“I'm willing to negotiate with you, Ivan Ivanovich,” the Duke said. “I understand this is a hard blow for you, Constantin, but these things happen and we have to learn to live with them. I was in your place once and I would have given anything to have someone as honest as to tell me the truth in my face since the first day.”
“You messed with his mind! You drove him mad!” Constantin shouted.
“I? Who deprived him of the most basic medications for his condition? His doctor or you? Why did he try to kill himself? Because he loved you so much that he couldn't live without you?”
“Guntram was perfectly fine till you took him away! He was only shocked by the experience. He didn't realise what he was doing!”
“No, of course not. He broke a mirror with his fists and cut his wrists in the middle of the night, doing his best not to be heard by your man,” Konrad sneered. “Since he's living in Zurich his health has improved dramatically. My own doctor told me that he was not giving him more than a year! He had panic attacks, arrhythmia, fluid retention and something incredible for his illness; high blood pressure! If you take him with you, he will die within months! Is that what you want? To buy him a nice grave and visit him there?”
“Guntram suffered an ordeal and was slowly recovering! He was in coma for two weeks and the doctors were not giving him much hope! I stood by him during the worst and he returned to me! He was happy with my children!”
“With your children, not with you! He hated your business and your lies! What were you thinking? That you could hide a serpent like Olga Fedorovna? I've been forthcoming with him, even if it was against my interests and he loves me for that.”
“You? Forthcoming? Are you delusional or just the greatest liar I've ever met? You're warned, Lintorff.
Give me Guntram back and I will look after him much better than you! You have till January 7 th!” Constantin roared and left the room in a whirlwind.
Oblomov sighed and gathered the folders with resignation. 'After all, Troy started because of a similar mess.' “Ferdinand, speak with the Duke and I'll do the same with Constantin. Perhaps we can stop this bloodbath.”
“Ivan Ivanovich, giving Guntram to your boss is not an option. The minute we betray one of our own, our reason to exist, dies,” Ferdinand answered slowly. “It has been like this in the past and it's our way. Honour and Duty above all.”
Guntram de Lisle's Diary December 16th (cont.)
I finished my tea and Friederich took the things away, ordering me to sleep a little, till the Duke's return.
I fell asleep almost on the spot because now, without the tension. I felt very bad and tired. I guess it was more than eight when Konrad woke me up with a kiss and asked me how I was feeling. I was totally taken aback. He should have been shouting at me for attacking his precious nephew!”
“I'm fine, Konrad. About this afternoon, I can explain it and I'm sorry I was so brutal.”
“It's all right Guntram. I'm just surprised you can do it so well, but you owe me a bulb for the garden.
You can pay for it now,” he smiled while he spoke. “Heindrik is very impressed and no one ever has stolen his weapon. Goran wants to know how you did it.”
“If you can steal a wallet, you can do with a weapon. Yuri, my former bodyguard, the one who saved my life, taught me some Krav Mag. Armin should have not drawn a knife on me.”
“I should be very careful with you. Who knows what you can do to me.”
“Nothing, you really know how to hit. I've seen you training with Goran. I'm not match for either of you.”
“Four years regional champion in your category?”
“I was lucky.”
“Tell me something, why are you still afraid of Repin?”
“Because he's unpredictable. The one who used to take care of me could hit me without a warning and he knew how to do it without leaving marks. Constantin was also brutal, he never hit me but in his own way, he terrified me because he could hurt anyone just to get his way. He always knew what to tell when he wanted to bend me to his will. He turned me into a child and you can't compare his men to yours; they're criminals. They enjoy to cause pain or humiliate people.”
“Do you think you could come downstairs and speak with Ferdinand and me?” He asked very softly.
“We'll have dinner later. Being in the cold for so long, all this excitement and walking so much is bad for your health.”
“You should be furious with me. I risked Armin's life.”
“If you draw a weapon, Guntram, you have to be prepared that your opponent does the same. He should be glad you were so calm about it. If he would do something so stupid to any of Repin's men…”
“He would have been dead in less than a second,” I whispered. “I know. I saw it happen once in St.
Petersburg. A new boy answered back Ulianov and he just stabbed him in the neck. Massaiev took me away immediately, but I will remember it for the rest of my life. We were just going to the winter garden and they were there, arguing and in a second Ulianov killed him,” I told him.
“He has been disrespectful to you on many occasions. I always wondered why you never complained to me, but I see you can defend yourself very well.”
“I'm not a lady!”
“Never thought you were one, but you're sick and should not be under stress. Armin knows it and he deliberately provoked you and forced you to go outside. I'm most furious with him and with Marie Amélie!”
“They're just two teenagers with more hormones than brains, Konrad. Let them be,” I shrugged.
“No, you're wrong. I know them better than you and she had no right to tell the things she said to you.
Get dressed and meet us in the library.”
I did as I was told and went there. Ferdinand was already sitting there and Konrad looked like a volcano one second before it explodes. Not good at all. They asked me to sit next to Konrad.
“I would like to apologise for my rudeness to your daughter, Mr. von Kleist.”
