Chapter Text
It first began during a historical project review.
Valerie Vordarian was preparing a history of her great uncle's Pretendership under the supervision of Professora Helen Vorthys. They would meet on a monthly basis to review the progress.
Valerie began "I noted something new, Professora. Count Vidal's youngest sister seems to have vanished on Earth. She transferred some funds there just as the war was winding down, then was never heard from again."
Professora Vorthys replied "Well, considering Earth's disunity and the size of the expatriate community, that wasn't all that difficult to do. The toughest part would have been getting off Barrayar, even if she wasn't involved. Count Vidal controlled the spaceports, but not the stations."
"Oh, she was on Aslund with her husband, Anton Vorfolse. He was assigned to the Embassy there. No trace of him was ever found. "
"Well, Count Aaron Volfolse did ally with your uncle, and was executed for same. Perhaps he felt even cousins and nephews were at risk as well."
"Oh, he was Count Aaron's youngest son."
That got the Professora's attention. It was well known that Count Stephan Vorfolse had not married since inheriting from his second cousin after the Pretendership. He himself had no close family, and no appointed or even obvious heir. His district ran itself, poorly.
Not even she knew anything about his son. Which would have meant that his misdeeds, if any, were either unknown or would not have disqualified him from inheritance. If alive, he would be the obvious heir, to this day. If not, even his hypothetical son would have the clearest right. It also meant that either Count Aaron or the eventual Count Stephan, perhaps both, had concealed his whereabouts and obscured his existence.
Miles, in his last visit, had reported that the Count was quite ill. He should be informed of this.