There is a proverb in Germany: "Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a commoner, and dinner like a beggar."
This sentence vividly describes the German eating habit of having a simple breakfast and dinner, but a hearty lunch.
Therefore, having a happy and harmonious lunch with family or friends is a German tradition and part of daily life.
However, the lunch at the Friedrichshof Castle at this moment is far from a harmonious and lively scene.
Rather, it is more appropriate to describe it as a "battlefield filled with gunpowder smoke."
"..."
In the heavy silence, Kaiser Wilhelm II and Empress Dowager Victoria Adelaide wordlessly cut the fish on their plates.
The two of them did not look at each other and continued to eat in silence.
Remembering the dinner he had with Tirpitz and Schlieffen before, at least it was lively. But the current scene is simply like cursing the diners to have indigestion.
The other diners also held their breaths and carefully observed the expressions of the Kaiser and the Empress Dowager while struggling to continue their meal.
In such a depressing atmosphere, Hans really regretted not going out to play with Joachim and Louise just now.
"Your Majesty, excuse me."
Just as Hans was thinking about whether he should get up on the pretext of being full, a servant hurried forward and whispered a few words in Kaiser Wilhelm II's ear.
"Is it true?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
After hearing this, Kaiser Wilhelm II frowned and let out a sigh. Obviously, the news was not good.
Seeing his expression, Empress Auguste couldn't help but ask, "Your Majesty, what happened?"
"They've found Charlotte."
"Oh."
Empress Auguste let out a sigh.
Kaiser Wilhelm II took a sip of wine and then continued, "She was found at a party near Neumünster."
"Schleswig-Holstein? She really went quite far."
With a look of disdain, Empress Dowager Victoria sneered, "Did she come to see me, her mother?"
"I heard that the Crown Prince took her there."
"Yes, she said that before going to university, she wanted to spend the last summer with her siblings there, so she went."
Empress Auguste explained on behalf of Kaiser Wilhelm II.
She was going to study constitutional law and administrative science at the University of Bonn.
The full name of the University of Bonn is "Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn", a famous university in Germany. Both Karl Marx and Friedrich Nietzsche once studied there.
'Come to think of it, Kaiser Wilhelm II is also an alumnus of the University of Bonn.'
If Hans had to choose a German university he wanted to go to, it would definitely be the University of Heidelberg.
However, this is something that can only be discussed when there is time and energy.
By the time Hans goes to university, Europe should be on the eve of the outbreak of World War I.
"Don't make that child suffer any more. Just let her be. Anyway, she doesn't consider me as her mother anymore."
"Mother, don't say that. Sister Charlotte must be worried about you too."
"Oh, don't be insincere, Sophie."
Although Crown Princess Sophie tried to defend her, Empress Dowager Victoria still kept chattering and was obviously very dissatisfied with her eldest daughter.
"That useless fellow... Poor Feodora (Margaret), that child is too kind, but because she has me as a mother, she has suffered a lot since she was a child."
"...What right do you have to say such things?"
"What?"
Kaiser Wilhelm II was obviously dissatisfied with his mother's words and muttered in a low voice. The Empress Dowager's expression darkened instantly.
Immediately, an uncontrollable tense atmosphere filled the dining table.
'It was the same last time. Why does something always happen during a meal?'
Although this time Hans didn't do anything and was just quietly cutting the sausage.
"William, what do you want to say?"
"Did I say something wrong? Mother, you're not a good mother either.
No, you can even be said to be the worst mother."
"Oh, brother!"
Princess Sophie almost shrieked as she tried to stop Kaiser Wilhelm II, but he was completely unmoved. Instead, he pointed at the Empress Dowager and his voice became more and more intense.
"Father was the same. I respect him as a leader and a soldier, but as a father, no.
He was just led by the nose by mother day after day. He was a cowardly parent!"
"Don't insult your father, William!
He was much stronger than you and had a broader vision. If he were still alive, this empire would never have fallen to where it is today!"
"What did you say?!"
Kaiser Wilhelm II's continued outrageous words finally made Empress Dowager Victoria explode.
"Someone stop him!"
Everyone present looked at each other with such a look, but including Hans, no one dared to intervene in this fierce quarrel between the mother and son.
"I have never liked Bismarck in my life, but now I miss him extremely."
"Mother!"
"William, you are ruining the empire. You are indulging in those vain ambitions and fantasies!"
"Shut up!"
Crash!
Kaiser Wilhelm II suddenly swept the dining table over and roared.
"Brother!"
"Your Majesty!"
