The king was sad. He was sitting alone in the dark chamber near a fireplace with the fire dying in. Why was he sad? He felt misunderstood, misunderstood by his subjects. Even though he wanted well for them. Everything he did was for them and they did not appreciate it. 

   They complain that he is cutting down forests but on the other hand they will have more space for fields and meadows, while he needs these trees for new fortresses and residences. Subjects must be defended. They need to be represented with dignity, so king’s residences have to be impressive. They won’t build themselves so the subjects have to make it. Then they complain that he doesn’t pay, that they don’t have time for cultivating their fields. But how much time do they need to do it?! First you sow then you harvest but the crops grow on their own. Presumably, peasants don’t sit and don’t watch how things grow. So, what does such a peasant do during whole day? He drinks and beats his wife in breaks for drinking. And all this comes from boredom and slothfulness. They must be given something to do. At least they are good at making children. Children are a good thing: more subjects for working and serving in the king’s army. He will give them a job when they get older but it needs funds. The army is necessary, especially the guards because the opponents are constantly up to assassinations. The cost of army is an expensive position in the king’s budget. Additionally, the treasure must bear the cost of: equipping new residences, making feasts, arranging tournaments and games for the common people, paying informers and sheriffs who watch the order. The taxes are needed to pay for all of it. What could be source of income? He does it for all those ungrateful ones. He defends them, he protects them and provides work. Someone has to pay for it, and the subjects wriggle out of taxes as much as they can. So, he must motivate them by burning a village from time to time. Unfortunately, he cannot take church goods or tax monks because soon the Pope will excommunicate him.

  To be admired, he arranges parties for this ungrateful populace whom he reigns. However, it costs a lot. So he replaced feasts with public executions. It is always cheaper, and gathers huge crowds. Moreover, it gives the opportunity to thin the number of prisoners, especially that the dungeons are permanently overcrowded with poachers, troublemakers and traitors.

  What a lack of gratefulness!

The king started coughing. He felt bitter and disappointed. 

  What about the knights? What greedy bastards! All they want is new lands and titles but there are no more lands to distribute. He must conquer them abroad and it is necessary to invade the neighbours, since they are not willing to give the land up. But for the invasion the king needs armies and commanders. Where can you take good commanders from when only idiots surround you? He had to make a general the son of his sister, because she was grouching terribly. He is a terrible loser he is! To make the matters worse, he shows visible interest in boys, so it is a serious threat to put him in front of few hundred handsome youngsters. The nephew knows as much about the military as when he hears: "at ease!", he immediately falls asleep. Recently he sent him with a strong army to the neighbouring kingdom. The nephew-general lost the whole army and brought only a clown from the war expedition. What is the clown for?! The king needs prisoners for work, lands to pay for lords and knights’ loyalty, and a bigger number of subjects to pay taxes and deliver recruits.

   If that all was not enough, his advisers plagued him the idea that he must take a princess for his wife. It is supposed to create a military and trade alliance with her father. Well, but the point is that he doesn’t respect women. And after taking married with the princess, the expatiations will not end. A successor must be conceived; the succession of the throne secured. The advisers explain to him that without the successor he is exposed to constant conspiracies and assassinations and when he is gone, his work will be lost. Already there, this crafty Western Lord is on the watch for the bargain to take over his throne.

   Only worries. In addition, the fire dies. Cold. Where are this servants?! Does he have to do everything himself?! Why is he alone? Maybe at least that clown came to entertain him...