One day Peter was sitting in his dim reading room, absorbed in a book, when his father knocked and then entered. Peter was surprised; his father had been less and less involved with his life for the past few years as his political duties drew him away, and Peter had nearly forgotten what he looked like. He was grayer than Peter had remembered.

“Hello, Father,” he said. “Why are you interrupting me?”

King Snybe surveyed his son. “Peter, you’re going to be king someday,” he said. “Yet I haven’t taught you anything. You know so little about our kingdom, and nothing about our politics. I have been remiss, but now I will fill in all the gaps in your knowledge. Come with me. Today I’m taking you on a tour of our realm.”

Peter squirmed in his chair. “Today? Outside? Father, you know how easily I burn in the sun.”

“We’re going in the carriage,” said King Snybe. “Go upstairs and call your valet. Get dressed properly, and we’ll go.”

“But Father, I had plans today. I was going to finish this book.”

“Peter, you can finish that book any other day,” said the king. “You must come with me today.”

Peter looked his father in the eye. “I don’t want to.”

“You must,” replied the king.

“But what if something bad happens?” whined Peter. “What if the carriage is knocked over into a river and I drown? What if the farmers throw rocks at us and one hits me in the head? What if something happens to Mother while we’re gone and we’re not here to take care of her?”

“Peter, none of those things is going to happen,” said King Snybe, sitting down in a chair nearby. “We’re going to tour the kingdom, I will show you everything and explain everything you need to know, and at dusk we will return for dinner and everything will be fine. Trust me, nothing terrible will happen today.”

“It’ll be different,” said Peter distrustfully. “It’ll be different than staying here. You don’t know what will happen if we don’t stay here.”

“Peter, you are coming with me. No more will be said.”