promise me something in return.”

Dorota, consumed by her desire for even more wealth, asked, “And what must I give you?”

The devil smiled and said, “Only your soul.”

Dorota, despite feeling a strange chill, hesitated for a moment but then agreed. The devil pulled out a parchment, and Dorota pressed her thumbprint onto it, sealing the deal. The devil disappeared, and Dorota laughed, believing she had outsmarted the devil himself.

But soon, she realized that the wealth she had gained did not make her happy. Her home became cold and dark, and although she had more money than ever before, she felt an emptiness inside that nothing could fill. Every night, she heard strange noises, like footsteps on the stairs, and felt a cold breath on her neck.

One night, as a storm battered Prague, she heard a loud knock on her door. When she opened it, there stood the devil, now in his true form—with horns, a long tail, and eyes like embers. “It is time to repay your debt,” he said, grabbing her firmly by the hand.

Dorota tried to flee, but the devil dragged her toward the river. With each step, her body seemed to grow heavier and heavier until she finally fell to her knees right at the bank. The devil thrust her to the ground and said, “You will be bound to this place forever as a warning to all who are greedy and heartless.”

With these words, he threw Dorota into the water, which swallowed her up. At the spot where she disappeared, a small stream appeared, which has since been called Čertovka. It is said that even today, if one looks into its dark waters at night, they can see Dorota’s face, desperately calling for help. And when it is quiet, a whisper is heard, warning passersby against the desire for vain wealth and power.

Since then, people in Malá Strana avoid the banks of Čertovka on dark nights. They believe that Dorota’s spirit still guards the stream, waiting for another greedy soul to fall into the devil’s trap and share her fate.