text: There was once a handsome prince who spent his days partying with the noblemen & lords of the kingdom. As he was born into royalty, everything had been handed to him on a silver platter for his entire life. However, one day his father (the king) had become extremely ill. Consequently, a new king had to be chosen by the start of the next week. The prince spent the first three days of the week with his father, as he would soon pass on. He then spent the following three days partying with the lords, thanes & noblemen. However, on the final day he was walking through the streets, off to another party, when he came across an excited crowd of people. He pushed his way through the obstruction to find a peasant in a purple silk robe. The peasant was being praised by serfs and noblemen alike. Even the thought of this countryman becoming king sent shivers down his spine. The prince panicked, ran back to the palace, and studied until morning. When the selection ceremony came to pass the next day, the prince stood proudly before the throne. Beside him, however, was the peasant in the purple silk robe. The prince then asked him, “Why are you here?” The peasant replied, “I stand here for I wish to become king.” The prince did not respond. Out of the corner of his eye, the prince saw his father staring at him. In his eyes was a look, a look that the king had given his son a thousand times before, but that the prince never truly noticed until now. It was a look of worry. The selection ceremony continued. As the peasant delivered his passionate speech before the kingdom, it was obvious to the prince that he had taken every day of the previous week to prepare. However, the prince was a natural born leader. He was charismatic, rich, and handsome. With just one night’s study he delivered his speech proudly and with confidence. Subsequently, the prince was chosen to be king. As the kingdom chanted the prince’s name, he turned to the peasant who was smiling cheerfully. Time seemed to slow down, as the peasant sincerely congratulated the prince on his victory. It was not a response the prince was expecting in the slightest. The prince ruled as king for months after his father’s death. However, over time the kingdom started to realise that their new king was a lazy king. He ignored his responsibilities and would spend most nights partying with the lords & noblemen, just as he did before. The prince was blinded with arrogance and self-righteousness and was oblivious to the mood of his own kingdom. One day, the new king returned to his palace after another night of partying, only to find the peasant in the purple silk robe sitting on *his* throne. He was confused, but most of all he was furious. He ordered the palace guards to seize the peasant, but they did not move. He screamed at the guards with a drunken fury, threatening to kill their families if they dared defy him again. Yet they remained silent. The archbishop, a good friend of his father’s, cautiously approached the new king and said, “I could not stand idly by as you burnt through this kingdom’s resources. You treat the honour of being king as a birthright when it is a privilege. You offer the people nothing for their loyalty, and their patience is running thin. This kingdom has no future with you, and so you have been replaced. The people have spoken, they would choose a hard-working peasant over a lazy king any day.” The prince just stared at the carpeted floor, completely speechless. He then looked up and locked eyes with the peasant in the purple silk robe. He had his right leg thrown over the armrest of the throne and rested his face against the palm of his left hand. Across his face was that same genuine smile, instead now it had a sense of pity for the prince. It was apparent that the peasant had not seen the prince’s victory as a loss, but as an opportunity to improve. Then the prince thought to himself, “What could I have achieved if I worked as hard as a peasant?” “Anything” said the king in the purple silk robe.