On the night of the dragon attack, the Duke stepped past his dying daughter—and saved Seraphina, his long-held illusion, first. Lily died with sorrow in her heart, yet he refused to believe she was gone—rage, irritation, doubt, fear—denying the truth at every step. When the Crystal of Truth revealed the image of Seraphina luring the dragon, the Throne stripped him of his title and his Paladin's identity, and the Holy Light abandoned him forever. He killed his own daughter with his own hands. And he never even knew.
