(Scene cuts to inside the castle. King Chalcodon is seen drinking from a goblet and talking to someone next to him)
King Chalcodon: Ugh, and was that the last of it? (takes another swig from his goblet) Of course not! While I was recovering from an awful cold, Soranus fired a third of the castle staff without my knowledge and he expected everyone else to continue working at the same time! Did I mention, I haven't had a proper weekend to myself in over FIVE YEARS?! (sneezes, then sniffles) Excuse me. Still a little stuffed up. (a hand offers him a hanky and he takes it) Thank you. (blows his nose) Oh, sorry. I don't mean to vent.
Cameo: Hey, hey. No worries, Your Majesty. Everyone needs to vent. I do it all the time back home.
King Chalcodon: Thanks. (chuckles) Can I be honest with you, Mister Cameo? (takes another gulp from his goblet)
Cameo: Uh, sure. (takes a sip from his own cup) About what?
King Chalcodon: About this whole spinning straw into gold thing. (sets his goblet on a nearby table) I feel I should apologize for putting you and your family through this whole ordeal. I didn't really believe what Soranus had told me and calling you to the palace was supposed to teach you a lesson about telling tales, even if it was pretty severe looking back. But then after that first load of gold, the situation just snowballed into a-a… (sighs) I don't even know anymore. Even my own son thought I was going too far… and I guess he was right.
Cameo: I can relate. If you haven't already guessed, I tend to brag about a lot of things… like, all the time. And admittedly, some of the stuff I say is just flat-out bogus. And Ida keeps telling me that my tales would get us into trouble, but I tell her there's nothing to worry about… I really should've listened.
King Chalcodon: Speaking of your daughter, she's quite the girl. Beautiful, warm, kind, easy-going, talented. No wonder Gallus fancies her.
Cameo: Thank you. She takes after her mother. And Ida has a thing for your son, too. I mean, the way he helped us with Soranus that day; it was really kind of him. I bet he'll make a great king someday. You must be awfully proud.
King Chalcodon: Indeed I am… And I believe Ida will be a wonderful queen, too… as long as Soranus doesn't try to get under their skin.
Cameo: Yeah, I still don't get why you listen to him. I know he's your top advisor and all, but still. Excuse my language, but that scrawny old tightwad is practically ringing the kingdom dry. Doesn't him collecting taxes from everyone every few weeks until they have nothing left strike you as at least a little fishy?
King Chalcodon: What? Soranus told me it was to help the kingdom. I… I didn't realize it was that bad. But you're right; it's getting out of hand. (sighs and puts a hand to his head) Things were so different when… when the Queen was still alive. She always knew how to handle things, even knew how to put Soranus in his place. (looks away and solemnly sighs)
Cameo: (hushed) Oh. (sets his cup down) (normal voice) …You miss her?
King Chalcodon: (nods) Every minute of every day.
Cameo: …I'm sorry, Your Majesty. If it means anything, I know how hard it is to move on when you've lost someone.
King Chalcodon: …You do? (a tear streams down his cheek)
Cameo: Yes. I… (his eyes slowly well up with tears) …lost my wife around the same time the Queen passed away.
King Chalcodon: (turns back to face Cameo with a sad and surprised expression) Gods, I had no idea. I'm so sorry.
Cameo: Don't be. It ain't your fault. I miss her every day and I think about her all the time. But she's never coming back, and that feeling can be so hard to be okay with. (a few tears fall and he wipes his eyes) Looks like you and I have more in common than we thought, huh? (chuckles)
King Chalcodon: Yeah, I suppose we do. (smiles and offers his hand to Cameo. Cameo smiles back and the pair shake hands)
(Scene cuts to the tower room. Guards are rolling load after load of straw into the room with Soranus supervising)
Soranus: More! More, I say! More! Don't stop until the walls are coated in straw! And someone go fetch the Miller's daughter, too. I have a feeling she'll be awfully busy tonight. If she manages to spin all this into gold by morning, it'll be a magic trick in itself. (grabs the arm of a passing guard) (hushed) After you fetch the girl, lock her inside immediately and stand guard. And if anybody, and I mean anybody, sneaks in or out, alert me at once.
Guard: (nervously) Yes, sir. (Soranus lets go of his arm and he runs off to fetch Ida)
(Soranus walks away, leaving the guards to their work. He walks through the halls of the castle until he comes to his own room. He walks in and closes the door behind him, letting out a sigh)
Soranus: Unbelievable! All I asked for was more gold! That was it! But no! The Prince just HAD to step in and say he and the girl should marry as a "reward" for her efforts! And the King listened to him and allowed it?! (opens the curtain to reveal a room filled with gold and jewels) That old mule of man is falling from my grasp quicker than I thought. (kneels down near the treasure, picks up a large diamond, and smirks at his reflection in it) I guess I'll just have to be a bit more creative.
(Soranus tosses the diamond to the side and stands up, not noticing the pair of glowing eyes watching him from a dark corner of his room)
Soranus (singing): I've been bowing, I've been scraping
I've been lying like a rug
And for twenty years I've had to pay my dues
But today I'm escaping, for more gold will be spun
It's just waiting there so
How could I refuse?
I'll be seen as a hero
With great power, might, and wealth
And what better leader could these morons choose?
I will make the monarchs fall
Take the kingdom for myself
And I'll wear the crown for
How could I refuse?
Raise every glass and rouse every cheer
Praise that the reign of Soranus is here
Master in charge of all that I see!
All hail me!
And when I finally prosper I get all that I desire
Like a moat, an ermine robe
And palace views
Even though I'm treated coldly
It's a sign of inner fire
For inside they're thinking
"How can I refuse?"
(Soranus walks up to a wall mirror and stares at his reflection)
Soranus: It was easy to do away with the Queen, but making Chalcodon and his meddling son disappear will be more difficult. And His Highness falling in love with that annoying country girl has only made things worse. (scratches his head in thought and starts pacing the floor) If the girl succeeds this time, I'll have enough gold to last me five generations. (stops pacing and groans) But if she passes and she and the Prince do marry, then my plans are ruined!
(He looks back at the gold and jewels)
Soranus (singing): No! I won't let go!
This old man won't turn and run
Because some reckless royal chose a common beau!
Ah! It's a temporary setback
It's a momentary lapse
But conveniently my ego doesn't bruise!
And the moment that I get back I will show them who's the boss!
You can bet your chiton there'll be no "I do's"
Yes, suppose the Prince goes missing
And the girl says, "Au revior"
Then I kill him, cover it up
And twist the news!
Then the King will be so broken that he'll
Sign the throne to moi
And I'll humbly tell him, "How can I refuse?"
When the test is over
I'll arise and take the throne
And that little nitwit Ida can kiss my shoes!
For the kingdom and my castle will be mine and mine alone
If the crown should fit, then
How can I refuse?
So get ready with the roses and
And stand by with the champagne
When you've got a brilliant plan you never lose!
Yes, before the chapter closes
Everyone will know my name
It's a thankless job but
How can I refuse?
How can I refuse?
(Soranus laughs triumphantly, not even noticing the orange eyes in the dark vanishing. The little man appears in the hallway outside Soranus' door and grins)
Little man: Interesting. I'm sure Miss Ida will want to hear about this. (disappears down the hall)