A crown forged piece by piece, moment by moment. Prince Sekaran is nine years old when he meets his cousin Aras for the first time. Twenty when Aras is given a scepter. Thirty-five when he becomes heir and discovers the truth about his cousin ... A novel-length series of linked stories and vignettes, each revealing the moments that define Sekaran's life: first encounters, unexpected revelations, and the ties of blood, friendship, and loyalty that bind him to his cousin, his broader family, and the summer country itself.