Oswald Mosley came into the room. Closing the door behind him, he turned on a light bulb that hung from the ceiling.
“I am sorry for the indecent way you were handled, but Selvaria was too eager. You know how she can be rough when she has a mission.” Oswald looked at the former Regent with warms eyes as he sat down on the wooden stool in front of Tanzband. “Thank you for choosing the Bund as your new home. We need as much support as possible, and a man of your reputation, abilities, and experience would be of incalculable help. In fact, I am here to offer you this.”
A piece of paper with the title “Acceptance of the Position of Bundesprasident” was handed over to Tanzband.
“We need a strong figure to lead Deutscher Bund, and you are the perfect candidate. If you accept, you shall be the head of state, with the power and authority to represent the Bund, veto legislation bills, and issue executive decrees which have the force of law. I know this is not as high a caliber as Kaiser or Regent, but it is respectable enough a position in the international community.” He lifted his left forefinger as if to emphasize something. “However there is a prerequisite: You must make an official statement denouncing the harlot, Sarah Tintagyl. We cannot let her abominable influence contaminate the Bund, leading it down the path of death and destruction like what happened to so many nations that fell under her charms. It is such a trifle thing that I am sure you can do with ease, especially since you have been discarded by her. Now, what do you say, Her Tanzband? Will you take up the mandate?
Albert sat in silence, as if in deep thought. After a while, he looked up, directly into the face of Mosley, and replied in a determined voice, “No.”
"No..." Disappointment could be seen in Oswald’s face, as he tried to find a reply. “That is not an answer I had expected. Why on earth would you decline?”
“No matter how much I may powder the words,” spoke Albert, “the root of it all goes to one thing: I lover her. Sarah is more than just a woman, she’s an ideal and a philosophy, and I am in love with her dreams and visions as much as I love her.” He straightened his back.
The Queenslander’s face began to warp with disbelief. “But what about the trial? You said nothing about the whore, when almost every accusations leveled at you were connected to her web of lies and manipulations."
“I couldn’t. Saying anything would have given more strength to the prosecution Not only that, but Europe would have had concrete evidence in their belief that Sarah is a femme fatale. Love triumphing over politics... Something that wouldn’t work here.” A sheepish smile appeared on Albert’s face. “Also, Sarah already has enough trouble in Australia. I can’t burden her with my situation.”
“But she never wrote a single letter or spoke a single word about you during the trial! It there was such a thing as love between the two of you, the cuckolder would have done at least something. Don’t you see how she’s leaving her happy life, completely ignoring your troubles? Don’t you remember how she abandoned her own country, not even contacting her various lovers?”
“What of it? She is the Valkyrie of Peace. Her mission is more important than myself.”
The Bundeskanzler fell silent. After what seemed an eternity passed, he took some papers out from the inside pocket of his jacket.
“After the troubles of the Queensland Republic, I was forced to give all records of the former Hanseatic Commonwealth to the one-time rescuers from New Anglica. This had come into my hands, and I’ve made copies just in case.”
The front page was titled “Medical History of the Lady Protector”. Oswald turned a few pages, to a section named “Pregnancy History”.
“The Valkyrie had been pregnant once, Herr Tanzband, and the chorionic villus sampling showed who the father is. It wasn’t you, but someone who doesn’t deserve being mentioned. Various records revealed that she kept the existence of the daughter secret, even from you, who is supposed to be her most trusted person. All of this shows that you were just a pawn, a tool in her quest for domination. Do you still believe in her?”
There was a look of surprise at the news of Tintagyl’s illegitimate daughter, but soon Tanzband recovered. “It doesn’t matter. Sarah’s happiness is what is most important, and I would accept any action she chooses. If she chose to hide it from me, there was a reason and I would understand. She is my everything, and I will not do anything which would hurt her one bit. Not only would denying her cause much pain to her, but it would be going against her dreams and visions, killing the one I love. I would rather die than do that.”
There was a click as Oswald pulled out a pistol.
"Are you prepared to go with what you said, die for the worthless prostitute?"
Dignity filled the room as Albert gave his answer. "Yes. My honor and love is for all eternity.“
"Very well then.”
He pulled the trigger.
"Abschied."
A shot rang out, followed by the sound of slumping.