The King & The Prince

There was once a Great King who ruled over a vast kingdom. He was strong and wise and ruled with a will of steel and power. He taxed the people heavily to increase the strength of his rule, and to fund his great army who went after conquest after conquest in foreign lands, to make his great empire even mightier still. He was a man of strong will and deed and his people admired him for his power and glory. The King had one son, a little Prince, who was unlike his father not strong willed and powerful, but the prince was meek and mild and loved his people dearly. He was always kind to all he came across, and did what he could to help the poor and needy throughout the kingdom. The prince was well loved by all, and although he and his father the King were exact opposites in nature, still they loved each other dearly. The prince loved his father the strong King, and he in turn loved his meek and gentle boy. The kingdom flourished under their rule and became richer and mightier with each passing season. The King and the Prince lived in close dearness always and were always in each other’s company, exchanging wisdom, wealth and love between each other for the longest of time. The years passed and the prince became a handsome young man, the love they had for each other was treasure beyond compare, and it seemed that their kingdom and companionship would never end. But still, one day, the prince fell ill with a great afliction and all of the healers of the kingdom could not recover him from his bad turn of health. He grew steadily weaker day by day and it seemed that soon all would be lost, and that the loving young prince would surely pass away himself someday soon. Before he died, he asked his loving King to give all of his riches to the poor at his passing, and to be kind and gentle to the common people always. The King made him this last promise, and on the day that he died, there was great loss and mourning among all the kingdom. None so more than the King himself, he would mourn his late son dearly for the longest of time. The King loved his lost son so dearly still, that he always honored the loving prince’s last wish. He relieved the tax burden on his people and made peace with all of his enemies. No more wars were fought in the King’s name, and the people prospered in the love of their good King always. The King knew now that all his riches and power could never replace the love he had for his kind and gentle son, and the people always loved their king from that day forward, and remembered the prince of princes with love and admiration in their hearts for all time to come. It was true what they said after all, money can’t always buy one the love of the most dearest of hearts. Love conquers all in the end.