Theo von Hentzau, was really Prince Rüdiger of Ruritania? My heart pounded. "You're King Rudolf's nephew?" I croaked.
Theo looked confused. "I thought you knew. The red hair and all."
I shook my head. "I thought you were -" I could feel my cheeks burning with embarrassment as I continued, "I thought you were one of King Rudolf's half-brothers. One of the old king's by-blows."
Theo's cheeks flushed a dusky, reddish shade. "My parents were quite properly married, Miss Auber. In the Cathedral at Streslau, by the archbishop, no less! It may not have been an especially happy marriage, but it was completely legal. My brother is currently next in line for the throne, you know."
"Wait, so then, Theo, your older brother, is he - " In all this, I had forgotten about Theo's beloved older brother. At first I had supposed the brother to be King Rudolf himself, then another of the old king's bastards. But now I knew the truth. If Theo was Prince Rüdiger, then his older brother, the man he seemed to love and admire most in the world, had to be -
"Archduke Ruprecht," Theo said with a smile.
My mouth fell open. Theo watched me with amusement. "But -" I sputtered.
I felt disoriented, like a person who has climbed from the subterranean railway to the surface only to find himself on the opposite street corner from the one he intended. My mind tried to find a steady course through the labyrinth of possible implications. All I could focus on was the revelation that Theo's beloved brother was the evil Archduke – and Theo knew a thing or two about explosives.
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Pascale Auber & the Ruritanian Riddle
AdventureWhen Pascale Auber is forced out of the airship of the evil Dr. Simpelstur, she finds herself rescued by a handsome Ruritanian diplomat, Theo von Hentzau. Pascale soon realizes that Theo is hiding something - something to do with the evil doctor, th...
