Rise of a Kaiser

Chapter 53 - Revelations

"I assure you all, my friends, that when the time comes Deutschland shall have her heir. No further questions." Wilhelm announced to a group of reporters who had swarmed him at the gate of the Wilhelmstrasser. Serina then parted the reporters, allowing Wilhelm and his guards to gain entry into the palace, leaving the paperazzi clawing at the gates. Wilhelm sighed as he entered inside, a maid removed his greatcoat before being hugged by his new wife Freida.

"Hello Fritz!" Freida greeted, she had gave Wilhelm the name 'Fritz' due to his middle name of Friedrich. 

"Hello my dear." Wilhelm said lovingly. 

"Fritz, your mother and brother have requested an audience, they want to discuss some family issues." Freida informed, Wilhelm nodded and gestured for her to follow. They walked into the Royal Family's living room. Zerrin and Raidance rose to their feet but Wilhelm insisted they sit down. 

"Good to see you newlyweds!" Zerrin smiled. "I will be returning to Visea." 

"Are you sure brother?" Wilhelm questioned. "It is a terrible hellhole there."

"That may be true, but it is still my home. And anything I can do to help prevent Max and Valker from taking over, and curbing the power of our father is crucial work. There is no one else who can do it." Zerrin explained, emphasising the importance of curbing the misuse of power in Visea. "Mother on the other hand, would like to stay." 

"If that's ok Wilhelm, I would like to stay in Germany rather than in Visea. Dannik is a monster, and would rather flair with prosititutes and murder Faunus than pay respect to me." Raidance says. "That is why I would like help divorcing him." That last sentence shocked Zerrin and Wilhelm at first, but they quickly understood that Raidance wished to cut ties with the bad memories and experiences. "Wilhelm, my heart broke when you were exiled. I swore I would do anything to find a way back to you. But, do you know why you were exiled?"

"It was because I was too popular wasn't I? My agenda to equalise the faunus with society drew ire from Dannik and his elites. They knew I could create revolution so wanted to get rid of me once the war with the demons was over." Wilhelm said, under the impression that this was the reason.

"That's not quite it." Raidance stated. Zerrin, Freida and Wilhelm became more intrigued, the pause cutting through the air like a dagger. "Wilhelm, you were concieved of holy nature. The lord came down upon me and caused me to become pregnant, me and Dannikhad never bedded before. You are not related to Dannik, you are a holy child." Those words struck Wilhelm like a brick. It wansnt his popularity that caused his exile, it was his illegitmacy to Dannik. Then the suprise subsided and a grin fell onto his face.

"Excellent, I no longer wish to be associated with that man. And I am also still related with you and my brothers, despite Max being one of them. Maybe I should announce that on a radio broadcast, that will make me more popular with the new clergy." Wilhelm remarked, rather unexpectedly pleased. He then turned to raidance. "Mom, you want to stay here? Done. You need help divorcing Dannik? Done. Whatever resources the Empire posseses are at your disposal." Raidance thnaked her son profusely, but Wilhelm smiled along with his new wife, inisisting that it would be good to be with her again, the only joy from Wilhelm's childhood. "Are you sure I cannot convince you to stay as well brother?"

"Unfortunately not. I am better placed at home." Zerrin said regretfully, understanding his role, as he knew that without him the Visean people would riot or undermine the government, and that would be worse than what Dannik could inflict. Zerrin then turned to Wilhelm's new wife, whose long golden hair flowed down her black dress, the colour having recently taken her fancy. "Goodbye, sister in law, I trust you will keep my eldest brother in check." Zerrin remarked, kissing Freida's hand according to noble custom. Feida nodded with a smile, and Zerrin tipped his hat before leaving and saying goodbye to his mother.