Bruno had little concern for making connections on this night like his father did. In fact, he had already stuck out more than he wanted to. He felt this was due to how bright Heidi shined next to him.
Completely unaware that he himself had caught the interest of several young noble maidens was envious towards Heidi not only because of the regal beauty which she emanated but also because she was with Bruno.
Instead, the two of them enjoyed themselves, as if this entire event had nothing to do with them, as if they were all alone. And not surrounded by a litany of pampered noblemen and women.
The two of them had barely paid attention when the Kaiser himself, the ruler of the German Empire appeared at the venue, along with his two-year-old daughter who this extravagant event was being thrown for.
Although he paid little attention to the man, Bruno did notice the Kaiser. In his past life he was well aware of this man, and the bad reputation he was unfairly given due to the defeat of Germany in the Great War as well as the abominable treaty of Versailles that followed.
Unfortunately for the Kaiser, he was blamed for many of the problems that plagued Germany following the end of the war. Most of which were actually the faults of the Social Democrats and their precious Weimar republic.
A state which sought to submit to France, as well as the interests of international corporations, both of which had a desire to bleed Germany as much as possible for sins they were not responsible for committing.
It was revenge, plain and simple. For the humiliating defeat which the French suffered at the hands of the Germans in 1871. And unfortunately the Kaiser was the one who took the blame for it all. But there were still well over twenty years before such problems manifested themselves.
And because of this, Kaiser Wilhelm II was a beloved figure in the German Reich. Bruno took note of this historical figure, before returning his attention to Heidi who had no interest in things like politics, or noble hierarchy.
The girl’s anxiety had largely faded away throughout the night as she focused her attention on her future fiancé, whom she had known and gotten along with since they were young children. Though Bruno didn’t realize it, she was quite literally counting down the days before she turned eighteen and could marry him. Which was still another five years away.
This was partially out of a desire to become free of her family, but far more so because she had long since fallen in love with the boy. Which, as she entered her teenage years, only further intensified with new and embarrassing desires.
Bruno was only slightly aware of the girl’s feelings towards him. He really didn’t know exactly how strong they were. But he himself still treated the girl as a close friend, and someone he was bound to protect because in the future they would indeed be married.
Romantically speaking, he had yet to consciously be aware of any feelings towards her. Even if they were bubbling in the background of his hormone addled mind. Because of this, the two of them comfortably chatted in the background of the event.
Entirely unaware that there had been a very sinister set of eyes latching onto the couple. And those were the eyes of Princess Klara von Bentheim-Tecklenburg, who was the eldest sister of Heidi’s. By now she was in her early-twenties, and was fully married to a Prince from a proper Principality.
After being slapped by Bruno years ago, Klara had never forgiven the man, nor her half-sister Heidi who from then on she was not allowed to directly bully or harass. Still, she had used her influence to get her peers to pressure Heidi whenever they could.
Because of this, Heidi spent most of her days locked away inside her mother’s manor, waiting for those days when Bruno could come to visit her or vice versa. As any attempt to make friends was thoroughly dashed by her sister’s petty need for revenge.
But on this day, Klara drank a bit too much wine after witnessing her half-sister outshine her. And when she was speaking to her husband, complaining about Heidi and Bruno. She let something slip that she shouldn’t have. Especially after the woman’s husband questioned why she was so angry.
“Klara, darling, why does it bother you so? The boy you speak of is the ninth son of Junker, and that girl is a bastard. They are beneath the concern of people such as ourselves….”
Klara’s husband was not just a Prince of a proper principality, but he was the third in line to the throne. Only if his two older brothers passed away, then he would become the reigning Prince, after their father finally kicked the bucket that is.
Germany had several small principalities, that were states that did not compare to the much larger and more significant states such as Prussia, Bavaria, Saxony, et cetera. But through the complicated process of the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire, and the unification of the German Empire, somehow these minor regions kept the prestigious title of Prince and Princesses.
