Duke, seated across from him, grinned broadly and gave Prince a knowing look, as if to silently commend him. Thank you, my friend, Duke thought to himself.
The old man shuffled into the center of the room, his steps uneven and unsteady. He had no cane to aid him, yet it was clear that he could barely stand on his own. It seemed as though sheer determination alone was holding him upright.
"Greetings, my good princes," the old man said, bowing as deeply as his frail frame allowed. "Thank you for granting me an audience."
"Please," Duke said warmly, extending a hand toward the man, "explain to us your plight."
The old man straightened himself as much as he could. "The problem is very simple, my lords. There is a nobleman—his name is Duke Williams. I owe him a debt, a large one. I cannot pay it, and now he seeks to take my land."
