Upon stepping foot into Vienna, Bruno was capable of seeing the land and its natural beauty. The Austrian people flooded the streets bustling and hustling about their peaceful daily lives. The ancient architecture, many of which were centuries older than the United States itself, stood proudly in the background.
It was a wondrous sight to behold, as if Bruno had stepped foot into a fairy tale. He, of course, was snapped back to attention by the guide provided to him and his men. The Bavarian dialect which was spoken in Austria was different enough from the German which Bruno knew in both of his lives that he had to pay an extra emphasis on what was being said to him.
Even so, he understood it well enough to properly communicate with the Austrian Military officers who led him across the city of Vienna to the palace which housed the Habsburg family. As a representative of the German Kaiser from the rival house of Hohenzollern, Bruno quite frankly did not know how he would be treated by his Austrian allies.
The German people were well known for holding their grudges. And though it had been close to forty years since the Austro-Prussian war was fought, the current Kaiser of the Osterreich was indeed old enough to have lived through it.
Hell, the man was quite literally in charge of the Austrian Empire when it began. Bruno, of course, was born of the newer generation, meaning that his entire life had been spent during a time where the German nation was unified under the banner of the Hohenzollerns. Thus, he did not know whether the old Kaiser of Austria would treat him better or worse because of this.
Either way, when Bruno stepped foot into the Hofburg he found that the elderly Kaiser was standing there waiting for him. Along with his sons, daughters, and grandchildren. The uniform which Bruno wore, while prestigious, was significantly less so than that which the Austrian Kaiser wore.
Even so, considering his age, rank, and the vast amount of awards Bruno wore, he definitely stood out. Catching the eye of several of the younger maidens in the Habsburg royal line. His distinctive mensur scar added to the man’s character, especially when it was accompanied by his signature cold and callous expression.
Bruno provided a slightly and courtly bow before the Austrian monarch while expressing his gratitude for the invitation to the royal palace.
“Your Majesty, I am honored to stand here in the Hofburg before the legendary and ancient House of Habsburg. I assure you that my men and I look forward to the training exercises we will conduct together with the Austro-Hungarian army within the alps.
If there is anything you would like to request of me, please make it known, and so long as it is in my power, I will endeavor to make it a reality.”
There was a long and awkward silence for some time as Franz Joseph inspected Bruno from head to toe, seemingly trying to gauge the man’s character, all while his various issues were whispered in the background. Thinking perhaps their royal father and grandfather could not hear them.
Finally, Franz Joseph spoke, mentioning the various awards Bruno had been given, primarily by foreign monarchs, specifically the Tsar at that.
“It would appear that Nicholas has been quite good to you, boy. Several of those medals pinned to your chest grant you the status of nobility within the borders of the Russian Empire, do they not?
So, let me ask you this: where do your loyalties truly lie? Because as far as I can see, the Tsar has rewarded you significantly more for your service than that brat Wilhelm has…
A full-fledged Field Marshal, hereditary nobility earned by your own will, and the status of war hero? Why would you return to Prussia, where your greatest reward was a minor promotion to a rank far less significant and powerful than the one you hold in Russia?”
This was a bold and, quite frankly, rather rude question to ask Bruno. And even several members of the house of Habsburg gasped in shock at what had suddenly come over their father and grandfather.
With the Archduke, Franz Ferdinand even whispering something to the old Kaiser, only to be shooed away by the elderly man who continued to stare sternly at Bruno, waiting for a proper response.
Bruno, of course, knew why the old codger was being so blunt with him, and it was because he was at odds with Russia over disputes in the Balkans and territory, they both wished to gain for themselves.
Bruno was a foreign agent who had gained significant amounts of fame and status in Russia. He also had a reputation as a cold and ruthless bastard towards his enemies. On more than one occasion, Bruno massacred an enemy army to the last man throughout his brief but extensive military career.
Such things were seldom found throughout history, and yet Bruno had done it in four major battles so far, with Mukden being the most notorious. His infamy as an inhuman monster in the uniform of a German general had long since preceded him.
And the Austrian Kaiser wanted to know whether he would one day himself become a victim of this monster, who was standing in front of him without the slightest trace of human emotion.
For the sake of maintaining friendly ties with Austria, and perhaps furthering the Kaiser’s goal of roping the Russians into his military alliance with Austro-Hungary and Japan. Bruno let this blunt and rude question slide and instead answered it honestly.
“My actions in Russia, though rewarded exceptionally more than I frankly deserved, were done so not out of any loyalty to the Tsar or to the Russian Empire, but simply out of personal animosity towards the Marxists who took up arms against their rightful monarch.
As far as my loyalty goes, it has always been to God, family, folk, fatherland, and Kaiser. Nothing in this world could ever change my determination in this regard, especially not something as meaningless to me as fortune or status.
Should there ever come a time where I am so easily corruptible and swayed by such petty trinkets, then may God make my death painful, slow, and just. Have I answered your question satisfactorily, your majesty?”
Bruno’s words were cold, ruthless, and filled with righteous indignation towards that which he perceived to be the source of all evil in this world. A source that had thoroughly destroyed his country and his people during his past life. At least from his perspective.
They were the words spoken by fanatics throughout the annals of human history. But one had to be a fanatic in something which they believed in positively, if they wished to counter the fanaticism and destructive nature of Marxism. Or else they would be destroyed.
And thus, Bruno’s words had thoroughly convinced Kaiser Franz Jospeh of the man’s loyalty to his country. And though he didn’t know it, his fiery speech had gained the interest of several of the younger members of the house, who looked upon Bruno as if he were a man of great passion and virtue.
After all, combating evil was always an idea that inspired the youth of the world, no matter what country they were from. And thus, in the eyes of the Habsburg Dynasty, or at least its youngest generation, Bruno had gone from a rather intimidating and frightening figure to a hero of justice.
