Page 52 of The Crownless Prince

“You can’t.” Thorne sneered. “You can’t prove it was you any more than I can prove it was me.”

Marcus turned to the audience. “Where are the marriage witnesses?”

The four men and women stepped out of the crowd. Marcus faced Adriana. “Your Highness, would you like to ask Thorne and me anything to prove which of us was with you from your room to the end of the marriage ceremony?”

Adriana smirked. “Lord Lucien. If you married me earlier today, then what did you say to my potted plant?”

“What?” Thorne’s eyebrows drew together as his upper lip curled. “What kind of question is that? I didn’t speak to a potted plant.”

King Mortimer frowned, while the rite witnesses shook their heads.

She looked to Marcus. “What did my groom say to my potted plant?”

“I’m afraid I kicked over a potted plant in my bride’s room, and then I said, ‘Ah. Forgive me, little plant. I didn’t notice you in my haste.’ Then I promised Adriana that I’d replace it.”

The witnesses nodded and murmured their agreement. Thorne worked his jaw, while the king appeared to waver between understanding and confusion.

“Lord Lucien,” Adriana said. “If you are my groom, tell me what you said to the stairs.”

“The stairs?” Thorne’s hands clenched at his sides. “The…I… I said, ‘I’m sorry we must step on you, stairs.’”

A knight among the witnesses snorted while the others shook their heads. Jairus grinned, and King Mortimer sighed, his expression resigned.

Marcus smiled. “I said, ‘Stairs, please don’t trip us.’”

“That’s right,” the witnesses muttered.

“Finally, Lord Lucien,” Adriana said, triumph lighting her eyes, “what did you say to the door into the great hall?”

Lucien turned red as he opened and closed his mouth. “I asked it to let us in—”

“No,” Marcus interrupted. “The hinges squeaked, and I said, ‘Don’t protest, door. It’s my wedding day.’”

The witnesses muttered among themselves as a look of tired resignation crossed the king’s face. One of the knights stepped forward and declared in a loud voice, “It is our sacred duty to confirm the bride and groom. While we were fooled by magic into believing that the groom was Lord Lucien Thorne, we can confirm the man who performed the marriage ceremony never left Princess Adriana’s side. And we can further confirm the groom was Marcus Alimer, by virtue of his testimony.”

“Thank you.” Marcus gave a small bow. “By wedding ceremony and subsequent consummation, my marriage to Adriana Faine is sealed and recognized by the witnesses here and in the heavens.”

He shared a warm smile with Adriana before turning slightly to better face the king. “Your Majesty. Lucien Thorne has sworn that I replaced him after he performed the marriage rites. As he was dishonest in this, I believe we can confirm that his entire story is a lie. But ratherthan accepting my word alone, I believe there may be another who can confirm my story—one who has no personal interest in me.”

Jairus nodded and motioned toward the large door in the side of the hall. A servant pushed it open, and a knight and Edwin entered, escorting Roger between them.

The moment Roger’s gaze landed on Thorne in his current half reptilian state, he turned an ashy shade of white, and then his complexion took on a greenish cast.

“It wasn’t me!” Roger shrieked. “Lord Thorne, I didn’t reveal you—”

“Silence!” Thorne’s face contorted as he took a threatening step forward. “Don’t speak another word.”

“Why not?” King Mortimer asked. “What don’t you want this servant to say?”

“Your Majesty,” Marcus said. “This servant, Roger, has been with Lord Thorne the longest of any of his servants. If any of them know the truth about his condition, I wager it’s him.”

Roger wrung his hands, his eyes bulging as he glanced between Thorne and the king, weighing his options.

“Tell us what you know of how your lord came to look like this,” King Mortimer commanded.

Roger gulped and eased back a step, but Edwin pushed him forward again.

“I suppose he has threatened your life if you expose the truth?” Jairus asked gently. “I promise you on my honor as crown prince, if you tell the truth now, your life will be spared. If you refuse to speak,you will be held in contempt of the crown and executed.”

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