"In a time that was yesterday and tomorrow and eternally present," says Catherine suddenly, "there lived a prince who had been silent for as long as anyone could remember... his mother the Queen was heartbroken at her son's muteness and the King heartbroken at his wife's grief. So, it was that, on the Prince's eighteenth birthday, the King issued a proclamation saying that any man or woman who could make the Prince speak would receive the richest reward in the Kingdom. However, the penalty for those who tried and failed would be instant death.
- Nicky Singer, Feather Boy

I still haven't time to read what happened but what I'll like to ask is, if the Prince had been silent for as long as anyone could remember, why wouldn't anyone think he's just mute instead of refusing to talk?