King

"... King. I apologize for the brevity of my speech, but there is much to which I must attend. Please, enjoy the ball that is to come to its fullest. Good day," the words were more difficult than I thought. I had never been a public speaker, and today was no exception. With that, I turned, offered a deep bow to the High Priest, and began climbing the stairs that led to my father's office. My office, I corrected. The thought struck a sadness in my heart.

A few short moments, I sat in the sparsely decorated study room at a wide oaken desk. All around me were an extensive library of books that my father had no doubt taken half of his lifetime to read. Most were historical accounts, religious texts, and battlefield reports, but I knew my father kept a few books scattered around that were strictly for his entertainment. I had no time for that, though.

Immediately, I reached into one of the desk's shelves and withdrew an inkwell, a quill, and a blank piece of parchment. As I began writing, an attendant approached me. "Good morning, your majesty," the servant bowed deeply, and I nodded in recognition of his presence. He flashed me a nervous smile. "I trust your desk is suitably clean?"

"My father's desk..." I grimaced, "The desk is quite nice, thank you," I said simply. His smile widened, and he stood there, seemingly expecting something. Finally finishing my first decree, I looked up to the man. "Sir? What are you still doing here?" I asked, confused.

"Your majesty, I had hoped to ask a favor," he bowed again. A grimace flashed on my face as he did. "My daughter comes of age tomorrow. I owe a great deal to a criminal, and he has threatened that, if I don't pay my debt, he will take my daughter as his wife for his debt! Your father had planned to pay the debt off, but died before he could pay the ransom. Please, your majesty... Save my daughter."