There once lived an Emperor who loved nothing better than to wear fancy new clothes. Three times a day he would change into a brand new royal outfit. Many Emperors spend their day talking to advisors and fixing problems. You would not find this Emperor talking to an advisor. Oh, no! He was too busy sending his servants to find the next great outfit to wear.
One day two strangers came into town. They said they were weavers and that the cloth they wove was the finest anyone had ever seen. But in fact, they were not weavers at all – they were crooks.
These fake weavers said their cloth was more beautiful than any other cloth BUT it could not be seen by just anyone. Only people who were smart and good at heart could actually see their magic cloth. People who werenot smart and good at heart – well, they would see nothing at all.
Soon, word reached the Emperor that these two weavers had come to town with the finest cloth in the land. He thought, “I am the best Emperor ever! Anyone can tell by how grand I always look! I do not need to worry about that silly magic.”
So the Emperor went to see the two weavers. The clever crooks ran about their shop, pointing at empty spaces. They said with pride, “Look at this fine cloth! Surely you have never seen colors as bright as these, patterns as beautiful!” The Emperor could not understand it – he could see no cloth, anywhere!
He thought, “I cannot let anyone know that I cannot see the magic cloth! Who knows what they may think of me?” So instead he said, “Indeed, this is the most beautiful cloth I have ever seen!”
As it turns out, the Emperor’s Parade was coming up soon. This was a day when everyone in the kingdom lined up to admire him and cheer as he walked by. This year the Emperor wanted an outfit finer than ever before. It must be made from the weaver’s magic cloth!
Yet there was very little time. Could they weave the cloth in time? The two fake weavers frowned, as if they were thinking about it. Then they said yes, they could make him the finest royal outfit and cape. But it would cost many extra gold coins for the work to be ready on time.
The Emperor paid it all, and the two crooks put the gold right in their chest. But they did not buy yarn. All they bought were a few candles to burn in the windows at night. That way everyone would say, “Look! Those two weavers are working all night long to get the Emperor’s new clothes ready.”
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