This man was one of those Princes, and he, like Klara’s father had a disdain for the lower and newer nobility. Let alone bastards and commoners. But Klara was really upset about people that should otherwise be beneath her notice. And this confused the man. Intoxicated as she was, Klara grit her teeth and hissed the truth, which she was never supposed to reveal.
“I know that… But that little shit… He dared to lay his hands on me, and I can never forgive him for that!”
A sense of rage went down the Prince’s spine. That teenage boy laid a hand on his wife? When, and in what manner? Was it violent or sexual? Or God forbid sexually violent!?!? The very idea enraged the man as he quickly set his wife aside and began to walk towards Bruno.
“Wait here one moment. I want to have a chat with this little boy!”
Instantly realizing that she had said something she shouldn’t have. Klara tried to grab the Prince’s wrist and prevent him from making a scene, but she was apparently so drunk that her depth perception was off. As for her cries to halt his actions, they were drowned out by the sound of the festivities in the background.
“Wait! You can’t!”
—
Bruno was on the dance floor with Heidi when a man in his early twenties came walking towards him with a stern expression on his face. Years of paranoia caused by constantly being on the lookout for Prince Gustav’s spies had taught Bruno to keep his head on a swivel at all times, and he quickly ceased his dance with Heidi, who was too caught up in the moment to understand what was going on.
For safety reasons, Bruno placed the girl behind him as he stood brazenly in front of the man who approached him. Much to his shock, and everyone else in the ballroom, Prince Julius von Lippe pulled off his white glove and slapped Bruno across the face with it. Immediately shouting some nonsense at him, while challenging the fifteen-year-old boy to a duel.
“You little brat, you dare to lay hands on my wife! I demand satisfaction! Apologize to my wife this instant, or find me at dawn and we will settle this like proper men!”
The echo of the Prince’s slap was like that of a gunshot going off. It immediately drew everyone’s attention to what was going on. The 21-year-old Prince had actually just slapped a fifteen-year-old boy and challenged him to a duel.
But duel’s were technically outlawed in society, and at this point were so antiquated and anachronistic that many of the guests snickered in the background at Julius’ behavior. But the man was so outraged he had not caught this.
Still, to have the nerve to challenge another man to a duel in front of the Kaiser. Some people’s opinions of Julian were that he most certainly did not lack courage. Bruno would normally like to settle a matter such as this with diplomacy.
After all, angering a Prince, even one from a minor state like Julius was a bad idea. But when he saw Klara’s vicious expression in the background, Bruno immediately knew what had happened. The Princess had gotten drunk and said something about what happened five years ago to her husband.
Bruno had one option now: appeal to authority, and hopefully the Kaiser would break this rabble apart before any serious injury was done to either party. Or make an enemy of both Julius, and by extension his father-in-law, who himself was seething in the background.
But the fury in Gustav’s eyes was not aimed towards Bruno, who he had settled this matter years ago when it had first occurred. Rather, his wrath was directed towards his errant daughter who had revealed something that could have a very negative effect not only on her own family and upbringing, but on that of the Prince she was married to.
Ultimately, Bruno decided not to back down, and instead appeal to the authority of the Kaiser who was watching the developments with great interest, while those around him whispered about the audacity of what was happening.
“Though I don’t know what I have done to offend you, if you challenge me here in front of so many witnesses, you are compelling me to accept your offer. That is, of course, if the Kaiser would permit something as roguish as a duel.”
The reality of the situation was that the honor of the woman in question being fought over was not that of the Princess Klara, but rather of the bastard girl known as Heidi Krieger. After all, this whole ordeal started because Bruno dared to defend her against her older half-sister’s attempted abuse.
Few people knew this, but for those who did, it was something they did not want to become public. And because of this, Heidi tried to get Bruno to stop before the Kaiser could respond.
“My Lord, you don’t need to do this! There is no need for you to risk injury for the sake of someone like me!”
