Bab 136: a crown forsaken.

Damian wondered how many timelines existed where he learned the truth.

Three generations ago, a man took the Crown under the name of Xavier III. That man was, by blood, your great-grandfather.

He walked the streets aimlessly, his feet naturally gravitating towards Rossheim Palace. Once, he'd thought of that place as home, the demesne of the royal family. How many balls and festivities had been held there? How many young ladies had he wooed with the allure of his title and the riches of the royalty?

That man was not the blood heir to the Crown. Queen Maria was barren, you see—but not before she'd given birth to a single boy. His name was Whitley, but he lived and died under his mother's maiden name—Brightwell.