Prologue
578 YEARS AFTER THE RISE OF THE ALLIANCE...
Blue, clear, limpid sky. A truly sublime day. The Earth’s air possessed something different. A special lightness. Something that, definitely, could not be found anywhere else in the galaxy, be it Talvegan or any other little speck of space. It was good to be back, Hans Peter thought, even if just for a few short weeks. He had to make the most of the time available away from the Academy exams and far from the eternal vacuum that surrounded the ships in war exercises.
He looked to the side. Friedrich was distracted by the landscape outside the vehicle. His countenance exuded serenity. He wondered if he was planning something for this well-deserved and unique time off.
“Almost there. It is beautiful, isn’t it?” Friedrich did not turn his face, keeping it resting on a hand whose elbow anchored near the window.
Hans Peter did not answer. He merely smiled and sighed lightly.
Yes, it was beautiful. The green path of tall trees, meticulously guarding the road, the sunlight covering the impeccable light gray asphalt over which the car glided gracefully, the birds chirping non-stop... everything was magnificent. Hans Peter knew he missed these small things, sometimes. Perhaps not much. But... sometimes... the perfect simplicity of a day like that took the shape of a real desire.
The vehicle finally stopped in front of the stone facade covered in ivy and the immense crest of House Osten on the metal gates of Lindenhof. The gazes of uncle and nephew met with satisfaction. Guards gave way and, in a few moments, the car overcame the final stretch of its route and reached the roundabout preceding the mansion. They noticed someone was waiting for them, smiling, on the doorstep. Friedrich jumped out and ran toward the affectionate hug he knew would welcome him.
“Father!” He surrendered himself to the squeeze of the man who looked like an older and more imposing version of him.
Hans Peter observed them from a distance. The golden blonde strands of the two united when a kiss from Leonhard, on Friedrich’s forehead, sealed the meeting. He was moved by the scene; after all, father and son rarely saw each other now. One was always busy with the war and military obligations, the other was always busy with Academy training and classes. However, despite the nostalgic air, he could not avoid an amused thought. Leonhard was taller and swallowed Friedrich in his arms. A low sound of another kiss, even more affectionate, and Hans Peter thought his brother had tears in his beautiful marine eyes. He smiled and decided to approach. Leonhard extended a hand to him, while keeping the other on his son, stroking his hair.
“Brother,” he greeted him.
“Hans Peter,” Leonhard could not resist pulling him into that hug as well.
They remained like that for a good few seconds, bound in that silent communion, until Friedrich decided to interrupt it.
“Father, only an event like this to get you out of space!”
Leonhard smiled.
“A wonderful event! Now, only you are missing, no?” He gave a few quick taps on Hans Peter’s head, who curved his mouth in slight displeasure, fixing the hair his brother had messed up.
Friedrich could not hold back the laughter.
“Uncle Hans Peter? Getting married? Children?” The laughter continued.
“You know very well that I hate it when you call me that,” Hans Peter protested. One of his eyebrows raised to accompany the annoyed arch of his lips.
Leonhard also could not contain his laughter.
“But you are his uncle,” he attested, to his brother’s greater irritation. “But no fighting, boys. Today is a day of celebration at Lindenhof! And we are all here! It could not be a better day!”
“Shall we enter, then?” Friedrich asked. “I am anxious.”
Leonhard took them, still under his large and strong arms, inside the mansion. Surrendered to the pure happiness of the reunion, they climbed the staircase leading to the second floor amidst brief laughter, jokes, and a natural teasing between Friedrich and Hans Peter, which, for some silly reason, Leonhard strove to foster. In truth, it amused him to see his younger brother and son disagreeing and arguing about nonsense, as typical youth does. He looked at Hans Peter and Friedrich and felt proud to see them maturing together. After a few soft knocks on the door, Anton appeared with a radiant expression.
“Quiet...” he whispered with a wide smile.
The three men entered the room. Leonhard hugged Anton. A hug as strong and longing as the one he had given his son. Hans Peter was the second to hug him.
“I am glad you managed to come,” Anton told him, holding him by the shoulders and shaking him lightly. Friedrich was the last to greet him. Anton’s joy in having his brothers by his side at that moment was absolute.
