If you read Nostalgia, may or may not update sometime soon. I'm getting distracted with actual novels and quality writing.

Principium - beginning; start

Please note that I don't speak Latin.

Prologue

June 18, Year *315

"Master Lovino!" a young man called, entering his prince's private chambers without knocking. Lovino Vargas turned to glare at him, but his mind registered the boy's red face and urgent look.

"Yes? What is it?" he asked with a sigh.

"You have a visitor!" the servant told him.

"At this time of night?" Lovino wondered, glancing at the clock on the side of his table, reading 22:37.

"Yes," the servant answered. "He told me that it was a matter of urgency, and he said that I absolutely must get to you right away. He specifically expressed that he did not want to see the King and Queen just yet." Lovino sighed and stood up.

"Alright," he agreed. "Lead the way." The servant nodded and quickly led him to the front doors, where a tall figure stood, covered by the cloak they wore, either to hide their identity or shield themselves from the wind and pouring rain just outside the castle. In their arms was something white, but it was hard to see in the darkness. Upon seeing him, the figure lowered their hood, revealing a young, blond-haired man. A flash of lightning revealed a polar bear in his arms. Lovino's expression lightened a bit upon seeing him.

"Matthew," he greeted, stopping his movements in front of him. Matthew smiled softly. The servant went to light the candles, finding the room to be much too dark.

"I'm sorry to interrupt your evening," he apologized quietly. Lovino shook his head.

"Not at all," he assured him. "Why are you here?" Matthew's smile dropped and his face turned grim.

"It's… nothing good," he told him. "My kingdom has been overrun, and only with the help of a trusted servant was I able to escape. I do not know who orchestrated this nor why, but I am no longer able to go back. Please, may I stay here?" Lovino nodded quickly.

"Yes, of course," he said. "Remove your cloak. It must be soaking. I will have this man here wash it for you." Matthew nodded and took off the cloak, folding it as best he could before handing it off to the servant with an apologetic look. The servant simply bowed and said nothing, as he was taught.

"I am rather tired," Matthew commented. "May I rest for the night?"

"Do you really think I would deny an old friend?" Lovino gave him a look and addressed the servant. "Alert the others that we have a guest and that he is to not be disturbed until morning."

"Yes, milord," the servant muttered. He bowed deeply once more and then ran off.

"Come, I assume you want to stay in your usual room," Lovino said. Matthew nodded and followed him down the dimly lit hallways of the palace. The few servants who were still bustling around bowed as they passed, murmured "Your Grace"s echoing across the quiet halls.

Matthew almost collapsed on the bed the moment they arrived in the room. He was too prideful to do so, and lowered his bear so he might rest on top of the bed first. Matthew turned his gaze on to Lovino.

"I might end up ruining the sheets, and for that, I apologize," he said. Lovino shook his head.

"I remind you that your comfort is most important," he insisted. "Someone will take care of those in the morning. Rest." Matthew nodded and removed his shoes before sitting down on the bed. Lovino turned and began to exit the room to allow him his privacy.

"Lovino," Matthew called softly. He turned to him questioningly.

"Yes?" A coy smile made its way onto Matthew's face.

"I did not think it was possible for you to be so polite," he commented. The regal expression on Lovino's face disappeared as he scowled at his friend of many years.

"I have a reputation to uphold, remember?" he said. "Just go to sleep, bastard, and don't tell my servants!" He turned once more and began marching away, Matthew's soft laughter ringing behind him.

Matthew came downstairs at 08:24 in the morning in fresh clothes and a small dragon sitting on his shoulder. His polar bear trotted beside him, looking disgruntled, but not entirely unhappy.

"Matthew," King Julius greeted warmly from the large dining table. "Lovino has informed us of what has happened. You're welcome to stay for as long as you need."

"Thank you, your Majesty," he said softly in response, bowing deeply. He turned and bowed to the queen and retired king. Queen Fina nodded to him politely, and Romulus grinned at him. Matthew managed a small smile in return before taking a seat beside Lovino.

"Buongiorno Matthew!" Prince Feliciano exclaimed cheerfully. "You're so hard to notice sometimes!" Matthew laughed.

"I'm aware," he said. "How are you this morning?"

"I'm good, thank you!" Feliciano answered, smiling happily at him. Matthew smiled back at him and looked at the youngest prince across from him.

"And you, Marcello?" he asked.

"I think waking up this early is criminal!" Marcello responded with a pout.

"As a prince, you are required to wake up early so you can be prepared for the day," Lovino told him, taking a sip of his water.

"Just because you have a stick up your ass doesn't mean I have to!" Marcello declared. Lovino choked on his water and glared at his little brother.

"You little brat!" he growled and began to stand, possibly in an attempt to reach over and strangle him.

