Chapter 42: Kitt — Summary and Analysis

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

Kitt walks through the castle toward the west tower, deliberately avoiding the window that overlooks the cemetery where his father is buried. He notes the fresh, upturned dirt on the grave and forces himself to keep moving, repeating the three B's Calum taught him—head high, back straight, eyes clear—to project kingly composure. He reflects on his recent visit to the willow tree, where he apologized to Ava for missing her birthday and for other unspoken regrets. He also recalls Calum's coaching about looking the part of a king even when he doesn't feel it, and he touches a small velvet box in his pocket for courage.

He climbs the winding stairs to the infirmary wing, which is reserved for isolation and deep wounds that healers cannot mend. There he finds Jax, who visits the queen almost every day out of gratitude for taking him in after his parents' shipwreck. They exchange friendly banter, and Jax ruffles Kitt's hair before leaving. Kitt then approaches the queen's bedside. She apologizes for never making an effort to build a relationship with him, and she tells him he looks exactly like his father when she fell in love with him. She recounts how their marriage began as a practical arrangement—her father was an adviser, and the king needed an heir after Kitt's birth mother died—but love grew between them over time. She admits she is dying because she no longer knows how to breathe without him. Kitt confesses he wants to make his father proud. The queen reveals that his father left letters in the bottom desk drawer, meant to guide Kitt in ruling the kingdom. Kitt says he will find them, and she asks him to visit again. He nods, his throat burning, and leaves.

Key Events

Kitt avoids looking at his father's grave, but the sight of it from the window stops him briefly.
He recalls visiting the willow tree to apologize to Ava and Calum's advice about the three B's.
He climbs to the infirmary wing and meets Jax, who visits the queen daily.
Jax and Kitt share a lighthearted moment, easing some tension between them.
Kitt speaks with the queen, who apologizes for her distance and tells him he resembles his father.
The queen shares the story of how she and the king fell in love over time.
She reveals that the king left letters in the bottom desk drawer to guide Kitt's rule.
Kitt promises to find the letters and agrees to visit the queen again.

Character Development

Kitt shows significant emotional growth in this chapter. He is still grieving his father, but he takes concrete steps toward healing: he visits the willow tree to apologize to Ava, he forces himself to confront the queen despite his discomfort, and he admits his desire to make his father proud. His internal struggle between performing kingly composure and feeling vulnerable is evident—he repeats the three B's as a mantra, yet his voice cracks and his throat burns. The revelation of his father's letters gives him a new purpose and a tangible connection to the man he idolizes.

The Queen emerges as a more sympathetic figure. She acknowledges her failure to build a relationship with Kitt and apologizes sincerely. Her love for the king is clear, and her grief is so profound that it has made her physically ill. By sharing the story of how their love grew, she humanizes the king and offers Kitt a glimpse of the man behind the throne. Her request for Kitt to visit again shows her desire for reconciliation and connection.

Jax provides a moment of lightness and continuity. His loyalty to the queen and his easy banter with Kitt remind both the reader and Kitt of the friendships that existed before the weight of the crown. His presence also highlights how Kitt's new role has created distance between him and his former companions.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Grief and Mourning: Kitt's avoidance of his father's grave and his physical reaction to seeing it underscore his unresolved grief. The queen's illness is described as a direct result of grief, reinforcing the idea that mourning can consume a person.
Legacy and Paternal Approval: Kitt's driving need to make his father proud shapes his actions. The letters left by the king symbolize a bridge between father and son, offering guidance from beyond the grave.
Kingly Identity and Performance: The three B's—head high, back straight, eyes clear—represent the performative aspect of kingship. Kitt uses them to mask his inner turmoil, but they also give him a framework to act with authority.
Regret and Reconciliation: The queen apologizes for her past distance, and Kitt agrees to visit again, signaling a willingness to heal old wounds. His visit to the willow tree to apologize to Ava also fits this motif.
Isolation and Healing: The infirmary wing is described as a place for wounds that healers cannot reach, symbolizing the emotional isolation both Kitt and the queen experience. The chapter suggests that connection—with others and with memories—is necessary for healing.
The Unvisited Grave: The grave represents Kitt's inability to confront his father's death directly. His decision to visit the queen instead of the grave shows a step toward facing grief, though not yet fully.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter is pivotal for Kitt's emotional arc and the broader plot. It introduces the father's letters, which will likely serve as a guide for Kitt's decisions in future chapters. It also deepens the relationship between Kitt and the queen, transforming her from a distant figure into a source of wisdom and connection. The chapter reinforces key themes of grief, legacy, and the burden of kingship, while showing Kitt taking active steps toward reconciliation and self-acceptance. The moment with Jax reminds readers of the personal relationships Kitt must navigate as he steps into his role. Overall, this chapter bridges Kitt's internal struggles with the external demands of ruling, setting the stage for his next moves.

Study Questions and Answers

1. How does Kitt's avoidance of his father's grave reflect his emotional state?

Kitt's avoidance shows that he is not ready to confront the reality of his father's death. When he catches a glimpse of the grave, his feet falter, his throat dries, and his vision blurs—physical signs of overwhelming grief. He forces himself to look away and repeats the three B's to regain composure. This avoidance suggests that Kitt is still in denial or too pained to face the finality of his loss, even as he takes other steps toward healing, like visiting the willow tree and the queen.

2. What role do the three B's play in Kitt's behavior throughout the chapter?

The three B's—head high, back straight, eyes clear—are a mantra Calum taught Kitt to help him appear kingly even when he doesn't feel it. Kitt uses them as a coping mechanism to suppress his emotions and project confidence. They allow him to move through the castle and interact with others without breaking down. However, the mantra also highlights the gap between his public performance and his private turmoil, emphasizing the theme of kingly identity as a constructed role.

3. Why does the queen reveal the existence of the father's letters to Kitt, and what does this signify?

The queen reveals the letters because she wants to give Kitt a way to connect with his father and to fulfill his father's wishes for the kingdom. She has not read them herself, respecting the king's intent. This revelation signifies a turning point for Kitt: it offers him concrete guidance from his father and a sense of purpose. It also deepens the queen's role as a caretaker of the king's legacy, and her willingness to share this with Kitt shows her trust and desire for reconciliation.