1 FEBRUARY, 1962 - AFTERNOON

"The number on the top of the fraction is called the numerator." explained the teacher. "And the number on the bottom of the fraction is called…"

Lacey St. Clair had to mentally keep herself from groaning in boredom. She already knew all of this stuff - that comes with being a menyally gifted girl. Wanting to take her mind off the teacher's droning, she let her mind wander.

The diplomacy-minded girl had been focused on one big question - a question that had been occupying every diplomat's mind since what happened in Germania a week or so ago. Although Hitler had survived the assassination attempt, it was now clear to everyone that if he did not pick out his successor soon, Germany would face a leadership crisis that presented the threat of a civil war, something which might tear down the New Order it had spent so long building.

Now if you know one thing about authoritarian regimes, it's that the dictator usually chooses to have someone from their close inner circle succeed them in the event of their incapacitation or death. In Germany's case, however, it had not one, but four potential choices for its new Führer. She decided to do a quick mental review of the choices whilst the teacher rabbited on.

Lacey herself and her father, as well as a few of her father's mates at the embassy, believed that the Hitler's successor would be Martin Bormann, the Deputy Führer of the Reich and head of the conservative wing of the NSDAP. They weren't insane in believing this - after all, Bormann was Hitler's closest ally, and the Führer probably trusted him enough to leave the Reich in his hands after his passing.

Lacey's mother, meanwhile, had a different idea. She believed that Hitler's successor would be Hermann Göring, Hitler's security minister and leader of the militarist wing of the NSDAP. He was very popular amongst a good chunk of Wehrmacht units and the Luftwaffe, and given Germany's penchant for militaristic leaders he wasn't out of the question to be the successor (Lacey's parents had made a bet about the successorship, but that's beside the point).

Bormman and Göring weren't the only options for Hitler's successorship. A group of men closely affiliated with Lacey's father at his job had their hopes pinned on Albert Speer, Hitler's chief architect whose projects included the massive Volkshalle in Germania, and the leader of the NSDAP's reformist faction, which believed that the party had to reform itself and the country in order to adapt to the modern age and survive. Lacey herself had a deep hope that Speer would be chosen, but she wasn't banking on it.

Finally, Lacey's cousin Celyn, who lived far away in Wales and who occasionally sent letters by post, had a much darker opinion. Ever the pessimist, he predicted Hitler's successor would be Reinhard Heydrich, leader of the German branch of the SS. Lacey however, thought he was mental in that regard. She had heard rumours of Heydrich's brutality disgusting even Hitler, and so she was confident he wouldn't select him. However, her gifted diplomatic mind told her to be cautious. Heydrich had wide support across the SS units in Germany, and Hitler's ageing mind might think Heydrich's brutality might be perfect for keeping the Reich together. Therefore, although the chances of Heydrich being picked were low, they weren't zero. And Lacey couldn't help but shudder at that thought.

RING RING RING!

Lacey was snapped out of her daydream by the bell ringing, signifying that the school day was coming to an end.

"Alright everyone," the teacher noted. "Looks like the school day's coming to an end! Good afternoon to you all!"

"Good afternoon, Mr. Pitau!" the students responded in unison.

"Don't forget to do the fractions sheet you have for homework tonight! And with that, I'll see you tomorrow!"

Snatching up the sheet, Lacey squeezed through the mob of students pouring out the doorway, grabbing up her bag and heading to the Loud house for Lily's news club.

LATER, DURING THE NEWS CLUB…

"Was this club your idea?" Lacey questioned. "I'm just curious."

"It was Dad's idea." Lily replied. "He thought I could read the newspaper to improve my reading skills, and maybe pick up some new words!"

"I see." said Lacey as she went back to the article about a scandal concerning Royal Woods' mayor.

3 FEBRUARY, 1962 - MORNING

Even as Lacey entered the living room to enjoy some bacon sandwiches for breakfast, her father was already taking note of the newspaper.

