He was the court jester. She was a well bred princess raised in privilege and pampered luxury. He watched her grow and as she grew his feelings grew for her. At last he chose to make his move, slipping into her chamber in the cover of night he plucked a rose from the bedside vase and knelt before her, revealing the depth of his love for her. She stood for a moment in silence looking at him, then smiled, breaking into a light laugh. "Dear Valen, you always know the best way to make me laugh..." she said, as she took the rose heedless of the pained expression on his face and the tear that glistened in the corner of his eye. Love of course was a joke to her. A jest told to lighten her heart. For who could ever love a fool like him?