Chapter 192: Retirement Ceremony Part II

Chapter 192: Retirement Ceremony Part II



Bruno had realized damn near instantly that he had said something incredibly improper at the worst possible timing. Judging by the reactions on the faces of the veterans he was just bantering with via dark humor just a moment prior, someone of supreme importance was standing behind him and had heard every word he said.

The voice, of course, was instantly recognizable to Bruno, and he himself flinched before turning around when he heard the smug tone in the Kaiser's voice when he responded to Bruno's rather ill-suited attempt at a joke.

"I must say, is this how a son shows his love and respect for his father? And no less on the day he is to be awarded for a lifetime of effort and achievement with a medal for all of his services to my royal House of Hohenzollern?"

Kaiser Wilhelm II was standing next to both Bruno's father and the current chancellor of the German Reich, Theobald von Bethmann Hollweg. While in the background Bruno saw Heidi facepalming at him while shaking her head, along with all the not so silent whispers and worried looks he was being given by the rest of the guests in the venue.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Bruno had realized only then that their voices had carried thorughout the venue. And that their gruesome tales of the battlefield had made more than a few important figures in the German Reich deeply uncomfortable.

There was really only one thing he could do at this moment, and that was to apologize for his incongruous remarks. Which he was just about to do so when Bruno noticed the shiny new medal pinned to his father's rather elaborate tailcoat tuxedo.

It was the non-combatant version of the House Order of Hohenzollern. A rather prestigious order indeed, one which Bruno hoped to earn himself one day. Honestly, Bruno had done more than enough for the House of Hohenzollern to earn such an award. And yet he had yet to have such an honor pinned to his chest.

"Well... Old friend, I am glad I was able to play the fool in a way that could lighten the mood..."

Kaiser Wilhelm used this opportunity to lean close to Bruno and whisper something in his ears that Bruno found relatively shocking.

"I don't know exactly what you said or did to my daughter, but she has been in a rather foul mood whenever your name comes up ever since your last visit to Japan. Whatever is going on between the two of you, I would suggest you take the time to clear the air, because you do not want me personally investigating the matter, understood?"

Bruno was shocked to hear this. He had not spoken with the Prussian Princess in a while, or frankly speaking any of the other princesses of the noble houses he currently held some degree of diplomatic influence with.

Hell, it had been at least a year since he last took a trip to the land of the Rising Sun, or perhaps it was closer to three whole years now. Just how long had the Prussian Princess been angry with him, and about what per se could she possibly hold a grudge against him for?

Also, the threat was subtle but noticeable at the end of the Kaiser's statement. And because of this, Bruno nodded his head and responded with a short and concise response in the affirmative.

"I understand. I'm not sure what I did to aggrieve your daughter, but I will handle it. If you will excuse me sir, I will go settle this matter once and for all."

The Kaiser simply designed Bruno's response with a slight note of his head before returning his attention to the rest of his guests.

All the while Bruno ran off to go find the young Prussian Princess who though he had not realized it, had tarnished his reputation among the younger generation of German noble maidens with outlandish and slanderous tales of his flagrant mistreatment of women everywhere.