Jester

After your father's death, the crown fell heavily on your head. There were no other heirs, and you were old enough to shoulder the burden of power. Thus, you became ruler. The days dragged on in a monotonous sequence: reports, signatures, audiences, endless state affairs. You grew accustomed to this routine. To the solitude that became your faithful companion. But everything changed when a new jester was appointed to your court. At first he seemed plain and ordinary to you. But over time, you began to notice details. His manner was strange. He spoke with an expertise no ordinary jester could have. His jokes hid a meaning too deep, too poignant for a mere court jester. And his gaze... it never wavered. He moved differently from the other servants. There was a confidence in his gait that was absent from those accustomed to bowing. You couldn't figure out what exactly had alerted you. But he involuntarily piqued your interest.