Bruno had a stern expression as he eyed Prince Julius, but when he turned around and responded to Heidi’s concerns, it was one of nothing but warmth. He patted the girl’s head in front of everyone, while assuring her that he was happy to defend her honor.
“Do you think I fear a halfwit who so brazenly challenges a teenage boy to a duel despite not knowing the full circumstances behind his petty rage? I would be honored to take up the sword on behalf of your honor, My Lady…”
The crowd began to whisper among themselves regarding all kinds of things. Despite being a bastard, Bruno had referred to Heidi as “My Lady” which was wholly inappropriate to do so, as such a term implied noble status.
Second, he said he was taking up this duel on behalf of her honor, but the Prince had challenged Bruno on behalf of his wife’s Honor who was the Princess Klara von Bentheim-Tecklenburg who Bruno had apparently laid his hands on.
After a brief spread of rumors, people quickly realized Heidi was Klara’s half-sister, and that Bruno had likely offended the Princess on the girl’s behalf at some unknown time and place. Needless to say, Julius was confused by this development, as it was nothing like his wife had told him.
As for the Kaiser, he was sufficiently inebriated to have taken an interest in this plot development. Sure a duel would not exactly be legal in this day and age. But as long as it wasn’t to the death, then wouldn’t it just be a nice display of fencing for his guests?
It was, after all his beloved daughter’s second birthday, and what better way to honor the girl than by having two men fight at her celebration. Because of this, the Kaiser broke out into applause, stealing everyone’s attention away from the drama as he gave permission for the duel to be held here and now in his home.
“Wonderful! Simply wonderful! The passionate display of youth! It’s a perfect scene for us all to enjoy, isn’t it? Though a duel to the death would most certainly violate the law. I would not be above permitting a fencing exhibition between the two of you.
Would you two young gentlemen perhaps be interested in a bit of mensur? The winner, of course, will be determined by whoever yields first. So how about it?”
Bruno sighed heavily. He realized that he should not have expected the Kaiser who had been known in his past life for having fanciful thoughts towards war, and chivalry to prevent this duel from taking place. And realizing that he had no other chocie, Bruno was quick to accept the offer with a respectful bow.
“My Kaiser, it would be my honor top perform a bout of fencing with the Prince here as an honorable display for your daughter’s second birthday.”
Prince Julius had a smug smirk on his face. This boy wanted to beat him in a bout of fencing? He himself was a regional mensur champion. What could a mere child have in comparison to his skills?
With the Kaiser’s permission, the two men were handed swords of the epee variety. This was not your standard epee of modern sport fencing. Its blade was sharp and its point was intact. Normally, the fencers would be given a pair of protective goggles and some form of body armor.
But in this case, only the swords were given. After all, this was a duel disguised as a fencing match. The ballroom floor was vacated with all parties other than the fencers gathered to the side, many of which had drinks in their hands as they made bets on who they thought would win the bout.
As for the referee, it was the Chancellor himself. With the infamous Iron Chancellor, Otto von Bismarck having retired a mere four years prior. This meant that the man acting as witness and referee for the duel was none other than Leo von Caprivi, who made sure the two fencers were aware of the rules before going at it.
Heidi did not have the nerve to look and watch Bruno get hurt. She wanted desperately to look away and look back only for things to be perfectly normal. As if this duel was a mere fanciful thought.
But something within her told her that it was her duty to watch the man she loved fight on behalf of her honor. And as embarrassed as she might be in that moment, so much so that she couldn’t open her eyes and express her thoughts at the same time. She mustered the courage in that moment and shouted a sentiment that would not be forgotten by anyone who bore witness.
“You can do this, my love! I believe in you!”
Bruno was testing the balance of his blade when he heard this, while waiting for the duel to begin. His face became flustered as he heard the words “my love” so shamelessly be spoken by Heidi. It took him a second to recover, and when he did so, he chuckled and shook his head.
His opponent was grimacing at Bruno’s nonchalant nature. The boy was clearly not considering him to be a threat. And because of this, there was a gruff tone in his voice as questioned Bruno’s actions.
