Darius lay on the chaise longe in his bedroom while Xavian fed him chocolate-covered wafers. The prince refused to do it himself because he didn't want his hands to become sticky from the chocolate. He burped richly. Xavian fed his master some milk before returning to the decadant dessert which was stacked on a tray beside him.

"So Tristan..." said Darius. He squirmed a bit as some other servant-boys massaged his belly and feet for him. "What was it that you wanted to tell me and Richard?" he asked. He motioned to Richard who was receiving similar treatment on a divan a few feet away.

"Yeah", said Tristan, "Oh, thanks Wilfy", he said, when Wilfred handed Tristan a goblet of lemonade. "I overheard father and Harris talking yesterday afternoon".

"You shouldn't eavesdrop on the king, Tristan", Richard warned.

"Yeah", said Darius, "It's rude and dangerous and unethical".

"You should know better than that, Tristan. A perfect princey like you", Richard added.

"And let this be the last time we hear of it, hmm?" said Darius.

Tristan blushed.

"So what'd you hear?" Richard asked.

Tristan laughed.

"They were talking about an Earl or something...A duke! A duke of...Sourdough? Sutton..."

"You mean the Duke of Souton?" Darius asked. Tristan nodded!

"Yeah, that's it! Apparently, he died and he's got this huge fortune and land and money and servants and everything. Anyway, they were talking about who his heir is".

"I don't think he has one", Richard said. "He was never a very likeable person. I think someone tried to kill him once".

"Pity", Darius said, "I would liked to have done it myself".

"Anyway", said Tristan, "Baxter found the Duke's family tree and apparently his heir is his um...his great-nephew!"

"Yeah? Why should this be important?" Richard asked.

"Well, his great-nephew is a servant", Tristan said, "On the royal estate".

"Oh I see..." said Richard, "...What kind of servant?"

"He's the stable-mucker..."

"Wow! Hey careful!"

Xavian accidently spilt milk all over Darius's belly! Bretton snatched up a rag to dry it up!

"Stupid boy..." Darius grunted.

"S-sorry, master!" Xavian said. "I...just that well.."

"What!?"

"J-just that, when Tri-..."

"That's His Royal Highness to you, sirrah!"

"Yessir! When Prince Tristan started talking about the stable-mucker, it reminded me of Jimmy Everett!"

"And who is Jimmy Everett?" Darius grunted.

"He's the new heir, Darius", Tristan said.

"New...WHAT!?"

Richard sat up on his couch! Darius swung around and stared at Tristan!

"The new heir to one of the biggest fortunes in the entire country is a twelve-year-old stable-mucker!?" Darius burst out!

"...Yes", said Tristan.

"Oh lord..." said Darius.

"So!" said Richard, prodding his brother for information, "What's happening!?"

"Well, papa's agreed to see the boy tomorrow after breakfast!"

"Now this I gotta see..." said Richard.

"I think I gotta see this too!" said Darius.

"But this is supposed to be a private audience!" said Tristan.

"Oh yeah..." said Darius, "You're right. Never mind, we'll use the public gallery on the first floor..."

"Darius!"

"Hey, I ain't gonna miss this!"