Re: Blood and Iron

Ferdinand stared blankly at the other monarchs he was currently standing across from. They each were confused about his odd reactions to the news he had just received. Granted, none of them spoke the Bulgarian tongue, and thus could not actually comprehend what was said.

Had that been the case, they would have indeed been far more suspicious of what was happening at this very moment. And would have demanded a satisfactory answer from the Bulgarian King who seemed to be hiding information from them.

It got even more worrisome as more and more and more news came from the Bulgarian King's aid, who came rushing in and out of the room saying things to his monarch that nobody understood. The translator hired by the Swiss to maintain impartiality during these negotiations looked like he was sweating bullets, debating whether or not he should say something.

That is until he heard information, he simply could no longer remain silent with. He stood up, and approached the King of Greece and bowed his head, formally apologizing as he spoke in perfect Greek to the man.

The choice of Greek, rather than German, which was a language pretty much everyone here spoke, as all of these monarchs were more or less of German heritage, was deliberate, in a way that sought to avoid alerting the Bulgarian King to what he was saying.

"I must apologize. While I have been hearing some troubling things coming from Bulgaria's host, I didn't manage to piece two and two together until now. But with what was just said, I can no longer remain silent as this matter involves everyone present, and your house above all.

If what I have just heard is to be believed, then your second son, Alexander has been killed in an attack orchestrated by Bulgarian Orthodox Militants in Greece… I would suggest we suspend these diplomatic proceedings as there is a crisis occurring that you all need to attend to…"

It was only natural that Constantine's eyes grew wide in disbelief upon hearing this unnerving news. His son was dead? How was that possible!?! And why were Orthodox militants fighting in Greece? Greece was an Orthodox nation? Was this some scheme initiated by the King of Bulgaria?

There was nothing Constantine wanted to do more in that moment than kill Ferdinand for this unrighteous and dishonorable act, which spat upon the spirit of peace and diplomacy. But the man was quickly prevented from any violent action he may otherwise take by the other leaders of the Central Powers, who surrounded him, and assured him that justice for his son's death would be had.

But it had to be done the right way, and that was through war. Kaiser Wilhelm taking a pitiful tone in his voice as he spoke the words that Constantine would never forget.

"Your son will be avenged, and will be honored as one of Greece's greatest heroes. But now is not the time for violence. Now is the time to prepare, as I am sure Ferdinand is doing now as we speak. Come, let us leave these proceedings and ensure our forces are ready to march on our enemies!"

A complicated mix of emotions swirled in Constantine's head. His fists were curled so much so that his nails had begun to dig into the palm of his hands. He wanted more than anything to beat the Bulgarian King to death for what had been done to his family.

And yet in his wrath, Wilhelm's words were a soothing essence that forced his enflamed spirit to calm itself. Constantine simply nodded his head and walked out of the room without saying another word.

Ferdinand attempted to apologize for what had happened, as it was not his intent, but it was too late. War had begun, and the time to mobilize their forces was now. After all time waited for no man, and with the cat out of the bag, the Central Powers would immediately begin to move their assets that were already within the region.

It was a race against time to see if the Bulgarians could get allied support before their capital fell to Bruno's advance.

---

Bruno was not taking this news well. He was drunk, far more intoxicated than he had ever been upon being reborn in this critical era of human history. He was a man who valued loyalty above all else.

Bonds of brotherhood had been forged between Germany and Bulgaria in his past life as both nations shed blood together in two world wars, fighting and losing to save a culture and civilization against a world of enemies.

The Austro-Hungarians had failed the Germans, the Italians and Japanese had done the same. Bulgaria alone had stood strong and defiant against the Allies. Choosing to place their faith in the German Reich, and fight as brothers against the evils of Marxism and liberalism together as allies.

And how did Bruno repay this loyalty in this new lease on life? By stabbing them in the back! While it was true, that things had changed on the global stage in ways that Bruno could never have expected. And he was also not in a position to negotiate alliances on behalf of the German Reich.

