Tsar Nicholas II had taken the consequences of the Russian Civil War to heart. Forced to draft a constitution rather quickly following the defeat of the Bolsheviks in order to appease the aggrieved people of Russia, he had largely based it upon the German Constitution.
Meaning that the Tsar only had the power to declare a defensive war. As for any offensive war that was up for the State Duma to vote upon. Even so, he retained significant authority over the military, meaning that he had the power to simply not mobilize his forces even if the State Duma declared war on Germany in the coming years.
But that was starting to seem less and less like a possibility. Bruno’s actions in Russia had changed things quite significantly. The man was viewed as a war hero by the nation, and the humanitarian efforts undertaken by the Iron Division, and the means of support they left behind after withdrawing, had left a good reputation of Germany on the Russian people.
As for the French, their covert attempt to assassinate Bruno while he was in Russia had left a very poor image of the French in the minds of the Russian People. The Tsar had only been informed of it after the war was over, and though it was blamed on the Marxists for the sake of wartime propaganda, a correction was made by the Tsar and his government after the truth was revealed to him.
Even so, the Russian people weren’t angry that the Bolsheviks, Mensheviks, and other Marxist groups in Russia took the blame, as their fury was entirely vented upon the French. Because of this, Russian support for Germany was growing, especially when Bruno began investing in the rebuilding of Russia following its civil war.
Money had become a means for Bruno to acquire power. He, after all, lived a very humble life, and gaining control over Russian assets that were undiscovered, especially in the terms of raw materials, was an enormous benefit given to him by the Tsar after he became a member of the Russian landowning nobility.
In other words, using his knowledge from his past life, and his understanding of the Russian landscape, Bruno had begun buying up significant swaths of land that was currently deemed useless by its owners, knowing that many valuable resources which would be critical to future industry were located there.
Oil, Natural Gas, Titanium, Uranium, et cetera. If there was a valuable resource deposit in an area, he knew that had yet to be discovered, Bruno bought it. This included resources that would not be processed, refined, and used in production for another hundred years, like lithium.
Quite frankly speaking, this was actually a byproduct of Bruno’s actions that he was now taking advantage of. He honestly did not expect to be granted the status of a hereditary nobleman in Russia. This came with the right for him and his family to own land in perpetuity within the nation.
Was it something he thought about in the back of his head when he initially planned to enter Russia in years past? Most certainly, the thought had crossed his mind. But considering the previous actions he had taken against Russia in the past, Bruno honestly thought Nicholas would be stingy in rewarding him for his victories against the Marxists.
He did not expect the man to forgive him entirely for his past actions against the Russian Army, and instead reward him with a gift worth far more than anything the Kaiser could give him. But since this is what came to be, Bruno was now going to take advantage of it and secure Russia’s vast resources for his own family’s future, and for the future of the German Reich.
Oddly enough, while Bruno was sitting at home, enjoying a beer and a cigarette, the mail arrived for the day. There was a stack of letters from various people and organizations, of which he spent an hour reading them all.
But the last letter dam near caused the man to swallow his cigarette. Naturally, Bruno would recognize the seal belonging to the House of Romanov wherever he may find it in the world. It could be covered in centuries of mud and dust, and he would still know it by sight.
Let alone when it was embedded into his letter in the form of a wax seal. Because of this, Bruno quickly opened the letter, and was surprised to see that the Tsar was inviting him and his family to his palace in Russia for a get together of the Russian nobility.
And while Bruno despised such gatherings, he had to admit not only was it unwise to reject an invitation from the Tsar, but it was also an excellent opportunity to try to rope the man into the Central Powers.
As much respect as Bruno had for Wilhelm as both a man and a ruler, Bruno felt like adding a personal touch to the diplomacy between the two empires could assist in securing Russia’s allegiance.
Especially if he could resolve disputes between Nicholas and Franz Joseph. Frankly speaking, Bruno desired Russia as an ally in this war more than them simply staying out of it. If Russia, Austria-Hungary, and Germany joined hands together like they had initially planned before, the League of Three Emperors fell apart. Then there was no power in this world that could defeat them.
Even if the United States joined the Entente in this life, they would be obliterated by such a fearsome alliance. The industrial potential of the three empires alone outmatched anything the United States was capable of providing to the Entente.
Since this was the case, Bruno quickly got up off his seat and ran towards the kitchen, where he suspected his wife was making dinner. His sudden appearance had not shocked the woman, as she seemed to know where everyone was at all times in her home. Almost as if she has a sixth sense in that regard.
So much so that while cutting the meat for the meal they would enjoy later that evening, she did not even look at Bruno while addressing him.
“Something interesting in the mail, dear?”
Bruno had long since gotten accustomed to the woman’s uncanny ability to know what was happening in her home and simply responded with an excitable expression on his face.
“So… This is going to sound a bit strange, but we have been invited to join a gathering at the Tsar’s palace, and I was wondering if you wanted to go with me or not?”
Heidi knew well enough how much Bruno hated such gatherings, and there was no way in hell she was going to abandon him to a bunch of prude noblemen. Especially when she considered that their slutty daughters might try to come onto her man.
Because of this, she was quick to respond to Bruno’s question as if it was simply absurd, and with a pretty smile on her face.
“Of course! I know how dreadful those things are for you, so when are we heading out? I will need some time to make sure the kids are properly prepared, and that your uniform is properly cleaned and pressed!”
Seeing how well his wife understood his character, and did not even bother asking about his intentions for the upcoming ball at the Tsar’s palace. Bruno couldn’t help but smile and shake his head before making it clear when they needed to head out.
“The Tsar has set the date for the ball for the beginning of autumn, so we have plenty of time to prepare.”
Heidi instantly made a mental note of what Bruno had said, and would begin making preparations as soon as the next morning. As for Bruno, he really didn’t have much to do between now and then, so he would continue on with his life as it currently was. But he would also make sure to get approval to take a temporary leave of absence in order to visit the Tsar’s home.
Which would of course have him finding himself face to face with Kaiser Wilhelm II before he realized it.
