Veridia

Part 2: Prologue

Aethiria, present

What was the best way to spend one's morning? Andrei wondered as he watched Aleksander sort through a mountain of correspondence.

He sighed exaggeratedly, leaning back in his chair and resting his boots on a coffee table.

"If only, Alek dearest, you could read as fast as wind. Then, in two years, maybe you could get through all of these letters."

"Your sarcasm is not appreciated."

Aleksander shot him an arch look from where he was sitting in front of his desk. Midmorning sun poured through the window and leaves were falling left and right. There was a mat of dried leaves littering the ground beneath Aleksander's window, soon to be cleared away by the palace gardeners. The rotten leaves would probably turned to compost for the greenhouses.

Winter was coming fast this year. Aleksander was going to have a winter season, which meant that they only had a month or so to prepare for the event. 

Almost all the nobles had returned to their respective lands since the war ended, and those with daughters were certainly scrambling to prepare after the letters went out. Geneva was staying at the palace, her dresses being made by the royal seamstress. The money was not a problem, since King Volkov had granted her a thousand gold because of the war. She'd also been appointed as the second-in-command of the royal army, after Oriel. 

Not even two months at Aethiria and she already has a higher-paying job than me.

Andrei chuckled to himself, summoning water droplets out of the air and flicking them at Aleksander's hair.

"Would you quit being a nuisance? Either you stay and behave or you can get out." Aleksander scowled irritably.

"Awww, have you gotten your princely trousers in a twist?" Andrei grinned elfishly, yelping when a tongue of flame licked at his arm.

"Shut it."

"Alright, alright. Goodness."

Aleksander slit another envelope, eyes furrowing.

"Laurasia has accepted our invitation. That's interesting. Princess Hua is older than me."

"Not by much. She's only twenty. You're eighteen."

Aleksander hummed noncommittedly, setting the letter aside.

"We need more trade with the Orient side anyway. Laurasia literally swims in precious metal," Andrei commented. He crossed his arms over his chest.

"You do realize that you have to pick a wife, right? Strategically, this could make or break our foreign relations."

Aleksander flinched and Andrei's eyes narrowed.

"Believe me, I know. I know more than anyone."

~

A/N

Part two, prologue! This section will focus more on a historical-fiction-y type story. I want to try my hand at all of my favorite tropes and genres, so let me know what you guys think.