A week came and went before the day finally arrived for Bruno, Heidi and the kids to attend the family fathering at the von Zehntner estate. They were all dressed quite formally. With Bruno himself wearing his military uniform and all the awards he had been granted thus far in his career. Which wasn’t much at the moment.
After driving together in the family automobile, the estate’s servants opened the gates to reveal that there were several other automobiles parked in the driveway. This was, after all not just a gathering of Bruno and his siblings, but also his siblings’ families, and that of his uncles, aunts, and cousins as well.
There were well over a hundred people gathered in the estate grounds, specifically in the back where tents had been gathered, and food was being properly catered to the guests. Those among Bruno’s brothers and cousins who were actively serving in the military, of course wore their uniforms.
While those like Bruno’s father who were retired, but had been awarded rather exceptional orders and medals during their time of service wore them across their formal tuxedos. It was a gathering, in many ways of some of the most elite members of society in the city of Berlin.
After all, the von Zehntner family had risen to prominence as a result of Bruno Sr. and his role in the Bundestag. Powerful and wealthy noble families had begun engaging their children to the younger generation of the family. And because of this, many of them were in attendance as well.
It was perhaps not at all surprising when Bruno entered the scene, and was quickly greeted by the father of his cousin’s daughter’s fiancee, who himself was the sixth son of the third in line for some Grand Duchy or another.
“Well, if it isn’t the Wolf of Prussia, GeneralLeutnant Bruno von Zehntner himself. The youngest general in the history of the Reich. Congratulations on your recent promotion and your victory at Mukden, I must say, I am quite the fan of yours. Would you mind if I had a moment of your time to discuss –”
Bruno cut the man off. He had no time to deal with sycophants and pampered nobles who wanted to leach off of the fame he had recently gained.
“Apologies, I’m quite busy at the moment I have just arrived and must pay my respects to the host. If I am available at another time, then I would love to listen to whatever it is you have to say.”
After saying this, Bruno paid the man no attention, instead walking past him, while guiding his wife and children to pay their respects to his parents. The man who had tried to introduce himself to Bruno had a sour expression as he drank from the crystal glass, which contained wine. Murmuring something two faced or another about Bruno behind the man’s back as he walked away.
It was not long before Bruno met with his father who was surrounded by his wife, and eight other children. Several of which Bruno had neither seen nor heard from since their last gathering as a family during the previous year.
Among their ranks were his old childhood rivals, if you could even call them that, Ludwig and Kurt. Both of which were also dressed in uniforms from the Army. But they were lacking both rank and distinction. As they were mere captains, having gained their ranks not through battle like Bruno had in China, but simply from time in service.
The only medal they had pinned to their chests was the one given out to all service members shortly before Bruno graduated from the officer’s academy, which was a medal issued by the Kaiser as a commemoration of his grandfather’s hundredth birthday. Or what would have been his hundredth birthday if he was still alive at the time.
There was very clear evidence of jealousy and bitterness in their eyes as they gazed upon Bruno’s rank and distinctions, which he had earned through combat. But the two of them did not say anything as their younger brother introduced himself properly to his father.
“Sorry for the late arrival, Father. We had a bit of a minor incident prior to heading out. But we are here now, so I hope you won’t hold me too accountable.”
Bruno Sr. gazed upon his son, in his military uniform, and was quick to compliment on his achievements on the battlefield.
“My son, a general at the age of twenty-five. You have no idea how proud of you your mother and I are, Bruno!”
Speaking of his mother, the woman was standing by her husband. If it weren’t for the fact that her hair had greyed, as she was now in her mid-fifties. One would suspect she was only now turning 40.
For whatever reason, she aged extremely well, and those genes had apparently carried over into her children. Many of which were approaching their forties themselves, but still looked a decade younger.
The mature beauty was quick to hug her youngest son and drag him into her embrace. Something which caused all of her other sons to roll their eyes. No matter how old Bruno was, their mother would still baby him as the youngest of them all.
“There’s my baby boy! You little brat! You have been neglectful towards your mother!”
