The castle loomed over the Württemberg countryside like an aging veteran—dignified, worn, and stubbornly upright. Much like Heinrich von Koch himself.
Bruno adjusted his cuffs with the kind of irritation reserved only for formal events. The road had been muddy. His greatcoat was wrinkled. And worse, he hadn't had his second cup of coffee. In the distance, string music floated from the chapel entrance. Too cheerful by half.
Heinrich was getting married.
"Madness," Bruno muttered as he climbed the stone steps. "He just had to choose a cold winter morning in the countryside for the venue. Is it just me, or is Heinrich deliberately fucking with me?"
Heidi giggled, and shook her head, as she hugged her man tightly, a bit too intimately at such a formal venue. All the while whispering in his ears.
"Aside from myself, he is perhaps the person who knows you best, after all. But don't blame him too harshly. I was the one who set the time, date, and location…"
