Josephine

𝓔𝓹𝓲𝓼𝓸𝓭𝓮 75: 𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓑𝓮𝓷𝓰𝓱𝓪𝔃𝓲 𝓢𝓾𝓶𝓶𝓲𝓽

December 05, 1981

Benghazi, Sultanate of Libya

Josephine's POV

I had thought war in the Middle East was unavoidable. Persia and Arabia were squabbling over Iraq. Egypt wanted control over Palestine and Syria, still under my jurisdiction. Libya was eager to expand into the Sahara and into Western Egypt. The Ethiopians wanted Sudan and Somaliland and the Tuscanians wanted Ethiopia. Turkey... well Turkey wanted more of everyone's stuff.

It was set for a bloody war in the Middle East, one I was not eager to find myself in.

That was until the elderly Sultan Idris of Libya called forth a summit of Middle Eastern leaders to decide on official borders to avoid needless bloodshed. I had been invited due to the American presence in the Levant. I thought I would be excluded and I would need to increase my armed forces there in order to defend it. But I was wrong.

Mattéo has requested to stay back at the palace with Hamilton and Josephine Junior, while running the Empire for a couple of days while I was away. Victoria had insisted on joining me in Benghazi in order to improve her diplomatic skills. She really wanted to prove herself on the international stage. I'm thinking she wants to be a diplomat when she grows up as well.

Our plane rolled to a stop at the Benghazi international airport and Victoria let go of my hand. This was her first time flying overseas and she had been absolutely terrified of flying. During takeoff and descent she had held my hand so hard I swear I heard some of my joints pop.

"I never want to fly on a plane ever again," She muttered.

"You will have to fly back after the summit dear,"

"Awww man..." She groaned.

"Your majesty, princess, the plane has landed safely and you are now clear to depart the plane," A guard stated from nearby.

I stood up and took Victoria's hand as we left the plane and instantly shielded our eyes from the bright sun. The runway was filled with other planes, both recreational and of other foreign dignitaries. A couple of guards escorted us to a waiting car.

Let the Summit begin.

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Victoria and I arrived at the Summit, dressed to impress. I wore a royal blue dress that went down to my ankles with a white sash crossing from my shoulder, across my chest, and to my waist.

Victoria was dressed similarly, in a blue and white dress, a blue top specifically and a white skirt which cut off below her knees. She looked very professional, mature and regal. Very fitting for a young princess.

Around us were various Middle Eastern Leaders.

General Mustafu Inonu of Turkey.

King Hussain of Arabia.

Emperor Romanework of Ethiopia.

King Piero of Tuscany.

President Samuel Rebelo of Egypt.

Sultan Idris of Libya.

Shah Ali-Reza of Persia.

Well, at least Victoria isn't the only child here. Ali-Reza is only thirteen years old, as his father died a year prior. Persia narrowly avoided total revolution in the 50s following Persian expansion into Central Asia. Poor Reza is being hounded by the Russian bear and Turkish wolf who are breathing down his neck, just waiting for a moment ripe for a casus belli to invade. Russia desires parts of the Persian client state of Samarkand which stretches from Ashgabat to Qazaqstan.