?


    The sound of bells ringing could be heard throughout the entire city of Kufstein, but these were not the bells of mass calling the followers of christ to hear the word of god. Nor even ones that signified an enemy attack like an olden time. These were the solemn bells that preceded a funeral of the gravest importance.


    A long line of cars preceded and followed the funeral truck, which carried the bodies of Berengar''s parents. Both of which had just recently passed away from old age. It was not surprising that they had passed away. Berengar was now in his sixties, the oldest of his children were in their forties, and the oldest of his grandchildren were in their twenties. There were even a few great grandchildren that had already been born.


    Sieghard had died at the ripe old age of ny-eight, while his wife had passed away a few dayster from grief. To Berengar, this was not the most sudden news, but it was indeed heartbreaking. It had been nearly fifty years since hest lost a member of his family, one who he had in with his own hand.


    He grieved Lambert''s death, the way a rival would grieve the loss of their greatestpetitor. But to lose his parents simultaneously, it was enough to bring a man to his knees. And yet, despite no longer being the Great Kaiser of the German Empire, Berengar remained absolutely stoic as he sat in his armored limousine, which carried his wives and his dearest beloved Henrietta.


    All of which were bawling like a bunch of little girls, especially Henrietta, who clung to her beloved elder brother and lover, tightly forfort. Berengar did not make the slightest facial expression as he petted the woman''s golden hair, which refused to grey with age. Largely because of the magical properties of the mystical pool, which they all bathed in once a month to maintain as youthful of an appearance as possible.


    Berengar, of course, had aged worse than his wives. No matter how powerful the mystical pool at the dic vige was, it could not hide decades of stress that came with building the world''s most powerful Empire. Though he did not appear his own age, his hair and beard had greyed,and there was only the slightest trace of wrinkles beneath his weary eyes.


    But, if one were to what made him look the oldest, it was the harrowed stare he made, as he gazed out the window, and towards the legions of mourning citizens who gathered on the sides of the streets to say their farewells to the couple which gave birth to their mighty Emperor.


    Eventually, the car arrived at the Grand Cathedral of Kufstein, where Berengar stepped out of the lead vehicle. Followed by Henrietta, Ad, and his other wives. In the second vehicle, was Hans, and his wives. Along with the numerous grandchildren that Sieghard and Gis had in life. Including the Bastards.


    By the time the von Kufstein Family entered the Grand Cathedral, they numbered well over a hundred. The moment Berengar entered the Cathedral, he gazed upon the closed casket which contained both his father''s corpse, and that of his mother. He had utterly refused to have an open casket ceremony, because he did not wish to remember his parents as corpses.


    Something which Henrietta, the only other living child of Sieghard and Gis, also agreed to. Berengar sat down at the head of the pews, alongside his sister-lover, who was still crying even as the Priest Ludolf made his sermon about her parents.


    "Dearly beloved... We gather here today to mourn the passing of Sieghard von Kufstein and his loving wife Gis. Sieghard was a nobleman, and a pious man. But most of all, he was a wise man. When the time hade to give up his seat as the Viscount of Kufstein, he did so without hesitation, so that his eldest son, and heir, our Great Kaiser Berengar von Kufstein, could lead the German people into an era of greatness.


    He and his wife Gis retired to the countryside shortly thereafter, and lived humble lives. Though they have passed from this mortal world, Sieghard and Gis leave behind arge, and loving family who have all gathered here today for this asion. Among them, Berengar, their eldest son, would like to say a few words.


    Berengar immediately stood up from his seat, and stepped forward, where he hugged Ludolf like a brother, one he had not been on the best of terms with throughout thest few decades, but at this moment felt closer to than ever before. He then stood before the two caskets and ced his hand on the one which belonged to his father.


    The casket was made of solid gold, and was carved in the shape of Sieghard''s figure, that when he was a young man, and a warrior, who wielded his sword in battle for the Habsburg line. He gazed upon this image of his father, and struggled to hold back the tears in his eyes, as he whispered something beneath his breath that only he could hear.


    "I will never forget what you have done for me in this life, especially in regards to Henrietta. I hope one day soon, we can reunite in the afterlife. So I can be the son you both deserved..."


    After saying this, Berengar approached the podium, where he forced himself to remain emotionless as he spoke the words which resounded throughout his mind. Though his face was stoic, his eyes were filled with grief, and everyone who had gathered for this funeral knew exactly how wounded the man was over the loss of his parents.


    "What can I say.... My father and mother are the reason I am the man that I am today... I wish that I had spent more time with them both, especially earlier in life when we were all so young. But there were wars to fight, and cities to develop, and because of that, I never had the rtionship that I truly desired with my parents. A mistake, I hope my children don''t repeat.


    My father was a good man, maybe too good of a man, and because of this, he did not see what my little brother had be. Something which I know damn well haunted him until his final breath. But he was a strong man as well. He did not let Lambert''s death drive him to despair. At least not for long. He fought, and he survived, so long that he lived to the ripe old age of Ny-eight.


    I honestly find it hard to believe that this day has finallye. It was just a week ago that I was on the phone with him. Discussing the past, as if it were only days behind us. Rather than decades. And my mother, she was a pious woman, a loving mother, and grandmother. One who helped raise me to be the Great Kaiser that you all know.


    I loved my parents, but I just wish I could have shown them how much I cherished them in this life.... Thank you all foring today, it means a lot to me. And I have nothing further to say..."


    Berengar then sat down in his seat beside Henrietta, and did not say a word for the rest of the service. Nor after when his parents were interred within the von Kufstein crypts. He honestly did not remember what had happened during this time. But apparently he spoke with his father''s surviving widow, Mibu Saya, who was handling this whole situation almost as bad as he was. Although she had her daughters tofort her in this grim hour.


    After the wake was over, and Berengar had met with every member of his family, he returned to hiskeside vi, and sat in silence, as he stared at the stars while drinking. He did not return to his bed the entire night. Instead, he had many questions, questions that only the gods could answer.


    And it was at this moment that he suddenly remembered a promise he had made to a certain sister of fate many decades ago. One that he had yet to fulfill... Perhaps it was time to return to that sacred grove and speak to Wyrd about matters which he did not understand. For his heart would never be able to rest until he confirmed that he would be reunited with his parents in the afterlife. Something he had utterly forgotten about when he had made his request of the Allfather decades ago.


    ---


    I wanted to thank you all for supporting Tyranny of Steel up to this point. From here on out, until the very end of the novel, updates are going to be less frequent with one chapter a day. Instead, I would like to invite all of you to read my new novel Interster Age, at https://.webnovel/book/interster-age_26235247006730205 which will be receiving my primary attention from here on out. Thank you all for the support you have shown me, and I look forward to writing novels for you all for years toe!