The Tale of King Bumblesnout and the Invisible Crown

Once upon a time, in the grand kingdom of Nowhere-in-Particular, there ruled a wise and powerful king named Bumblesnout the Brilliant. His brilliance was so immense that nobody could see it—just like his crown, which was made of pure, undetectable wisdom.

One day, a wandering sage arrived at the castle and declared, “Only the wisest of fools can see the king’s crown!” The courtiers gasped in awe, for none dared admit they could not see it. They nodded furiously, praising the king’s “magnificent” headpiece.

However, one small boy—who had eaten too many turnips that morning—stood up and shouted, “But the king isn’t wearing a crown!”

The entire court fell silent. Then, King Bumblesnout clapped his hands and exclaimed, “At last! A true genius! This boy is wise enough to be foolish!” He then named the boy his royal advisor, and together, they ruled the kingdom wisely—making sure to always wear their invisible crowns, which, of course, only the smartest fools could see.

And thus, the kingdom thrived under the leadership of two men who understood the most important truth of all: the best way to appear wise is to be a fool in just the right way.

The End.