Tyranny of Steel

It had been some time since Wolfgang was first taken into custody after he had assaulted an Imperial Prince, though he had been granted a stay of execution until his brother, who was an important General, and a Duke of the Empire could be consulted.

During this time, Wolfgang was sentenced by Berengar to serve in a labor camp until a time where his fate could be properly decided. While he endured his tenure in the labor camp, he had witnessed the justice of Germany first hand.

No prisoner was exempt from the backbreaking labor they would be forced to endure day in and day out, and it was because of this that especially pampered noblemen like Wolfgang typically died from attrition long before their sentence was compete. Luckily Wolfgang had survived his treatment, though he had lost much of his youthful vigor.

Though he was fed three meals a day, in sufficient quantity to keep him in proper physical shape for the labor he must perform. He struggled to meet the demands that were given to him by the guards of the Labor Camp. Because of this, he was punished further. If he had to explain his life at this very moment, it was a single word. Hell…

Thus, it was a surprise when he was called off from his normal routine and brought in chains to a secure location. He honestly believed he was about to be executed. However, when he saw the stoic face of the Kaiser standing before him, he could not help but fall to his knees and beg for forgiveness. He was willing to do anything to get himself out of his current predicament.

”My Kaiser, please forgive my transgressions. I was blind, but now I can see. My sins are grave, but I beg of you, as a fellow father and husband, to release me and I will give to you whatever you desire… ”

Berengar did not have the slightest emotion on his handsome face. Instead, he calmly reached into his jacket and pulled out a packet of hemp cigarettes. He placed one of such devices in his mouth before lighting it aflame with his pocket lighter.

After doing so, he inhaled the smoke heavily before exhaling it into the surrounding air. It was only after he had done this gesture that he flick the lit cigarette onto the face of the bounded prisoner and chuckled at his comments.