Empire of Silence

This is the first book in a series that I have been meaning to read for a while. It is a space opera that follows Hadrian Marlowe, the son of a wealthy family on a planet called Terra. The story is told in the first person and Hadrian is writing his memoirs. The book begins with Hadrian dissatisfied with his family’s plans for him; he wants to become an explorer while his father intends for him to take over the governorship (dukedom). He does a lot of whining and then (accidentally on purpose) sabotages his fathers plans. He is also a scholar who speaks several languages and an artist.