The throne room thrummed with voices as nobles, their wives, their husbands, their children and the princes chatted and whispered to each other. Everyone had heard about the new Duke of Souton. The old duke had been such a solitary man that nobody realised that he might have an heir!

Jamie the King's Chamberlain struck his staff on the floor three times.

"Their Majesties, King Chandler and Queen Susan!"

Everyone parted and bowed as the king and queen waddled into the throne-room and sat down. Everyone stood up again.

"My lords, ladies and gentlemen", said King Chandler. "It is my great pleasure to announce that, upon the death of His Grace, the former Duke of Souton, his great-nephew, James Everett, will be inheriting his lands, titles and fortune as the next Duke of Souton. He'll soon be taking up residence at his estate and I hope that he'll also make his presence known at court when the time comes. I'd appreciate it if you'd make him welcome".

Jamie raised his rod again and struck it on the floor.

"His Grace, the Duke of Souton".

Everyone watched as a thin, weedy looking boy of little substance entered the throne room.

"He's so small!" said one man.
"He can't be nobility! He's filthy!"
"He's so skinny and runty!"
"How old is he? My boy's ten and he's at least TWICE his size!"
"Darling don't look! It can't be healthy!"
"I bet he doesn't even know what a duke is!"
"We can't have him at court when we've foreign dignitaries around! What on EARTH would the Mountanians think!? They respect us for our size! What kind of SIZE does this boy have!?"
"He's a runt!"
"A pushover!"
"A mouse!"
"A SERVANT!"
"A ruffian!"

"QUIET!" Chandler bellowed.

"The new duke comes from...humbler backgrounds than his great-uncle, as his branch of the family has fallen on hard times..."

"Hard times? I think someone just chopped down the whole family tree!" someone cried out. A lot of people laughed.

"WHO SAID THAT!?" Chandler shouted. "I'll have you locked in the pillory for a week! Now I want you all to welcome the new duke into our fold here and show him that he's not going to be ostricised and made fun of for his background!"

"Your Majesty, I think you must agree", said one of the courtiers speaking up, "That it be better for everyone if the Crown were to take reposession of the Duke's land instead of passing it through the family, since there's obviously no family of substance and class to inherit it! And to boot, this...boy...gives the entire court a horrible name and reputation!"

There were murmurings of agreement.

"...And his Majesty's court is proud of, and is well known, for its wealth, splendour, richness, culture and it's appreciation of the finest of all that life might have to offer! The late duke's heir would hardly fit in or understand!"

More murmurings of agreement.

"After all", said the nobleman, "Only those who are born into families and who are trained and taught from birth the ways of the nobility and of the court, can possibly hope to understand the intricate workings of his majesty's government and high society".

"Bullshit!"

Everyone gasped! The Queen held a hand to her mouth!

Prince Tristan waddled out into the middle of the room.

"TRISTAN!" Chandler bellowed, "DON'T YOU DARE SWEAR LIKE THAT IN FRONT OF THE COURT!"

"I will!" said Tristan, hotly, "He doesn't know what he's talking about!"

"Well, the prince is young!" said the nobleman, "He of course, doesn't understand..."

"You all know what my story is", Tristan said. The room went quiet. "So I won't repeat it. But I've still managed to lead the life of a prince just like my brothers, who've lived that life since birth when I didn't! There's no reason why the new duke of Souton can't do the same!"

"Admirably put, your Royal Highness!" said the nobleman, "But you overlook a matter of importance! You were raised within the walls of the palace! You were exposed daily to the workings of the court, even if not directly. You learned manners and civility, proper etiquette, deportment, language skills and other essential elements that would allow you to meld easily into your birthgiven role!..."

There were murmurs of agreement

"...The duke...ahem...on the other hand...has not had any of these um...advantages!...He would not know where to start! And he must act a duke or people will not respond to him favourably!"

"Well then I'll teach him!" said Tristan.

The court went quiet.

"I...I beg your pardon?" the nobleman asked.

"People taught me how to be a prince when I didn't know!" said Tristan, "And I learnt how to do it! So I'm gonna teach him how to be a duke!...Right Darius?"

Everyone turned to Darius!

"Wh...um...yeah!" said Darius. "Yes! Absolutely!" he said.

"And it won't be just me!" said Tristan, "My brothers and Prince Javelin can help! And our servants! If I could do it, then James can as well!"

"Yooouuur Royal Highness!" said the nobleman, "I should let you know that the next major court event is the Queen's Midsummer Charity Garden Party! Is that not so, my lady?"

Queen Susan nodded. "That is quite right. In a few weeks' time yes".

"Very well", said the nobleman. "I put it to the prince and to his brothers that they cannot turn this sow's ear into a silk purse, this stable-worker into a proper son of the nobility before the commencement of Her Majesty's garden party, which the boy must attend as his first official engagement as the new Duke of Souton!"

The court murmured and stared at the princes.

The three boys hunched together.

Darius turned around.

"Very well, my lord", he said. "You have your wager. If we can make the duke presentable at court in time for the garden party, then..."

Darius looked at Tristan.

"...then you will all recognise the duke as his great-uncle's rightful heir to his fortune and estate and the rightful successor to his title as Duke of Souton", Tristan declared.

"And if their Royal Highnesses should fail?" the nobleman asked. He frowned and smiled.

"If their Royal Highnesses should fail", said the nobleman, waddling closer, "Then the Crown Prince must swear on his honour as heir to the throne, that he will abstain from consumption for all of the day of the Queen's garden party!"

Darius's mouth opened in shock! Not eat for a WHOLE day!?

"I..." Darius gawped.

"Unless you think you cannot do it..." said the nobleman.

Darius held out a plump hand. "Alright", he said.

The court gasped!

"...You better make that boy look good, Tristan. If I have to miss out on mother's garden party I'm going to CRUSH YOU FLAT for making me starve like that!" Darius hissed out of the corner of his mouth, so that only Tristan could hear.