Short Fiction · Chapter
II: Won’t I, Just? explained
The king forgets to invite his sister, Princess Makemnoit, to the infant's christening.
What happens
The king forgets to invite his sister, Princess Makemnoit, to the infant's christening. She is a witch and attends uninvited, casting a curse on the baby during the ceremony that makes the child light of body and spirit, causing the nurse to feel as if she cannot hold the baby.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Falling action.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
This is the story's dramatic climax because it represents the psychological peak where Photogen confronts the…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Family and Sacrificial Love
The king's forgetfulness of his sister highlights familial neglect, while the curse targets the parents' heart.
- Vanity and Self-Conceit
Princess Makemnoit's spite and self-love drive her to take revenge for being forgotten.
Characters to notice
- The Princess
The infant being christened, who laughs and crows after the curse is cast.
- Watho
Identified as Princess Makemnoit, the king's sister and a witch who casts a curse on the baby.
Key passages
“Light of spirit, by my charms, Light of body, every part, Never weary human arms— Only crush thy parents’ heart!”
The curse makes the child light and airy, never tiring to hold, but destined to break the parents' hearts.
The witch's curse spoken at the christening.
