Der Erbe: Roman. Erster Band.

In a modest yet increasingly respectable town, the Witte family navigates the delicate balance between modest origins and newfound ambition. Ottilie, a bright‑spirited young woman of barely twenty, delights in the lively dances of the local lieutenant, while her mother, a diligent housewife turned social aspirant, dreams of securing a noble marriage for her daughter. Their mornings begin with the clatter of coffee cups and whispered hopes, set against the backdrop of a household that has risen from humble beginnings to the comfortable status of a respected prosecutor’s home.

Tension brews as the mother’s desire for prestige clashes with Ottilie’s own yearning for freedom and genuine affection. While her father is often called away on official duties, the household’s newfound luxury exposes old friendships and creates uneasy alliances with the town’s aristocracy. As whispers of an “uncomfortable visit” loom, Ottilie finds herself at a crossroads, torn between the expectations of her family and the stirrings of her own heart.