Chapter 23. The Young Master

— God, the poor child… Why did he have to go through such an ordeal?

The funeral ceremony for the previous Archduke had just ended. The guests slowly began to disperse — but some remained unable to watch the heartbreaking scene.

William's only son and heir could not say goodbye to him. At the altar, the boy wept on his knees before the coffin, unwilling to leave and let go of his father's hand.

— Daddy!» he sobbed, «Please don't leave me…!

He was truly pitied. At the age of thirteen, Henry Ashford was left a total orphan.

Just two days after the shocking news of the Archduke's death — came other bad news. The archduchess had gone on a journey with her lover — but their carriage had been involved in an accident. No one in that accident survived.