[Germany] Winter in Germany

[NagandEmerald]

"Quite," the Kaiser would state, shaking the doctor's hand, "Thank you for what you've done for us...I...honestly don't know what I would've done if I'd remained in Berlin."

 

[Retroliser]

"No point in mulling over what could have been," He replied, while patting The Kaiser's shoulder. "Focus on what could be instead, and how you can influence it."

 

[NagandEmerald]

"Indeed...regardless, how long should this trip take?" he asked the doctor as he stepped into the ornately decorate first class car.

 

[Retroliser]

"We should arrive in Istanbul in around 12 hours," The doctor replied. "Plenty of time for you and your family to get some much needed rest. After all, the past few days have been far from comfortable in more ways than one."

 

[NagandEmerald]

"Indeed...in that case, I think my family and I will require some privacy for the next few hours before anyone comes in. I need to talk with them all about what's going on, and where we're going...and hopefully get settled in."

 

[Retroliser]

The doctor bowed solemnly before exiting the carriage.

"I shall be in the next carriage, if you need me," He explained, while waving farewell.

 

[NagandEmerald]

As soon as the doctor left, the Kaiser took a sigh of relief and took a seat on the carriage. With the trainride lasting around 12 hours, he had plenty of time to get some sleep and deal with government matters when he awoke. It all seemed so...surreal, as the train left the station to begin its journey to Istanbul. In only a few minutes, he'd fallen asleep in his seat, his children enjoying the fact that they were on a train and his wife looking on anxiously towards what she assumed was going to be a darker period of German history.

 

[Retroliser]

After 12 hours passed, the train finally rolled to a stop in Istanbul. Doctor Mason knocked on the private carriage door to grasp the attention of the royal occupants.

"Your Majesty's," He began. "Your Highness's, we've arrived."

With the family informed, the doctor began unloading their baggage onto the platform, while they prepared to disembark.

 

[NagandEmerald]

During the trip, the Kaiser had primarily slept...it had been a grueling, exhausting day and night. When he woke up, however, his stress was only increased. After taking a look to his messages on his phone, he found that Andrea Nahles had called him 4 times within minutes of each other. When he called to ensure everything was alright, he was greeted with despair instead. The German economy was collapsing. Due to the winter and the panic spread by the government abandoning Berlin temporarily, investors into the Bundesbank had withdrawn what they could, and, as a result, the stability of the German economy collapsed. Now the country was about 3 billion dollars in-debt, and a recovery wouldn't be likely for another few months at least.

After opening the carriage door, it was clear the stress was getting to him. Despite getting a nice, long sleep out of the ordeal, the Kaiser still had bags under his eyes, and his demeanor was a little less than welcoming. He looked frustrated, his hair a mess and his normally-cheerful smile replaced by a look of deep contemplation and stress. When he looked out to Istanbul though, he was at least happy that the weather wasn't too terrible outside of the train, and looking up, it almost looked peaceful, were it not for the weather being below 0°C, the Kaiser might've taken off his coat.

"So...lead the way doctor," the Kaiser said as he helped unload the rest of his and his family's personal belongings.

 

[Retroliser]

"Indeed, I shall, sir," He replied, while giving the forlorn looking royal a pat on the back to try and keep his spirits up. Once the group finally exited the station, they were greeted by a group of 10 soldiers dispatched by The Grand Vizier to act as an escort and honour guard.

​

"PRESEEEEEEENT... ARMS!" The section leader squawked before they all moved their rights arms up so that their hands smacked against the butt of their rifles. This was followed by their right arm moving the rifle across to the centre of their body, while their left hands moved up the slap the wooden furniture of the firearm 8 inches below the muzzle. The drill command was finalised when their right hands angled downwards as far they could without bending the rest of the arm, causing the rifle to be held out in front of them. This was accompanied by the left hand grasping the rifle just above the trigger guard with another smack of flesh to wood, while their right feet lifted up so they could place it with the hollow of the right foot touching the heel of the left at an angle of 30 degrees. It was a perfect replica of the Present Arms drill performed by other countries, such as The United Kingdom.

"Seems Italy finally found the time to provide us with the interim-uniforms," The doctor remarked. "And it's nice to see that The Grand Vizier hasn't forgotten that this is, while under unusual circumstances, still the first visit by a foreign head of state to Turkey."

 

[NagandEmerald]

"Indeed. I can certainly see that your military is able to still perform their duties despite the collapse of the Republic," the Kaiser remarked in return, following the doctor and the protection detail to wherever their destination was. His family followed closely behind as Turkish citizens began to take pictures and record video on their phones.

