Chapter 138
Chapter 138
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 138
Chapter Title: From Two to One (2)
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“Good heavens. What in the world is going on?”
As soon as the new year dawned, the faces of Germans everywhere filled with shock, astonishment, and question marks upon hearing the official announcement from the imperial family.
And the reason was obvious.
Viktoria Luise.
The Kaiser's beloved daughter and the youngest of the imperial family, she was adored by Germans across the nation. Now she was getting married.
And not just to anyone, but to the boy who saved the Kaiser—Hans von Choi.
Germans from all walks of life gaped in disbelief, plunged into confusion over how to process this.
Of course, everyone knew Hans was exceptionally close to the imperial family.
But no one—not in their wildest dreams—had imagined the Kaiser would take him as a son-in-law.
True to the saying that three Germans produce four opinions, beer halls and social clubs buzzed nonstop within a day of the announcement. Debates raged about what was being called, in some sense, the wedding of the century.
But the shocking news didn't end there.
“Damn it! I knew there was something fishy when the Kaiser suddenly reconciled with the Welf family!”
“That Ernst August II guy—he's just colluding with the Kaiser to inherit the dukedom by adopting Hans von Choi, right?”
“Argh, if I'd known, I never would've voted yes!”
The Junkers who had unwittingly approved Ernst August II's inheritance of the Duchy of Brunswick in the secret deal between him and Wilhelm II—especially the anti-Hans faction—trembled with an inexpressible sense of betrayal.
How much time had passed since they'd been left dumbfounded by the bombshell marriage announcement? And now this backstab.
It was like blinding oneself to catch a sparrow, but formally, it cleared any obstacles to the couple's marriage.
The Junkers were ready to storm the New Palace in Potsdam and cry out their grievances to the Kaiser himself, but the next announcement stopped them in their tracks, mouths agape once more.
Monarchs across Europe, starting with Britain, began sending congratulatory telegrams one after another in response to the marriage announcement of Hans and Viktoria Luise.
To lend weight to the union, George V and Wilhelm II had mobilized their blood-tied royal network, calling in cousins and relatives.
With European monarchs unanimously backing Hans and Luise's marriage on top of Ernst August II's surprise move, the Junkers found themselves paralyzed, unable to act.
And above all, public opinion wasn't on their side.
It was embarrassing for Hans, but under the direction of DRR president Hans Bredow, radios across Germany began portraying Hans and Luise as lovers who had triumphed over trials and tribulations to claim their love.
“Mrs. Hoffmann, did you hear yesterday's broadcast?”
“Of course. Listening to the princess and the baron's story had me all aflutter.”
And it worked better than Hans had imagined.
Thanks to his efforts in spreading radios, nearly every home in Germany now had one. A large portion of listeners were housewives hooked on radio dramas.
For them, the tale of young lovers bearing hardships to reap the fruits of love was a timeless classic that always hit home.
“By the way, is that rumor true—that the baron is actually the illegitimate son of the Duke of Brunswick?”
“I think so. His parents' identities have always been a mystery, right? He must be the child the duke had with some mysterious Asian woman he met in Britain.”
“Oh my, then the rumor about him dueling the duke's legitimate son over Princess Luise...”
Of course, as housewives' gossip spread from mouth to mouth, a minor side effect emerged: Hans and Luise somehow became the stars of a melodramatic saga filled with intrigue and scandal.
“Damn, there's nothing we can do.”
“I give up. Let them marry the princess or not—they're on their own.”
In the end, the Junkers were forced to swallow their rage and grumble emptily once more.
Their animosity toward Hans had softened compared to before, too.
It had been a full decade since Hans entered the palace.
Time changes rivers and mountains, yet Hans had steadfastly solidified his position in the imperial family. Even the most stubborn Junkers were worn out and ready to drop.
And so, amid all the rumors and curiosity, time flowed on until spring arrived.
Finally, Hans and Luise's wedding day dawned.
“Whew...”
April 1911.
I stared blankly at the cathedral doors, unable to hide my trembling heart.
Once I passed through those doors, I would finally become Luise's husband—and the Kaiser's son-in-law.
Worries about the future and a heavy sense of responsibility gnawed at me, but I couldn't show it.
All I could do was hope Crown Prince Wilhelm's words were true: that everything would flash by in the blink of an eye once I crossed the threshold.
“It's nearly time for your entrance, sir.”
At the valet's words, I took a deep breath to shake off the tension and squared my shoulders.
Soon, with a grand creak, the massive cathedral doors swung open, revealing the ceremony hall packed with guests.
The Augusta Empress already dabbing tears with her handkerchief; Crown Prince Wilhelm flashing a thumbs-up to ease my nerves; Crown Princess Cecilie smiling at me while cradling their eldest son, Prince Wilhelm.
Prince Joachim cheering wildly, along with the other princes; Prince Heinrich and Princess Margarete—Kaiser's siblings—gazing at me proudly.
George V, who had promised to attend; Crown Prince Constantine and Crown Princess Sophie of Greece; King Haakon VII of Norway; Tsar Nicholas II after a long absence; and Theodore Roosevelt, come from America to attend the wedding.
Chancellor von Bülow and Foreign Minister Schoen smiling and applauding, along with military figures like Schlieffen, Tirpitz, Moltke, Ludendorff, Falkenhayn; my special invitees Reuterwein and Lettow-Vorbeck.
Retired Vice-Chancellor Posadowsky-Wehner and Social Democratic lawmakers like Bernstein.
