The Mad Princess and the Dying Prince novel Chapter 23

Inside Serenity Palace.

The court physicians dropped to their knees in unison, bowing deeply to the floor, trembling in fear.

"Your Majesty, Your Highness... the old king—"

"Has passed."

"We have failed!"

On the bed, the old king's hand slipped down slowly, coming to a rest.

Seraphina Marquis also dropped to her knees, not daring to lift her head. At that moment, a sudden wave of regret hit her. She regretted drawing near at such a time.

Who could have known the old king would die right then? She had assumed he could hold on a little longer!

The queen mother burst into tears.

Would she now hold absolute authority as a widow?

The king shut his eyes tightly, a single tear escaping the corner of his eye.

"I... have lost my father."

He tossed back his cloak and dropped to one knee.

The sound of weeping spread outward, and everyone in Serenity Palace knelt and cried.

Prince Jareth stared at the lifeless body on the bed. A piercing agony shot through his legs, numbing him down to the bone.

He found himself entirely unable to stand.

"Father..." Jareth's voice was a barely audible whisper.

The old king was dead.

A somber silence fell as the palace fires were extinguished. In their place, thick beeswax tapers were lit, and heavy black mourning cloths were hung from the high balconies.

A royal decree was issued: all music and marriages across The Kingdom of Valerius were banned for three months.

Azure stepped into Serenity Palace. In mere moments, the palace had been draped in white, enveloped by an oppressive atmosphere of grief.

The queen mother had collapsed from weeping and was escorted back to her chambers on the king's orders.

Only the king and Prince Jareth remained in the bedchamber.

The king had stood up. He patted Jareth on the shoulder, his voice thick with sorrow. "Jareth... from now on, we brothers must support each other..."

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