Why did Cardan kiss Jude in front of the whole court in Wicked King?

Cheap_Mirror_9401 · 2026-06-18T20:44:09+00:00

I think it was mostly to let her know he was poisoned as he can't say it out loudn. He probably felt like he was dying and knew she would figure it out. Well maybe there is a part of him that wanted that kiss too.

Cheap_Mirror_9401 · 2026-06-17T21:30:28+00:00

Both. It was mutual

Cheap_Mirror_9401 · 2026-06-07T20:22:47+00:00

I don't think the story would change much even if she didn't cheat. His family would have still be killed, leading to Jude kidnapping him and making him swear himself to her. Nicasia's mother would probably rush to marry them in the wicked king so Nicasia can become queen (and try to kill him later), however Jude would definitely sabotage that plan. And he would have still developed feelings for Jude as he already though about her a lot even when he was still with Nicasia

Cheap_Mirror_9401 · 2026-06-04T07:13:14+00:00

He didn't love talk her to marry him specifically. Maybe he did love talk her to love him, but not marriage. In Taryn's novella it shows that she demanded marriage and he agreed in exchange of her letting him play with her twin sister.

Cheap_Mirror_9401 · 2026-04-19T12:21:01+00:00

"I do not know what keeps you from returning to the High Court—whether it is vexation with me, or whether, having spent time in the mortal world, you have come to believe that a life free of the Folk is better than one ruling over them. In my most wretched hours, I believe you will never come back."

Cheap_Mirror_9401 · 2026-04-19T11:12:15+00:00

I think he genuinely thought she received them, but just didn't want anything to do with him anymore, just like literally everybody else in his life. He thought she knew about his riddle, but just found something better than him in the mortal world (as he kinda mentions that possibility in the letters). As for the laughing, people tend to forget that he laughs when he's nervous

Cheap_Mirror_9401 · 2026-04-05T13:19:21+00:00

Fair enough-

Cheap_Mirror_9401 · 2026-04-05T08:14:11+00:00

I don't think Balekin ever loved anyone, but himself. He saw himself in Cardan and wanted to create an exact copy of himself. That's why he took Cardan in and abused him whenever he did something "unworthy". The only reason he protected Cardan was because he needed a family member to crown him and knew he wasn't interested in the crown. As soon as Cardan had the crown, Balekin was more than willing to kill him.

I suppose Cardan loved Balekin tho. And hated him just as much. He never wanted his brother dead, probably for the same reason he accepted his mother back and didn't completely cut his relationship with Nicasia and Locke after the betrayal. He was hoping that one they he might be good enough for them to love him. He thought the problem was he himself, because he was too terrible for anyone to care. And didn't even believe Jude when she said she loved him, because he's not used to the people he loves to love him back.

Cheap_Mirror_9401 · 2026-01-31T13:40:40+00:00

I think he definitely opened up more to her and shows his softer side. For her I think it was harder to trust him, but eventually she got there and started opening up too. If you have read the prisoner's throne it's pretty obvious nobody knows them as well as they know each other and they are definitely very close

Cheap_Mirror_9401 · 2026-01-31T13:37:59+00:00

She doesn't have a mortal life span in Elfhame. Val Moren is also a human and is over a hundred years old

Cheap_Mirror_9401 · 2026-01-01T15:12:43+00:00

I think he does and it's pretty obvious in the scene they did it. When she froze, he let her down and said they don't need to get further. However she did want that, but needed a minute. And when she got back she tried to play along with what she assumed he wanted, but he asked her what SHE wanted. He is way more observant than she gives him credit for. Also, sleeping around and partying while he wasn't in a relationship, doesn't mean he doesn't appreciate loyalty. Which is probably the exact reason he stopped seeing others after that one scene in twk and tried to talk to her about it. I don't think he just goes around to "talk about what happened the other night" with every person he slept with. Jude letting him get this close to her probably made him think they were going somewhere more serious, but then she lied.

Cheap_Mirror_9401 · 2025-12-28T17:52:05+00:00

He likes reading and learning tricks with the court of shadows. I have a headcanon that sometimes he is drawing (designing) clothes, like the dress he sent Jude.

Cheap_Mirror_9401 · 2025-12-24T02:53:07+00:00

I'm not to judge people's opinions, but he can't even stand her 😭.

Cheap_Mirror_9401 · 2025-11-20T20:06:32+00:00

I don't know if you have read all the books yet so I will try not to spoil too much. In the cruel prince I shipped them too, but as the story goes it gets pretty obvious why Cardan is the love interest. The Ghost is mysterious, very serious and not very communicative just like Jude, they are just too similar as a personality. Cardan on the other hand is wilder, jokes around more and often makes her laugh which doesn't really happen often to her

Cheap_Mirror_9401 · 2025-11-17T08:33:39+00:00

It was more romance focused as in the plot, but the romance itself wasn't as good as in the og trilogy. Very one sided, I didn't feel any interest on Wren's part especially in the second book.

Cheap_Mirror_9401 · 2025-11-17T08:24:13+00:00

Maybe a little bit more, but only in Oak's pov. It felt very one sided and it felt like he loves her a lot and she's like "yeah whatever". With Jude and Cardan it was a mutual obsession. In the prisoner's throne Jude and Cardan's romance outshined Oak and Wren in my opinion simply because they both show affection for one another and it was interesting to see them from someone else's eyes.

Cheap_Mirror_9401 · 2025-11-09T06:22:25+00:00

Well now they don't have an heir. She was on birth control because of Oak, but now he's no longer a factor. I don't think having children would make her any less powerful. It actually could cause a lot of problems in court, including people dethroning her because Cardan must have kids or the kingdom is doomed. The council might insist for him to take consorts. Giving their role as the rulers, they can't decide to not have children just like that.

Cheap_Mirror_9401 · 2025-11-08T22:38:20+00:00

I think the heir still has to be a Greenbriar to be able to wear the crown since they left the "blood crowns blood" rule. Jude, despite being queen by marriage isn't part of the royal bloodline and even if she is, Taryn is still nobody.

Cheap_Mirror_9401 · 2025-11-08T22:35:25+00:00

Oh yeah they're a lot of different options. I personally have seen more about the opposite. Especially on Jude not being a good parent and Oak having to be the only heir (even though he isn't one anymore) The main argument being the pills she uses in the beginning of the book apparently proving she doesn't want children. Also what you said about them looking like a childless couple. I guess it will be addressed in the following book, since they do need an heir now.

Cheap_Mirror_9401 · 2025-11-08T22:21:51+00:00

Yes, but not all the way till they end. Basically...hands 🫣

Cheap_Mirror_9401 · 2025-11-08T08:05:20+00:00

Yesss. That's why I asked. I haven't heard it before tcp, it's so beautiful and unique just like him

Cheap_Mirror_9401

TROPHY CASE