The Mad Princess and the Dying Prince novel Chapter 27

It was pure, unadulterated blasphemy!

The old king had just drawn his last breath, and his corpse was still warm upon the bed.

Yet here was Prince Jareth, standing right beside the deathbed, intimately embracing a young woman!

Such profound devotion to his family!

Even the king, who had secretly been praying for his father's swift journey to the afterlife, suddenly felt a pang of indignation on the deceased ruler's behalf.

*Father, take a good look at your favorite son! Open your eyes and see his true colors!*

The king had just issued the necessary decrees, managed the immediate crisis, and visited the queen mother, who had fainted from grief. He had only returned to Serenity Palace to pay one final respect to the old king, only to walk into this scandalous scene.

"Jareth Valerius, do you not fear our father's ghost will haunt you tonight?"

The king practically hopped with rage as he saw his brother refuse to release the girl.

"Unhand her! Let me see the face of the shameless wench throwing herself into your arms in such a place, at such a time!"

The king's immediate assumption was that she belonged to the royal household.

And that she had actively thrown herself at the prince.

After all, Jareth had always been notoriously aloof and entirely uninterested in women.

Much as the king despised his brother, he had to admit that Jareth was not the type to dally with just anyone.

Azure stood off to the side, thoroughly panicked yet completely helpless.

Given Lady Lucia's status, she had absolutely no right to be inside the royal palace, let alone in the late king's private chambers. If the king discovered her identity, it would end in disaster for her.

She would likely be ordered to the executioner's block immediately.

Furthermore, the magical ritual she had just performed had to remain a strict secret. Without it, there was simply no justifiable reason for her presence here.

Fortunately, she had fainted face-first into the prince's chest. The king could only see the back of her head, not her face.

Azure cast a desperate look at his master. *What do we do now?*

"Halt!" the king bellowed, stomping his foot.

"It was likely just some petty thief," Prince Jareth said, deliberately stepping in front of his brother to block his path. "She probably thought the chambers were empty due to our father's passing and sneaked in to steal some gold."

The king's face turned a mottled red. He looked as if he wanted to strike his brother across the face.

"Jareth Valerius, do you hear the absolute nonsense coming out of your mouth? This is the royal palace! What petty thief would have the audacity to break into Serenity Palace? Order your man to stop! I will see the face of this brazen trespasser!"

"Perhaps a condemned servant, then?" Prince Jareth mused. As he spoke, he covertly flicked his wrist. A sharp burst of magical force struck the back of the knee of the royal guard attempting to chase after Azure.

"Ugh!" The guard pitched forward violently, crashing into two of his comrades.

In that brief moment of chaos, Azure vanished down the corridor with his burden, completely out of sight.

The king's eyes were bloodshot with fury as he glared at Jareth.

"Who was that woman? Jareth, I am not jesting with you—"

"Could Your Majesty not tell she was already dead? Did you see her move even an inch?" Prince Jareth interrupted coolly, utterly unfazed by his sovereign's wrath.