In the year 1733, the crown prince of England paid a visit to Norway, and fell in love with their only princess.It is love at first sight for both of them, and after several visits, the princess conceives a child without a betrothment even.What else is shame?.
     In a palace where everyone is valued based on their position, Reginald is rather unlucky. Conceived out of wedlock while his mother was still in her father's castle, there is a strife on both sides.His maternal side never accepting him for being an ornament of shame, and his paternal side never accepting him, making him an illegitimate child and never believing his paternity, carving him into a bastard.His father decides to crown his mother queen and he; crown prince hoping everyone will be convinced and quiet on the whole matter, but a crown is not enough to cover a scandal that huge.  But once dejected by his own father-in-law then accepted , Reginald has learnt that the crown makes the prince.Being human, he succumbs.
         The court will never allow a bastard lead them.They connive with one of the most promising consort , and try to pull Reginald down using intimidation and several attempted  murders.
         They plan another amateur assassination where he almost lost his life to a bullet , but he is rescued by the  penine moorland inhabitants. This is where he meets an apothecary who changes his life forever.
         Meet Charlotte Brumble, a young and aspiring orphan apothecary living with her grandmother in the quiet poor Ramsbottom . Acquiring her knowledge from her late grandfather who once served in the castle as a professional medical official.
          Bearing a rather unfriendly experience, from a young age, Charlotte has been molded into an unfeeling person, and has no time for vain worries except for money of course. She bears the plague of an unfortunate, possessed crazy girl, running mad as a result of too much knowledge for a girl her calibre.
    Charlotte meets Reginald unaware of his status, they bond as friends. Reginald knowing who is responsible for his assassination sets to find evidence and on doing that he returns to the castle and the culprits face justice.
     Because of this, the penine moorlands loses its patriarch, and grand prince Mason Reginald's younger brother is sent to substitute for the vacant space until the best person for the post is found.
     Mason receives a bill requesting for a clinic in Rivington as the only clinic in Alston is too far. He makes that his first task, but before that, uses the patriarchal infirmary as a clinic in the mean time. And makes Charlotte the doctor.
     Reginald pays a visit, to see his brother and the clinic in construction. He is beyond pleased to see Charlotte. They get along as they used to and he tells her his predicaments. 
    Noticing the closeness between the two, Mason  digs into Charlotte's background for security reasons and discovers she is the daughter of the royal medical officer who was to conduct a paternity test on Reginald as he was born, but got kicked out immediately for an accusation big enough to end him.He confronts Charlotte and she denies knowing anything about paternity tests. Reginald has his fears as well; 'what if he isn't a Gratel?'.
      Mason brings her into the castle by force.But she doesn't carry out the test, instead she assists the royal doctor who is thrilled at her intelligence.Mason is smitten and drawn in, but Charlotte ignores him, he accepts his fate.
      Charlotte becomes the bridge between Reginald and his wife who have experienced unrequited love on both sides.She realizes Reginald is going through a whole lot after seeing him tear out, she finds compassion within her and does the test without his consent 
     The tension in the Grand palace increases as the fate of every one depends on the result of the test.
    The test result is out, how will it affect Reginald?, or every other person?? find out!!

Chapter 9 - Not the first time (1)