The Ruler's Dilemma: The Three-Seven's Riddle

In the realm of Eldoria, where the sun kissed the ancient walls of the grand palace and the wind whispered tales of yore, there lived a ruler named King Theron. His reign was marked by prosperity and peace, yet beneath the surface, a storm brewed. The kingdom was divided, not by the sword or the tongue, but by the enigma of an ancient riddle known as The Three-Seven's Riddle.

The riddle had been whispered through generations, a test of wisdom and power that none had dared to undertake. It was said that the one who could solve it would rule with absolute justice and grace, while the one who failed would be consumed by the very power they sought.

King Theron, ambitious and wise, sought to prove his worth to his people. One fateful evening, as the moon hung low in the sky, he summoned his most trusted advisors and the greatest minds of the kingdom to his presence.

"The riddle is this," King Theron began, his voice echoing through the grand hall. "Three men stand on a hill, each holding a different number of stones. The first man has seven stones, the second has five, and the third has three. They are to give away their stones so that each man has an equal number. How many stones must each man give away?"

The advisors and scholars exchanged glances, their minds racing with possible solutions. The room was silent, save for the hum of anticipation. After a tense moment, a young advisor stepped forward.

"The solution is simple, my liege," he said, his voice filled with confidence. "Each man must give away two stones. Then, they will each have four stones, an equal number."

King Theron nodded, satisfied with the answer. Yet, a part of him felt a niggling doubt. The riddle seemed too simple, too straightforward. It was as if it were a ruse, a trap.

As the days passed, King Theron pondered the riddle, unable to shake the feeling that there was more to it than met the eye. One night, as he lay in his bed, a sudden inspiration struck. He remembered a tale his grandmother had told him of a forgotten temple, hidden deep within the forest, where ancient prophecies were written in stone.

King Theron rose from his bed, his resolve set. He would seek out the temple and uncover the truth. The journey was treacherous, filled with pitfalls and perils, but the ruler's determination was unwavering.

After days of wandering through the dense forest, King Theron stumbled upon the entrance to the hidden temple. The air was thick with the scent of moss and ancient wood, and the temple itself was a marvel of forgotten architecture. As he stepped inside, the walls came to life, their surfaces etched with intricate carvings and cryptic symbols.

King Theron's eyes fell upon a single stone tablet, its surface glowing with an otherworldly light. Upon it was written the true riddle, one that defied logic and reason.

"The riddle is this," the tablet read. "Three men stand on a hill, each holding a different number of stones. The first man has seven stones, the second has five, and the third has three. They are to give away their stones so that each man has an equal number. How many stones must each man give away?"

King Theron's heart raced. The riddle was the same, yet it felt different. He realized that the true test was not in finding the answer, but in accepting the unanswerable. The power of the throne was not in the knowledge of the solution, but in the wisdom to recognize that some questions were beyond the reach of human understanding.

With this realization, King Theron returned to the grand hall, his face serene. He addressed his advisors and the people of Eldoria.

"The answer to the riddle is that there is no answer," he declared. "The true power of the throne is not in the knowledge of solutions, but in the wisdom to accept the unanswerable. It is in embracing the mysteries of life that we find true strength."

The people of Eldoria were struck by the ruler's revelation. They saw in King Theron not just a leader, but a wise man who understood the true nature of power. The kingdom flourished under his rule, not through the might of arms, but through the strength of his wisdom.

And so, the tale of King Theron and the Three-Seven's Riddle became a legend, a testament to the power of wisdom over knowledge, and the understanding that some questions are best left unasked.