 

[Retroliser]

The soldiers swiftly dispersed. Some held back the crowds, while others quickly, but gently, bundled The Kaiser and his family into the back of a large people carrier. After loading up their luggage too, the section climbed into two black SUVs to act as the front and end of a motorcade, with the Kaiser, his family, and the doctor in the people carrier.

"Well, we try our best," Doctor Mason replied, once the small motorcade sped off towards The Dolmabahçe Palace. Once they arrived in the centre of Istanbul, they parked up outside The Sultan's Gate.

"Welcome to The Sultan's current residence," Doctor Mason explained. "This palace was built between 1843 and 56 under the orders of Sultan Abdulmejid I. This lavish property bankrupted The Ottoman Empire in 1875 due to the vast quantities of money required to pay off the construction costs. Current estimates put it at over $1.3 billion, if it were to be built from scratch today."

With the brief lecture over, he stepped out of the vehicle and assisted the soldiers in unloading the luggage and taking it into the 285 roomed palace.

 

[NagandEmerald]

The Kaiser, upon stepping out and into the palace, would already be in awe at the structure. Its architecture, both outside and inside, were to die for, and the Kaiser almost felt right at home within the bounds of the palace. It reminded him that, as soon as he could, he would have to start selecting official residences aside from the Volkspalast. He had plans to rebuild the Berlin State Palace, but he didn't know if he could with a weakened German economy.

"Quite a sight to behold, I will say. It almost feels like a home away from home for me. Almost."

 

[Retroliser]

"I'm telling you, just like I told everyone else before, this place is too big!" A familiar voice echoed out. Suddenly, The Sultan, confined to a wheelchair, which a beautiful young lady was pushing for him, appeared from one of the corridors branching off from the entrance hall.

(Sultan Süleyman and his daughter, Cemre)​

"Calm down, Papa," She replied tenderly, while patting the aging monarch's shoulder. "It is merely to keep up appearances."

"Bah!" He scoffed. "I am too old for appearances. 285 rooms! What kind of person do they think I am? I'm an old man who can barely stand, not a mighty sultan drowning in a horde of young, beautiful concubines! The times have changed since the 1800's."

The woman was about to respond to his rant, before falling silent upon seeing The Kaiser and his family. The Sultan looked up at her to see if she was still there, before looking in the direction she was staring. Realising that his German counterpart had arrived, he gazed at The Kaiser for a moment before bracing himself and standing up.

"Papa, don't!" His daughter said in alarm, but he raised his hand, causing her to immediately fall silent.

"My dear, dear Kaiser..." Süleyman murmured, as he took the few measly steps required to close the distance between himself and Friedrich with the awkwardness and lethargy of a truly crippled man. "I'm so glad that you are alive and well!"

Now standing in front of The Kaiser, The Sultan, while appearing tall at six foot one inch, and stout in a manner that made him appear powerful, but not gluttonous, reached out with his trembling hands and grasped Friedrich's.

"Welcome to my over-opulent 'home'," He remarked sarcastically. "If God smiles upon you, you will be able to leave this maze at all. I am convinced that there's some poor skeleton in this warren of corridors, even though my daughter here... Beautiful and intelligent, tells me to the contrary."

The ageing monarch turned back towards his offspring and gave her a small wave.

"But, as Sultan, my word is law! Therefore, if I say it's true, it must be!" He joked, before bursting into a healthy laugh, which contrasted heavily with his quivering form. "Haha! Regardless, having you and your family here will, hopefully, make this place feel like someone lives here."

The Sultan raised The Kaiser's hand up a little, so that he could lean down and kiss his hand. He then let him go and turned towards The Kaiserin.

"Your Majesty," He addressed her. "It is wonderful to meet you again also! I only wish we could have met under better circumstances."

After kissing The Kaiserin's hand also, he finally sat back down in his wheelchair, which his daughter had dutifully positioned behind him.

"Forgive my inability to stay stood in your presence, Your Majesty's," He stated. "I am afraid that I am afflicted with Parkinson's."

His daughter frowned and leaned down to whisper into his ear.

"Don't you worry yourself, my dear," He reassured her. "I've not lost my mind yet, that will come later! If I do not snuff it first."

His eyes then widened in surprise.

"Oh my goodness! I haven't introduced you. This is my youngest child, Cemre. She has kindly volunteered to help me get around. My beloved wife would do it, but she is currently busy visiting a hospital. I may be indisposed, but my family refuses to be indolent! No, we are going to be like The British! We shall work hard every day, until the day we can no longer cling to life itself."

 

[NagandEmerald]

The Kaiser nodded and smiled as he extended his hand in warm welcome to Cemre.

"It is a pleasure to meet you again, your Highness. I believe we had already been introduced at the banquet...though, not so formally given my task of the evening." Friedrich then turned back to his Turkish counterpart and gave a sincere smile.

