Tyranny of Steel

Berengar sat in his office with a stern expression on his face as he rested his chin on his folded hands. In front of him was his eldest child, Hans von Kufstein, who had a nervous expression on his face. Berengar had been meaning to talk to the boy for a while, following the stunt he pulled in his school. However, his schedule had been dreadfully busy, and because of that, he had waited well over a week to have this conversation.

Hans was squirming in his seat. The only thing that frightened him more than his mother when she was angry was his father. He was aware of why he was sitting here across from the world ’s most powerful tyrant and took a deep breath to calm himself before listening to his father ’s scolding.

”You know why you are here, don ’t you, Hans? ”

The boy remained silent as he nodded his head in agreement, signalling his father to continue his lecture.

”You slapped your fiance across the face in front of an audience. Do you know what people are saying about that? The Kaiser ’s ward is living a life filled with abuse. The Prince of Germany is cruel towards women, et cetera et cetera et cetera. I have worked hard to build the prestige and dignity of my family, to the point where the von Kufstein name commands both fear and respect among people around the globe.

With your little display of violence, people are starting to speak ill of our family. Those with an agenda in their minds have used your actions as a way to slander our dynasty. I know that your mother has asked you to apologize to the girl. Have you done so already? ”

Hans shook his head awkwardly as he responded truthfully to his father ’s interrogation.

”No, father, she doesn ’t want to see me… ”

Berengar nodded his head in silence for several minutes before getting up from his seat. He stared out the windows for several seconds before responding to his son.

”Do you know why it is inappropriate to hit a woman? ”