Chapter 90: The Monster Who Wears the Flesh of a Man
Quite frankly, Bruno had missed much of what the Tsar had said. There were specific battles named for each award granted to him, as well as campaigns, such as his involvement in the Ingria, Volga, and counter-insurgency campaigns.
Bruno was still flabbergasted by what this all meant. He was no longer just the 9th son of a German nobleman. Instead, he was granted permission by the Tsar to display his own coat of arms and to name his own noble house, of which he was now the head.
In fact, if Bruno really wanted to, he could change his name on Russian documents and the name of his house to blend in with the Russian aristocracy. It was truly a strange thing, as his loyalties were first and foremost to the German Reich.
No doubt this was a scheme by either the Tsar or someone far more cunning behind him to bring Bruno closer to the Russian Empire. Either way, he had no choice but to accept the words and thank the Tsar for his benevolence, which is exactly what Bruno did.
"Your Majesty, I simply did what I felt was necessary to end a threat, not just to the Russian Empire and its people, but to all of humanity. The Red Menace must be confronted and fought wherever it is found, lest it destroy everything we, as Christians and men of conscience, hold dear.
Though I believe I was merely fulfilling my role as a man of faith and am wholly undeserving of the generosity you have bestowed upon me this day, I will still accept these honors, since you seem to think I am worthy of them.
I thank the Tsar and the House of Romanov for the kindness they have shown me today and will remember it until the day I die."
Knowing these were the words the Tsar wanted to hear, or at least those supporting him behind the scenes, Bruno chose to speak to them. After all, being granted citizenship and nobility in another major power was something whose value could not be easily defined by modern sensibilities.
For example, if-God forbid-Bruno ever found himself at odds with the Kaiser and the German Reich, or perhaps the Kaiser ended up being overthrown in this timeline and replaced with a government hostile to the nobility, yet in some odd chain of events the Tsar maintained his power, then Bruno and his family could flee to Russia and be treated as members of the highest social class, as well as heroes of the Empire for the contributions Bruno had made in the Russian Civil War.
Either way, Bruno was not going to reject a get-out-of-jail-free card. Although, he would seriously need to figure out how to incorporate Russia into his plans for the future. Perhaps the League of Three Emperors could really be restored through his efforts?