"Indeed, your word is the law. And, if you believe that there is a skeleton hiding here, then I'll make certain to lock my doors at night," he jested, giving the Sultan a soft pat on his hand. His wife cleared her throat, rather impatient and far more exhausted from the trip given her duty to ensure that the children didn't tear apart the train cars or disturb their father. The Kaiser turned around and gestured to his children.

"Ah, yes. Normally, I wouldn't bring my children on a visit out-of-country unless it was for a vacation, but at least you get to properly meet my children." He then gestured for the children to step forward to the Sultan and introduce themselves. The tallest of them, Carl, was already a little nervous standing in front of the decrepit figure with his hand outstretched. He swallowed as he spoke, but it was only German that the child knew.

"Hallo, Majestät. Ich bin Carl. Sehr nett dich kennzulernen," he greeted, a nervous clearing of his throat escaping him as he did.

"Carl only knows German, but I do plan to teach him English. Do you need a translation, your Majesty?" the Kaiser asked, forgetting that the doctor was still in his presence as someone who could translate for the child. Carl only stood as tall and as straight as he could, as though he was standing for an officer of the Army, trying not to let his nervousness show.

 

[Retroliser]

"Hallo, Prinz Carl," The Sultan responded cheerfully. "Es ist schön dich auch zu treffen. Wie gehts?"

He then looked up at The Kaiser.

"My father died during The Second World War in Paris. As such, I got to learn French and German during the occupation of France by Nazi Germany."

 

[NagandEmerald]

As soon as he said that, the Kaiser gave a nod of understanding and stepped back to allow his second son to step forwards as well.

"Eh ... Ich wünschte, es würde hier nicht eiskalt werden, aber ich mache es," he replied, giving a warm smile as the stress began to melt away.

"Excuse me?" the voice of the second-youngest enthusiastically asked, "You're the king of Turkey, right? I'm Louis! I'm going to be King of my home some day!" Louis was not the brightest child, and still didn't necessarily know how or who the next monarch was going to be. Unlike his brother, he was a lot less nervous in front of the Sultan

"Nein Louis," his slightly older brother stated as he rolled his eyes in annoyance, "Ich werde Kaiser sein. Sie sind an zweiter Stelle. Wir haben schon darüber gesprochen." Immediately, the two children started bickering with one-another as the Kaiser pinched the bridge of his nose. He loved his kids, but he hated the incessant arguing, especially when it was about toys.

"Genug! Ihr beide!" Queen Sophie abruptly scolded the pair, her frustration showing before she rapidly apologized to the Sultan for the loud interruption, "I'm very sorry, your Majesty. Louis still isn't entirely certain how the monarchy works yet."

 

[Retroliser]

"He'll learn in due course," He remarked, before his gaze settled on the third, and final, child. "And who is this young lady?"

 

[NagandEmerald]

As soon as the Sultan's gaze fell on Emma, the 10 year old girl only hid behind her mother, far more shy and reclusive than her eldest brother was.

"This is Emma. She...isn't keen on meeting new people, and hasn't really done too well with the shuffling from Germany over here," the Queen explained. Friedrich merely rolled his eyes as he turned back to the Sultan.

"She is honestly a sweetheart though. Once she opens up, she'll be all over you," Georg reassured before clearing his throat.

"Now, if we're done here. I think the time has come that you show me around your lovely home. I know it's a little big, and you don't have to show us everything and everywhere. Just...areas of importance, I think, will do for now."

 

[Retroliser]

"Yes, let me give you a tour of the places I know are in here!" He replied cheerfully. "Admittedly, I still get lost in this place, but I hope to move out and go somewhere smaller and more comfortable."

As requested, The Sultan, with the assistance of the Cemre, took the family on a guided tour of the palace. In addition to showing them the Ceremonial Hall, and its 4.5 tonne chandelier obtained from Queen Victoria, and the Ambassador's Hall, which possessed 150 year old bearskin rugs from Tsar Nicholas I, The Sultan showed the family the room Mustafa Kemal Ataturk died in.

(The Ceremonial Hall)

(The Ambassador's Hall)

(Ataurk's Death Bed)​

"In this room," The Sultan explained. "The father of the republic, which is now going to be reviled for the rest of time, took his last breath at 09:05 AM, on the 10th of November, 1938. This bed is the one he died in, and the clock you see over there next to it is the same one that was there when his time had come to live the world of the living. Since then, we have left this room undisturbed, the clock's hands still pointing to five past nine, in memory of this great man... Who abolished my father."

The monarch chuckled lightly.

"It sounds silly when I am the direct descendant of the man who lost everything because of him. However, Ataturk deserves my respect and admiration, which I am more than willing to give."