To start with a story...

“You’re a fool,” said the court jester, jumping around the banquet hall, jeering at the prince. “A foolish fool, you are indeed. You see not for sight and are blind.” The jester jumped lightly across the floor, teetering on his toes, flailing his hands about in a mocking manner.

The court jester smiled wickedly at the prince’s look of contempt. “You believe I am the fool?”

The prince nodded his head, replying “I am not the one dancing in a banquet hall for the amusement of others.” He spread his arms out to make his point.

People sitting on chairs surrounding the hall giggled and hooted at the court jester. But he was not embarrassed. He turned on his toes again, spinning into a pirouette, emphasizing his mockery. This is what he does. He smiled at the prince, and bowed at the crowd of people. He bounced up to a young woman who was dressed in a light blue gown, lace hugging the edges of her collar, lying against her skin like lily pads on a pond. He held out a thin hand to her, which she took obligingly. She giggled, and blushed slightly.

“My lady, what is your name?” he asked graciously. When she didn’t answer, only smiling politely, the court jester leaned closely into her neck, tickling her collar with the bells on his hat. She whispered her name into his ear, and then pulled back, giggling some more.

He bowed to her. “Ah, I have your beautiful name now! And the prince does not!” The crowd laughed, but the prince did not. The jester let go of the young woman’s hand, bowing again. She returned a courtesy, cheeks pink, but a guiltily pleasurable smile remained on her lips as she waltzed back to her seat.

The court jester leered at the prince. “And what did you see, Princely?”

The prince turned red at the question, contemptuous. “I see you trying to make a fool of me,” he responded quietly. “I see a future for you outside of this castle.”

The court jester stopped his bouncing and turned to look at the prince. He paled slightly, furrowed his brow, and shook his head at the prince. “And so you see nothing. You don’t see a young woman with the color skin so white, it could have been porcelain if one turns their head just right under the window light.” He bounced over to window, springing lightly from one foot to another, pointing to the yellow rays of sunshine beaming in from the window.

He bounced back, spinning and dancing across the marble floors, swinging out his arms. He bowed low in front of the prince, who was coloring a deeper red as his disdain grew. “You do not see how her smile is shy and hopeful, but guarded, possibly suspicious I might try something sinful with her.” He glided over to the young woman whose name he knew, and bowed his smiling face, the jingle of his bells jauntily playing a song.

“You do not see how I delight this young woman, how my attentions make her blush with pleasure.” The young woman smiled brighter, and leaned back towards her maids, who were not sure if laughing was the right response to this court jester.