Page 98 of This Prince Is Not Charming
He gave the smallest hint of a smile. “I felt more like myself than I have in a long time. It was like I found pieces of my heart that have been missing for so long. The pieces are fractured. I don’t think they’ll ever mend completely, but at least I have them back. At least I can remember my fierce little Brea and my beautiful wife, and I can be happy that I got the time I did with them.” He sniffled, nodding. “Ceri will be proud, I think.”
“She’ll be so proud,” I said. “And she’ll love to listen to your stories along with Margaret.”
“Yes,” Mr. Morgane said. “Yes, I think she will.”
Marsten sniffed and wiped a tear from his cheek. “Well, that was ridiculously sweet.” His voice broke. “I hope I find a love like the one you had with your wife one day. Like the one you have with Ceri.”
Mr. Morgane leaned back, eyeing Marsten. “I have a feeling you will. At least if Margaret’s gossip about a certain guard having his eye on you is true.”
Marsten’s mouth dropped open.
I raised a brow. “Which guard?”
Mr. Morgane shook his head. “Oh no. I’m not giving away names. I don’t partake in the gossip. I just listen.”
He mimicked locking his mouth and throwing away the key.
“Well played, Mr. Morgane,” Marsten said. “Now I have the perfect excuse to get to know all the handsome guards and find my secret admirer.” He waggled his eyebrows.
I stared at the book in Marsten’s lap. “I don’t think I ever read it.” I gestured to it.
“Excuse me?” Marsten picked it up. “This is one of the most wholesome stories, one of the most beloved children’s tales, and you’re telling me you’ve never read it?”
“He has a point,” Mr. Morgane mumbled.
“Okay, what’s it about, then?” I asked. Maybe there would be some clue hidden within the story about Ceri, her whereabouts.
The thought entered my head before I could stop it. It seemed ridiculous, so far-fetched it couldn’t be possible, but I was desperate and had no idea where else I could possibly begin to look for her.
“I’m glad you asked.” Marsten crossed one ankle over the other. “It’s about a woman made of stone.”
“That’s it?” I said.
“I’m not finished,” he said. “Anyway, this woman is in a town square, a statue people pass every day. And every day in that square, so much happens. Betrothals, first kisses, first fights, even a marriage ceremony. The statue sees it all.”
“So it’s sentient?” I was already losing interest. I lived in a sentient castle and dealt with all sorts of sentient creatures. Frankly, I was growing tired of all of it. Especially when said sentient castle had taken the love of my life.
Marsten bobbed his head. “Kind of. More like she could see and hear everything happening around her. She was frozen in time. Unable to move or speak.”
“This is a children’s story?” My eyes bugged. “This is awful. I’m going to have nightmares about getting turned to stone.”
“There’s a child who visits the statue every day and tells the statue about her day. She’s an outcast and often gets made fun of by other kids because she’s a little odd.”
“Well, I suppose that’s a little sweeter,” I said.
Marsten put a hand to his heart. “It’s so sweet. This little girl visits this lonely statue every day, not knowing the statue can hear her. She pours her heart out some days, and other days she tells funny stories or sings.”
I leaned forward, feeling a little more invested. “So how does it end?”
Marsten raised his finger. “If I were Morton, I’d make you read the book.”
I shot him an annoyed look.
“Lucky for you, I have no qualms about spoiling books. The little girl starts bringing the statue flowers, jewelry, decorating it. Other children begin to notice, and the teasing gets worse.” Marsten pauses. “One day, the little girl arrives and finds the other children with hammers and chisels trying to break the statue apart.”
“What?” I looked between Marsten and Mr. Morgane. “Are you serious?”
Marsten ignored my outburst. “The little girl tried to get to the statue, but the other children held her back, slowly chipping away at the stone while she had to watch.”
