It was all dots and lines. Hundreds or even thousands of bright dots and lines gleaming in a vast sea of shadow like stars in the night sky, but better. Better because every dot and every line was testimony to the resilience of the human race, a reminder that it had been over a century since the Treaty of Casablanca signaled the end of the sixty-year world war. 

The year was 174 PB, or 174 years after the war. Earth was not the same, it will never be the same. The last great war had permanently scarred the planet. Mountains were levelled, bodies of water were reclaimed, and countries were rendered unlivable. Borders of nations were blurred as the strongest of the survivors dared to grab land and resources to keep its people alive. Such was the case of the Kindgom of Rome.

Modern day Italy, Austria, Germany, and France made up what historians called the resurrected Roman Empire. Led by the reigning Queen, Camilla Castiglione, it maintained its superpower status and continued to be the one of the most influential economies in Europe and in the world. Such was a heavy burden that one day the crown price, Queen Camilla’s eldest son, Alessandro Lucius Castiglione, would carry on his shoulders. 

But that night, the prince was content to watch New Florence, the capital of the kingdom, through the eyes of his surveillance aircraft. The nightscape had always fascinated him. Those little dots and lines, hovercrafts moving on the concentric circumferential traffic network, was like little working ants falling in line to bring gifts to the queen. At the center of the network was an imposing architecture that rose above all other buildings in the metropolis, it looked like shards of broken glass stuck to the earth – fourteen shards to be exact. Castillo di Firenze, or the Castle of Florence was literally at the heart of the kingdom’s capital. Its network of monumental pointed glass towers was the most impressive architecture in the city.

The surveillance aircraft’s reflection flew past one of the towers, then it traced a spiral path around it until – 

“We are fast approaching LSALT. Collision with a hovercraft imminent, your highness,” warned the female flight assistant programmed into the aircraft. It sounded like Serena Boutin, an award-winning actress, which pleased Luke.

The prince’s expression did not falter as he let the aircraft fly lower and lower until he can see hovercrafts coming and leaving the landing pad. There was still a long line of hovercrafts waiting for their turn to deposit their passenger into the biggest event of the year – the Victor’s ball and his engagement party. Every important people in the land together with world leaders would be present. His mother was happy to host such an extravagant party.

Just then, he felt somebody’s arms snaked around his shoulder the same time soft lips touched his cheek and a feminine voice whispered, “I knew I’d find you here.” It did not sound like his flight assistant, but he did recognize the voice.

“Serena, autopilot mode. Bring this baby home,” he commanded, pressed a few buttons on the console, then lifted off his VR headset. The voice of the assistant was vaguely heard as she confirmed the pilot’s order and the time that the aircraft would arrive at the destination. Without the VR headset, he was no longer airborne. The view of New Florence was replaced by a tall woman in tight red gown who squeezed her way into the remote cockpit and was about to straddle his thighs. “Woman, I waited for you for hours,” he emphasized the last word.

The woman just smiled, not even sheepish for making the crown prince wait. Her lips were red as sin and was so inviting. The yellowish glow of the disengaged remote cockpit emphasized the soft planes of her face and made her black eyes look darker. In contrast, Luke’s eyes were blue as the sky on a summer day. His was a face that could stop a man or a woman in his tracks, and it did happen more than once. It was the product of generations of selective breeding. He had a fine bone structure and an almost perfectly symmetrical face, which at that moment was softening as the woman appealed to the prince’s primal masculine instincts by slowly sliding forward with her arms around his neck. The low neckline of her dress revealed much skin, but he barely noticed as his thin lips focused on returning the kiss. His hands knew what to do and where to go, but stopped when he heard the door slide open.

A muffled voice, then there was the clear and crisp voice of the queen. “Alessandro Lucius Castiliogne”

Of course, he had to pull away from what was just beginning to be an urgent and passionate kiss. Actually, the woman pulled away with much haste, even withdrawing from his lap. Wearily, he turned his face towards the direction of the sound.

“Mother asked me to find you,” said a man in black suit. His blue eyes and serious brow was much like Luke’s, but where Luke had light brown wavy hair, the other man had straight blonde hair. He was holding a mobile device with the projection of the queen’s face.

Thanks to the advancement in medicine, the queen did not look like a day older than thirty, although she was already in her fifties. Her head was projected as a 3D image. “Thank you, Nico,” she turned to the bringer of the message before directing her maternal voice to her eldest son. “I will expect you to be at the main ballroom in fifteen minutes. Not a second late, or there will be consequences.”

“I was busy surveying the castle perimeter.”

“That is not what I saw, Lucius. This family does not need another scandal.” Her face vanished in thin air. Nico shrugged and started to walk away. Not minding the woman, who was a nobleman’s daughter named Lena, Luke caught up with his half-brother.  

“Better run Luke, or there will be consequences,” he imitated their mother. 

Nico was not yet done speaking when Luke heavily slung his arm around the younger prince’s shoulder. “I owe you, Nico.” He stirred them towards the nearest elevator.

“No you don’t. That was nothing, just doing what I was told.”
“No, no. I owe you. For not knocking, for bringing with you the queen’s eyes.” The elevator’s door slid open and the brothers entered.