Nerdtrope: Grand Duchy of Lithuania + Werewolves

From humble beginnings to Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth to 21st century, Lithuania has only had a single king. His name was Mindaugus. He reigned a full ten years before he and most of his family were assassinated and the monarchy was put to rest. Mindaugas had four children, Vaisvilkas, Rukyls, Rupeikis, and an unnamed daughter. As the oldest son, Vaisvilkas was in line to be the king.

Vaisvilkas was a strange prince. Few had seen or heard from him. He kept to himself, usually sewing or brooding in his room. Servants were often shooed away, but knew not to question.

As a child, about eight or so, Vaisvilkas was bitten by a werewolf as ordered by a political enemy of his father. He had lived a normal life until that point. He chatted with the servants, had playmates, and horsed around with his brothers. But, slowly as the symptoms arose, he grew more detached. The moon would send him itching to call to it. His body hair began sprouting much earlier than all the other boys. He nails began to grow and curl, then his legs would morph into canine’s. Every full moon, he ventured into the woods, alone. He was always careful to make sure no one followed him. Deep in the forest he’d transform, hidden by the trees and the dark of the night. He had to keep this a secret from the Lithuanian people and the royal staff, as not to bring shame to his family.

His life came to an abrupt halt in his early twenties. He had met death before. Veiled by the thick autumn night, a gang of political enemies murdered his father and two brothers. Vaisvilkas would have been slain, if not for the full moon, which kept him far from the castle. Though Vaisvilkas would never be king, he became the Grand Duke of Lithuania and served up until his assassination. Through his life, he never revealed his secret. How could he? Werewolves to be feared and killed, rulers were to be feared and respected.