April 5th, 1938.
At the Valorian Capital, Volkshalle. Julieanne Carter was walking down the hallway, heading towards Alexander's office. Clutched in her hands was a document containing reports about the diplomatic efforts that were being made to the Kingdom of Zambesi.
Arriving at the door, she knocked gently and spoke.
"Your Excellency, can I come in?"
She didn't hear any response, so she knocked again. "Your Excellency, this is your Chief of Staff, I have a report for you. Can I come in?"
Again, no response. With furrowed brows, she wondered what had happened.
Julieanne tried knocking again for the third time, but before she could complete the motion, the door suddenly swung open. She stumbled forward, almost tripping over her own feet. As she caught herself, she looked up and found herself face-to-face with Alexander.
Their gazes locked, and for a moment, neither of them spoke. The intensity of Alexander's eyes seemed to pierce through her, making her momentarily forget the reason she was there.
"Julieanne," Alexander finally said. "I didn't hear you knock."
Julieanne blinked, regaining her composure. "I... I knocked three times, Your Excellency. I thought something might have happened."
Alexander's expression softened slightly, and he stepped aside to let her enter. "I see… I was busy with something. Come in."
Julieanne entered the office, the grandeur of the room never failing to impress her, even after all the times she had been there. The large windows let in streams of sunlight, illuminating the polished wooden furniture and the shelves lined with books and documents. Alexander's desk was filled with a pile of books.
"May I ask what you are doing, Your Excellency?" Julieanne asked, looking at the pile of books.
"Ah, this?" Alexander said, pressing a hand on the pile of books. "I am learning. As I have told everyone, I don't have experience in running a country, so I figured I'd use my free time to educate myself on the intricacies of governance."
Julieanne nodded, impressed by his dedication. "That's commendable, Your Excellency. It's not every day you see a leader willing to admit what they don't know and take steps to rectify it."
Alexander smiled faintly. "There's much at stake, Julieanne. I cannot afford to lead this nation blindly, especially with the world in its current state. Now, what do you have for me?"
Julieanne handed over the document she had been carrying. "It's the latest report on our diplomatic mission to the Kingdom of Zambesi, Your Excellency. Captain Ellis has made contact with their officials, and the initial response was tense, as expected. However, it seems the situation has stabilized for now."
Alexander took the document and began flipping through its pages, his eyes scanning the text with the intensity of someone who knew that every detail mattered. "And?"
"The Governor of Maputo, Moyo, contacted his King for permission to send diplomatic envoys here to Valoria."
"And what's the response?" Alexander continued reading, his brow furrowing slightly as he took in the details.
"Their king granted approval to the envoys to visit Valoria," Julieanne continued. "They are expected to arrive within the next week."
"Really? I thought they would be cautious when sending a diplomatic envoy. Especially when they have mistaken us for being a Western nation," Alexander said, reading along the lines of the report which indicated that the Zambesi officials were wary of them.
"Perhaps we piqued their interest," Julieanne said. "Captain Ellis told them that we aren't a Western power and that we are a country not far from them."
"Captain Ellis told us that we are 1,000 kilometers east of them," Alexander glanced up at Julieanne. "Why would he divulge such information?"
"Telling bits of information about us Your Excellency would help us establish trust and credibility," Julieanne explained. "By being transparent about our location, Captain Ellis was likely trying to differentiate us from the Western powers they distrust so deeply. It could be seen as a gesture of goodwill, showing that we have nothing to hide."
Alexander hummed in understanding and probed no further.
"Okay, we have an expected guest here in Valoria for the first time since our inception, and it's going to be historic. Julieanne, is the Minister of State informed of the expected visit?"
"Yes, Your Excellency," Julieanne replied. "The Minister of State has been fully briefed and is already coordinating with various departments to ensure that everything is in place for the arrival of the Zambesi envoys. Preparations are being made to ensure their visit goes smoothly, and that we present Valoria in the best possible light."
Alexander nodded, seemingly satisfied with her response. "Good. I want to make sure that we extend every courtesy to these envoys. I want my mission to be a complete success. It's an instant gem that we can use to better our infrastructure here in Valoria."
"I will make sure that everyone knows the stake and that all preparations are flawless," Julieanne assured him resolutely.
Alexander nodded and grabbed one of the books from the pile. "If there is nothing else, you may leave Julieanne. I will be returning to my studies."
"I can help you with that, Your Excellency," Julieanne offered, her voice softening slightly. "If you need any assistance with your studies or if there's something you find particularly challenging, I'm here to help."
Alexander looked up from the book he had just picked up, his expression thoughtful. "I appreciate that, Julieanne. I'll keep that in mind. You have matters to attend to anyway."
Julieanne nodded, understanding the subtle dismissal. "Of course, Your Excellency. I'll leave you to your studies then."
She turned and made her way toward the door, pausing briefly as she reached for the handle. "If you need anything, I'll be in my office."
Alexander offered a brief smile. "I'll reach out if anything comes up."
With that, Julieanne quietly left the office, closing the door behind her.
***
Meanwhile, back at the port of Maputo, the bustling activity of the day carried on as usual. Fishermen hauled their nets, merchants peddled their wares, and dockworkers loaded and unloaded cargo from ships.
Amidst the crowd, a lone figure moved calmly, blending seamlessly into the throng of locals. He wore the simple garb of a laborer—worn trousers, a loose shirt, and a wide-brimmed hat that cast a shadow over his face, obscuring his features. To anyone around, he was just another man going about his business, unremarkable in every way.
As he navigated the maze of crates and barrels near the docks, his eyes flicked subtly toward the Valorian fleet anchored nearby.
The man's hand slipped beneath his shirt, fingers brushing against a small, hidden object. He continued walking with a steady pace until he reached a spot where the view of the fleet was unobstructed. He paused there, pretending to adjust his hat while his other hand discreetly pulled out a small, compact camera.
With the camera concealed beneath the fabric of his shirt, he raised it just enough to capture the fleet in its entirety. His thumb pressed down on the shutter, and a barely audible click followed as the camera captured the image. He quickly checked the result through a small slit in the fabric, ensuring the photograph was clear and unobstructed.
Satisfied, he tucked the camera back into its hidden pocket and resumed his walk, as if nothing ever happened.