Chapter 50: The War Within
Christoph understood that something had changed in Bruno following the war in Manchuria. He was not acting like his usual self. Threatening his own family with violence over petty matters such as insults between children? It was not exactly something that a calm and rational man would do.
Because of this, he was quick to confront his father with the news. After all, the man which Bruno was named after was the only other member in their immediate family who had actually seen battle. With Bruno Sr. having served in both the Austro-Prussian War, and the Franco-Prussian wars during his younger years.
When the two of them were seated together in the Bundesrat where Bruno Sr. worked. There was little chitchat, with Christoph damn near immediately bringing up the conversation he had just had with his youngest brother.
"Father, have you spoken with Bruno since he returned home from the War in Manchuria?" Bruno Sr. raised his brow when he heard this. If Christoph was mentioning this, then clearly he had met with the youngest of his brothers. And something must have happened to cause the older of the two siblings to come running straight to him.
"No, I have yet to find the time to do so. Besides, I figured soon enough we will meet at the family gathering, so such a thing can wait until then, unless, of course something happened?" Christoph was visibly anxious as he explained the conversation that he had with his youngest brother. And when he did so, Bruno Sr. remained silent for some time, before finally responding.
"Your brother has been through a lot. I heard that more men died in a single battle within Manchuria then the entirety of the Franco-Prussian War. To witness such death and destruction, it changes a man, and most of the time not for the better.
I'll have a word with him, but Christoph, if he has really made such a statement, it would be wise for you to warn your siblings not to provoke him. He has just come home from the war. It has been less than a week since he was out there killing men in the trenches. He is probably having a hard time remembering who is friend and who is foe.
I shouldn't have to tell you this, but it would be incredibly unwise at this time to continue with your petty insults towards his wife and children. If you antagonize the man, he might lash out with violence, which is something that is to be expected if his mind is still in a state of war."
Bruno Sr. narrowed his gaze towards his second eldest son, who immediately tried to pretend like he and his brothers had not been mistreating Bruno's family for years now.
"Father, I don't know what you have heard, but-"