Page 12 of Falling for the Widowed Prince

But what about King Fulke’s son?

She’d never found his name.

Could he be the true Gilead I?

It only took her a few seconds to scan the section headings.

King Gilead I

b. May 12, 1618

d. June 19, 1628

Reign: December 1, 1627 - June 19, 1628

It only contained two sections -AccomplishmentsandControversiesandSuspicious Death.

Below it was the next monarch.

King Gilead II

b. August 1595

d. August 6, 1638

Reign: June 19, 1628 - August 6, 1638

One chapter title caught her eye. The last chapter she found intriguing.

Assassination of King Gilead II

She'd never heard of a viable assassination attempt on any monarch, much less a successful one. Two successful ones, if he’d killed his nephew so he could take the throne himself.

Madeleine sat in the chair behind her. She preferred to stand while doing this sort of thing, but the thoughts swirling in her head caused her knees to go weak.

The implications of this discovery - if proven accurate - would change history of Eastern Novigradia. The affects likely wouldn't be of much consequence aside from adding questions to examinations for students country-wide.

Except to Prince Anthony and the newest queen.

This could help her find the evidence she needed to ensure the prince acted as regent for the next several years.

"That's quite a look of concentration."

Madeleine jumped, clasping her hand, still covered by the glove, to her chest then glared in the direction of the prince consort. "You scared me."

"I do apologize." He seemed genuinely contrite. "I didn't realize you were that deep in concentration." He walked into the room and nodded at the book in front of her. "What's that?"

"A book from 1701 recently discovered in someone's grandma's hope chest, I believe." Should she tell him the implications or wait until she knew more?

Before she could decide, he walked toward the table. "Mind if I take a look?" He held his hands up then clasped them behind his back. "I promise not to touch."

Madeleine could see him scanning the table of contents.

And could tell when he discovered the same thing she had.

"King Gilead III?" His caution mirrored her own.

"That's the first thing that caught my attention as well. I haven't looked any further than what you see there. Without looking any further, I’d suspect he had his father killed - after his father killed his own nephew, which also makes me wonder about King Fulke’s death, though there’s nothing mentioned about it being suspicious.”

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