Unholiness

"ADOPT the kids?"

Tilly nodded at Kiho's question. "Yes, adopt the kids. But not as our children."

Kiho looked confused by what she said. "Not as our children?"

"In the empire, we have a stupid law that says the first born male child automatically becomes the heir of a family," she explained. "The second male child could only become the heir if the first born is dead, sick, or has been disowned by the father. The law applies even to adopted children and son-in-laws. That's why you became Father's heir when we got married."

He nodded his head as if he was absorbing the things she said. "So if we adopt Flint and Julian, Flint will become the heir of House Nystrom."