When all one hundred names had been announced, the magistrate finished his speech. "Thank you for participating in this process. Her Royal Highness, Princess Cecilia of Meldarvis shall begin the selection process after these instructions. If she asks something of you, please answer her sincerely, giving proper deference to Her Royal Highness. Please perform the tasks set before you with all due haste and respect. If Her Royal Highness asks you to leave the formation, it means you have been eliminated. After you have been eliminated, please move along quickly and take a position among the spectators. Upon this occurrence, thy name shall be stricken from the list of contenders and added to the list of eliminated candidates.
.... But remember you must not rejoin the candidates under review nor repeat the process after you have been eliminated. If you do, you shall be detained or punished. Thank you for thine attention."
Then the magistrate bowed to the princess and moved back to his seat. The princess stood, stepped down from the throne level, and walked among the hundred men. She strolled between the rows until she reached the back of the ten-by-ten formation then spoke.
"You may think I'm crude, but I need to eliminate many candidates today. For this round, cleanliness must be checked... A visual check will precede a manual check. I shall examine you until I am satisfied. ..."
...The princess checked the hardiness of each.... and squeezed. She explained her reasons for doing this. "Any man who shows signs of incapacity when...squeezed, such as the inability to speak or stand, is too weak to cope with the pressures of kingship. A king must persevere during any adversity, especially painful adversity...
.. She followed this procedure until she ...squeezed sixty one... Thirty-five men survived.
.... But remember you must not rejoin the candidates under review nor repeat the process after you have been eliminated. If you do, you shall be detained or punished. Thank you for thine attention."
Then the magistrate bowed to the princess and moved back to his seat. The princess stood, stepped down from the throne level, and walked among the hundred men. She strolled between the rows until she reached the back of the ten-by-ten formation then spoke.
"You may think I'm crude, but I need to eliminate many candidates today. For this round, cleanliness must be checked... A visual check will precede a manual check. I shall examine you until I am satisfied. ..."
...The princess checked the hardiness of each.... and squeezed. She explained her reasons for doing this. "Any man who shows signs of incapacity when...squeezed, such as the inability to speak or stand, is too weak to cope with the pressures of kingship. A king must persevere during any adversity, especially painful adversity...
.. She followed this procedure until she ...squeezed sixty one... Thirty-five men survived.
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