Weeks had passed since the Crown Prince reluctantly agreed to Althea's request to learn to read. A private tutor had been appointed—Sir Damuel, a middle-aged palace scholar known for his paper-thin patience and iron discipline. Yet, facing Althea, even the forbearance of a seasoned teacher like Sir Damuel was being completely eroded.
"This symbol, Your Highness," he said in a flat tone that hid his desperation one morning, pointing to a letter on the small blackboard, "is 'A'. We have repeated it twenty times now. Please pronounce it again."
Althea stared at the blackboard with a blank expression she had perfected in front of the mirror. "Uhm... this one... 'B'?" she answered hesitantly, before giving a shy, innocent smile.
Sir Damuel sighed deeply, pinching the bridge of his nose with two fingers. "Good heavens... His Highness the Crown Prince will be furious to know that our lessons show absolutely no progress."
