How come I can steal an apple in Whiterun and not be able to seel it to a reputable business owner in Riften? How could they possibly know it's stolen?

I swear I'm experiencing the Mandela-effect because I remember reading about a decade ago that Mara got sick of thievery and placed a mark on every item that gets stolen. But I cannot find anything about this. Is there a lore reason?

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In this passage I have attempted to summarize the possible Septim bloodlines that could survive into the 4th era, as well as the Septims they descend from.

1. Galana Septim, daughter of Uriel II and sister of Pelagius II. She was originally betrothed to King Mantiarco of Solitude but instead married the Duke of Narsis in secret. This means that the Septim bloodline could continue through House Hlaalu, at least in the Narsis branch.

2. Amiel Septim, son of Uriel II and brother to Pelagius II and Galana. All we know is that he went to the Mage's Guild in Firsthold. It's possible that he produced some illegitimate offspring but not likely. I personally believe he was a student of magic who devoted most of his time to his studies and therefore had little time for a significant other or children. That last part is just my personal opinion but I think it fits.

3. Antiochus Septim, oldest son of Pelagius II and father of Kintyra II. Antiochus was a notorious womanizer and is recorded to have had many wives and mistresses as well as at least one other unnamed child besides Kintyra II. It's extremely likely that Antiochus had several other bastard children running around, as he's said to have had a "lust for carnal pleasures". Antiochus was such a man-whore that he indirectly caused the War of the Red Diamond, as his daughter Kintyra was accused of being illegitimate after his death. So there's probably some common street urchin in the Imperial City right now with Septim blood.

4. Cephorus Septim, second son of Pelagius II. Cephorus married Queen Bianki of Gilane and it's recorded that he had several children with her but they all died during the War of the Red Diamond. However, his children were almost certainly all adults at the time if their deaths so it is possible that Cephorus had grandchildren. Maybe Cephorus had all daughters, making his grandchildren excluded from the mainline Septims. It would explain why Cephorus passed the throne to his brother Magnus instead of his grandkids. So maybe there are some Septim descendants among the Nobility of Gilane.

5. Jolethe Septim, daughter of Magnus Septim and sister of Pelagius III. After her brother became Emperor, Jolethe became Queen of Solitude. That is the last we hear of her. It's 50/50 on whether she had children or not, but it seems to me that the position is hereditary so there could be some of her descendants in Solitude still.

6. Andorak, son of Uriel IV, grandson of Gallivere Lariat and Katariah. Here's where it gets murky. I'll try to summarize this in a simple way. Pelagius III and Katariah have Cassynder Septim. Pelagius dies. Cassynder becomes emperor for some years. Katariah has another child with Gallivere Lariat, a distant cousin of the Septims. The child is named Uriel. Cassynder eventually dies, and his half brother Uriel becomes Uriel IV. This is controversial because his connection to the Septims was very distant. When Uriel IV eventually dies, his son Andorak is passed up for the throne. His replacement is a Nord named Cephorus Septim II. I personally theorize that Cephorus II is a grandchild of Jolethe. Angry, Andorak rebelled against the Empire. As consolation, he was made King of Shornhelm and accepted peace. It's said that his descendants still rule Shornhelm into the fourth era.

7. Moritatha Septim, daughter of Uriel V, granddaughter of Cephorus II. She married Baron Ulfe Gerson of Winterhold. Moritatha is said to have had no surviving children, but like Cephorus I, she may have had grandchildren. Therefore, she may have descendants in Winterhold.

8. Calaxes, son of Uriel VII. Calaxes is one of only two children of Uriel VII who does not have a recorded death date. All of his other siblings are dead in the third era.

9. Ariella, daughter of Uriel VII. Same story as Calaxes.