Four days and four nights, the robowitch witch sat in the dark house and mourned in silence. Then he rose and headed to the king's town. There she asked for an audience with the king, who received her like everyone else on his usual day of reception. The entire royal court was present.
When the robowitch got the chance to speak, he didn't address her words to the robot king but to the older robot princess. He blamed the king's daughter for rejecting his son, and for not letting him win.
The robot princess was cruel, stating flatly that she would never marry a poor robotlet, only a robot prince. If anyone did not like that, they could blame themselves.
The younger robot princess, being a kind soul, tried to soften her elder sister's words and comfort the robowitch.
"Don't worry, dear robowitch, I'm sure your son has swum ashore. Maybe he's already home."
"You have a kind heart, my dear," replied the robowitch, "but know this, my son will not return. He found his rest at the bottom of the sea, the salt water corroded his delicate circuits and the rough sand ruined his sensitive processor. My robot son is no more."