OOPS! The King is Naked!

who is gonna tell him?

kipngeno koech
4 min readOct 9, 2024
source: unsplash

Once upon a time, in a kingdom where gold flowed like water and the palace gleamed brighter than the morning sun, there lived a king. He was known far and wide for his wealth, wisdom, and — above all — his fashion sense. Every day, he adorned himself in the most exquisite silks, jeweled crowns, and robes embroidered with gold thread. His people often whispered that the king’s wardrobe was as grand as his throne.

But this king had a flaw — his vanity. No matter how many compliments he received, it was never enough. He spent hours before the mirror, gazing at his reflection, seeking ways to dazzle his subjects further.

One day, as the king paraded through his gardens, he said to his advisors, “I have the finest wardrobe in the land, yet it does not satisfy me. I want something beyond compare — clothes that no king has ever worn.”

The advisors, fearful of upsetting the king, nodded eagerly, though they had no idea how to satisfy his ever-growing appetite for admiration.

It was then that a stranger arrived at the palace gates. He introduced himself as a master tailor, with skills so unique, they would change how the world viewed clothing. His reputation spread quickly, and soon, the king summoned him to court.

The tailor was a small, wiry man, with sharp eyes that seemed to gleam with mischief. He bowed deeply before the king and said, “Your Majesty, I have heard of your grand taste. It would be my honor to craft something that even the gods would envy — a garment so fine that it can only be seen by those who are wise and worthy of their position. The foolish and unfit, however, will see nothing at all.”

The king, intrigued by this challenge, immediately commissioned the tailor to create this extraordinary garment. He offered gold, jewels, and anything the tailor required.

The tailor worked tirelessly — or so it seemed. Days passed, and the king grew anxious to see his new clothes. When the time finally came, the tailor stood before the king, holding an empty hanger.

“Here it is, Your Majesty, the finest clothing ever made,” the tailor said with a flourish. “Feel the fabric — so light it is as though you wear air itself.”

The king squinted. He saw nothing, yet his pride wouldn’t allow him to admit it. If he couldn’t see the clothes, would that mean he was unfit to rule? No, that could not be.

“What a marvel!” the king exclaimed, pretending to admire the invisible garment. “So delicate, so fine!”

The advisors, seeing the king’s reaction, were quick to agree. None of them could see the clothes either, but they dared not admit it. They praised the craftsmanship, the colors, the fit — though all they saw was thin air.

Soon, word of the magical garment spread throughout the kingdom. The king decided to hold a grand parade so that all could admire his new clothes.

On the day of the parade, the streets were filled with eager citizens. Drums beat, horns blared, and the king, clothed in his “magnificent” new outfit, stepped into the streets. He walked with his head held high, waving to the crowds. Behind him, his advisors struggled to hide their nervousness as they watched the king stride through the city completely naked.

The citizens, too, were bewildered. They could see nothing on the king, but who were they to question such wisdom? Surely, if they didn’t see the clothes, it must be their own fault. So they clapped and cheered, shouting praises for the king’s grand attire.

But amidst the cheers and celebration, a small voice rang out from the crowd.

“Look! The king is naked!”

Everyone froze. The voice came from a young child, standing on her father’s shoulders, her innocent eyes wide with curiosity.

The crowd fell silent, and the king’s face grew red. Slowly, the whispers began.

“The child is right. He’s not wearing anything at all!”

“He’s naked!”

The murmurs turned into laughter, and soon the entire crowd was roaring with laughter. The king looked down at his bare body, realizing, at last, that he had been deceived.

His face turned a deep shade of crimson, and for the first time in his reign, he felt utterly foolish. His vanity had blinded him, and his fear of looking foolish had made him appear even more so.

Yet, instead of anger, something surprising happened. The king began to laugh. It started as a chuckle, but soon it grew into a full, hearty laugh. The crowd, seeing the king laugh at himself, began to cheer again, this time with genuine affection.

The king, though humbled, had learned a valuable lesson that day. He turned to the child and said, “Thank you for your honesty, little one. You are wiser than all my advisors.”

The tailor, however, was never seen again. Some say he fled the kingdom in fear, while others whisper that he simply moved on to find another vain king to trick.

From that day forward, the king vowed to value truth over appearances, and he became known not for his fine clothes, but for his wisdom and humility. The people loved him more than ever, for a king who can laugh at himself is a king worth following.

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kipngeno koech
kipngeno koech

Written by kipngeno koech

You will find me here, lost in words, for it is my pen that listens and understands the depths of my soul.

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