One More Last Chance

Colcotto mistakenly believes that Deloro wants to kill the king.

One More Last Chance

“This is your last chance,” announced Colcotto fiercely.
“I completely understand, sir,” Deloro answered with a brief bow.
“If you fail this time, it will mean death!”

Deloro turned on his heel and left the Prime Minister’s presence. He hurried to the kitchen to begin a new round of attempting to pretend to poison his father. Although born on the other side of the blanket, the young man loved his father from afar and did not want to kill him.

“I must think of a way to turn the tables on Colcotto so that he dies instead. Perhaps dessert would work better for him, since he has an enormous sweet tooth, literally.”

The young man began to scheme as he made the Prime Minister’s favorite dessert, giant butter tart with raisins and chopped walnuts. As he worked, he envisioned the sweet making all the teeth fall out of Colcotto’s mouth.

“As for my father, I must save him!”
“Stewed partridge with winter vegetables and dumplings, my father’s favorite meal! Deloro decided and began cooking.
He decorated the stew with tomatoes, believed by many to be poison. He would remove them after Colcotto had inspected his work.

That evening, Colcotto insisted Deloro serve the poisoned meal to the King while he greedily began eating his dessert first, even before His Majesty had been seated. Within seconds, the tasteless poison in the tart had done its work.
“My lord Colcotto! Why do you sleep at the Royal Table?” the king shouted jovially.
“He is not sleeping, sire. He is dead!” answered a guard after checking for signs of life. Pandamonium broke out. “It was dastardly plot, my lord. Colcotto desired to poison you!” Deloro shouted from among the crowd of courtiers.
“Come forward, my son!” the King ordered.