The Mad Princess and the Dying Prince novel Chapter 2

Even so, not a single guard dared to step forward and lift the drape.

"I am fine," Jareth's deep voice rumbled from within.

Just then, another group of armed men stormed the street, aggressively blocking the carriage's path.

The man leading them was draped in opulent silks, sporting a emerald-encrusted belt and golden beast embroidery. With a massive emerald ring on his finger, he was a walking advertisement for wealth and power.

Yet his bulbous eyes and bloated, sickly pale complexion, coupled with the dark circles under his eyes, clearly marked him as a debauched wastrel.

"It's the Heir Brightwood!" a commoner whispered in fear.

Gaston Brightwood, the heir to the Marquisate of Greenfield, was the queen mother's favorite. He terrorized the Royal Capital with absolute impunity; no one ever dared to cross him.

The thugs who had been chasing Lucia immediately scrambled over to Gaston, tripping over each other to report the situation.

"My Lord, the wench is in that carriage!"

"We didn't recognize the crest, My Lord. We didn't want to start trouble, so we held off on dragging her out."

In truth, they were completely terrified by the lethal, intimidating auras of the carriage guards.

Gaston sneered, arrogant eyes raking over the luxurious carriage and sizing up the four elite guards. He gave a loud, dismissive snort.

"I don't care who they are! Drag her out of there right now!"

His men immediately moved in.

"Stand down!" Azure roared, his hand on his hilt. "Prince Jareth has returned to the Royal Capital. Who dares act so brazenly?"

The name struck like a bolt of lightning, leaving everyone in the street completely paralyzed with shock.

"Prince... Prince Jareth?!"

He had left the Royal Capital five years ago to convalesce, vanishing from the public eye. Now, he had returned in secret?

Upon his skin, a grotesque, pitch-black mark pulsed ominously, looking like a venomous monster writhing just beneath the surface.

Lucia pressed her fingertip directly against it. Reacting to her touch, the cursed mark seemingly flinched alive, shrinking back and fading slightly in color.

"Cough... Are you absolutely certain you don't need my help?" she rasped through his crushing grip, her gaze unflinching and fiercely confident.

Outside, Gaston's obnoxious voice pierced the tension. "Your Highness! It is Gaston Brightwood, of the Marquisate of Greenfield! That wench is my concubine. Hand her over immediately!"

Gaston had initially been terrified by the Prince's name, but he quickly recovered his bravado. Even a royal couldn't just steal a man's woman in the middle of the street!

If word reached the palace, the queen mother would undoubtedly side with Gaston. Everyone knew she despised Jareth.

"Surely a man of Your Highness's stature wouldn't lower himself to stealing my sloppy seconds?"

Shouting at the top of his lungs, Gaston shot his thugs a look. The men immediately surged forward, boxing in the four royal guards.

Seizing the distraction, Gaston darted to the front of the carriage and aggressively tore back the curtain.