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?"

The prince kneaded his hands for several moments before responding to the question while unsure of the answer his father was looking for."

"Because there's no valid reason for doing?"

Berengar scoffed when he heard this before looking at the boy with disdain.

"Bullshit! Did your mother tell you that? Typical... Hans, there are plenty of reasons to hit a woman. You just don't fucking do it! Especially not in public. Why? Because they are weaker than we are. As one of my potential heirs, who lets be honest here is the most likely to succeed me when I finally retire. You need to mind your position and never use your power to bully those who are weaker than you.

Veronika disrespected you, in public, no less. Believe me when I say that I understand the urge to put a woman in her place when she does that. However, there are plenty of ways to discipline a bitch when she acts out. However, you do so in the comfort and safety of your own home. You do not lash out in public and strike her. It is simply disgraceful behavior. 

Your mother has said that you need to apologize to Veronika. However, she is a woman, and is not thinking with her brain, but with her heart. So allow me to ask you a question. Do you honestly believe what you did was wrong, or are you simply remorseful that your actions caused distress to the girl?"

Hans thought clearly about what his father was asking him for a few moments before raising his head towards the man with a clear sense of understanding in his eyes.

"Though I may have gone too far in my actions, I believe the intent behind them was justified. I would suppose that I do not feel guild for my actions, but remorse for the effect they had on Veronika."

Berengar nodded his head in approval, before walking over to the boy, and leaning on his desk as he instructed him further.

"You never apologize to a woman, Hans, at least not for your actions, and especially if you don't feel they were unwarranted. It is a sign of weakness, a sign of submission; and as the future King of Bohemia, and potentially the next Kaiser, you should never lower your head to a woman. 

However, women are emotional creatures, and won't easily forgive you unless they get an apology, so the compromise is to divert the apology towards how they feel. After all, that is what they really care about. Your mother has ordered you to apologize to Veronika, and you shall. 

You will go to her school tomorrow at lunchtime. Don't worry about being granted access. I'll take care of it. You will approach her in front of all her classmates, and be as kind as I know you can be, where you will apologize to Veronika for hurting her feelings and causing her emotional distress. I have no doubt she will forgive you, and all the other girls will see that you are a kind and caring boy who takes care of his fiancee. 

That should dispel any nasty rumors that are floating about regarding our household and the treatment of my ward. Your mother has spoiled you too much. It is time I teach you how to be a man. Starting with how to properly apologize."

After hearing his father's lecture, Hans felt enlightened. The man's words really opened his eyes to the power dynamics behind relationships. He did not know that something as simple as an apology had such a profound effect on how people viewed him. He listened to his father's advice well before nodding his head and agreeing to his demands.

"Very well, father, I will do as you say!"

Berengar grinned when he heard this and patted the boy on the shoulder before parting some additional wisdom. 

"Hans, you were born with the greatest gift of all. You have an exceptionally gifted mind and you are more intelligent than I, or your Mother could ever dream of becoming. However, you are still young and lacking in wisdom.

If you wish for your legacy to one day outshine mine, then you should do well to heed my advice and obey my commands. If you do so, I will make a man out of you. A man so great that history will remember you forever. Now run along, and make sure to apologize as I have instructed you to your little fiancee." 

Hans smiled and nodded his head before departing from his father's study. 

"Thanks for the advice, father!"

After saying this, the boy ran off to go enjoy himself for the rest of the day. 

The next day, Hans did as he was instructed. At lunchtime, he departed from his school and rode on a carriage to the all girls' academy that Veronika attended. The gate guards did not even bat an eye as the prince walked through their entrance. When he noticed this, he knew his father had cleared the way for him. 

After all, every boy dreamed of entering these pearly gates, but none were allowed entry. Hans would be the first boy to enter this school since its creation. As he walked down the halls, those girls who were not in the cafeteria whispered among themselves and giggled. They were shocked to see a boy enter the sacred halls of their school, but they all knew his identity and none dared to impede his progress. 

Eventually, Hans found Veronika sitting in the cafeteria alongside several of her friends, who instantly gazed at him with astonishment. When Veronika saw their expressions, she turned around to see her little Fiancee staring at her with a warm expression. She pouted as she saw the boy who had shunned her so brutally in front of his classmates, and turned her head to the side, not wanting to look into his eyes.  When Hans saw this, he chuckled before handing a rose over Veronika that he had hid up his sleeve. 

"Veronika, we need to talk..."

The girl refused to shift her gaze towards him and merely harrumphed coldly in an attempt to shoo him away.

"There's nothing for us to talk about, Hans...."

All eyes were on the two of them as they attempted to settle their dispute, with girls gossiping in the background. Ultimately, Hans sighed before forcing the rose into Veronika's hand. He took a deep breath before making his apology.

"Veronika, I'm sorry that I hurt your feelings. I know this doesn't mean much, but after what happened, I had some time to think, and I kicked Noemi to the curb. If it is between you and her, then I'll choose you every time. You know that, right?"

Veronika blushed as she heard this apology and lowered her head. The girls in the cafeteria were all whispering among themselves as they heard this. They had heard that the Prince had slapped her, but they did not know the reason behind it. They never would have guessed that it was because of a love triangle. It was almost as if they were watching a soap opera play out in front of them, and they all ate it up. 

The Bohemian Princess did not even realize that Hans had failed to apologize for his actions, nor did he promise to never again lay a hand on her. He had watched his father enough to know how to manipulate a woman's heartstrings.

Naturally, with his intellect and his father's advice, Hans was able to formulate the proper apology. One that deflected from guilt and responsibility while spoonfeeding the girl exactly what she wanted to hear. It worked like a charm, because after several moments of silent embarrassment, Veronika hugged the boy and called him the same nickname that Noemi used to call him.

"Hansy!"

After hugging him, she pouted once more before pulling on his cheeks. 

"You little brat, you put me through so much pain! You owe me!"

Hans endured the torment before asking what the girl wanted from him.

"Anything, just ask!"

The girl eventually let go of his cheeks, where she wore a sheepish expression while touching her index fingers together.

"Tea... Tea time, this Saturday, just the two of us!"

In response to this, the Prince chuckled before responding to the girl's demands with a wide grin on his face.

"Sure... Anything for you, Veronika!"

Immediately, the cafeteria erupted with roars, as the girls screamed in excitement. Though there were a few years between the royal couple, it was an endearing sight for many of the girls who could only dream of having such an adorable little fiance. Those who were among the nobility were already engaged to men much older than them, and when they saw Veronika and Hans together, they were naturally jealous. 

In the end, this little apology of Hans' would spread far and wide across the city, putting an end to the nasty rumors of abuse. Veronika had forgotten all about her little dispute, and would maintain a friendly relationship with her fiance. 

Though Linde had put an end to Hans's relationship with Noemi, the boy was undeterred from the prospect of hanging out with her. He vowed to find a way to be with Noemi simply out of spite towards his mother, and his fiancee, for forcing him to terminate the relationship.