A long line of subjects awaited the Emperor’s audience. A man who wore rouge on his cheeks and a long, pointy hat that hung to the dirt bowed deeply before the throne in the canyon.
I am honored to be in your presence, my liege, the rouged man said, doffing his hat in another deep bow. I have come to seek your advice, and perhaps your justice also.
I will hear you, my royal subject, the Emperor responded.
I live on the land of a Duke, the man said, a Duke that has passed away. All of his estate has gone to his one and only child, his son. This is fine, but the young man has raised his rents, and has ignored our pleas to fix broken fences or protect us from nearby bandits.
The Emperor thought on this for less than a moment.
We will visit the young Duke, the Emperor said.
The Fool traveled with the Emperor up through farmland and fields. They passed rock fences that were falling down. The Fool saw a windmill with broken propellers. They found the Duke’s estate, a sprawling stone and wood mansion. It was empty, and there was no sign of the young Duke.
They found a gardener who told them that the Duke had gone into the city to the Duke’s apartment. He said the Duke spent most of his time there.
So the Emperor and the Fool traveled to the city. It was a giant pile of buildings topped by a huge citadel and tower. Everything was made of sandstone and stucco. They worked their way up the main boulevard and the Fool could see people in the windows watching them walk by. He liked all the flower boxes in people’s windows.
They came to a building and knocked on its large, ornately carved door. It was opened by a butler, who led them up a flight of stairs to a solarium.
A young man sat there, clad in the finest clothing and furs. He had on a tall hat that had a coin pinned to it. In his arms he cradled another coin like a mother with a baby. He had his feet on top of two other coins and there was a crazed look to his expression.
I already paid my taxes, sire, the boy said. This is all my money!
I’m not here for your money, the Emperor responded. I want to talk to you about your duties as a Duke.
The boy clutched the coin further into his chest.
It seems you are asking a lot from your tenants without any return of service, the Emperor said, but now I know why. I have seen that look in someone’s eyes before. You are afraid of losing money, even if it isn’t your money to lose.
This is all my money! screamed the boy.
No, the Emperor said calmly. Some of that money is yours, but some of that money is for the upkeep of your lands so that your tenants can keep growing their crops and making their livings to pay your future rents. Your miserly ways are nearsighted, at best. One day you will find that your land has become uninhabitable and you will have no tenants paying rent.
Your walls are crumbling, the Emperor went on, your mills are in disrepair, and your roads are too rutted to travel on.
The boy seemed scared now. His eyes became wide and sweat dotted his brow. He held the coin to his chest and he dragged the two coins under his feet closer to him.
Then he relaxed and stood up. He looked ashamed of himself.
Forgive me, your Worship, the boy finally said. Thank you for confronting me. I have betrayed my own morals and I became scared of losing my newfound wealth.
The Emperor clasped the Duke’s shoulder and nodded.
Take care of your people and you will be happier than keeping every coin for yourself, the Emperor said.
The Fool and the Emperor traveled back to the canyon and the waiting subjects.