The Mad Princess and the Dying Prince novel Chapter 86

The memorial tablet wasn't top-heavy.

"Was it the wind?" The king paused after speaking, realizing he hadn't felt a single breeze in the quiet chapel.

Prince Jareth watched as Crown Prince Theron set the wooden plaque upright once more. His expression remained unreadable. "Let us wait and see."

He wanted to see how the tablet could possibly fall under the watchful eyes of so many men.

"Since I am here, I shall offer a prayer," the king said, finding it awkward to simply stand there.

Abbot Zosimus quickly hurried over to light a candle for him.

Theron and the Second Prince also took candles. When they offered one to Jareth, he waved it away. "I have no need for that."

Zosimus found it odd, but said nothing. Why would the Prince refuse?

The king led Theron and the Second Prince in bowing their heads in prayer. After setting their candles upon the altar, the group stared intently at the memorial tablet.

A long while passed, and the plaque remained perfectly still.

The king glanced at Zosimus.

"What is the meaning of this? Did you not claim it refused to stand?"

The Abbot looked just as baffled.

Brother Abel and Brother Kai exchanged a glance, both scratching their shaved heads in confusion.

"Huh..."

"Are you making a fool of me?" the king demanded, his face darkening.

Zosimus quickly uttered a prayer to the heavens. "Your Majesty, how could I ever make a mockery of the old king's memorial?"

The king considered this. He had known Zosimus for over a decade. The monk wasn't the type for jests; he had always been steadfast.

"Then what is happening?"

"Perhaps the old king simply wanted Your Majesty and His Highness to visit," young Kai blurted out. "Now that you are here, he is no longer throwing a temper."

The words left the men bewildered. Could that be it?

They waited a little longer, but the tablet stood firm.

The tablet slammed face-down onto the altar.

A small, shaved head peeked in from the doorway.

Jareth froze in place, staring at the fallen plaque. He took a deep breath, suppressing his shock.

"You are truly unhappy with her? Then next time, I shall bring her here, and you can tell her yourself." Jareth spun on his heel and strode away.

Once he was gone, young Kai scurried into the room. He righted the tablet and bowed to it.

"So you don't like the Princess Consort? Wait, the Prince has a bride now? Is she hideous, and that is why you disapprove? Just how ugly could she be?"

She must have been utterly grotesque to make the old king's spirit manifest!

From that moment on, Kai's curiosity about the future Princess Consort soared to its absolute peak.

The next morning, Matron Cecily sought out the steward as soon as she rose.

The sun was already high in the sky, yet Silvanus—a man who usually woke before the roosters—was still asleep.

"Old Silvanus! Get up!" Cecily pounded fiercely on his door.