This story begins with the (relatively uneventful) life of a young Spaniard.
Antonio Carriedo, at a ripe and decently attractive age of twenty-two, could, overall, claim that he led an untroubled lifestyle. Not remarkably talented in most areas, but he was well-liked and well-respected; and while he had a slight penchant for getting himself into unwarranted conflict, he was loved all the more for his cheerful recklessness.
He would be well liked, even if he wasn't in such high favour.
The high favour the young man was gifted with was administered by none other than "Grandfather Vargas", the aged but curiously youthful-looking man, while simultaneously balanced and somewhat controlled by an elite council of twelve, was basically the most prominent authority figure in what has become known as Europa.
The years weren't counted anymore by B.C and A.D; instead going along with a much more convoluted system that made nearly everyone give up on recording time entirely. If someone were to estimate, it'd be somewhere in the early 1700's; though the technology in such a large nation varied (In some places, technology was rather progressive, almost ahead of its time; while other areas had regressed to an almost medieval lifestyle.)
After a particularly devastating war that had included nearly all the states in Europe (and nearly destroyed a good half), people had come to a solution in which all European countries were united. This new country that took up the majority of the continent itself became known as Europa.
While the borders between nations had been abolished, a good number of people preferred to stay with others of their own ethnicity rather than blend and dissipate like they were encouraged to. They clustered in large groups and treated those not of their original country, or those who had chosen not to exclusively stay with their own kind, with an exasperating amount of suspicion.
In most areas, though, Europa was a multicultural place. Most tolerated it; a rather insane few rejoiced in it. Antonio lived in Europa's bustling capital, which was located in the land formerly known as Italy. If one were to study the previous borders, the city of New Rome would be in northeast Italy, sitting on the border between it and what was formerly known as Austria.
Antonio delighted in making friends with nearly everyone, despite their origins. It was sort of what his job required, being one of the twelve who advised Grandfather Vargas. (The only other two on the council that he knew was this rather stuck-up aristocrat named Roderich, and his more warm-mannered young wife.) He gave input on how foreign relations should be conducted, and he was proud to say that he's prevented a few unnecessary conflicts between Europa and the bordering state of Russia.
Unfortunately, since he had first joined the council, Antonio was also saddled with the responsibility of looking after Grandfather Vargas's teenage grandson, Lovino.
For the longest time, Antonio had greatly resented this inglorious duty. Lovino, to put it in the most polite way possible, was a handful. He was a terrible flirt, endlessly wooing any pretty lady who so much as sniffed in his direction, and throwing an incredible fit when the ensuing relationship ended brief and unsatisfying. He had no interest in much other than sleeping and eating, and complained when he was obligated to do anything otherwise. In addition, he had a formidable pottymouth, and expressed deep hatred for anything that wasn't Italian. (Unless it was an attractive woman, of course.)
Antonio had all but begged on his knees to look after Lovino's more benign younger brother instead, but to no avail. Eventually, he had become fond of the boy; and though Lovino continued to refer to Antonio as "paella-pissing Spanish bastard", it was quite clear that the two had come to know each other as brothers.
With comfortably respectable jobs and a consistent companion, the young Spaniard was quite content with his life.
That is, until he was burdened with a job that caused him mental chagrin from the very start.
A/N: Whoo-hoo, shitty exposition chapter!