“Alicia, what do you think will happen should Coulson’s immediate royal members befall a tragic death?”

The Queen spoke on the assumption of the future that could come to existence.

“What do you mean by that? Why would you…”

“What do you think will happen?”

Alicia shut her eyes. “…The throne will fall in Ivan’s lap.”

Like Ehrlich, Coulson’s bastard children from their concubine mothers have no rights to kingship titles. It was a tradition that originated from the ancient empire.

“Yes. Should all the immediate royal male members fall, the king’s illegitimate children hold no claim to the throne. And because no female royals would be recognized as a...