The royal taxman arrives

The king yearly sends his agents to all estates to collect the whole year's taxes in one amount. There has never been a problem with your estate's finances, so the man expects no hardships about the payment you owe to his majesty. The taxman enters your courtyard with his carriage and armed horsemen.

Taxman: Welcome, Lady Lily! His majesty sent me, to collect the taxes for the year.

Lily: Ah, yes, the royal taxman. I assume the amount hasn't changed, has it?

Taxman: I am sorry to inform you my lady, but it did... The crusade for the Holy Land, as you must know about it, cost a lot to the royal treasury... And it needs to be filled soon... So, his majesty decided to raise the taxes of his subjects.

Lily: By how much...?

Taxman: It has been doubled, my lady.

Lily: Doubled...? But that is a lot! It is pure theft!

Taxman: Yes, it might be, but please, understand that I am not the one who made the decision, I am merely the collector.

Lily: ...

Taxman: All right. I do not wish to waste your time my lady, so if you may, bring out the amount in gold and we are leaving already. It will be 1000 gold, no more, no less. I do not think I'll have to tell you what happens to those who can't pay the taxes, do I?

Lily: Yes, ehm, about the gold... It is an extraordinary amount...