“You’ve heard of the Empress Theodosia the Blessed?” “Obviously,” lied Alex. “She had three children. Irene, Eudoxia, and … me.” “Your mother was an Empress?” “Your grandmother was an Empress. A great one. When she died, my elder sister Irene should have been crowned, but my younger sister Eudoxia…” he turned his face away, his voice cracking, “… Eudoxia murdered her and usurped the throne. There was a civil war.” He stared into the fire, shaking his head like it was heavy with regrets. “There was war, and famine, and schism between the Churches of East and West, and the great fortress city of
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