Story 5: The queen and the luckiest man alive

Once upon a time in a distant realm there lived a man so blessed with good fortune that it was whispered with awe he was likely the luckiest person in the world. His every desire seemed to be met by serendipity and prosperous circumstance, as if existence itself felt obliged to reorder itself to meet his needs. Should he be outdoors and rain pour from the heavens, he'd immediately come upon suitable shelter; should he be hungry or low on coin, fate would conspire to provide him with either; Should a foe's blade seek to do him harm it would snap as it was withdrawn from its scabbard. Yet despite this incredible gift he was known as a paragon of humility, who knew very well that pride came before the fall. One day it transpired that the fortunate man was summoned to the audience chamber of a magnificent and powerful warrior queen, who had forged a mighty kingdom by seeking any advantage she could to better her position. She was voluptuous and buxom, a ruler of breathtaking beauty whose regal appearance was only matched by her imposing arrogance. She had summoned the man to court, as she had heard rumors of his extraordinary magical gift and sought to bend it to her own purposes.

The man stood before the steps leading up to her throne, listening to the queen's demand that he submit to her and serve her realm. The fortunate man observed the room: Massive columns adorned with banners and tapestries held up a high vaulted roof. Trophies of gold, silver and bronze adorned the various alcoves of the hall, boasting about past conquests, and behind the queen's high-backed throne stood a tall imposing statue of herself carved from white marble, showing the queen in battle dress, wearing a mask of gold from which radiated spikes representing solar rays. As he looked up at the statue and listened with one ear to the queen he thought the queen's palace reeked of hubris and boastfulness. He returned his gaze back down from the statue to the woman it was modeled on and met her with a dismissive smile. "I do not yield to arrogance," he responded with a calm, steady voice, "Your summons carry no weight with me."

The queen, unaccustomed to such defiance, bristled with indignation: "How dare you address me with such impertinence! I am your queen, and you shall obey."

A smirk played upon the fortunate man's lips. "My queen," he said, his voice laced with insolence, "in all honesty, you have a very... cheap personality. Why, it is so cheap, that if I were to toss a coin your way, your dress would be on the floor in no time."

Courtiers all around the hall gasped at the brazenness of the accusation. The queen got to her feet, her cheeks flushing with anger, and retorted fiercely, "Wh- Impudent pleb! How dare you compare me to an ordinary prostitute!!!"

"I'll prove it. I wager that if I throw a coin your way, you'll be out of that dress in less than a minute. If it is not so, I'll be your servant. But if I win, you shall be mine."

With a disdainful toss of her head, the queen - certain of victory - accepted the bet. "Hah, I shall never disrobe and debase myself for a mere coin, like some common harlot. I accept your wager and you will be my servant, you fool!"

Fate, it would turn out, was an old friend of the fortunate man, and would have a few twists in store for the queen...