Chapter 514: A Dinner that Changed the World
Bruno had lain the trap perfectly. And the Italian King, desperate for stability in a time where his country was beginning to feel left to the wayside. He was all too quick to jump into it.
And now that Bruno had the man exactly where he wanted him, he closed the trap shut and sealed the deal.
"What I’m proposing is to give Italy a place at the table. I understand your nation, like many others is still recovering from the effects of the war. Luckily for you, the Italian front collapsed rather quickly, and you surrendered under ideal terms."
Bruno raised his fork, chewing. Enjoying the savory taste of its succulent meat, before continuing with his speech.
"Let’s say, hypothetically speaking, I did in fact ignore commands and pursue control over northern Italy with a rapid assault just in time for the peace conference to begin. Do you think such a move was as ignoble as you have professed all these years?"
Emmanuel was about to protest, but Bruno raised his fork, chewing on the food in his mouth, washing it down with more beer before continuing.
"Please, let me finish. I promise there will be time to speak when I am done...."
The King of Italy refrained from interrupting, no matter how much he wanted to, then relaxed his posture, as Bruno began once more to speak his mind.
"If I had not seized Milan and the surrounding regions, do you think you would have surrendered so quickly? Or would you have rejected the Kaiser’s offer and continued the war? How would Italy look now if my army humiliated you worse than we did to France?"
It took all of three seconds for Emmanuel to realize where Bruno was going with this, but he remained silent still, knowing that the man still had not finished his thought.