The Mad Princess and the Dying Prince novel Chapter 28

The king choked on his words.

He thought back to what he had just witnessed. The woman had indeed been entirely limp in Prince Jareth's arms. Even when the sovereign of the realm roared in fury, she hadn't twitched a single finger. Was it possible she truly was a corpse?

"Could she not have merely fainted?" the king demanded, realizing he was dangerously close to being outmaneuvered.

"I caught her trespassing. Do you truly believe I would leave her merely unconscious?" Prince Jareth brought his arm out from behind his back, revealing the wooden block. "Your Majesty, look at this."

The abrupt change in topic successfully derailed the king's train of thought.

His attention was instantly captivated by the object.

The king's eyes went wide as he stared at the tablet of ebony inlaid with gold.

"Why... what is the meaning of this?"

"Our father once told me that upon his passing, he wished for a memorial tablet to be placed in the family chapel. He said the royal crypts were too far away, and he wished to watch over the palace and the Royal Capital every day."

*Well, Father, forgive me for putting words in your mouth, but we shall pretend you said it.*

"Preposterous!" the king sputtered.

The old king was to be buried with full honors in the royal crypts! Why on earth would he want a solitary tablet placed in the family chapel?

And to have *The Memorial Tablet of Caius Valerius* written so bluntly upon it? It was sheer madness.

"It was our father's dying wish," Prince Jareth said evenly. "Surely, Your Majesty wouldn't deny him such a simple, final request?"

He had played the 'dying wish' card.

The king swallowed hard. How could he possibly refuse that?

Placing a memorial tablet in the chapel outside the main palace grounds wasn't entirely against tradition, anyway.

He studied Jareth, concluding that this was likely his brother's pathetic way of holding onto their father's memory. The chapel was right here in the city; Jareth could easily visit it to light candles and pray.

Beyond that, there was nothing else the prince could do. A wooden tablet was all he had left. The old king was no longer here to protect his favorite son!

Prince Jareth reached the doorway, then stopped.

"Your Majesty, in his final moments, our father was still agonizing over my marriage."

The king had heard that part clearly.

"Did he not mention that Marquis girl..." The king tried to recall exactly what the old king had said about Seraphina Marquis. Something about her carrying great destiny? Or earth magic?

A calculated gleam flashed in Prince Jareth's eyes. "Indeed," he said smoothly. "It seems our father's dying wish was for me to wed Lady Marquis."

The king's heart leapt into his throat.

Then he absolutely must prevent Jareth from marrying Seraphina Marquis!

The old king had always favored Jareth. If he had chosen the Prime Minister's daughter, it meant she would bring immense power and advantage to his brother. The king could never allow such an alliance to form!

"Jareth," the king said, adopting the tone of a caring older brother, "Father truly wanted you to marry someone who held your heart. I have seen the way you look at Seraphina; you clearly hold no affection for her."