Throne

A throne is only a bench covered in velvet.

~ Napoleon Bonaparte

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Once upon a time there was a king who wanted the trappings of royalty without the responsibility of leading. Each day he would take something from the castle and hide it in a secret place beyond the castle walls. His plan was to eventually stockpile enough of the beautiful things that he could enjoy them in peace and leave his kingdom for someone else to rule.

He had collected nearly every item he wanted. The last thing he wanted to take was his throne. He wrapped his throne in a large beach towel and was about to cross the drawbridge when he was stopped. The knights standing guard had seen him acting suspiciously over the past few days, and when they saw him struggling with a large object, they made him halt and they searched him. They found out he was stealing from the castle, the kingdom, and - by extension - the people. 

When confronted, the king admitted what he had wrapped up in his bundle and he hung his head in shame. He tried to explain he didn't want to be king, but he wanted some of the royal items, but it was of no use. He was immediately arrested and thrown in the dungeon. 

The next day the headline in the newspaper read: 

"King: Throne in the Towel!"