Considering it was a time of peace, and Bruno’s substantial position within the Central Division of the German Army’s high command. He was a man who was more than capable of taking time off when he needed it.
Especially for the sake of diplomatic visits. Even so, he did not immediately go visit the Habsburgs despite his intentions to do so. Instead, he spent the next few months enjoying his peaceful time with his family, all while his new estate was constructed in the background and his economic ventures continued to succeed. Thanks, of course, to his amazing foresight into the matter.
Because of this, it was not until the early months of 1907, that Bruno took his family on a winter vacation to Vienna. First by reaching out to the Kasier Franz Joseph I of Austria, and communicating with the man regularly enough throughout the fall and early days of winter in order to secure a proper invitation.
Finally, the day came for the train to pass through Germany from Berlin into the southernmost tip of its borders, which was the Allgäu region of Bavaria. Sitting in the warmth and leisure of a train as it passed through the alps through the dead of winter was perhaps the most beautiful thing Bruno had ever witnessed. Even moreso as it went into the Tyolrean alps and finally off towards Vienna.
His children couldn’t help but marvel as they looked out the windows at the tall mountains steeped in snow. But despite its immense and wondrous beauty, Bruno was all too aware of the dangers that existed in these mountains, and during his past life, the thousands of corpses that lay frozen there for well beyond a hundred years, and perhaps infinitely so.
After all, the Isonzo Campaign of the Great War was fought in the alpine region of Europe, and many bodies had never been recovered, lying under a sheet of ice and snow buried for all of eternity after artillery strikes caused an avalanche to crash upon both armies.
It was the immediate thought that crossed through Bruno’s mind, as he was uncertain if he would be dispatched to such a dangerous area when the war finally reared its ugly head. All the while, his children exclaimed in shock at how beautiful the snow was.
“Mommy! Daddy! Can we go out and play in the snow?!”
Eva, being the most excited of them all, was, of course, the loudest. And while Heidi simply smiled at her children’s joyful gazes filled with childlike wonder, Bruno stared into the distance, knowing the harrowing truth of what “playing in the snow” could cause.
Because of this, he simply remained silent and drank his tea. All the while Heidi shook her head and told the kids that it wasn’t in the cards for them.
“Maybe one day we will return when you’re older and go skiing together as a family, but that will have to wait… After all this is not the end of our journey, instead we are headed to Vienna to meet with the Austrian Kaiser and his family.
Your father is a very important man, and has personally been requested to visit the Austrian royal family!”
The kids were already aware of why they were going to Vienna as Heidi had spoken of it over and over again throughout the past two weeks as they prepared for the trip. And by now, even Eva was rolling her eyes at her mother’s joy.
Bruno, of course, detected a hint of hostility within Heidi’s azure blue eyes, no doubt because she was suspicious of Bruno’s reasons for visiting the Habsburgs. She, after all, had learned about his pinky promise to return to the Austrian Princess and tell her all about his war stories.
Even if Bruno had no idea how she knew this. And because of this, he would be extra on his guard, making sure that the old emperor didn’t say anything foolish in jest like he had during his last visit. Hence why to calm his nerves, Bruno thought of past battles from his past life and the gruesome toll they had taken on the men fighting them.
Eventually, however, Bruno and his family arrived in Vienna. Where they were escorted to the palace by a motorcade. Once inside, Bruno was not surprised to see the Austrian Kaiser and his family there to greet him. Including all those he had met the last time.
Since this was not a military exercise, the other generals who had taken a dislike to Bruno’s blunt personality and exceptional abilities were not present. However, one person who was there was quick to greet Bruno in a way that triggered Heidi’s more possessive nature.
Once introductions were properly made, and the proper time and place had come, Hedwig approached Bruno and grasped his hands with wide and excitable eyes, where she thanked him for fulfilling his promise.
“You remembered! I didn’t think you would come after all these months, but you finally lived up to your promise!”
Heidi’s eyes narrowed so much they practically turned into the width of a dagger as she stared at Hedwig with a smile that could just barely conceal her wicked intentions to those who were not accustomed to her darker side.
And her voice was much in the same vein as she stood behind Bruno and asked him the question, which she already knew the answer to. Sending chills down her husband’s spine as she did so.
“Oh? And just what form of promise can be made between a married man and a teenage girl?”
Hedwig had only just now noticed that Heidi was standing behind Bruno the entire time, and was quick to release her grip over the man’s hands, she awkwardly scooted away from Bruno while blushing making sure to gain a safe distance away from the angry housewife, all the while clarifying what she meant as she did so.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that. Your husband just promised to return to Vienna and tell me about his war stories sometime. I just didn’t expect him to actually remember it. I got too excited and did something inappropriate. Please forgive me.”
Seeing how the girl displayed a proper knowledge of her place, and even managed to apologize with the proper manners. Heidi forgave Hedwig with a smug smile on her face, and a conceited tone in her voice, all while Bruno stared at his wife as if she had lost her marbles for feeling the need to be in competition with a literal child.
“Well, as long as you know what you did was wrong, then I’m sure it was nothing that can’t be forgiven…”
Either way, Bruno knew that the night would be a long one. Especially after he and his family shared a meal with the Habsburg family. He would, of course, have to live up to his promise and express the many battles and skirmishes he had engaged in over the years.
Something that he had hid from Heidi and his family simply out of respect for their sense of peace. But even so, Hedwig would not allow him to escape from telling her these stories now that he had fulfilled his promise to return to Vienna.
While at the Same time Heidi would not allow Bruno to run off with the young princess without her supervision. Not out of any sense of mistrust towards her husband, but rather the little harlot who dared to be so bold as to grab the man’s hands and look at him with such excitement all in front of his wife. It was simply intolerable.
Because at the end of the day Heidi trusted Bruno with her life, but all the other bitches in the world who she perceived to be coveting her man? They could not be trusted under any circumstances, even if the reality of the situation was far from what she may have been inclined to believe.
