Bloodstained Crown: Fantasy

"What is the thing that wears the crown of the king but dances through the streets like a bloodstained lunatic?" the people whispered behind closed doors. Only whispered. They did not dare question aloud, for that was a certain way to become part of the king's raiment. There were other, less certain ways that seemed to be entirely impossible to predict. It had gone on like this since the last full moon, and some whispered that the king was moon-sick. Others said that a witch had come down on a moonbeam and enchanted him to evil. He was planning on marrying soon, they said; she was the witch. Always he had been harsh before, but never as wild and unpredictable. In his harshness there had even been a certain sort of comfort. You knew where you stood.

Inspiration: ?
Story Potential: High? Low? Medium-high? It's not terribly original, but the premise is solid.
Notes: Told, of course, from the POV of the wife-to-be.