The Beginning
He has 8 children from 4 wives he'd lost.
The eldest is Mikel, followed by Daniel. Sons from his first wife, his best friend and, his first love.
When she died he married his second wife, a sickly woman, who didn't live long. She gave him a daughter before she died and named her Sylvia. She was the most beautiful child he'd ever seen, just like her mother.
A year later, when Mikel had just turned 5 and Daniel was 3 and Sylvia was almost 2, he was engaged to a woman chosen for him by his King. It was a political marriage. This new wife, he learned to love like the rest. They've been married for almost 2 years when they've accepeted that she was barren. But soon after their 3rd year of marriage, she gave birth to a son they named Elye. Two more came within a year of each other. Yvonne came first then Brigitt. He had 6 children and a wife he loves. He was content. But, an accident took his wife away, and almost claimed his youngest.
The nobleman had no more plans to marry again. He was 45 years old with 6 children, 3 of which are sons. He had nothing more to worry about. His eldest was soon be ready to inherit. His second son has just entered the military, and his eldest daughter was engaged to be married. And, his 3 youngest were all doing incredibly well in their studies. His youngest son has even earned a most honorable reputation in the University.
He was 45 years old with 6 children and he met her. She was the girls' governess and he was a nobleman. They couldn't be together. She was 15 years younger than he was. They shouldn't be together. The marriage was held the spring of his 46th year. She was pregnant. He didn't want the child to be a bastard, so they married. The child was born 8 months after the wedding night. It was enough time to thwart any suspicions of his conception. When Grey was born, they'd thought she'd die upon giving birth. It was a difficult delivery, and the time was a dangerous period. They were wrong. She died, giving birth to a second son. She only lived long enough to give him a name: Alek.
The man was overcome with grief. He'd suffered loss 4 times. He'd loved 4 times, and lost them all. He loved his children He loved and supported them But, they were drifting away, one by one, with their own responsibilities. Only 2 years left before he can officially name Mikel as his successor.
He was drunk and it was late. he didn't mean to drink too much, but... but he'd thought that he could let go. Just for one night, he can forget about his responsibilities. One night and it will all be fine. But, one night turned to half a year. It was getting harder to quit and he thinks he never will be able to. He couldn't stop, even when his children had pleaded with him, even when his two eldest sons refused to speak to him anymore. Even, when his eldest daughter and youngest son needed him most. He couldn't stop.
Then, that night happened. Another drunken night like all the others before it. Or not. It wasn't the same at all. Because, that night, he was dubbed a murderer. He knew the consequences. It shouldn't affect the future of his children. There will be considerable damage to their reputations, but they will survive. Society will talk, but his children are still of noble blood. His victim, however changed everything, however. It wasn't as simple as he'd surmised. It wasn't just a murder. It was the murder. He'd killed the crown prince.