Seeing that the Kaiser had lost his mind, his family members were panicked and tried to dissuade him, but he pushed everyone away and continued to unleash the resentment accumulated in his heart.
"You are always like this! When have you ever loved me?! When I was begging you desperately, did you even say a single warm word to me?!"
"Brother, calm down. That's enough!"
Finally, Prince Heinrich couldn't stand it anymore and forcefully dragged his brother out of the room. Empress Auguste also followed out with a worried expression.
However, the Kaiser's violent behavior was undoubtedly a fatal blow to the frail and terminally ill Empress Dowager Victoria.
"Huff... Huff..."
"Mother? Mother!"
"Doctor! Call the doctor quickly!"
The Empress Dowager clutched her chest, breathing rapidly, and finally fell forward and lost consciousness.
Everyone present immediately rushed forward and helped the Empress Dowager onto the bed, but there was still no sign of her waking up.
"Damn it..."
Hans cursed in his heart and, together with the others, urgently carried the Empress Dowager back to her room.
It really felt like the worst lunch in his life.
...
"Umm..."
"Mother!"
An hour later.
Under the care of the princesses, Empress Dowager Victoria finally regained consciousness.
Hans couldn't help but heave a sigh of relief.
It was almost time to hold a funeral for her today.
"Sophie, Margaret..."
"Yes, mother, I'm here!"
"William..."
"His Majesty hasn't come back yet."
"Hans?"
Kaiser Wilhelm II still hadn't returned to the mansion after going out with the Empress and the Prince.
It seemed that he hadn't calmed down his anger yet.
"I'm sorry for you to see such a scene."
"No, it's just an ordinary family quarrel. Such things happen in every family."
"Hehe... Family, family? After you saw all this, you still call me and that child William a family?"
Empress Dowager Victoria forced a smile.
There was a smile on her lips, but her eyes looked very sad.
The opposite of love and hate is not hatred, but indifference. This means that there is still affection between you and His Majesty.
Although Hans was not a psychology expert, he had heard something similar.
If Kaiser Wilhelm II really had no feelings for the Empress Dowager, he would have already regarded her as a non-existent person.
"I've never heard such words before."
Empress Dowager Victoria said.
She seemed to have felt something from Hans' words, and an indescribable feeling of emotion appeared on her face.
"Maybe what that child William said is right."
"Mother, don't say that."
"No, Sophie. According to what your brother said, I'm not a good mother, especially to that child William."
Many people think that Kaiser Wilhelm II is a hot-tempered guy, so he is not very polite to his mother. But in fact, the Empress Dowager Victoria is also largely at fault for the relationship between this mother and son.
She has always been an indifferent and strict mother to her children.
She always set high standards for her children and demanded that they achieve things that were difficult to reach. And this behavior was especially serious in the relationships between her and Kaiser Wilhelm II, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Heinrich, who were raised by their grandmother.
Moreover, as everyone knows, Kaiser Wilhelm II was born with a disabled left arm. Therefore, he needed his mother's love even more. But instead of comforting the young William, the Empress Dowager Victoria carried out treatments that were almost abusive in an attempt to cure his arm.
Otherwise, why would the young Kaiser Wilhelm II write to his mother, begging her for love?
'If Kaiser Wilhelm II's father, Frederick III, could have mediated the relationship between this mother and son, perhaps things would have been different...'
The problem was that instead of helping to improve the relationship between the mother and son, Frederick III just added chaos to this cold relationship.
As a henpecked man who doted on his wife, Frederick III always took his wife's side and favored the Empress Dowager Victoria over Kaiser Wilhelm II.
That's why Kaiser Wilhelm II thought that his father was always led by his mother.
Frederick III and the Empress Dowager Victoria, as leaders of the country, certainly had outstanding abilities. But as parents, they were almost the worst.
Of course, the limitations of the times and the strict and conservative atmosphere of the German royal family also had a certain impact.
"I believed that my actions were for the good of my children. That child William would become the Kaiser in the future, so I was even stricter with him. But I was wrong. I should have treated him more warmly."
The Empress Dowager Victoria sobbed with regretful tears in her eyes.
"Well, although the spilled water cannot be taken back, we can still add new water."
Hans said.
"...Hans."
"There is still time. If you open your hearts to each other, you will surely be able to make His Majesty understand your feelings."
"But will William listen to me?"
"I will talk to His Majesty properly."
As Hans spoke, he tightly held her hands.
To be honest, this is a foolish thing that brings no benefits at all.