A beautiful woman, with light brown hair in an elegant high bun and light green eyes, approached the group.
“Aurora,” Leonhard took the small pale hands between his own. “Congratulations,” he added, kissing her on the cheek.
“Thank you,” she replied with the happiest of smiles anyone could have.
“Where is she?” Friedrich walked curiously to the crib he saw near the window. He marveled at the little one moving her little feet and arms in her tiny white dress.
Hans Peter peeked over his nephew’s shoulder. His eyes widened slightly. It was a natural reaction consequent to the enchanting sight.
Aurora noticed her brother-in-law’s gaze and bent down, contouring the living bundle of white blanket with her hands and lifting it. She rocked the little bundle delicately and offered it to Hans Peter, who let out a terrified noise at the prospect of holding it.
“Johannes, she is your niece,” she declared with a sweet smile, insisting.
Hans Peter still kept his arms along his body. The angel before his eyes... should he hold her? He did not lack the desire.
“I... I...” He stuttered. He gathered courage and rehearsed the position he judged adequate to form with his arms to receive her.
“Uncle...” Friedrich, out of patience, stepped forward and showed him how. “Ah...” He settled her near his uniform. “She is so perfect... she is so beautiful...”
Hans Peter did not detach his eyes from the little one. He touched the skin of the white, soft, and warm cheek of that tiny little piece of a person with the tip of his finger.
“Come on, cross your arms like I did,” Friedrich recommended. He then deposited the newborn into Hans Peter’s arms.
Anton approached his younger brother so as not to miss the opportunity for a joke.
“Careful not to break her.”
Hans Peter shot him an angry look that lasted no more than a few instants. The expression cleared rapidly to return to her, who breathed with a lyrical cadence in his arms.
“Aurora, dear, if you will excuse us, Leonhard and I need to talk.” Anton kissed his wife on the forehead. “Can I leave you with the boys a little?”
She nodded silently with her head and a smile. Friedrich, however, protested:
“Uncle, I will go with you.”
Hans Peter and his sister-in-law were left alone in the room. She turned to the crib to tidy it.
“What will you name her?” He asked. His eyes irremediably bewitched by the little one.
“Liliana,” Aurora replied, turning around with a smile.
“Liliana,” he repeated. He placed the tip of his finger inside her little hand. He felt a little squeeze of fingers making his finger captive. He let a quiet laugh of fascination escape. “She has the Osten blue.”
“She will be your destiny.” He heard Aurora’s voice declare with a strange confidence.
Hans Peter raised a confused look to his sister-in-law.
“She...” Aurora approached and brushed aside the black hair falling over the little face that stared at Hans Peter with shining eyes the color of the night. “...will be your destiny.”
Hans Peter always knew Aurora had a kind of gift of foresight. Anton told stories about the many occasions on which his wife had been able to anticipate things, situations, events, as if she read the future. What Aurora said, in one way or another, ended up really becoming reality.
“Of course she will be,” Hans Peter said playfully. “She is an Osten.”
“No.” Aurora’s smile was benevolent and the denial was firm. “She will change your world and you will change the world because of her.”
Hans Peter still had an expression of incomprehension on his face.
“What do you mean by that, Aurora?”
He let out a quick laugh, trying to disguise his annoyance with that mysterious air. He did not believe in predictions, but he also did not wish to offend his sister-in-law.
Aurora gained some distance to observe, calmly, Liliana in her uncle’s arms.
“You do not understand now, but the occasion will come when you will understand,” she continued.
Hans Peter stifled a second laugh.
“You are scary when you say things of this sort.”
“I wish it were different, Johannes, but it will not be. I am happy, however.”
“What the hell are you talking about, Aurora?”
She smiled again and added with a prophetic tone that seemed, to Hans Peter, almost disturbing.
“The galaxy is vast, my dear brother-in-law, but the throne is unique. Liliana will govern your heart and you...”
Hans Peter observed her with worry.
“And I...” he urged her to complete. He lowered his gaze to the baby and heard her finish:
“You will do unbelievable things for her.”