It was fundamentally his actions which had reshaped this world's fate and forced Bulgaria into an adversarial position to the German Reich. The butterfly effect was strong, stronger than Bruno had ever realized.

Yes, he kept an eye on every major change he could find that resulted from his interference in this world, but he had never anticipated to be at arms with the Bulgarians. It wasn't right… No; it wasn't just not right; it was wrong!

Bulgaria should be in Greece's place, fighting alongside the Germans for family, folk, monarch and fatherland! And yet… Now they were aligned with the enemy. In ways that Bruno had never anticipated.

How could one anticipate this result? For every action he had taken, there were five or more logical responses that could occur. History was defined by a series of actions and responses. One man did something, and therefore something else happened as a result, but then this change occurred and, because of this change, the result was thus.

It was as much a rule of human history as it was any form of a logical flow of time, whether in fiction or reality. And one could never fully anticipate what end their actions would result in. After all, when dealing with humans, logic and reason were generally thrown out the window.

Even so, it was no exaggeration to say that Bruno lamented what had become of his actions, and what he now had to do. But his duty was to God first, Family second, folk third, kaiser fourth, and fatherland fifth.

Worrying about his improper repayment to Bulgaria's loyalties in his past life was septenary on his list of priorities at best. Yet that did not mean that he had to feel good about what he now needed to do.

In fact, he was not required to do anything more than he had already done. The Army was mobilized and awaiting orders. the Jägers had been deployed behind enemy lines and were already conducting clandestine operations that the German Reich would never actually admit to.

All that was left was for a formal declaration of war to begin. Thus, Bruno drank, by his lonesome, in his office, while everyone else had gone to their temporary quarters for the evening. Ultimately, however, Bruno's peace was disturbed by a phone call.

He was not anticipating such a thing, nor did caller ID exist at this time. Because of this, he was quite snappy with his response as he picked up the phone and shouted at the other party.

"Do you have any God damn idea what time it is? Just who in the hell do you think you are to be calling me at such an ungodly hour of the evening?"

The voice which responded on the other end of the line was one which Bruno was not anticipating. And despite the harshness of his tone, and the cruelty of the words he had chosen to speak in his intoxicated state. The voice was nothing but loving and empathetic as the caller responded to him.

"You're drinking, aren't you? Not that I really blame you, my love… I just heard what has happened… And I know you are probably not in the best state of mind at the moment as you are trying to figure out how things managed to go so far away from the history you once knew…"

Heidi was the only person in this world Bruno had ever trusted to speak about who he was, how he was in his second life, and the world he had come from. He had talked in great detail about his respect for the Bulgarians and the loyalty they showed Germany in his past life during his revelation.

To hear his wife call him now, to check in on him, and make sure he was okay despite everything that had happened. It forced Bruno to look at himself and his current state. And I mean really look at himself as he stared at the bottle of vodka in his hands that was far from being drained.

After hearing Heidi's concern for his wellbeing, Bruno sighed heavily and placed the bottle down on the desk. He also pulled the pack of cigarettes he had on him out of his coat pocket and threw the both of them in the trash.

Having done this, he responded to Heidi's worried tone, with a voice that was filled with gratitude.

"Thank you… I was in a bad place until you reminded me what I am fighting for. I think it is about time I make some changes in my life… When I finally come home to you, you will see that my filthy habits of drinking and smoking are a thing of the past."

Heidi's tone was far more chipper as she heard her husband speak these words, before assuring him that everything in this world happened for a reason, even if he could not understand it. While also reminding her husband of the promise he had made to her.

"God works in mysterious ways, Bruno. You know this. He brought you to me, despite the degenerate life you once lived… You do remember the promise you made to me, right?"

Bruno stared silently out the window of the office he stood in, gazing upon the streets of Sarajevo, which were illuminated by the lamp posts spread throughout its vicinity. He silently thought to himself for a single moment before responding.

"Kill them all…"

Heidi's tone was reassuring as she followed up her husband's statement with one of equal conviction.

"All of them…"