The kingdom had not known such an upheaval in generations.
The execution of Prince Thas at dawn, carried out by Heiko himself, had sent tremors through every noble house. The death of Lord Peter later, under mysterious and clearly unnatural circumstances, turned those tremors into full-blown quakes.
And then, before the dust had settled, King Paul had stood before the masses and announced it with a voice that left no room for doubt:
Prince Heiko Nightshade was the new Crown Prince and rightful heir to the throne.
The kingdom was doing waves — not just within its own walls, but across every allied territory, every trading partner, and every rival realm. Couriers rode day and night, carrying the news that the so-called Deathbringer, once feared as a weapon of destruction, would now wear
