Many people wondered why Ragan always tolerated Nolan's violent and reckless behavior.
Some said the Emperor showed favoritism, loved Nolan more than the other princes, and so on.
In truth, all those assumptions were completely accurate—at least, that's how Ragan saw it.
The heart of the matter was this: Nolan was the biological son of his sixth wife, Isabella.
Unlike his relationships with the other wives, Ragan's love for Isabella ran deep—almost boundless.
There was a reason for that, of course. His marriages to women like Vanessa, Cassandra, and Clarisse had been driven by politics or mutual interests, not love.
Although the years had brought some affection, it was nothing compared to what he felt for Isabella.
She had taught him the true meaning of love—and that was the very reason he had dared, even insisted, on marrying her despite opposition from all sides.