“And what pray tell is so funny?”
Bruno sighed as he took a fencing stance with his epee, pointing the blade in the direction of his opponent. There was a confident expression on his face as he said the words that enraged his opponent.
“How can I possibly have the face when my lady expresses such love for me?”
With this, the bout began and before Julius even realized it, his torso had been pierced by his opponent. It was not a mortal wound, but the blade did indeed pierce the flesh and was quickly withdrawn.
Julius and the crowd were in disbelief at how swiftly and skillfully Bruno had moved. Had it been a duel to first blood, then the bout would have been decided just as it had begun. But this duel would only end when one yielded.
And the Prince was a stubborn fool. He howled in pain like a pig that had been stuck by a spear, while screaming at Bruno for his attack.
“You little shit! You stabbed me!?!”
Bruno stared at his opponent as if he was an idiot before expressing this sentiment aloud. One that caused the entire crowd, except for Klara to break out into laughter.
“I mean honestly, your grace? What were you expecting? This is a duel, not a knitting competition! Now do you yield? Or do I need to poke a few more holes in you before you see reason?”
Julius was in disbelief. He was a regional Mensur champion. And yet this boy, this fifteen-year-old child, has struck him so swiftly? Where was his honor? Where was his face after enduring such an insult?
He quickly thrusted his blade towards Bruno, and vicious at that, aiming for Bruno’s eye in an attempt to blind him. But Bruno’s reflexes were swift. Acting on mere impulse and muscle memory, he parried the blade, and struck the Prince in the shoulder with another aggravating and piercing blow.
Upon seeing the Prince try to so grievously wound him, Bruno saw no point in showing mercy. At first he had decided to give the Prince a fair fight, in order to maintain some face for his lofty title.
But after witnessing the fool try to blind him for no reason, Bruno took off the kiddy gloves and increased the speed and intensity of his thrusts. Piercing the man’s body again and again and again, until his blood had seeped through his white dress shirt and stained it red.
Yet time and again Julius would raise to attack Bruno, only for his attempts to be quickly thwarted, resulting in another counter attack that struck his body. There were so many holes in Julius’ torso that he was now in danger of dying from blood loss. Ultimately forcing the referee to step in and call an end to the contest.
The Kaiser’s Leibgarde quickly restrained Julius who went out of control as he realize he had been completely and utterly humiliated in his attempt to protect his wife’s honor, and by a fifteen-year-old boy no less.
“This isn’t over! So long as I can still breathe I will not yield!”
But the referee had called an end to the contest, no matter how much determination the Prince may have, he lost. And was escorted to a proper clinic to treat his wounds, and rather forcefully by the Kaiser’s Leibgarde.
After the fight was over, and his blade was returned to the Kaiser’s staff, Heidi rushed over and hugged Bruno. There were tears in her eyes. She had clearly been very anxious while watching the duel. And she even searched Bruno for wounds. Yet there was not a mark on his flesh. Once she had finished, she cursed him out for being so foolish.
“You damn fool! I was so worried about you! Why would you do something so stupid?”
Bruno smirked and patted the girl’s hair silky golden hair, before saying the first words that came to his head, which he thought would make him look like a proper nobleman.
“For your honor, my lady? I would gladly give my life!”
Heidi was truly stunned into silence when she heard these words come from Bruno’s mouth. Though Bruno didn’t realize it, his nonchalant statement had actually reached the depths of the girl’s heart. If she was already head over heels in love with the boy, she was now dedicated to being his dutiful wife for the rest of her life.
She wiped the tears in her eyes, and leaned in close, taking advantage of Bruno’s embarrassment towards his own shameless statement to kiss him on the lips. Thoroughly causing the boy’s brain to meltdown. Bruno stood there in silence as Heidi finished her peck on the lips, before she made a statement that would force Bruno to honor his remarks.
“I’ll hold you to that promise!”
