Chapter 137
Chapter 137
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 137
Chapter Title: From Two to One (1)
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"For that reason, Ernst August here has graciously decided to take you, Hans, as his adopted son."
I glanced at Ernst August II, the Prince of Hanover and Duke of Cumberland, who was standing beside Wilhelm II with a face like he'd just bitten into something foul.
No matter how I looked at it, he didn't seem the least bit gracious.
If anything, it was more like he was barely holding back his displeasure.
I could understand Ernst August II's attitude.
We had no prior acquaintance, and there was no reason for him to like me.
If the Kaiser hadn't struck a deal—recognizing Ernst August II's claim to the Duchy of Brunswick in exchange for nominally adopting me into his family for my marriage to Luise—I wouldn't even be here.
That said, now that my marriage to Luise was approved, I'd figured I'd end up with a higher title or adopted into some suitable noble house. But the Duke of Brunswick? Of all people.
The name sounded like some incompetent snob soaked in elitism, doomed to die at the hands of a blond pretty boy. But in reality, for anyone with even a passing interest in European history, the House of Brunswick was one of the most prestigious noble families in the German Empire.
Its lineage stretched back to the Holy Roman Empire, where Heinrich the Lion—rival to Frederick Barbarossa—hailed from this very house. Even Britain's Hanoverian dynasty began when George I of Brunswick became George I of England.
'Of course, as an adopted son, I couldn't actually call myself the Duke of Brunswick.'
In the German Empire, where family and title were one and the same, I could technically claim the duke's style. But if I went around as "Hans von Choi, Duke of Brunswick," I'd be treated like a lunatic who'd spiked the sausages with gravel.
And rightly so—this was just a sack swap.
Swapping cheap flour like Hans von Choi for the fancy packaging of the House of Brunswick. A sleight of hand.
But whether it was cheap flour in a premium bag didn't matter to me.
As long as I could marry Luise, I was fine. Even if they treated me like bargain-basement goods wrapped in luxury paper.
"With this, Hans von Choi, Baron here, is officially a member of our house. That settles it, Wilhelm?"
"More than enough, Ernst. The Reichstag will approve your Brunswick inheritance soon—go home and wait for the news."
Ernst August II signed the adoption papers and left without so much as a glance my way, as if that wrapped everything up.
Not that I'd expected him to treat me like a real son.
Ours was strictly a business father-son arrangement.
True to the Kaiser's word, Ernst August II's claim to the Duchy of Brunswick passed the Reichstag unanimously in under a week.
Of course, the deputies didn't yet know I'd been adopted into his family. They probably just thought the Kaiser had another whim and reconciled with the Welfs.
I was curious what faces the deputies—especially the Junkers—would make when the truth came out.
No doubt it'd stir up a storm again.
But if asked what they could even do about it? I'd just laugh.
"So, marrying Princess Viktoria Luise? Congratulations."
Chancellor von Bülow's reaction was more subdued than I'd expected.
I'd figured he'd at least knock over his chair in shock.
"Love's like smoke or a cough—you can't hide it forever. I've seen you glued to the princess since you were kids. Surprised now that you're marrying? Come on."
"Fair point."
Then again, the chancellor and I went back almost as far as the Kaiser and I did.
He'd first met me when Wilhelm II brought me to the New Palace.
Maybe that's why he looked almost nostalgic seeing the kid I'd been all grown up and getting married.
"As chancellor, I see no reason to object. And His Majesty mentioned you've been adopted into the House of Brunswick?"
Von Bülow smirked, pleased.
"Nominal or not, you're now part of one of the oldest princely houses in the empire. The Junkers won't dare oppose your marriage outright. You've spared me some headaches."
"They'll still grumble behind my back."
There was that German saying—no love without jealousy?
I was used to it by now.
"Time to prepare the state wedding, then. When are you thinking?"
"Their Majesties want next April."
"Nearly a year out. Announcement in early 1911, then."
Luise wanted it sooner—fall or winter.
But the Augusta Empress opposed it.
Fall was too rushed; winter too cold. Warm spring was best.
Since her support made the marriage possible, Luise relented and followed her mother's advice.
Me? I was just grateful they were letting us marry at all.
Sadly, I had no say.
We weren't even married yet, and I could already see my married life stretching out ahead.
No wonder live-in sons-in-law felt the way they did.
"Hans, this means we can trust you with Luise?"
"A real man downs his beer in one go!"
As wedding prep progressed smoothly, I was caught between Luise and the imperial couple, running ragged and sweating bullets.
To top it off, my soon-to-be brothers-in-law—the Crown Prince and the princes—dragged me to a so-called "guys' party" under the guise of bonding with my new brother-in-law status. I had to force down booze I could barely handle.
"Hans marrying Luise... I always figured it'd happen someday, but it's still weird."
As I struggled to keep my wits amid the local brews, Prince Joachim munched sauerkraut as a chaser and spoke up.