"Lovino, sit down!" Fina ordered. "Marcello, watch your language!" The brothers promptly settled down, glowering at each other.

"Sì, Mamma," they muttered. Matthew giggled quietly behind his fork.

"I apologize for their rudeness," Fina sighed. "I thought I raised them better than this."

"I've known Lovino for ten years now," Matthew said. "I'm used to it."

"Nonetheless, it is only polite to be sophisticated in the presence of an honored guest," Fina insisted. "Now, whenever you are finished with your breakfast, you may join Lovino in his activities. We will have some servants stay on the lookout for any information regarding Kanata."

"Merci, mademoiselle," Matthew thanked.

"I see Aurèle and Kumajirou still hold some animosity towards each other," Lovino commented as he watched the small, red dragon tackle the only-slightly larger bear in the garden.

"I like to think they're friendlier than they had been seven years ago," Matthew said positively, although he winced as Aurèle scorched Kumajirou's fur.

"So friendly," Lovino said sarcastically.

"Is Giacinta around?" Matthew asked, changing the subject in an attempt to ignore the fight in front of them. Lovino nodded and brought his fingers to his lips, a shrill whistle ringing through the air. It was loud enough to stop Kumajirou and Aurèle from fighting just as the air rippled with small, but still strong magical power. The beat of scaly wings in the air slowed as Giacinta lowered herself beside Lovino.

"Good afternoon, Giacinta," Matthew greeted. Giacinta let out a friendly growl and nuzzled him with her nose.

"Where's my greeting?" Lovino asked jokingly. Giacinta just looked blankly at him and huffed out a bit of smoke in his face. Lovino coughed and glared at her. "What would you have done if you accidentally poisoned me, huh?" Giacinta let out an innocent sound and nuzzled his cheek as an apology. Lovino rolled his eyes and pat her head.

Aurèle yipped happily as he saw the younger, yet much larger dragon, and went to paw at her feet. Giacinta cooed and nuzzled him as well. Kumajirou looked a bit put out and crawled on to Matthew's lap. Matthew giggled and began stroking his fur. Upon seeing this, Aurèle left Giacinta to tackle Kumajirou out of Matthew's lap and back on to the ground.

"They're like siblings arguing for their mother's affections," Lovino snorted as Matthew laughed openly at his two companions.

"I suppose they are," he said warmly. Giacinta looked amused too, and settled herself down beside Lovino.

"Master Lovino!" a butler hurried out into the garden. "Master Jones! I bare urgent news!"

"What is it, Frederico?" Lovino asked, looking at him seriously.

"A notice has been sent out to all the kingdoms," the butler, Frederico, began, almost stumbling over his words in his urgency, "and, well… read it, Master Lovino!" He shoved a paper into his prince's hands. Lovino narrowed his eyes and looked at it, Matthew leaning over his shoulder to read as well.

Let it be known that on June 19, Year *315,

I, Alfred F. Jones, have taken over the Kingdom of Kanata

from my brother, Matthew P. Jones,

and have thus begun constructing a new

empire, the New Americana.

May God bless this nation!

Lovino's fingers gripped tightly at the edge of the paper. His eyes narrowed into slits, and he was shaking with true, pure rage. Matthew had a hand over his mouth and tears beginning to fill up in his eyes. Sensing her master's unsettlement, Giacinta whined softly and nuzzled Lovino's arm.

"Frederico." Lovino's voice was chilly and dangerous, making Federico jump to attention.

"Y-yes, sir?" he stammered.

"Have my parents gotten the news?"

"Sì, your Majesty. They are deciding on what to do in their chambers."

"I must speak with them at once. Bring Matthew into his room and get him some pancakes and warm milk." He stood up abruptly and began taking strong, heavy steps inside the castle. Giacinta followed him at his heels while Matthew hugged Kumajirou and Aurèle tightly to his chest. He was too shocked and shaken to do much else.

"Yes, sir!" Frederico followed him, and hesitated before speaking up once again. "Um… Your Grace, if you don't mind me asking… what do you plan to talk with your parents about?"

"I'm going to request we try and negotiate with the fucking bastard." Lovino didn't falter, and his words were sharp with intent and resolve.

"And… if that does not work, sire?" Lovino turned to him with a cold, icy smirk. Frederico fought back a shiver at the uncharacteristic cruelness etched onto his normally regal Heir.

"Then we prepare for war."

There'll be more descriptions in the next chapter. Considering the whole royalty thing, Lovino and Matthew tend to slip into more formal speech. Sorry for OOC.

Lovino - 15

Matthew - 14

Alfred - 14 (With enough money, power, influence, and cunning, you can do it. Alfred's a King by this point, so he has quite a bit of those. Reminds me of Qin Shi Huangdi)

This is also posted on ao3 btw