His Ruin Her Crown
Doctor Chen's call arrived just over two weeks later, her voice carrying careful, measured excitement that immediately sharpened Elena's full attention.
"I believe I've recovered a partial pattern," she said, without preamble. "The multispectral imaging revealed considerable ink variation beneath the deliberate concealment. I can't yet confirm a complete name, but I've identified what appears to be a partial surname, considerably shorter than any of the four confirmed founding family names."
"What have you found," Elena asked, urgency sharpening her voice.
"The letters R, O, and W are clearly visible," Doctor Chen said. "Followed by what might be additional letters, though the imaging hasn't