Years ago, the new Duke Astra Nova asked for the hand of Princess Rosa, the younger sister of the current Emperor and his friend at the time... and she said yes.
Talk spread that the marriage was a way for the rising Duke to climb above the other two duchies, a step closer to the Imperial family... especially since his offspring would carry Asterval blood too.
But was it really like that?
After a while the Duke was blessed with his first child, and his last too... Alicia.
Little Alicia inherited her mother's eyes, but in a deeper shade, while her hair resembled her grandmother's, who had passed away by then... human genes that had evolved with the awakening and taken on new traits.
Despite all the gossip going around, the Duke and his wife were a happy couple, and with the arrival of their first daughter they were even happier, their small family complete.
But unexpectedly for a baby, Alicia was quiet... babies aren't supposed to be quiet, not to that degree at least.
