Rowan had a slightly dazed look.
“My father said he had no choice,” he stammered. “The king and queen had no heir. They were killed in the uprising—he was their chosen successor. He ended things peacefully.”
“Mhm, if ‘peacefully’ means ‘quickly’,” Greta said grimly. “Besides, when the leaders are dead, people don’t usually have the will to fight. Some people remember, but most willfully don’t.”
“Wait. Wait. The king literally dethroned and most likely killed the previous rulers?” Scarlett exclaimed. She wheeled on Rowan. “Why aren’t you more shocked about this?”
He had a distant look in his eyes. “I’ve always known my father was the first of our lineage to rule. That’s common knowledge. I just didn’t know how he got it…”
He shook his head, and his eyes refocused on her. “Did you… not know this?”
“No! No, I did not! My parents never said—!” She trailed off at that, unable to finish.