"You heard the news from Germany?" Lacey's father quipped.

"...Hm?"

"The Führer's picked out his successor!" Lacey's father pushed the newspaper into her hands, and as she scanned the text, the truth was revealed:

HITLER NAMES GÖRING HIS SUCCESSOR

Following the recent attempt on the Führer's life by a suspected Kempeitai agent, the pressure upon the Führer to name an official successor, and for the Reichstag to formally recognise the choice, has been steadily building. After almost a week of debate and speculation, Adolf Hitler today appeared on live television from the Reichstag and announced to the Reich that his successor would be Hermann Göring.

One of the Führer's oldest allies and beloved uncle of the nation, Göring enjoys extreme support from the Nazi old guard and the Wehrmacht, a relationship which has caused many to reject the decision. Albert Speer, Martin Bormann and Reinhard Heydrich have all criticised the nomination, vowing to never allow the Reich to fall into the hands of a "glory-lusting warmonger".

"So then…" Lacey began. "...the militarist's been picked."

Unfortunately for Lacey's father, her mother overheard that.

"HAH! You owe me ten bucks…"

The older man grumbled as he reached into his wallet and fished out a ten dollar note, handing it to his wife, who was grinning away like she had won the lottery.

"That means one thing." Lacey's voice took on a more concerned tone. "As soon as Hitler croaks, Göring's going to try and finish what he started twenty-five years ago…"

MEANWHILE, IN GERMANIA…

Tick-tock. Tick-tock.

Hermann Göring strummed his jewelled fingers against the grandfather clock, admiring its ornate carvings. He had a similar antique like this in Carinhall - older, of course, but similar. The door suddenly swung open as Hitler shuffled into the room, the Führer muttering to himself as he stroked the matted flop of hair resting on his clammy forehead.

"Heil Hitler!" Göring saluted with a grin. "I haven't seen you since that ghastly shooting. It doesn't surprise me that you're walking it off, though!" Hitler's fleshy, sallow face was scrunched in confusion. His bright blue eyes rested on the Reichsmarshall, and he began to hobble forwards. "My Führer, it truly was an honour to be named as your successor. I have great plans for the German Reich. We stand tall and strong, it is true, but we cannot deny its troubles. I believe it is important to cultivate a period of self-reflection and planning for the future. Bormann is a man who would delight in your passing, my Führer, and as for Speer…"

"Speer, that foolish idealist!" Göring was abruptly cut off by Hitler's spiteful words, a look of sheer anger emerging on the Führer's face. "All his talk of reform… it's all a ploy! Albert and Martin, they want everything! They don't realise I cannot die!" The Führer's feverish eyes locked with the Reichsmarshall's own. "Hitler is Germany, and Germany is Hitler! If I die, the Jews will descend upon our carcasses like vultures!" His angry words soon gave way to an eruption of rasping coughs from the Führer's throat, racking his whole body. He clasped the clock intensely, his face growing redder by the second.

Tick-tock. Tick-tock.

The door suddenly burst open and a cluster of the Führer's personal guard streamed into the room. Rochus Misch held onto the Führer's arm and pulled him towards the door, nodding at Göring respectfully. Before Göring could say anything, the Führer had been taken away. His bemused silence was punctuated only by the incessant ticking of the clock.

Tick-tock. Tick-tock.

BACK IN ROYAL WOODS - 28 FEBRUARY, 1962

" Time flies fast. " Lacey thought to herself.

The month had flown past, and Lacey had fully settled into her new life by now. She had also been introduced to a few of the other Loud siblings by now, and she was… astounded. She didn't realise just how good Luan was at stringing together puns from anything in sight, or how smart Lisa was for someone of her age… but she digressed.

"Okay, everyone!" announced the teacher. "Tomorrow, we're going to have a special project! You'll be partnered up with someone and you two will create a project about a country in the world! I'll reveal more details then."

Lacey perked up. This project might be interesting…