Challenge #04675-L291: Minding a Larger Flock

What a coincidence! Prince Philip has found a young shepherd boy who looks exactly like him living in the countryside. Even better, the young man is willing to trade places for a lark. With the talk of the cafes turning increasingly murderous with regards to Philip’s family, it would certainly be a good time to be a Shepherd Boy rather than a prince, though, the boy doesn’t need to know that… -- Deathshead419

Once upon a time, there was a Prince and a Pauper... so the stories say. Roughly the same age, certainly looking very much like each other. Gossip and rumour would have had it to be the result of an indiscretion of the King. Such things are wont to happen when marriage is an obligation to forge peace and not a delighted meeting of minds.

Regardless of the truth, the Prince Philip and the shepherd boy Dor were nigh identical. And the suggested lark came about at they chatted over a pint.

There aren't many reasons for a Noble to surrender their power to a commoner. There are Nobles who choose to go incognito as commoners, usually for their own protection, but to exchange places? That's not an everyday occurrence. Maybe Dor sensed this. Maybe Dor was a little too trusting when drunk. Either way, after a few lessons in handling tableware, and a story about falling off a horse, Dor stumbled towards the barracks of the King's soldiers. He asked politely if they knew where he was, then asked why they were calling him "your highness" and then fell into a swoon.

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