Cardan's Letters to Jude (Bonus Chapter from Queen of Nothing)

✨ Spoilers ahead for The Cruel Prince series! ✨

If you, like me, finished The Queen of Nothing and yelled “JUST COMMUNICATE!” at Jude and Cardan more times than you can count… you’re going to love this.

Buried in the Barnes & Noble exclusive edition is a bonus chapter that gives us a peek into Cardan’s heartbreak—and it comes in the form of the letters he wrote to Jude after she was exiled. The worst part? She never received any of them as they were burned by Lady Asha.

I honestly don't love the miscommunication trope but, in my opinion, that made their romantic moments at the end even better!

In case you never got your hands on the exclusive version you can download the extra chapter directly from Holly Black website. But I am also sharing them here, because no Cruel Prince fan should miss this slice of angst and yearning. You're welcome:

💌 Letters to Jude – By Cardan Greenbriar

(With the highlights of my FAVORITE QUOTES, just because!)

Letter One:
"Jude,
You are perhaps only being overcautious, but I am writing to inform you that all is settled between the Undersea and Elfhame. The treaties are signed in sea-foam and blood.
Expectantly,
Cardan"

Letter Two:
"Jude,
Since I cannot imagine there is much in the human lands to interest you, I can only suppose your continued absence in Elfhame is due to me.
I urge you: Come be angry at a nearer distance.
Cardan"

Letter Three:
“Jude,
You are in no mood for games. Very well. I am in no mood for them, either.
Let me write it outright: You are pardoned. I revoke your banishment. I rescind my words.
Come home.
Come home and shout at me.
Come home and fight with me.
Come home and break my heart, if you must.
Just come home.
Cardan"

Letter Four:
“Jude,
Not even responding to my missives is ridiculous and beneath you and I hate it.
Cardan"

Letter Five:
“To the High Queen of Elfhame,
Above me is the same silvery moon that shines down on you. Looking at it makes me recall the glint of your blade pressed against my throat and other romantic moments.
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.
Why would you, save for your ambition? You have always known exactly what I am and seen all my failings, all my weaknesses and scars. I flattered myself that at moments you had feelings for me other than contempt, but even were that true, they would be but watered wine beside the feast of your other, greater desires.
And yet my heart is buried with you in the strange soil of the mortal world, as it was drowned with you in the cold waters of the Undersea.
It was yours before I could admit it, and yours it shall ever remain.
Cardan"

Letter Six:
"JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE
JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE
JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE
JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE
JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE
JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE
JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE
JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE
JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE
JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE
JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE
JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE
JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE
JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE
JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE
JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE
JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE
JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE
JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE JUDE
PLEASE JUDE"

We don’t know if it’s the repetition, the desperation, or the heartbreak of it all—but this sequence hurts so good.

These letters might’ve never made it to Jude, but they definitely made it to our hearts. 💔

📚 Can’t Get Enough of Jude and Cardan?

Same. Which is why we created some truly magical pieces inspired by the Folk of the Air series! Check out the whole Cruel Prince Merch Collection.

✨ Since I love the letters so much, two of them as specifically from them, so you might want to check them out:

Cardan Quote "Just come home" Sticker

Cardan's Letter's to Jude Chat Bubble Sticker

Hope you enjoyed this post! Hopefully I can write a full review of the series soon!