King Bartholomew called his royal scribes and bookmakers into his palace.
They bowed before his throne as he ate his noon meal. He motioned with his hands.
“Scribes! Bookmakers! Rise! I have learned you are accepting royalties. Give an account of yourselves.”
The Chief Scribe spoke. “Your Majesty, royalties are payments made to scribes and bookmakers for the sale of their published works.”
“Nonsense! I am the king! All royalties in the kingdom belong to me!”
The Chief Bookmaker spoke. “With all due deference Your Majesty, you haven’t written any books.”
“Then pray tell me, why are they called royalties?”
100-word micro-fiction; a drabble