Perhaps these were just words blurted out involuntarily in order to comfort the Empress Dowager.
But Hans didn't want to see the Empress Dowager Victoria die in sorrow.
Similarly, he didn't want Kaiser Wilhelm II to spend his whole life in regret.
'At least before the Empress Dowager passes away, I hope Kaiser Wilhelm II can reconcile with her.'
...
Meanwhile, on the other side.
"I'm going back to Potsdam right now!"
"Your Majesty, please calm down!"
At the same time, Kaiser Wilhelm II, who had been dragged outside, still seemed to be angry and shouted furiously that he wanted to leave the Friedrichshof Castle and return to Potsdam.
Empress Auguste was sweating profusely as she tried to dissuade her husband, but it was in vain.
"Damn it!"
Kaiser Wilhelm II kicked an innocent stone on the ground.
He didn't have this idea at first.
But his anger kept accumulating, and he felt extremely irritable.
'Why do I feel so uncomfortable and oppressed!'
Even after venting his anger on the Empress Dowager, the situation didn't improve.
Therefore, Kaiser Wilhelm II continued to turn these incomprehensible emotions into anger.
If he didn't do so, he felt that he might break down.
"Your Majesty, something terrible has happened!"
At this moment, the maid's urgent voice came from inside the mansion.
"Her Majesty the Empress Dowager has fainted!"
"!"
"What?!"
Empress Auguste's face turned pale instantly.
Prince Heinrich, who was nearby, also looked flustered, and the cigarette in his hand dropped.
"Mother, is she all right?"
"The doctor said that Her Majesty the Empress Dowager was just a bit shocked and there will be no immediate danger to her life."
"Phew, that's a relief."
Prince Heinrich let out a sigh of relief and soothed his excited chest.
Thud—
"Your Majesty?"
However, the news of the Empress Dowager's fainting seemed to be a great blow to Kaiser Wilhelm II, even making him stagger.
This was only natural.
Because the reason for the Empress Dowager Victoria's fainting was none other than Kaiser Wilhelm II himself.
As if forgetting his anger, the Kaiser looked dazed and slumped to the ground.
Then he covered his face with his uncontrollably trembling hands.
"Damn it..."
The Kaiser's mood sank into a deeper state of worry.
...
"Your Majesty."
"Hans?"
I don't know how much time had passed. With Hans' voice ringing in his ears, Kaiser Wilhelm II woke up from the memories of his childhood.
"It's already past the mealtime. Since you haven't arrived, I came here specially to invite you."
"Has it gotten so late?"
After a night had passed, he thought that going out to feel the morning breeze could soothe his complicated feelings, but instead, it made him fall into deep thought.
"You seem to have a lot on your mind."
"Even you can tell?"
Kaiser Wilhelm II gave a faint smile when he heard Hans' words.
The quarrel yesterday was so intense that even a child would be able to notice something was wrong.
"By the way, what did that English woman say?"
Kaiser Wilhelm II asked.
Since yesterday's quarrel, he hadn't even seen his mother.
So, Kaiser Wilhelm II was very curious.
How would that woman react to the anger he had vented yesterday?
Would she give the same old accusations as usual?
Or would she be furiously angry?
"The Empress Dowager has apologized to you, Your Majesty."
"What?"
However, what Hans said completely caught Kaiser Wilhelm II by surprise.
An apology? Who?
"...That mother of mine?"
"And she also expressed her regret for not treating you in a warm way."
"Hah! What's the use of saying such things now."
At this moment, the apology was already too late for Kaiser Wilhelm II.
It was really too late.
"There's only hatred left between me and that woman, Hans."
"Your Majesty, the opposite of affection is not hatred."
It's indifference.
Hans added, repeating word for word to the Kaiser what he had said to the Empress Dowager before.
"Just like, hating someone to the extreme is also a kind of emotion."
"Do I still have any affection for that woman?"
It was simply absurd.
Affection? How could there still be any affection?
Any feelings he had for that woman had already completely vanished.
"If Your Majesty really thinks so, why would you be in such a deep state of melancholy with such an expression?"
"..."
Perhaps having understood the Kaiser's expression, Hans' words hit the nail on the head, making Kaiser Wilhelm II fall silent.
And this was the Kaiser's answer.
"I think there is only one way to untangle the knots in Your Majesty's heart."
"One way?"
Kaiser Wilhelm II asked subconsciously.
"Your Majesty, please tell the Empress Dowager your true feelings directly."
"!"
"No matter what the result is, don't let yourself have any regrets."