The other princes nodded in agreement.
"Planning to live at the New Palace after?"
"Ugh... who knows~?"
Dizzy from the alcohol, I slurred.
"Luise wants Schönhausen Palace in Berlin~hic! But Their Majesties want us sticking around the New Palace for a bit post-wedding~."
I did own Schloss Friedrichshof, but it was too far out in the provinces.
"I thought about starting there too when I married. Changed my mind midway and moved."
Wilhelm II's fourth son, Prince August Wilhelm, reminisced.
He'd married Alexandra Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg in 1908, following Crown Prince Wilhelm's 1905 wedding and Prince Eitel Friedrich's 1906 match to Duchess Sophie Charlotte of Oldenburg.
From what I knew, their marriage started happy but soured, ending in divorce in 1920.
The cause? Prince August Wilhelm's homosexuality.
He was particularly close to Hans Georg von Mackensen, son of that Mackensen and a friend. Whether they were that close, I neither knew nor cared.
Tastes are tastes, after all.
"Luise and Hans are tying the knot, but when are you getting married?"
The Crown Prince, as eldest, prompted the still-single Prince Adalbert, Prince Oskar, and Prince Joachim, who paused mid-sip and eyed each other.
"Not thinking about it yet."
Prince Adalbert spoke first.
"A sailor's lover is the sea. It'll happen when the time's right."
"Bullshit."
His brothers weren't buying it.
More like, 'Here he goes again.'
"Ugh, sailors..."
"What?!"
Prince Adalbert bristled at Prince Eitel Friedrich's landlubber jab.
The Crown Prince, used to such squabbles, turned to Wilhelm II's fifth son, Prince Oskar.
"You, Oskar?"
"Uh, well..."
"Come on, bro. With Oskar's personality, can he even..."
"I actually have a girlfriend."
Before Prince August could finish, Prince Oskar confessed with resolved determination. The princes' eyes—including the Crown Prince's—widened in shock.
Oskar was the quiet, low-key type among the brothers, so him dating was apparently earth-shattering.
I, knowing from history who she was, just numbly munched a sausage.
"Never thought I'd live to see the day Oskar surprises me."
"Hans and Luise, now you? Secret romances in vogue? Though calling our dear brother-in-law's 'secret' is a stretch!"
Crown Prince Wilhelm and Prince Eitel dragged me into it, but Prince Oskar ducked his head shyly.
His next older brother, Prince August Wilhelm, pressed.
"So? Who's this lucky lady who's got our little brother head over heels?"
"Ina..."
"Ina?"
"Who's that?"
"Rings a bell..."
The princes huddled, rattling off noble ladies' names to ID the mysterious "Ina" who'd stolen Oskar's heart.
They looked pathetic, so I spilled it.
"Hic! Prince Oskar, is it Ina Marie von Bassewitz~?"
"Huh? How'd you know?"
"Wait, hold on! Ina Marie von Bassewitz? That's Mother's lady-in-waiting!"
Shocked enough by Oskar having a girlfriend—and her being none other than the Augusta Empress's own attendant—they clapped hands over mouths.
As horror filled the room, the Crown Prince recovered first.
"Oskar, little brother. You know the Bassewitz family is just a count's house?"
"If Hans and Luise can marry across classes, why not? What matters is I truly love her."
"Sigh... Hans. This is on you."
"Hic?"
Why me?
He was like this in the original history too!
"I won't oppose, but after Luise, you too? Father won't like it. And Mother will be furious her attendant's involved."
"I know. It's fine. I'm the fifth son anyway—no big deal if I marry beneath my station like Luise."
Prince Oskar's innocent tone left Crown Prince Wilhelm shaking his head in disbelief.
Eldest sons have it rough.
"Bro, actually, I like someone too."
"What?"
"Pardon?"
Why was Joachim jumping in now?
Inspired by Oskar's bombshell, our baby brother stood with fierce resolve. Crown Prince Wilhelm and I alike stared dumbly.
"You too? Mismatched marriage?"
"No, no. The girl I like is more than suitable—overflowing with pedigree. Father and Mother will approve. Don't worry!"
"Ha, good. Relieved to hear it. So, who is she?"
"Olga Nikolaevna Roma..."
"Eitel, he's drunk. Hans isn't much better. Take them to bed."
"Got it, bro."
Buff Prince Eitel hoisted Joachim and me under his arms and hauled us out.
Joachim squirmed, unhappy with the handling.
"I like Olga too! I'll propose when I'm old enough!!"
"Sure, sure, little brother. Dream on."
Prince Eitel gave his baby brother a pitying look.
Joachim protested nonstop, but no brother took him seriously.
And so, amid the farce, 1910 drew peacefully to a close, and 1911 arrived.
The new year brought the announcement of my marriage to Princess Viktoria Luise across the entire German Empire.