The Folk of the Air, #1
The Cruel Prince
by Holly Black
Contents
Chapter 30
Overview
Jude’s coup succeeds, but not as Cardan expects: instead of crowning Oak immediately, Jude uses Oak to crown Cardan High King of Faerie. The public ceremony traps Cardan on the throne as a temporary guardian of Oak’s inheritance, while Balekin is humiliated and blocked from power.
The chapter marks Jude’s most consequential betrayal yet, as Jude sacrifices Cardan’s promised freedom and accepts the role of strategist, villain, and hidden power behind the crown. Cardan’s furious toast makes clear that Jude has won the throne but created a dangerous new conflict with the king she controls.
Summary
Jude returns to Balekin’s feast after drugging and defeating Madoc. Jude tells Balekin that Madoc is delayed hunting Dain’s spies, buying time before Madoc wakes. Balekin notes Jude’s usefulness and tempts Jude with the possibility of becoming like the Folk, which unsettles Jude because Jude’s victory over Madoc has left guilt rather than triumph.
At the table, Jude sees Vivi, Taryn, Locke, Queen Orlagh, Lord Roiben, and the other guests. Locke tries to provoke Jude about Cardan and their past, but Jude rejects him. Beside Cardan, Jude struggles with the poison and exhaustion while Cardan notices Jude’s bruised jaw and asks after Jude.
The planned diversion begins when the Bomb sets off an explosion and the Roach fires at Cardan, pretending to be an assassin. Balekin unexpectedly shields Cardan, revealing that their bond is more complicated than Jude assumed. During the chaos, the Ghost steals the Blood Crown but mistakes Taryn for Jude and throws it to Taryn instead.
Taryn hesitates while Balekin threatens Taryn and demands the crown. Lord Roiben blocks Balekin, Queen Orlagh turns the moment into public entertainment, and the watching rulers force Balekin into restraint. Jude persuades Taryn to hand over the crown, then presents it to Cardan while Balekin draws a blade. The Ghost stops Balekin by pinning Balekin’s hand to the table with an iron bolt.
Balekin appeals to Cardan’s vanity and cruelty, urging Cardan to bring him the crown, but Cardan refuses out of spite. Jude gives the crown to Oak and asks Cardan to kneel so Oak can practice crowning a king. At the crucial moment, Jude commands Cardan not to move for one minute, betraying Cardan’s expectation that they are still following the original plan.
Oak crowns Cardan High King of Faerie. The court reacts with shock, fury, laughter, and delight, but Lord Roiben kneels first, and the rulers follow. Cardan, trapped by the public coronation, accepts the role, charms the guests, and pointedly toasts Jude for the “gift” that he intends to repay. As Jude fades into the crowd, the Bomb reveals the Court of Shadows has chosen Jude’s code name: the Queen.
Who Appears
- Jude DuarteExecutes the coup, deceives Balekin and Cardan, and engineers Cardan’s coronation.
- Cardan GreenbriarBelieves he will escape court politics but is crowned High King by Oak.
- Balekin GreenbriarDemands the crown, threatens Taryn, and is thwarted before the court.
- OakSecret heir who publicly crowns Cardan as High King instead of taking the throne.
- Taryn DuarteMistakenly receives the Blood Crown and reluctantly gives it to Jude.
- Vivi DuarteKeeps Oak close and encourages him through the dangerous coronation.
- The GhostSteals the Blood Crown, misthrows it to Taryn, then disables Balekin.
- The BombCreates the explosion diversion and later names Jude’s code name as the Queen.
- The RoachActs as the false assassin, firing bolts to distract the feast.
- Lord RoibenBlocks Balekin, supports the plan’s outcome, and kneels first to Cardan.
- Queen OrlaghRefuses to simply support Balekin and pushes the crown dispute into public judgment.
- LockeProvokes Jude and watches the unfolding drama with fascination.
- OrianaWatches anxiously as Oak becomes part of Jude’s dangerous political plan.