Alek & deryn are married , so are their kids royal?
Alek & deryn are married , so are their kids royal?
Well, they're not married. But even if they were, it would be quite complicated, just as Alek's parent's marriage was. If the Austro-Hungarian throne still existed at the end of the war (which seems unlikely in the book, and ceased to exist irl), I doubt the Hapsburgs would let Alek marry a commander, given the shit-show that just happened.
If the Vatican confirms that a letter existed, then yes. Alek can just elevate Deryn into a duchess or the like.
If the Vatican denies it, then like it or not, Alek is still royal, if not an heir. That technically means that their children are royal too. And though the kiddos don’t have a claim on the throne through Alek, left handed marriage never said nothing about naming grandchildren heirs. It only locked that option for the direct child.
Logic people, logic.
Alek killed for Deryn. At the end of the book it quotes Alek's family motto, that he married Deryn. Austria as an empire died at the end of the war.
Anyway, Alek did well to throw the card away, because he knew he was going to be pursued by her, it was still difficult for his empire to maintain. The Vatican did not recognize the former pope's letter. As it turns out at the end, the empire was being devoured by the Russians, and in our world it was just that, country broke up. Alek returning to Austria would generate a possible civil war or conflicts with Russia that wanted to conquer the territory.
What do you think?