Chapter 547: A Past That Never Was
Bruno had left the Kaiser’s palace at a moment’s notice. His thoughts were heavy, towards the past, the present, and as always the future.
But he had little time to dwell on them, at least not now. No, he had to meet with someone from his past. Someone he thought he would never see again.
And Bruno met Sakura at his old manor in Berlin. The address had been given to her, and she was escorted there by members of the German National Police.
The home had long since been abandoned by Erich and his family, who, in recent months, had moved back to the family’s primary residence in Tyrol.
But it was kept clean and tidy by Bruno’s staff, who maintained it daily.
Tonight, however, they had gone home, leaving it the perfect place for a quiet, private meeting.
When Sakura stepped through the doors, she saw him standing before the fireplace.
He had grown older. The lines on his face spoke of war, of loss, of endless burdens. But they weren’t harsh, just gently worn.
Perhaps, by some strange sorcery, age had only just begun to erode the man’s youth and vigor.
The grey in his hair gave him a rugged edge, rather than robbing him of his presence. Gone was the charming, princely youth she remembered. Before her stood a hardened figure of history.
Bruno was gazing up at the photographs above the mantel, images of himself as a young officer, with his wife and their eldest children in this very house. Erich had kept them, adding photos of his own family with Alya. A legacy carried forward.
At first, Sakura said nothing. How could she? It was too surreal. But when Bruno finally turned and looked at her, she broke the silence with nervous small talk, her eyes avoiding his.