Tyranny of Steel

After his parents passed away, and he visited the Norn Wyrd to properly console his grief. Berengar found that he needed to get away from his home, at least for a period of time. And because of this, he charted the massive cruise ship which acted as the von Kufstein's personal yacht, to take him and his family across the Atlantic, and towards that one Germany colony that was so well known for its vice.

The journey on the ship went well enough, but the real fun was when Berengar and his women arrived in the land that was formerly known as Cuba in Berengar's past life. Neuhafen was a colony owned by the Backer entertainment company, which was the largest casino and resort company in the world.

And though there were other casinos that were located within Neuhafen, the lion's share belonged to Hendrick Backer, who was the eldest son of Gunther Backer, who himself was an old friend of Berengar's.

However, despite being offered to stay at Hendrick's most lavish hotel, and with his most luxurious suite. Berengar decided to visit another Casino/resort, one which was owned by Honoria's old friend Malissa.

The moment, Berengar and his women stepped foot in the Casino, they were given the royal treatement, with Malissa herself greeting Honoria. It had been decades since these two women alst saw each other. And though Honoria looked nearly twenty years younger than her current age, Malissa did not.

The former Byzantine prostitute, turned pirate, was a graceful woman, who was easily in her sixties. But when she took one look at Honoria,she nearly had a heart attack. She could hardly believe that the old Pirate Queen had aged so well, and was quick to see if Honoria was in reality her daughter Helena.

"Honoria, is that you? How can this be?"

Despite the relatively youthful appearance that Honoria still had, she was indeed herself. And thus she flicked her purple hair aside and smiled as she hugged her old friend and first mate.

"Malissa, it has been far too long. I am honestly amazed at what you have made of yourself over the past few decades. It truly seems like you are in your element here in the New World!"

Malissa merely scoffed when she heard this, before commenting on the other members of Honoria's crew, who had survived this long.

"It's not just me. Elfrun has worked for me for a very long time, and some of the other girls from our original crew have moved here to Neuhafen. We always wondered what had become of you. I mean, sure, we saw you in the papers, but we were unsure if you had ever really been happy. Judging by your appearance, you have been living an absolutely stress free life for some time now."

Honoria wore a friendly smile, as she assured her old friend that she had indeed been living quite well.

"Of course, I would not have left that life behind at such a young age if I were not ready to settle down and be with my family. My children have all grown up, and have achieved extraordinary things in their own rights, and I love my husband very much."

Upon hearing this, Berengar stepped forward and shook Malissa's hand.

"Malissa, it has been too long. I am glad to see your exploits have brought you such fame and fortune. Surely you must have a family to share it with?"

Contrary to what Berengar was expecting, Malissa did not seem the least bit bitter when she heard the word family. And just when Berengar was about to ask who was foolish enough to marry a former prostitute, a familiar face stepped forward and introduced himself.

"My Kaiser, I understand now why you have decided to refuse my offer. You wished to reacquaint your wife with my own?"

It had been many years since Berengar had seen Hendrick. In fact, the last time he saw the man, he was nothing more than a boy, living in Kufstein prior to Berengar's ascension. At the time, he was just a poor and emaciated serf. Yet now he was a robust man, clad in the most luxurious of trappings.

It was only now that Berengar realized that Hendrick had been the fool who had married Malissa. Because he wrapped his arm around the woman's neck and kissed her passionately on the lips. Berengar was forced to conceal his thoughts as he greeted the man with a polite facade.

"Hendrick, I must say, I never thought all those years ago, when you were a boy plowing my fields, that you would one day become one of the most successful businessmen in the Reich, and marry such a.... wonderful woman. Tell me how has your father been. Is he enjoying his retirement?"

This question obviously rubbed Hendrick the wrong way, and not for the reason Berengar suspected. He suddenly turned stiff, as he responded to Berengar's question with a rather bitter tone in his voice.

"I wouldn't know. My father and I aren't exactly on speaking terms, at least not since I married Malissa. You probably know more about his situation than I do. I will be sure to attend the funeral whenever that happens, but until then, we will remain without contact."

The word funeral made Berengar slightly upset, but he did not reveal it on his face. After all, he had attended two funerals since he had retired. His parents, and that of his old friend Ludwig. To think that both Eckhart and Gunther were likely to be the next to enter the reaper's embrace, it truly gave Berengar a foreboding mindset.

Upon seeing that he had made the former Kaiser upset, Hendrick bowed his head in apology.

"I'm sorry, your majesty. It was foolish of me to mention such a thing so soon after your own parents have passed. Please forgive me!"

Despite being old and retired, Berengar still commanded respect and intimidation from his people and his enemies. But he was not the wrathful man he had once been. The only thing that could awake the fury that lie within his ancient heart was an act of malice against his family.

Thus, Berengar did not pay any mind to Hendrick's remarks, even if the man himself was practically sweating bullets at the thought of accidentally offending his Kaiser.

"There is nothing to apologize for Hendrick, I will be sure to give your father my love when I return to the fatherland. In the meantime, I intend to play some cards while I am here. As for Honoria, I will leave her in the capable of hands of your wife. I am sure they have much to catch up on."

With this said, Berengar kissed all of his women on the lips before going off to enjoy the Casino. Adela and Henrietta followed him, while the others went their separate ways, in their own little cliques to enjoy the various means of gambling that a casino as grand as this provided.

Naturally, they were all protected by members of the Leibgarde to ensure some dumb drunk didn't try anything with them. Thus, while Berengar tried his hand at a game of blackjack, Honoria went off with her old friend and first mate. Where the two women spoke for hours about how their lives had been since they first parted ways, and about the past they shared together.

This vacation would last for two whole weeks, before Berengar and his women returned back to the fatherland, well refreshed from their little getaway.