Introduction

The Galahad Castle, located in Vermont, was the neo gothic manor of the House of Galahad-Canossa, an illustrious noble family that, with mythological origins dating back to Sir Galahad, ruled since the times of the famous Matilde di Canossa over the Marquisdom of Canossa. Loyal vassals of the Duchy of Modena and by extension of the Holy Roman Empire, when the the evil French Revolution started spreading its illness throughout Europe, the Galahad-Canossa were in no way hesitant in responding to the call to arms and its members, -among those is worth mentioning Marquis Federico Galahad-Canossa, a true knight in the middle of the Napoleonic Wars, which gave his life to defend the divine right of the kings- fought bravely against the egalitarianist insanity. Unfortunately, when the revolution triumphed in Europe, the Galahad-Canossa were forced to flee together with the rest of the aristocracy and monarchists and moved with them to the New World. As the Holy Empire of Britannia was established, the Emperor Ricardo von Britannia granted them the Margraviate of Vermont, where they settled until our days. However, as the principles of the counterrevolution were gradually replaced by those of social darwinism and biological racism, the Galahads became an increasingly uncomfortable dynasty within the Empire. Their relationship with the monarchy and Emperor Charles zi Britannia had then completely degenerated in 2010, by the time of the Britannian-Japanese War, when Margrave Giorgio Galahad-Canossa openly opposed the "Areas System", advocating instead for the establishment of a Viceroyalty and the reaching of some compromise with the Japanese nobility.

The young heir Giulio II Galahad-Canossa, just 13, knew all that perfectly well, and also knew from his mother that this was the real reason for his father's death, which officially was caused by a car accident. He could also know that this distaste that his family had towards Britannia was also the reason for his mother was now crying in the sitting room, in front of a document sealed by the Emperor, stating that all their titles were revoked and they had their lands confiscated. There was no space anymore for the House of Galahad-Canossa in Britannia.

As a result of this persecution, the former noble family was now forced to leave the lands that owned for centuries in the New World and go back to the Old one: the United Republic of Europa. They were now entering as refugees the lands that once they ruled as aristocrats.

Once in Europa, they started a new life in the lands from where the family once came: the Province of Modena and Reggio. There Lady Charlotte, Giulio's mother, could find a place as professor of chemistry at the local university, earning a decent salary. Lord Giulio, however, entered the Military Academy of Modena, beginning his military career.

His life in the European Army was however to become far more difficult than he could imagine. His education and social origin made him being the target of the disdain of his fellow cadets, who saw him as a personification of everything that Europa hated. He soon turned into a laconic and isolated person, snubbing and hostilising everybody who would try to approach him.

Of particular importance were the facts of one particular evening, at the Academy, while he was having dinner in the cafeteria. Lord Giulio was by now around 17 and it was his last year at the Academy.

"Hey you, little Lord, why you stay in that corner looking at everybody with superiority?" Started Davide Ferri, an older cadet known for practicing bullying with the younger ones. Giulio did not answered, keeping eating.

"Hey damsel, I am talking to you."

Still nothing.

Davide took Giulio by the collar, forcing the aristocrat to look at him.

"Now you look at me then. So, why don't you tell us how does it feel to be hosted in the palace once belonged to your family?"

"This palace never belonged to my family. The Dukes of Modena were the Este, for your information."

Davide spit in Giulio's food.

"Galahad, Este, whatever. You aristocrats should all die like pigs."

"Why don't you leave him alone? Intervened a little girl with blond hairs, probably coming from the youngest cohort. Davide left Giulio for a moment."

"Oh Leila, I thought I taught you already this lesson once, why don't you mind your own business?" He said punching her and once she fell on the ground still kicking her twice.

"That's extremely ungentlemanly." Intervened immediately Giulio, standing up. Meanwhile, all the other cadets were looking at them with interest, inciting Davide to fight.

"Oh, really? Ungentlemanly? How cute from your side, the knight defend the young damsel… Defend yourself from this now."

Davide was about to punch Giulio's face, however, the young noble was quick in taking a knife and sticking it in the centre of Davide's hand, who screamed for pain.

"That's for your lack of good manners." Whispered Giulio at his ears.

His bad luck was that General Weissmann, director of the Academy, entered the canteen just in time to see the young Britannian sticking the knife in Davide's hand.

"Galahad-Canossa! In my office immediately."

Giulio was sitting in the General's office, right in front of him. Weissman was serious, looking at him through his glasses in a rather intimidating way.

"Very well, this is not the first time in the semester that you get reported for disciplinary infractions." Started calmly the old General as soon as they sat in the office.

"Monsieur, if I may explain…"

"Canossa, you systematically disregard the rules, any of them and tend to live according with your own, I noticed that."

"But sir, it was not me the one who started the fight, he attacked the Cadet Leila Malcal and I intervened in her defence."

"I am talking in general, Galahad. I have seen your papers recently and you look like a public threat, by judging from them."

"I beg your pardon, sir, but I have always been following the realist approach..."

"You base yourself on Clausewitz, Montecuccoli, Eugen von Savoy and people like that, I know that. Fact is that you ignore completely most of the restrictive laws on the use of force that we apply in Europa. I know that in Britannia things are different, but here we are not warriors. We value peace, freedom, human rights, the European values, you know it perfectly well."

"Yes, sir."

"You are nonetheless an excellent student. Just follow the rules, both academically and in your relation with your colleagues. Understood?"

"Yes, sir."

"You can go now. Have a good evening."

Giulio made the military salute and started heading towards the door.

"One last thing, Galahad."

"Yes, sir?"

"Please, stop stealing the liquors from the officers lounge."

"Oh, it wasn't me Sir."

"We tracked the fingerprints on the glasses."

"Uh, well, in this case… I will keep it in mind."

Turning his back, Giulio could not resist making a malicious smile, thinking about what he did and about how he escaped any punishment.

Outside the office, the young girl he had helped before was waiting for him. She was holding a pack with ice on her eye.

"Hi there! I just wanted to thank you so much for intervening."

Giulio was rather surprised by this, considering the terrible relationship he had with the vast majority of the other students.

"Oh… je vous en prie. By the way thank you for intervening first."

"Honestly, nobody stands Davide, especially my cohort, he just keeps bullying everybody."

"Yes, he is a troublemaker."

"By the way I am Leila Malcal, pleased to meet you!"

"Giulio Galahad-Canossa, nice to meet you. Answered Giulio shaking her hand."

"Is it true that you are Britannian?"

"Yes, a Britannian exiled back in his family's homeland, quite ironic."

"My parents were also Britannians, but I was born here and I was adopted by the Malcals, a Parisian family."

"That's interesting, and do you know what was your Britannian family's surname?"

"Yes, von Breisgau."

"Germans then, related with the Habsburg-Este, now that I think, I can remember something once my father mentioned about a certain Bradow von Breisgau. They were cousins but they also hated each other… because of politics I think."

"Bradow was my father."

"That's interesting, means that we are cousins, even if distantly."

They were walking throughout the corridors. In the french-styled green uniform, inherited from the Napoleonic Armée d'Italie, Giulio, with his 175 cm, blond hairs and blue eyes, with a gelid had a very charming appearance.

"Wait a moment, where are we going?" She noticed they were walking randomly throughout the Academy.

"I was going to my room."

"Ah, I was thinking about hanging around for a little more, maybe by going to the Sala dei Passi Perduti."

"What about the astronomical observatory. I don't really want to see the other people right now."

"Good idea. Let's then go there."