The Mad Princess and the Dying Prince novel Chapter 106

Lady Forrester recalls the journey back to the Royal Capital. It was an ordinary day on the road, so it hadn't stood out in her memory until Lucia mentioned they couldn't have been together day and night.

"The inn sat along the main street of Whitestone," Lady Forrester explained. "There were merchants and stalls outside. I didn't think much of it, only told her not to wander far and had Poppy accompany her. Eleonora has always been obedient. She returned shortly after."

Eleonora hadn't mentioned anything unusual upon returning.

Poppy stepped forward. She was a young maid, no older than twelve or thirteen, with a round face and large eyes currently red and swollen from crying over her mistress. She looked nervous under everyone's intense scrutiny.

Lucia gestured to her. "Come here."

"This is Lady Lucia," Lady Forrester told the girl. "Answer her questions truthfully."

"Yes, my Lady." Poppy approached Lucia and offered a deep curtsy.

Lucia studied her. "You haven't been feeling well these past few days either, have you? Constantly feeling a chill in your bones?"

Poppy looked up in astonishment. "How did you know, my Lady?"

"When you and Lady Eleonora were in Whitestone, what did you see? What did you bring back?"

Prompted by the question, Poppy immediately recounted the day's events.

"That day, my lady and I were just strolling near the inn. We came across an alleyway where an old woman had set up a small blanket. My lady saw how elderly she was, her clothes all patched and threadbare. She looked so pitiful that my lady bought a few things from her."

"Yes. I carried them on the way back to the inn. They sat on our table for a night, and later rode in the carriage with us for a few days. My lady even picked wild flowers along the road to decorate them. When they rotted, I was the one who threw them out."

"Did those straw trinkets smell of rotting meat and blood?" Lucia pressed.

Poppy's eyes widened in sheer shock. She nodded vigorously. "Yes! If they hadn't smelled so ghastly, my lady might not have discarded them halfway through our journey."

"Think carefully," Lucia instructed. "What else did she take? And when the old woman handed it over, she must have said something. She likely asked Lady Eleonora if she was willing to grant her a specific wish."

Triggered by the prompt, a sudden memory struck Poppy.