After a couple of hours of riding, another port came into view, and it was magnificent.
In the air, Airships took off to and fro, their grand black bodies blocking out large parts of the sky.
Some of them carried advertisements and others looked to be for passengers.
On the seas were massive military vessels made of thick steel and puffed black smog into the air from their smokestacks. On their decks were enormous 15-inch guns pointed in the sky.
Along with the grand battleships were hundreds of steamships flowing to and away from the docks.
Some were filled with supplies while others looked to be luxury ships packed with the rich and influential.
Flags of the Ambur kingdom swayed on every ship, airship, and warship.
But the main star of the show was the port itself. It was covered in towering cranes that loaded and unloaded cargo from massive ships.
Workers and trucks dotted the area like stars in the sky, while the city skyline sprawled out into the background.
The distant skyscrapers stood out, their glass surfaces reflecting the sunlight and shimmering ocean.
Alexander, who was on the bow of the ship with a few sailors, looked out onto the scene in awe. He knew the Ambur kingdom was advanced, especially with things like airships and radios, but this… this was practically a city ripped straight from the twentieth century!
"Holy smokes," Alexander whispered to himself as he watched the port grow closer and closer.
"Docking crew ready!" One of the sailors next to Alexander shouted as he took off, jogging towards the back of the ship.
Alexander couldn't stop his bubbling excitement as he tightened his grip on the rail of the ship.
The sheer scale of everything was overwhelming, almost unbelievable.
The closer the ship got to the docks, the louder the surrounding air got, from shouting workers to loud roaring engines.
"Mr. Navigator, steady as she goes!" Another sailor shouted with a laugh from the deck above Alexander.
The ship soon began to slow as it approached one of the quieter parts of the port, away from the warships and closer to the civilian ships.
The closer the ship got, the slower its movements became, until it was practically crawling alongside the steel docks.
Alexander watched it all with an almost hypnotic smile until he was suddenly snapped back to reality. "Stop gawking." A cold yet familiar voice cut through the busy air, "Have you never seen a city before boy?"
Alexander looked up to Béatrice with a frown.
Oh my apologies lady Béatrice, I never seen anything like this, you know, on account that my home was burned during a war when I was six!
Alexander wanted to answer sarcastically but didn't bother, instead just sighing. "Sorry." He muttered under his breath.
Béatrice shook her head while crossing her arms.
She looked out onto the part as the sailors prepared the gangplank. "Sorry won't cut it, the last thing I need is you gawking like a fish out of water, pull yourself together, and let's move."
Wow, a whole city before me, and my mood was ruined by the snap of Béatrice's fingers.
"How convenient," Alexander muttered under his breath as he followed behind Béatrice.
It wasn't long before the two of them reached the gangplank, where Louise was spotted staring at a red and gray limousine. "Eghh." Louise let out a curt breath as she narrowed her eyes at the vehicle.
(Picture an early limousine, like from 1910.)
"Looks like they've taken initiative," Béatrice said, uncrossing her arms as she stood behind Louise.
Louise looked like she was going to be sick, her cheeks losing their color as she narrowed her eyes. "They don't have a carriage," she whined, "they've brought that smelly grease box."
Alexander raised an eyebrow as he looked out to the limousine, spotting it just off the edge of the port. "Who are they?" Alexander asked curiously, turning towards Béatrice.
"My parents-in-law," Béatrice answered, letting out a sigh as she brushed past the two children. "Come along, we don't have all day." She continued her tone curt.
Louise let out another pained sigh as she followed after her mother, her disdain for the limousine evident.
Alexander followed her.
As the group weaved through the paths, Alexander looked around the busy port with a curious expression.
Hundreds of people were gathered around various stands and attractions, all dressed in formal clothes of elegance and wealth.
Royal pathfinders littered the civilian side of the port, keeping paths open and guarding the peace.
Man, maybe being in the capital isn't so bad after all.
Lost in thought, Alexander didn't realize when the group reached the limousine, he again had to be snapped back to reality when Béatrice called his name.
"Alexander!" She snapped, glaring at him as a young man stood by her with a curious expression.
The man had long black hair and crimson red eyes similar to Louise's. He looked to be around his early twenties and dressed in a gray coat and pants.
"Are you okay?" The man asked with a chuckle, his voice laced with concern and amusement.
Alexander blinked blankly as he looked toward the man. "Uhm, yeah?" He said slowly, unsure how to answer the strange man. Alexander couldn't tell if he was a servant or not.
Though he looked strangely like Napoleon, but younger.
The man reached out a hand, "It's good to meet you, Alexander, I'm André, Louise's uncle, and fiancé to Béatrice."
Béatrice shifted her glare to André but said nothing.
Alexander raised an eyebrow, he hadn't expected Béatrice to remarry after Napoleon's death, especially his brother. "Uhm, I'm Alexander," Alexander said as he shook André's hand.
André smirked as he turned towards the limousine, opening its door he gestured for everyone to enter the cabin. "Please, after you." He said with a slight bow.
Béatrice sighed as she looked towards Alexander and Louise. "Let's go, both of you."
Louise frowned deeply as she stepped into the limousine. Alexander followed after her and was immediately greeted with the smell of perfume and oil.
As he settled into the plush leather, Alexander couldn't help but notice how spacious the interior cabin was.
It resembled the interior of a carriage, with even the second and third rows of seats facing each other.
After Alexander came Béatrice, who sat across from Louise, and André, who sat across from Alexander.
With everyone in the car, André turned to get the attention of the driver. "Everyone is ready to go Walter." He said with a tap of the driver's shoulder.
The driver– Walter, nodded, "understood, my lord."
With that, Walter put the limousine in drive and pulled forward.
As the limousine rattled off the port and onto the street, André turned his attention towards Béatrice. "Have you been alright?" He asked casually, reaching a hand towards her.
Béatrice pushed André's hand away as she frowned at him. "Can you not control yourself?" She asked sharply.
André hurriedly pulled his hand back, his expression nervous. "Sorry I wasn't, I…" he faltered in his words and eventually averted his gaze.
Oh boy…
Alexander went stiff as he glanced nervously towards Louise, who looked out the window with her nose scrunched up.
I guess she doesn't care about her family all that much, not that I blame her.
Alexander also wasn't sure how he felt about André.
He seemed like a genuine guy but if he was engaged to Béatrice something was wrong.
Especially since that was his brother's widow.
Though, I'm not sure this guy willingly got into this marriage, hell, I'm not even sure Napoleon wanted to marry her.
"Heh, you've been quiet Alexander," André called to him with a nervous chuckle. "Have you been treating my niece well?"
Alexander hesitated, surprised that André wanted to talk to him. "Uhm, I guess." Alexander replied as he rubbed his neck, "We don't talk much."
Louise rolled her eyes as she tightened her fist slightly.
"O-oh," André replied, his expression falling as if he hadn't expected that answer. "Well you know, she takes after her mother, heh." André glanced over at Béatrice, who glared at him.
"That's enough." Béatrice said curtly, her tone leaving no room for conversation, "I expect you to conduct yourself better."
André sighed as he leaned back in his seat, "Right." He said under his breath, looking out the window with a lost gaze. "Sorry."
Alexander awkwardly placed his hands together as he looked out the window as well.
"O-Kay…" he whispered to himself as he fidgeted with his hands, the atmosphere of the limousine growing tense.
This was going to be a long, quiet ride.