The Harvest of Monarch
Once upon a time, in a kingdom called 'Monarch', a humble youth named Tobias worked the soil of his modest farm. He was hardworking and generous, devoting most of his resources to the people of his village.
His father, a dedicated farmer had advised him, 'Son, the fruits of your labor will never betray you.' Tobias would heed these words every day as he tended to his crop.
Nearby, King Alder ruled Monarch with an iron fist. While his reign began benevolently, over time, he succumbed to greed. The kingdom became a place of high taxes, bordering on poverty.
One day, a law was declared; all farmers were to contribute half of their crop for the King's royal treasury. Tobias, aware of the unjustness of this decree, was filled with resistance.
A gnarled tree near his land stood as a symbol of resistance and unity among the farmers. Rallies and demonstrations ensued, but King Alder remained unmoved.
Tobias had an idea, fueled by sheer desperation and hope. He decided to convince the king directly. Embarking on a perilous journey, not knowing if he would return, he bravely entered the King's castle.
Within the intimidating stone walls, he pleaded his case to the king. 'Your Majesty, our livelihood depends on our cultivation. By taking half, you condemn us to a life of struggle.'
The King lounged on his throne, indifferent to his plea. However, Tobias's honesty struck a chord with Queen Zahara. A wise and kind woman, she saw through Tobias's simple words, the silent suffering of Monarch’s people.
Quietly, Zahara came to Tobias's help. She advised him to grow a unique crop, one that the selfish King would not be able to resist. A mythical seed known as the 'Royal Harvest'. Legend was that the Royal Harvest could produce gold instead of a traditional yield.
Given the seeds by the queen, Tobias started cultivating. His hopes soared as the plants thrived and began bearing golden fruits. Word soon reached the ears of King Alder.
The sight of the golden fruits enthralled Alder. He agreed to opt for the 'Royal Harvest' in exchange for leaving the farmer's usual crops untouched.
Greed blinded Alder to listen to Tobias’s terms. Any fruit picked from the Royal Harvest would turn back to ordinary fruit if it was not picked by a person of a pure heart.
However, Alder's impatience led him to deputize tax collectors to gather the fruit. As predicted by Tobias, the gilded fruits returned to their original forms. The King was puzzled.
One day Alder himself went to Tobias's farm to gather the golden crop. But to his dismay, each fruit he touched turned to usual fruit. No matter the method, he could not acquire the golden fruit.
Witnessing this, Alder realized his greed caused the transformation. He acknowledged his error and inquired of Tobias about the rules set for the fruits.
Tobias took a deep breath and narrated his terms. 'The fruits were allegories to our villagers' efforts, Your Majesty. The Royal Harvest was not to enrich your treasure but to remind you of our plight. An injustice to us is like turning gold to ordinary fruit.'
The king, perplexed, reflected over Tobias’s wisdom. Queen Zahara comforted him and advised him to let the fruits guide him to redemption.
From that day forward, King Alder abolished the unfair tax laws and applied different strategies to uplift his kingdom's economy. The people of Monarch lived with ease, no longer carrying the burden of a greedy monarch on their shoulders.
The Harvest of Monarch served as the perfect reminder of the importance of understanding, compassion, and justice when leading a kingdom. Through this story, every following king would remember that the true wealth of a kingdom lies in the heart of its people.
In the end, the humble farmer, Tobias's courage, and sagacity brought a significant change to the Monarch. He proved often, wisdom could overthrow even the mightiest power.