Bruno couldn’t help but sigh as he broke away from his mother’s embrace, who continued to struggle, even as he pushed her away.
“Mother! Calm yourself! For Christ’s sake, you are hosting a public event, so act with some class!”
The woman could only shamelessly pout as her youngest son refused to let her embarrass him any further. An act which gained a collective sigh from her husband and all nine of her sons. Even Heidi sighed before introducing herself to her mother-in-law.
“Mother, it has been too long. You are looking as lovely as ever…”
Elsa couldn’t help but hug Heidi as well, while Bruno snickered at her. Of all of her son’s wives, Heidi was without a doubt her favorite. Probably because she married her favorite son. And she was quick to make this known, despite everyone else already being aware of it.
“There’s my beloved daughter! You really have been keeping your distance lately haven’t you? And where are my grandkids!”
All three of Bruno’s children, even the youngest who was named after her grandmother, looked aggrieved as they received hugs and kisses from the woman. Until, of course, she was pulled away by her husband who forced her to calm down.
“Alright, that’s enough Elsa, we get it. You missed Bruno and his family. Now, can we please conduct ourselves with some proper civility?”
Elsa couldn’t help but sigh, as she recovered instantly from her overly affectionate behavior and shamelessly denied ever behaving as such.
“I am sure I don’t know what you are talking about. Now that Bruno has arrived, how about you all go and enjoy yourselves? There will be much for us to discuss at dinner. In the meantime, I am sure you all are all dying to mingle with each other. It is, after all rare for us to be together as a family like this!”
With this said, Bruno walked off with his family to the edge of the festivities, sitting down exhausted from this brief exchange with his mother, father, and brothers. While Heidi fetched him a beer. As for his kids, they played among themselves, seemingly isolated from the other children their age who were at the event.
He planned to sit it out and wait until everything was over like he did everywhere. But unfortunately, his fame was far greater now than it was in the past. And there were several distant relatives who couldn’t help but introduce themselves. Some of which had shameful intentions.
For example, his aunt on his mother’s side approached Bruno with her teenage daughter in tow. The girl was quite like her mother. Insofar that she was quite pretty, with red hair and green eyes. But Bruno took no interest in her, even as the girl’s mother rambled on about how much the young girl admired him and his exploits.
It was clear that the girl was anxious, nervous, and embarrassed by her mother and her shameless statements. Naturally, this was only one of many indicators that caused Bruno to understand that everything his aunt said was utter bullshit.
There was only one reason the woman was acting this way. She shamefully wanted to get Bruno to either engage his son to her daughter, or take the girl as his mistress. Neither of which Bruno had any intention of doing.
Luckily for him, Heidi returned before long with the beers, and because of this the man’s aunt as well as her teenage daughter fled together like cockroaches that had been exposed to sunlight. Despite this, Heidi couldn’t help but make a joke at Bruno’s expense.
“That girl was quite pretty. Are you sure you’re not searching for a mistress? The girl’s mother seemed awfully keen on selling her to you for the right price!”
Bruno could tell by the smirk on his wife’s face that she was clearly trying to antagonize him. No doubt because she knew his personality when it came to stuff like this. And because of this, he stood up and flicked her forehead, before seizing one of the beers from her hand.
Which Bruno took several large gulps of before finally responding to his wife’s sarcastic remarks.
“Oh, please…. Harems are nothing more than the perverted fantasies of teenage boys. The idea of having multiple beautiful women attend to your desires might seem like something great in theory. But the reality is that it is simply exhausting to support more than one woman and her emotional needs.
Besides, if I really wanted such a thing, there were more than a few beautiful and exotic women in Asia that were quite willingly throwing themselves at me. Even the Royal Family of Japan seemed interested in the idea. Why on earth would I do something as cliched as taking my cousin as my mistress? I might be a nobleman, but I’m not a Habsburg.”
After saying this, Bruno walked away from Heidi, smirking, as he knew that she was pouting at his remarks. The rest of his day would be one that was purely tiresome from his perspective. That is until the big announcement was made at the dinner feast.
