While Roosvelt began his scramble to build an enclave for the United States of America, a poorly guided attempt to preserve the union and its legacy through a rump state after its inevitable collapse.
Bruno found himself in Bangkok. He was not on vacation, nor was he dressed for such an occasion.
Instead, he sat in the royal palace of the Thai King, a boy by the name of Rama VIII, who had not yet matured into adulthood.
It was not this child that he was meeting with; rather, as the ceiling fans turned lazily above the council chamber, the Council of Regency sat in front of Bruno and his delegation.
They were five old men in immaculate white uniforms trimmed with gold embroidery. In comparison to Bruno's formal military attire, they could only regard him with the mixture of respect and unease reserved for a tiger that has wandered into their garden and politely taken a seat.
Prince Rangsit, the most senior of them, cleared his throat.
