Chapter 53: The Family Business Part II
Hours passed and by the time the evening arrived the grand banquet had begun. As a member of the main branch of the von Zehntner family, Bruno was naturally seated at what one could call the primary attraction. Which was a large table in the center of the venue meant for Bruno, his eight brothers, their wives, and his parents.
As for the children, they were off at a various tables meant for the younger generations of the main family. In addition to this, there were side tables set up throughout the area where the branch families and other vaunted guests were sitting.
Servants would run throughout the venue, providing various food trays, as well as refilling the drinks of the guests. It was a feast of epic proportions, one which Bruno was all too familiar with considering he grew up in a noble household.
And as Bruno silently ate his food, while his wife Heidi mingled with his family on his behalf. His father gathered everyone's attention by clinging his fork to a glass. Immediately, any conversation that was being had in the room went silent, as all eyes gathered towards the table where the main family sat.
Its patriarch stood up and began to announce the reason why he had gathered everyone here, or at least why the date had been moved up so early.
"I would like to thank those of you who could make it today. And extend my best wishes to those members of our family and our friends who were invited but otherwise could not attend today's gathering.
As always, we gather together as a family once per year, where we chat among ourselves and build connections that otherwise would not occur without our little reunions. And every year I make a little toast to you all, and all that you have accomplished.
But today, I want to be a little selfish, and make a toast to a member of my own immediate family, rather than all of you. Over the years, my various sons have gone on to accomplish great things. Some are naturally more than others.
However, there is one of my children who has performed so admirably, that not only has the Kaiser set his eyes upon him but so has a Foreign Monarch. Who I have recently been extended an invitation to visit his realm as a show of thanks towards the effort of my son in question.
For those who aren't aware, my youngest son Bruno has recently been promoted to the rank of Generalleutenant, a rank which will entail far greater responsibilities with his job at the German Army's High Command.