Published at 5th of May 2026 7:34 am

Chapter 946: Settling

This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl

Bruno arrived at Versailles Palace not long after he departed from the station. He sat in the car silently staring out the window throughout the entire journey.

When he finally stepped out of the vehicle, he found that the staff of the House of Orleans was waiting to greet him.

Henry himself was among them. He wore a friendly smile on his face. Which Bruno could tell was only partially earnest.

Even so, the two men shook hands as the cameras flashed.

"Apologies... But the people will want to know of our meeting. It’s a sign of security

Bruno arrived at Versailles Palace not long after he departed from the station. He sat in the car silently staring out the window throughout the entire journey.

When he finally stepped out of the vehicle, he found that the staff of the House of Orleans was waiting to greet him.

Henry himself was among them. He wore a friendly smile on his face. Which Bruno could tell was only partially earnest.

Even so, the two men shook hands as the cameras flashed.

"Apologies... But the people will want to know of our meeting. It’s a sign of security and prosperity for France that the Chancellor of the German Reich comes to Paris"

Bruno smiled and waved for the cameras as he walked beside Henry towards the entrance of his home.

He looked around at the city beyond and nodded his head. Almost as if he were reflecting on memories.

"The city looks like it has been cured of the ails it suffered from during my last visit."

His last visit... The words were chilling to the French. Bruno had only visited the city of Paris twice in his life. Once at the end of the Great War, and another in the war that followed.

Both times he had been there, signaling the end of a republic. But this time, Bruno did not come as a conqueror, rather as a guest.

Henry could only nod his head and agree with the sentiment, ushering Bruno into his home and away from the cameras. Where he sighed and shook his head.

"Truly, I am sorry for that mess, it wasn’t my idea. It was the minister of communications who said we should have the people see our friendship in the papers. I know you don’t like such attention."

"It is fine, my personal comfort is secondary to the stability of our two realms."

It was a sentiment that Henry shrugged off, not knowing the significance behind the words. Instead, he led Bruno into the foyer where his family was waiting for him. His wife Isabelle, and his eldest daughter by the same name stood there in line.

They were both ravishing, elegant, and graceful. The Queen of France stepped forward and performed a proper curtsey.

"Your Majesty... Welcome to our family’s home. I know it doesn’t compare to your own palace, but we hope you enjoy your stay."

Bruno looked around at the grandeur of interior around him. And shook his head. Isabelle thought perhaps he was offended at first until his words shook her.

"There is no need for such baseless comments... My palace is a modern recreation of past grandeur. This... this is a testament to the glory of French history. Perhaps in a few centuries people will say the same of my home."

Isabelle smiled and nodded, eying her husband who simply rolled his eyes. His wife was too easily bought with cheap words.

But it was her daughter who stepped forward boldly and stared Bruno in the eyes. She was young, still in the midst of teenage years. Perhaps that was why she had such a fire in her eyes.

"What you see is a restoration. Little of the original remained after the Third Republic fell. Your own palace was under construction while Versailles was a pit of rubble, used as an emplacement for machine guns and mortars."

The girl’s mother stared at her, mouth agape in total dismay. While her father glowered at the girl, hoping to intimidate her into apologizing but before she could, Bruno stepped forward, an amused smirk chiseled onto his face.

"Yes, I’m aware... When I first heard about what the communists had done, I was beside myself. Truth me told it was never my intention to allow France to fall into such a miserable state. But the delegates of the Third Republic insisted that the German Army and the Central Powers, be fully removed from the borders of the Republic. We were not allowed to police your streets and provide relief as I had initially intended. They wouldn’t accept peace otherwise."

The girl’s steely gaze faltered at Bruno’s words. She bowed her head slowly.

"I’m sorry... That was... ill-mannered of me. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."

Bruno sighed... "Your Majesty, Your Royal Highness, Chancellor, Reichsmarschall... So many titles... Too many for my aging mind to keep track of. If it suits you best, call me Bruno."

Henry looked over at his wife, who was quick to escort her daughter away before she made the social faux pax of a accepting that gesture. The King of France then grabbed Bruno’s attention personally.

"Apologies, my daughter is young and unaccustomed to such forward discussions. Shall we retire to the study where we can discuss the reason behind your visit in greater detail?"

Bruno scoffed and followed after Henry who saw to it that they were both given the greatest wine from his cellars. But Bruno didn’t drink from his glass, he pushed it forward slightly and shook his head.

"I am fine for now... I would like to keep my mind sober for the time being. "

Henry nodded, he didn’t take the gesture personally and instead got immediately down to business.

"So... your grandson, Karl Franz, I understand that despite being roughly 18 years of age and having just graduated from the Tyrolean Main Cadet Institute, he remains betrothed is that correct?"

Bruno nodded just slightly enough to confirm, and in doing so allowed Henry to continue with his proposal.

"Good... Good... You may not have the best impression of my daughter Isabelle after her outburst just now. But I was hoping that you would agree to her marrying your grandson, Karl Franz. They are similar in age, just four years between them. And...."

He stuttered. He was trying to sell his daughter as the perfect match for Bruno’s grandson, and yet after the girl’s outburst just now, he couldn’t think of a reason.

Bruno however remained silent, almost as if he was watching and waiting for the man to continue making mistakes. However, he eventually spoke, with a heavy sigh, while looking past Henry’s shoulders and out the windows towards the palace grounds beyond.

"Do you know of the noble House de Rochefort?"

De Rochefort, of course he knew them. They were some of his most loyal and capable retainers. In fact, just today their daughter who had been studying abroad in Germany had been returned to serve as a dame in his wife’s order.

But the fact that Bruno was asking about this caused the King of France to narrow his brows in suspicion.

"Why do you ask?"

The words hissed through his teeth, but Bruno pretended not to notice, so convincingly that Henry that he had successfully hidden his accusations from the man.

"The eldest daughter of their house, Claire, has been living in Tyrol for the last few years. She has been a close friend of my granddaughters, Maria and Theresa, Karl’s older sisters. You see, I liked Claire, I respected the girl. She had a good heart, a sharp mind, and a great personality."

Bruno’s words only fueled the fires of betrayal that Henry had presumed upon hearing these words. But he didn’t allow them to manifest as he quickly shut down any notions the King of France had that his most loyal retainers were secretly trying to usurp his position.

"Claire would have been a great wife to my grandson, and I put a stop to it, all so that I could stand here today and have your daughter accuse me of being responsible for the current state of this palace. I gave up Claire, because what I personally may think of your daughter doesn’t matter. It’s for the best of our realms that she marries my grandson. Didn’t I tell you earlier that my personal comfort comes second to that fact?"

Bruno remained utterly still as Henry analyzed every word that the man had said to him. In the end, he sighed heavily in relief for multiple reasons, but even still, he needed clarification.

"So... you’re saying?"

A scornful scoff escaped Bruno’s mouth along with the roll of his eyes as he sat up straight and made his intent clear.

"It means that my grandson Prince Karl Franz von Zehntner, and your daughter, Princess Isabelle d’Orleans will marry when she comes of age. And if that is to happen, you might want to teach her some proper manners, or my grandson will. Because if he had to give up a woman like Claire to deal with that attitude every day for the rest of his life, then I will make sure he is properly compensated for his sacrifice. And you will be the one paying for it, understood?"

Henry nodded silently as Bruno stood up and left the office behind. He sat back in his chair and felt like he had both achieved his goals and lost the game entirely.

He knew that he would be forced to bind his family to Germany through Bruno’s line. He just never expected his daughter to so deliberately sabotage the first opinion the former Reichsmarschall had of her. Let alone that it happened on a day he just so happened to be in a foul mood.

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