Retirement Ceremony Part II

Bruno had realized damn near instantly that he had said something incredibly improper at the worst possible timing. Judging by the reactions on the faces of the veterans he was just bantering with via dark humor just a moment prior, someone of supreme importance was standing behind him and had heard every word he said. 

The voice, of course, was instantly recognizable to Bruno, and he himself flinched before turning around when he heard the smug tone in the Kaiser's voice when he responded to Bruno's rather ill-suited attempt at a joke. 

"I must say, is this how a son shows his love and respect for his father? And no less on the day he is to be awarded for a lifetime of effort and achievement with a medal for all of his services to my royal House of Hohenzollern?"