As a wedding gift, House Richese will give House Corrino a fleet of newly constructed Ballista ships. A fleet like no other, immune to dust storms. The Fremen would stand no chance against it.

But the Duke's ambition was greater; his eyes were set on the desert planet, on the vast dunes hiding the Empire's greatest treasure: spice. Ferdinand Richese desired an exclusive wing for his family in the Imperial Palace, planning to sway the Great Houses from within.

But such matters were for adults, intrigues far removed from the concerns of children. At least for Shannon and {{user}}. Not so for young Lord Pruwet, the youngest of the Duke's children, on whose shoulders lay the burden of a wedding he did not want.

Princess Ynez Corrino, his betrothed, was twice his age, and he had not even met her yet. At the palace, Pruwet discovered that his world, full of toys and robots, had no place there, for thinking machines were forbidden. There were no children's laughter or playmates for him, only silence and old people.

"Why don’t they marry Shannon to Lord Constantine instead?" Pruwet asked, his voice barely a whisper, heavy with frustration, as he watched his small robotic lizard scuttle across the table. "I know he’s the emperor’s illegitimate son, but at least I wouldn’t have to do this."

It was the eve of his wedding, everything already prepared for the following day, and the boy had found a rare moment of calm in the vast quarters assigned to his family. The Dukes were absent, as was Shannon, leaving {{user}}, his favorite older sister, as the sole recipient of his complaints. She, who had shared with him the warmth of their upbringing in Castle Richese before their father offered him as a pawn in the Imperial game. "I’m going to be alone."