Tesla, still buried in research despite his radio windfall; the Wright brothers; Fritz Haber; the Schmeisser duo; Bredow; and Manfred von Richthofen, fresh from cadet school awaiting commissioning.
And letters of congratulations from J.P. Morgan, Min Yeong-hwan, and other Free Government figures unable to attend.
All the connections I'd made in Germany had gathered to celebrate my wedding.
With gratitude toward each one, I straightened my chest and marched forward steadily.
After a brief wait, following Crown Prince Wilhelm's wedding, Strauss once again wielded the baton for ours.
Pababa-bam~ pababa-bam~ paba-bam~ pababa-bam~ bambam~
And Luise, more beautiful than ever, took the Kaiser's arm—sniffling himself—and walked slowly toward me.
Unable to look away, I caught her blushing shyly through her veil.
I swallowed hard and gently took her hand as Wilhelm II reluctantly, tremblingly, offered it.
As our eyes met and we exchanged heated gazes, the presiding bishop opened his mouth with a pleased expression.
For the record, this was the same bishop who had overseen Luise's and my confirmation two years prior.
“Today, these two beloved young bride and groom stand before God to enter the sacred covenant of marriage and become one.”
The bishop said.
“They have endured many trials to reach this moment. Yet under God's guidance, their love has borne fruit—and as His humble servant, there is no greater joy. Marriage is the oldest and holiest rite since the Lord created this world...”
The bishop's sermon dragged on, much like at our confirmation.
But unlike that tedious day, today his lengthy words echoing through the cathedral made us feel ourselves drawing ever closer, becoming one.
“Hans von Choi, the groom, and Viktoria Luise Adelheid Mathilde Charlotte, the bride—have you decided of your own free will, without coercion, to take each other in marriage?”
“Yes.”
Luise and I exchanged smiles and answered in perfect unison, without a hint of hesitation.
The bishop nodded contentedly and continued the vows.
“Do you pledge to love and honor each other all your lives?”
“We do.”
“Do you pledge to accept the children God may grant you through this marriage and raise them in the teachings of Jesus Christ and the Church?”
“We do.”
“Very well. Before sealing the marriage covenant, take each other's right hands before our Lord in Heaven and His Son Jesus Christ, and declare your intent.”
I spoke.
“I, Hans von Choi, take you, Viktoria Luise Adelheid Mathilde Charlotte, as my wife. In joy and sorrow, all the days of my life, I promise to love and honor you, to be faithful to you as your husband.”
Luise spoke.
“I, Viktoria Luise Adelheid Mathilde Charlotte, take you, Hans von Choi, as my husband. In health and sickness, in joy and sorrow, all the days of my life, I promise to love and cherish you, to fulfill my duties as your wife.”
“What you have professed in this church, God Himself shall strengthen and bless.”
As the bishop spoke those words and paused, Luise and I looked at him.
Grinning mischievously, he said to us,
“What are you waiting for? Groom and bride, seal your vows with a kiss!”
“Ooh~!”
The guests erupted in cheers at the bishop's words.
We couldn't disappoint them.
Without hesitation, I pulled Luise into my arms and kissed her.
She seemed startled for a moment but soon smiled and hugged me tightly.
Thus, we became husband and wife.
The ceremony ended, and the promised wedding banquet began.
As guests from around the world offered blessings to the bride and groom, Archduke Franz Ferdinand—who never missed a wedding or funeral—sincerely congratulated Hans and Luise.
“Congratulations on your marriage, Duke. I wish you both eternal happiness.”
“Thank you, Your Highness Archduke Franz Ferdinand.”
As Hans and Luise clasped hands, unwilling to part even for a moment, to express their thanks, the archduke smiled and nodded.
He genuinely prayed for the young couple's happy marriage.
For him, Hans and Luise's union felt personal.
His wife, Sophie, was, as widely known, the daughter of a mere count.
When Franz Ferdinand declared his intent to marry her, not only his uncle Franz Joseph but the entire court opposed it vehemently.
Franz Joseph I especially flew into a rage, threatening to strip him of succession rights.
However, with public sentiment already unsettled by Crown Prince Rudolf's suicide, he couldn't follow through.
In the end, Franz Joseph grudgingly—most grudgingly—permitted the marriage, but afterward refused to recognize Sophie as part of the imperial family.
She couldn't even look at him in public. Despite being the consort of the heir presumptive, she was treated as the lowest rank at court, worse than the maids.
Treatment reserved for mistresses, not lawful wives.
Thus, Franz Ferdinand daily swallowed his guilt toward his wife and fury at his harsh uncle.
'At least these two have their families' blessing. That's truly fortunate.'
Of course, as heir presumptive, his situation differed vastly from Viktoria Luise, who could never aspire to the throne.
Still, watching Hans and Luise beam happily, surrounded by family including the Kaiser and Empress, Franz Ferdinand couldn't hide his envy.
'I need to work harder.'
The Austria-Hungary Empire was suffering ethnic strife, exacerbated by the Bosnian annexation a few years back.
Franz Ferdinand advocated a United States of Greater Austria to resolve it—but that meant asking German Austrians and Hungarians to relinquish privileges, facing massive resistance.
Yet witnessing Hans and Luise's wedding stirred something in him. He resolved to push harder.
His uncle would hate it, but success would bolster his position, ensuring better treatment for his family.
Thus, Franz Ferdinand steeled his determination.
For his beloved wife Sophie and their children.