“No, Guntram. I've seen the tapes along with our Hochmeister and I have formed an opinion of her behaviour. She knowingly insulted the Consort several times during the day and in the past, according the reports and endangered your health twice today. I support our Hochmeister's decision. She has proven to be unworthy of us.”
“Mr. von Kleist we all said stupid things today and I was the worst of all. I will apologise to your daughter tomorrow if you let me.”
“There's no need for that, Consort. Insulting a council member is a serious offence, even if you don't participate of our meetings. She's well aware of this. I thank you that you have never complained about her behaviour to our Hochmeister.”
“I don't understand,” I mumbled.
“She has insulted me with her vulgar remarks,” Konrad said, “and this, I don't consent. She has been expelled from our Order. She might remain under her family's care, but she will be no part of our companies. I have removed her name from my will and cancelled all the funds I established in her name.”
“But Konrad, you…”
“I would like to offer my deepest apologies to the Consort and beg for his mercy,” Ferdinand said gravely and I gaped at him.
“Mr. von Kleist, you and your sons have always been very kind to me. I would not like that today's incident would hurt your family in any way.” Perhaps this would soften the Basilisk.
“Very well, the Consort has granted his forgiveness to your line and renounces to any claim against you.
You should be thankful, von Kleist,” Konrad said. “You may keep your honours, but Marie Amélie von Kleist is shunned from our records.”
I wanted to complain about his decision and tell him that this was out of scale for some idiotic remarks and sending me out, but one sharp look from him, told me that this was not the moment to cross the Hochmeister or Griffin.
“Thank you my Griffin,” Ferdinand said and knelt in front of Konrad to kiss his hand in servitude. I was speechless. “My life is devo
ted to yours, Consort. You have granted my sons the opportunity to grow in the Order,” he intoned and kissed the ring I wear.
“Ferdinand, do not make Guntram weary.”
“Yes, Konrad.”
“May I retire, sir?” I asked, feeling very small.
“If you still feel all right, I would like to discuss the situation with Armin von Lintorff, Guntram.”
Konrad said. “His father will arrive in three hours and although I have an opinion, we would like to hear your side.”
“Konrad, we both behaved like stupid children. This should be left as a teenagers' school fight. We will speak and fix it by ourselves. It's nothing else or related to the Order.”
“The minute the next Griffin attacks the Consort with a knife, without mentioning his insults to your persona, it's a matter for the Council, Guntram,” Ferdinand spoke.
“There's a cut in your jersey,” Konrad pointed out.
“I threw a knife at him! I was not thinking at all! What if I would have missed? What if I would have hurt him? I'm as guilty as him!”
“He started the fight encouraged by my own daughter. It's very clear. We have seen the whole footage.
You did nothing wrong, were sent to the cold in the middle of a storm—when your heart condition is well known—and threatened with a weapon. You only defended yourself,” Ferdinand said very calmly.
“After I broke his nose!”
“After he physically assaulted you!” Konrad roared and I knew that we were treading on a very thin ice for Armin.
“Please, Konrad, don't become enraged. It will not help us to solve this problem. As Ferdinand said, I have not complained at all to the Council, therefore you have no right to interfere in our affairs. We both should be punished. He for not calculating the consequences of his acts and I for not evaluating the risks of mine.”
“Are we sure we don't want him in the Council in a few years, Konrad?” Ferdinand asked and I looked at him very surprised.
“No! There's nothing there for Guntram! He will run the Foundation if his health allows him to do it!”
“Please, Konrad. I don't justify Armin, but let us speak with each other and give us both a second chance. We will sort out our differences in a civilized way.”
“His father can take him home! I have no use for a spoiled baby in my house!”
“But whose fault is it? His or yours?” I counter attacked him. Ferdinand looked at me surprised but I continued. “He's a spoiled brat, I agree with you, but did you or any of your relatives do something to correct it?
Were you expecting that he would magically change his ways if you provided him with everything? If he shows not compassion or empathy for his brothers is it his fault or yours? Did you ever make him really work? I was raised in an environment very similar to his, but I had to fight for each little thing. Take care of my pencil's box because I would only get one per year. Get in time to work or they would fire me and I needed to pay rent or buy food. Going to help father Patricio because none of the rich people like all of you would dirty your Italian designer shoes in the mud.
You asked me why I was not furious with my father for not giving me all the money that was in that safe box and made me work since I was eighteen. In a way, I'm grateful to him because hardship taught me to be a better person.”
“I was trying to correct all this!”
“How? Shouting with him? A slap? Making him suffer under Dr. Dähler? It's useless because the final responsibility for his acts lies in you, not in him. He's just like a child in a harder boarding school! You said that to command he has to learn to obey; well it's wrong! To command he has to learn to be responsible! Like you are!” I raised my voice and had to lie down against the chair because the excitement was making me dizzy.
“Do you still have any doubts about his value as Consort, Ferdinand?”
“Not any more, Konrad. He's exactly as his father, but less bossy. A real Dachs. Löwenstein was also right,” Ferdinand chuckled and I couldn't understand him.
