The marble halls of the Berliner Schloss echoed with the clipped cadence of boots on stone as King Boris III of Bulgaria strode toward the conference chamber.
He cut a sharp figure in his tailored uniform, but there was nothing performative about his bearing; this was a man who had made up his mind long before setting foot on German soil.
Inside, Kaiser Wilhelm II rose from his seat with the easy grandeur of a monarch accustomed to being the focal point of any room.
Bruno stood at his side, hands clasped loosely behind his back, his expression the familiar mask of detached assessment.
"Your Majesty," Wilhelm greeted, shaking Boris's hand firmly. "A welcome surprise."
Boris allowed the briefest of smiles. "Perhaps not so surprising, Your Majesty. The world is tipping toward another storm. I have no intention of repeating my father's mistake."
