“Your father didn’t tell you? I’m quite certain it’s of interest, especially to you, since you’re part of the tree.”
I glanced at Huck. He wasn’t following either.
“Tree?”
“Family tree. Is that the right word in English? Dr. Mitu was researching Elena’s genealogy—her family’s lineage. He’s been attempting to trace it through historical documents. They started working on it when she was a student here. You didn’t know about his project?”
“Oh, right. That project,” I said, pretending I knew all about it. “The professor made a recent discovery about my mother’s family?”
She took a sip of hot coffee, holding the cup in both hands. “About the House of Dracule?ti.”
All the hair on my arms stood up. Huck made a small noise. “Vlad the Impaler’s house,” I said, trying to sound casual.
“The very one,” Liliana said brightly. “Dr. Mitu was going to send all the documents to your father, but he was excited to show him in person. You didn’t know? Vlad the Impaler was Elena’s ancestor.”
A wave of dizziness rolled over me. My legs stiffened painfully. I felt as if someone could push me over with the tip of their finger and I’d topple sideways to the floor like a captured chess piece.
“Her ancestor,” I repeated, licking dry lips. “You mean, in a general sense? As in Vlad Dracul was a kind of founding father of Romania?”
“No. I mean quite literally. Elena was tracing her family tree before she died, and Dr. Mitu was helping her. Over the years he forgot about it, until he came across a record of a wedding in 1487. It was for the marriage of Vlad’s child from his first wife, Mary—illegitimate daughter of John Hunyadi, Prince of Transylvania. Your mother can trace her family back to Vlad’s daughter.”
I blinked at Liliana, unable to process this.
Huck said, “Hold on. You’re saying Theo here is related to Vlad the Impaler?”
“Why, yes,” the young woman said, leaning back in her chair with the coffee cup steaming under her chin. “I helped verify the documents for Dr. Mitu. You see, Vlad’s second wife was a Hungarian noblewoman, a cousin to Matthias Corvinus, the famous Hungarian king who was born here in Cluj—his statue is just down the road,” she said, gesturing with her head. “That line may have died out years ago, or there may be a descendant—the professor is still researching that. But what’s forgotten is that Vlad had a previous wife, when he was younger. His first wife drowned. She was a Transylvanian noblewoman from a village near Bra?ov.”
“My mother’s hometown,” I murmured.
“Exactly,” Liliana said in an excited voice. “In Vlad’s time, there was no united Romania. Transylvania and Wallachia were under separate rule. His first marriage would have likely been an attempt to keep things friendly between the two regions. But yes, the professor believes the research is sound. You are a daughter of Wallachia and Transylvania. Vlad’s blood flows in yours.”
“That is...” Shocking. Alarming.
“Unbelievable,” Huck murmured.
The assistant didn’t notice though. She just looked pleased with herself—proud, even. “You are excited, I can tell.”
That was not the word I’d use. In fact, I couldn’t use any words. I was speechless, and possibly on the verge of passing out.
Liliana cleared her throat. Her gaze flicked from Huck’s paled face to mine. “I hope you’re pleased by the news. I know it’s a little shocking, what with Vlad’s dark reputation. But much of that was probably exaggerated by his enemies. You should be proud. The entire history department has been fascinated by this research. If you publicized it, you would be the darling of all Romania.”
I blinked at her several times, trying to paste a smile on my face. “Thank you for sharing this. It’s a bit of a shock, but I’m certain...” I trailed off, not knowing what else to say. “I’m sorry, but we need to...” Need to what? I was losing my mind. Was this shock? I thought it must be.
“We need to catch a bus,” Huck quickly said, rescuing me deftly before tipping his cap at Liliana. “Sorry to rush out of here. It was nice to meet you. Please tell the professor we stopped by when he returns from Egypt.”
“Of course!” she said, flustered. “The pleasure has been mine.”
I mumbled my thanks in a daze, but when Huck put a hand on my shoulder to lead me out of the office, I remembered something. “Sorry. One more thing,” I said, turning back to Liliana. “You said there was possibly another descendant. From Vlad’s second wife?”
“Yes,” she said. “He’s a Hungarian in his forties. Dr. Mitu has been in touch with him. Actually, the professor was doing some ancestral research for this man this past spring when he first stumbled across the record that connected your mother to Vlad. It was a complete surprise.”
I stilled. “You wouldn’t happen to remember this man’s name?”
“Let me see...,” she said, biting her lip. “I believe the man’s name was a Mr. Rothwild.”
“Fuuuuuu...,” Huck drawled under his breath.
Goose bumps blossomed over my skin. I was not going to faint. I was, however, very close to vomiting.
