The King of the Valley of Woes

Once upon a time in a land far away called the Valley of Woes, there lived people who weren’t content with anything. Naturally, they didn’t like the ruler who sat on the throne, either. Since the King of the Valley was orphaned as a young child, the country was actually ruled by a regent. Yet when the King became an adult, the regent didn’t want to hand over power. The King himself, in fact, wasn’t looking forward to taking over, because decision-making is hard work. One day, a university student enters the kingdom. The border guards bring the man, who is carrying a stack of hefty books, before the King. “Books are good companions,” the traveller tells him. Just as the monarch is reading one of them, he remembers something from his childhood…