Title: Apocrypha
Rating: T (some language, graphical depictions of violence later on)
Characters: Royal Family of Granorg, pretty much an ensemble cast
Summary:

"Of course, the twins had lied to him all these years. The world had clearly gone mad – and it fell to the two of them – the ones forsaken by History – to be its judge, jury and executioner."

The story of the previous bearer of the White Chronicle. Obviously, spoilers all around. Seriously, don't read it if you haven't finished the game.

Features a lot of headcanons, an attempt at worldbuilding, a protagonist going off the slippery slope and one particular pair of siblings being all cute and happy (before things unfortunately went south for them).

Disclaimer: I don't own Radiant Historia (except the game cartridge of course). It all belongs to those genius at Atlus.

The corridors of Castle Granorg were swarmed with servants today, all of them scurrying about for a reason Heinrich did not know. The king's youngest grandson was a short and slight ten-year-old who spent most of his days in quiet solitude; he was starting to find this agitation rather unnerving.

Heinrich clutched his books closer to his heart, peeking at the maids and valets from behind his glasses. They were all too busy to pay him any mind. His father's steward had forced him out of his favourite hiding place, the library, apparently at the crown prince's behest. A sliver of anxiety had sprung up in Heinrich's heart at this summon. The king's eldest son rarely concerned himself with the presence of his children, especially the youngest of the pair. What could the man want from him now?

The door to Father's study was slightly open, and Heinrich could hear the low rumbling of the man's voice coming from within. The boy hastily dropped his books on the floor before entering, interrupting Father mid-sentence. At the sight of his youngest son, the crown prince's expression noticeably darkened. Heinrich caught sight of a black-haired, broad-shouldered teenager leaning on a bookshelf by the window. The boy swallowed nervously as his older brother deigned to give him a glance. Victor's face broke into a sneer Heinrich knew all too well.

"Good day, Father," Heinrich said, ignoring Victor's grin. The words came out rather shakily, and he cursed himself for it. From out the corner of his eye, he could see Victor's smile growing meaner.

"Heinrich," Father grumbled, "sit," and he motioned to one of the chairs in front of the desk. The boy sat, while his brother slumped into the other seat.

"You must be wondering why I have called you here," Father said, pausing to clasp his hands in front of his mouth. "There is something of great importance I must tell you." The man sighed, and Heinrich's apprehension cranked up a notch. "I would have preferred to speak of this later, but the events of today forced my hand."

Victor leaned forward, and there was an eager look in his eyes. "Is this about the Ritual, Father?" he asked, his nonchalant tone barely hiding a touch of morbid curiosity.

Heinrich pointedly did not look at his brother as he waited for his father to continue. The Ritual. The word itself was ominous, but rolling on Victor's tongue, it hinted at even darker things. Heinrich knew that this mysterious tradition usually happened each decade or so, and that it was somehow responsible for preserving the safety of all living things on the continent. He was also aware that the last one had claimed the life of his grandfather's younger sister. This knowledge already left him unwilling to learn more about the subject. And the fact that Victor now appeared fascinated by the topic was enough to instantly kill any lingering interest he had in the matter altogether.

"The Ritual?" said Heinrich, trying to sound as aloof as Victor had been. "What does it have to do with what's happening today?"

"It's because Grandfather is going to be killed today," said Victor. Heinrich made a sharp turn to face him.

"Wh-what? What do you mean...?"

There was a soft growl coming from their father, and suddenly the crown prince slammed his hands on the desk. Heinrich nearly jumped out of his skin, but Victor's expression did not change even in the face of their father's anger.

"Silence, boy!" the crown prince spat, his red eyes blazing at Victor. "Do not speak of my father's murder in such an insolent manner!"

(Murder?!)

Heinrich reeled back, staring at his father in silent horror. Victor only gave a grunt and a shrug.

"I still don't get why Grandfather is the one who has to be sacrificed," he said, raising a brow. "He's the king, after all. Why can't we use Uncle Conrad instead? If we follow tradition, he's the one who should do it."

The crown prince was quiet for a moment. A muscle was twitching by the corner of his mouth, and sweat was trickling down his brow.

"Are you really so ignorant, boy?" Father's voice finally came in a low hiss. "Do you truly believe your grandfather is so eager to see one of his own sons murdering the other?"

"But it's not like Grandfather being killed now will save Uncle Conrad in the end," Victor countered. "At best, he'll only give him another ten years since Uncle will still end up dead by your hand the next time the Ritual is performed."

The crown prince regarded his eldest son with an expression Heinrich could not decipher. Slowly, he slid back in his chair, sighing. The man had never looked as old as he did now. "For my father, ten years is enough," Heinrich's father said. "I pray you will understand the reasoning behind his sacrifice the day you find yourself with children of your own." His red eyes suspiciously veered toward Heinrich as his sentence came to an end.

The boy's cheeks flushed under the stare, and he lowered his eyes to evade his father's gaze. All this talk of death and murder and sacrifice was starting to make Heinrich's head spin. And there was this tiny but frantic voice whispering dreadful things from the back of his mind; yes, Father could have called them here to announce the king's death, yes, he could have summoned his sons to tell them of the Ritual being performed today, but what if there was more to it? What if the crown prince had specifically requested Victor and Heinrich's presences for another, darker reason? One that raised a possibility so terrifying it almost chilled the blood in Heinrich's veins.

Father's eyes were still fixed on Heinrich as he started to speak again. "Our bloodline was entrusted with the throne and the loathsome task of performing this Ritual on the day our ancestors disrupted the balance of Mana, centuries ago. The Royal Family of Granorg have thus always protected the continent, either as Kings and Queens for all to see, or as Sacrifices in the covers of the shadows. Both duties are necessary to preserve the well-being of the world." His gaze flicked rapidly from Heinrich to Victor. "Both duties are equally honourable for ones with blood as noble as yours, my sons."

Heinrich's heart was drumming in his chest. The horrific prospect his mind had dreamed up crept back into his thoughts as he rapidly passed over everything he knew. The king's younger sister, killed shortly before his birth. His grandfather—an anomaly—taking the place of the one who would traditionally be sacrificed. His uncle who would instead be murdered a decade away from now. Which meant that many years later, the one who would be chosen as a Sacrifice could only be—

"No!" Heinrich suddenly cried out, and now his voice was truly shaking, "Father, you can't possibly...! Y-you don't mean for me t-to...!"

The older man only buried his face in his hands. Perhaps it was a trick of his imagination, but Heinrich could swear he saw the corners of his brother's mouth twisting into a smirk. "Victor will succeed me as king," Father eventually said after a tense silence while Heinrich fought back sobs, unwilling to let Victor see his distress, "while you, Heinrich, will be a Sacrifice for the Ritual."

The boy rose from his chair so quickly he felt nauseous. Without so much a glance backwards, he bolted from his father's study, running as fast as his short legs could allow.

A/N: Thanks to ishouldhavewaitedinsalt/InfernalFantasy for betaing this thing :D