Chapter 107: Clever Girl...
Archduchess Hedwig was the granddaughter of Franz Joseph I, she had of course been invited to this gathering to honor the German Kaiser's personal representative, and the general tasked with leading the Military Exercises in the alps that would be conducted within the next few days.
Though only currently roughly ten years of age, she had an almost innate understanding of people and their character. The expressions worn on one's face were often contrary to their nature. Liars and murderers often wore the kindest of smiles.
Perhaps it was because she had grown up in the Royal palace, which was rife with ambitious men, and treachery around every corner that the girl had gained a rather unique ability to understand people better than they often understood themselves And this was why she became interested in Bruno the moment she laid eyes upon the man.
Bruno was, to put it simply, different from anyone she had ever met before. He did not conceal his true goals or ambitions behind a false mask of kindness. In fact, his expression was actually hard for her to read.
Because Bruno was a man who seldom expressed any emotion. For the most part, he was stoic, emotionless, cold, and callous. There were many terms to explain it. But it was as if he simply could not be compelled to express emotion.
Even when he spoke with such passion for hunting down the Marxists of the world wherever he may find them. The man's face was as cold as a stone wall during the dead of winter. It was his eyes which expressed his fury.
Still, Hedwig did not directly approach the man. She frankly didn't have the opportunity to do so, as all her aunts, uncles, and cousins had forced their way to speak with the personal representative of the German Kaiser.
A man of such infamy that even the court of the Austrian Kaiser had long since heard his name. Throughout the day Hedwig could only watch afar and listen to what Bruno said, trying to learn more about the man, who was so different from everyone else around her.
It was only at dinner that she was finally able to get a word in. After Bruno had spoken to her relative, the young archduke named Karl, who would one day be the next Kaiser, though nobody other than Bruno realized it yet.
Bruno had spoken of war, warning the man that one day, should he find himself in a position to make war, it was better to solve things peacefully if it was at all possible. But while he spoke of war as if it were hell, something that was deeply contrasted to the way the old Generals spoke of it, as if it were some honorable and glorious thing.