Prior to his advent into the Grand Duchy of Ehrenstein he had been to Berlin.

A whim, for which he was now grateful, had cozened him into carrying this uniform along with him on his adventures.

It was only after he met Gretchen that there came moments when he forgot he was a king.

He was pale.

From hour to hour his heart seemed to grow colder and smaller and harder, till it now rested in his breast with the heaviness of a stone, out of which life and the care of living had been squeezed.
He rarely spoke, leaving the burden of the conversation to rest upon his uncle's tongue.
"So your royal highness will understand," said Herbeck, "that it was the simplest move I could make, and the safest.