“Your arguments will be taken into consideration, Guntram. Let's go eating before Albert arrives,”
Konrad said and I thought I was in another place because they had switched their moods so fast that it was impossible to understand. Now, they were only concerned about their dinners!
We had dinner and Konrad and Ferdinand were only talking about business and I spaced out. They had coffee in the living room and I had to be there, drawing and quiet as a mouse, because they were busy with their things. At eleven, Albert arrived, very pale and I wanted to die in shame.
Konrad charged in his usual charming way. “There you are cousin. Tell me one good reason for not finishing you off.”
“My Griffin, it has been a horrible misunderstanding! My son would have never dared to raise a hand against Guntram! He has no reason to!”
“No, he raised a weapon against him. We should be glad his fighting skills are so deficient.”
“Please, Griffin, hear me as I'm the grieved part,” I said and Albert looked at me with true hate in his eyes. “We both fought over a childish thing. Children fight and it's part of their education. They forgive each other and forget the offences till the next time they quarrel. Let us speak and solve the problem between us and I swear that we will behave like adults in the future.”
“If the children say so,” Ferdinand supported me.
“I give you my word that we will never do anything like this, my Griffin,” I pleaded and Konrad looked at me, judging me in a cold and calculating way. “I have the upper hand if he ever tries something stupid again,” I smiled and that convinced him.
“I will give your eldest a second chance if he apologies to Guntram, Albert, but don't think he will not be punished for this.”
“We both should be punished, Sire,” I said softly.
“Rest assured we will speak about your behaviour later, Guntram,” Konrad said very coldly and I really felt afraid and cast my look to the floor. “The Consort has mentioned that all this is the result of our ineptitude as parents, Albert. I can't place myself in that category yet, but I agree with Guntram's view on the matter: Armin has no real idea of what responsibility is. He plays the serious young man and fools all of us but his acts never carry a real reward or punishment. We were born in the middle of wealth and never suffered a thing. Our Tutors did their best to teach us some humility and empathy but we never learned the lesson. How can we rule if we don't really know what the people under us suffer? How can we lay off someone if we never were in the queue of the unemployed? Did we ever have to strain ourselves to make the money last to the end of the month?”
“With all due respect, cousin, we run much more things than an ordinary man,” Albert said.
“Yes, of course. We, adult men but what about the children? How much money makes Armin in the bank, Ferdinand?”
“A normal salary, I think it's 2,000 francs.”
“No, he makes 1.456 francs and gets another 4,000 for his normal expenses,” Konrad said and I paled.
Shit! That's my account! “How much were you making in Buenos Aires, in dollars?”
“Fixed income was a little under $1,000 but with the tips it was almost $1,400.”
“And you paid rent and everything?”
“Yes, but the university there is free, not like here.”
“Including your medical expenses?”
“I had no medical expenses at that time. A box of aspirins, maybe.”
“Very well. From now onwards, your son will receive no allowance from any member of your family, Albert, including Aunt Elisabetta and Carolina. You will only pay for his school fees. He can keep his salary in the bank and Ferdinand, if he ever misses work or arrives late, deduct it from his salary. He will study in the mornings in the University and be in the bank every afternoon and send him to the office boy job. Someone has to carry the coffee for the traders. He's far away to be a Griffin. He will continue to live with us but will pay for his keep. How much was
your rent, Guntram?”
“About $600 for thirty-five square metres.”
“He will pay Friederich 800 francs every month, Albert. If not, he's out. In five, years, if I'm pleased with his work, he will be considered as a candidate for my succession, but for the moment, he's out as he has proven to be a brat. Let's see if he can be a responsible man. He's also permanently removed from my will.”
“Thank you Konrad. We're grateful to you,” Albert said and I couldn't believe it.
“Armin doesn't deserve to lose all what he has been working for!” I protested
“Guntram, as you should know by your own family's history, physically assaulting the Griffin or any member of the council, including you, is punished by your line's total annihilation. It's in our Code and you have accepted it as all of us have,” Ferdinand said and I looked at him horrified.
“You have prevented my son's execution and you have earned my gratitude and respect,” Albert told me.
“This is our way, young man. I see that all this was a set up from another line.”
“I swear Albert that neither I nor my boys have any interest in the succession. Karl Otto wants to be CEO of one of the hedge funds and Johannes is a scientist only caring about bio-plastics,” Ferdinand said. “Perhaps Karl Otto will be in my place one day but that's for the next Griffin to decide.”
“Your daughter gave the cold shoulder to Armin since he was thirteen and the minute he's appointed Griffin she decides he's a good candidate? She started the fight and she had provided him with the drugs! It was a miracle he didn't kill Guntram with all the stuff inside of him! Your Johannes is a chemist!” Albert howled, ready to attack Ferdinand.
“Johannes is in Munich at the Max Planck! He has nothing to do with this! He and Guntram are good friends and there's not a single call or e-mail between Marie Amélie and he for the past three months! They don't like each other!”
“That's true, Johannes and I speak now and then. He's kind to me,” I supported Ferdinand.
“And I see nothing wrong in their friendship, both have similar natures.” Konrad closed the argument.
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