The Mad Princess and the Dying Prince novel Chapter 58

When he mentioned that his son had knocked Corin out cold, Lucia was speechless.

Weren't they worried about giving the boy a permanent injury?

"I have thought long and hard. The only foreign object my grandson and I have both touched recently is this root carving!"

He was a master physician, but he was completely powerless against this kind of sickness.

Celia and Bonnie both leaned in to peer at the object on the table.

They were utterly baffled by Physician Finch's tale. Could their lady truly be of any help with such a bizarre, supernatural affliction?

Lucia reached out to pull back the black cloth.

"Lady Lucia..." Physician Finch tensed. "If this carving is truly cursed, will you be in danger by touching it?"

He looked at the slender girl with the bandages still wrapped around her head, feeling a pang of guilt.

What if he brought ruin upon her?

"No."

Lucia replied simply, already pulling the cloth away.

To her eyes, the cursed root carving was engulfed in a swirling black miasma, looking like a rotting pile of ancient bones reeking of decay.

But that was only what Lucia could see.

What Celia saw was a wooden carving the size of a vase, shaped into a vicious-looking old man with a face full of wild beard.

The old man had one finger pointing to the sky and one palm pressing down at the earth, his eyes bulging and his posture crouched as if ready to pounce.

Since it was a root carving, the old man's limbs and beard were formed naturally from the twisted roots of the wood.

The wood itself was pitch black, save for the old man's bulging eyes, which were painted a vibrant crimson.

He looked exceptionally malevolent.

The craftsmanship was master-class, capturing an incredibly lifelike and terrifying energy.

Yet, just looking at the twisted old man made Celia's skin crawl.

She needed to absorb some of his aura to recharge.

Physician Finch looked bewildered. "Does His Highness need to accompany you?"

"No, no, no. He doesn't need to come. I just need to see him." Lucia glanced at the old man. "Go back first. Boil a pot of mugwort water and use it to bathe your grandson's forehead, chest, palms, and the soles of his feet. I will come by later."

"And this root carving..."

There was absolutely no way he was going to carry that wretched thing back down the mountain!

"Leave it here. I will deal with it."

"Thank you, Lady Lucia!" Relieved, Physician Finch hurried off.

Lucia beckoned to Celia. "Go invite Prince Jareth over."

"My lady, at this hour, His Highness has likely entered the palace."

Tonight, tomorrow night, and the night after, the prince might not be able to leave at all. He had to stand vigil for the old king.