King Aurelio and the Sound of Laughter

Millbrook's king owns more than he can count and finds it all merely fine, until laughter drifts up from the valley and he cannot recall his own.

Wealth and grand things cannot buy happiness

On a hill above the village of Millbrook stood the most splendid palace in the land. Its walls were gold. Its windows were crystal. Its floors were polished marble, and its ceilings were painted with a thousand stars.

In it lived King Aurelio, who owned more than he could count.

Each evening, a procession of servants carried silver platters to the royal table: roasted peacock, honeyed figs, pies stacked three stories high, and soups with names so long that the cook had to write them down. The king sat alone at one end of a table built for fifty, and he ate a little of this and a little of that.

"Is it not to your liking, Your Majesty?" the cook would ask nervously.

"It is fine," said the king. "It is always fine."

But fine was not the same as good, and Aurelio had forgotten the difference.

📖 Start reading King Aurelio and the Sound of Laughter free

Quick answers about King Aurelio and the Sound of Laughter

What is King Aurelio and the Sound of Laughter about?

Millbrook's king owns more than he can count and finds it all merely fine, until laughter drifts up from the valley and he cannot recall his own.

Is King Aurelio and the Sound of Laughter free to read?

Yes. Every story on RapidTale is free to read in the browser, with no sign-up and nothing to install.

How long does it take to read?

This story runs 1 chapter — most readers finish in one sitting, and you can stop and return to any chapter using the contents list.

Who wrote it?

Nimra Khan — original fiction published on RapidTale.