A week later, at Volkshalle.
Prince Theodore Triesenberg stood at the far end of the hall, dressed in a sharp, well-tailored suit. He glanced at the podium set in the middle of the room, where the signing would soon take place. Next to him, Lord Reginald adjusted his own jacket, the faint hum of conversation around them barely registering.
"This is it, Reginald," Theodore said. "The culmination of weeks of preparation. Valoria will officially join hands with us, and the world will know that there is a newly born country in the east of the southern tip of the Black Continent. It's going to be exciting how the world would react."
Reginald nodded, his usual serious demeanor intact. "And it is going to be an achievement for me that my brother wouldn't even see coming. I would love to see his face when I return to Triesenberg."
The room was filled with dignitaries, diplomats, and key government officials from both nations. At the front of the hall, large banners of the two nations hung side by side, a symbol of the unity that would soon be formalized. Cameras from the press corps were trained on the podium, ready to capture every moment of the signing ceremony.
As the attendees began to take their seats, the Valorian delegation arrived. The masked leader of Valoria entered the hall with an air of authority. His presence commanded attention, and the room grew quieter as his delegation moved toward the podium.
"Don't tell me he is not going to remove his mask here either," Theodore whispered.
"I found it strange too. When I first met him with that mask, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss. Like his voice, it's familiar."
Hearing that, Theodore flickered his gaze to Lord Reginald. "What do you mean familiar? I too felt the same way. It sounded like my bastard brother..."
When Prince Theodore mentioned his bastard brother, who was Alexander, he too felt a sense of realization as the voice he had heard coming out from that mask was eerily the same as Prince Alexander.
But it can't be. Alexander died during their voyage to the island where he would be exiled. It won't make sense but now that the two of them came to the same realization, an unsettling thought began to gnaw at both Prince Theodore and Lord Reginald.
Theodore's eyes narrowed as he kept his gaze fixed on the masked figure of the Valorian leader.
"It can't be him," Theodore muttered, trying to shake the idea out of his mind. "Alexander's death was confirmed. He drowned when his ship was lost at sea. There's no way it's him."
Lord Reginald glanced over at the masked leader, his expression just as troubled. "I know, Your Highness. But the voice—it's uncanny. And the way he carries himself... there's something familiar about it. If it's not Alexander, then someone is using his identity. Someone who knows far too much."
"You can't be that ridiculous but let's say we ask the leader of Valoria to remove his mask as a gesture of good faith," Theodore suggested, his voice tense but controlled. "If he refuses, it will only fuel our suspicions. We need to know who we're dealing with."
Theodore nodded, forcing a polite smile as he stepped back. "Of course. We respect Valoria's customs and traditions. Let's proceed."
The room exhaled in collective relief as the signing ceremony resumed. The Valorian leader took his seat at the table, pen in hand, and signed the document with a flourish. Cameras flashed, capturing the historic moment as Valoria and Triesenberg formally united in a powerful partnership.
The crowd erupted in polite applause as Theodore and the Valorian leader shook hands, symbolizing the beginning of this new alliance. Yet, even as the event moved forward, the weight of suspicion lingered in Theodore's mind. He couldn't let go of the thought that Alexander, his presumed-dead brother, might be alive—and hiding behind that mask.
After the formalities, the reception began. Diplomats mingled, congratulating one another on what was being hailed as a monumental step forward for both nations. Waiters circulated with trays of champagne, and the hum of light conversation filled the hall.
Theodore and Reginald retreated to a quieter corner of the room, their eyes still tracking the masked Valorian leader as he moved through the crowd.
"You think it's him, don't you?" Reginald asked quietly, his voice low enough so that no one could overhear.
Theodore took a deep breath. "I don't know what to think. But if it is Alexander, then we're in more danger than we realize."
"We'll need to investigate," Reginald said. "Discreetly. If Alexander is alive, and he's behind the mask, it could mean trouble not just for Triesenberg, but for the entire region."
Theodore nodded in agreement. "Yes. Start gathering information immediately. I want to know everything about the Valorian leader—his rise to power, his connections, and if there's any trace of Alexander in his past. We can't afford any missteps here."
Reginald nodded and slipped away into the crowd, ready to begin his quiet inquiries. Theodore remained by the side of the room, his mind racing with questions and doubts.
As the night wore on, the masked Valorian leader eventually approached Theodore. They exchanged pleasantries, discussing the potential benefits of the alliance and the opportunities it would bring for both nations. But every word the masked man spoke only deepened Theodore's suspicions.
"There's much we can achieve together," the Valorian leader said, his voice smooth but still eerily familiar. "This is only the beginning."
Theodore nodded, his outward demeanor calm, though inside he was already planning his next move. "Indeed. I'm sure our nations will accomplish great things together."
They exchanged a final handshake, and as the Valorian delegation departed, Theodore watched the masked leader leave the hall, disappearing into the night.
The alliance had been signed, but Theodore knew the real battle was just beginning. He would uncover the truth behind the mask, no matter what it took. And if Alexander was alive, Theodore would be ready for whatever came next.