In this story set in the same Kingdom as "The Lady or the Tiger", written by Frank R. Stockton, Carcius Constantiene is a simple man. He provides for his wife and kids, pays his taxes to the King, and supplies merchants with beautiful wooden figurines. He lives a normal, good life, except for a big secret he has been hiding for a few years now. Since Carcius was a young boy, he was told that secrets can be deadly. That much becomes true when this secret lands him in the King's arena with a life or death choice. Pick one door and live, pick the other and die. Which door should he open?