Maximilian Alwin Schäfer

*The morning in Berlin was pleasant, the aroma of black coffee and rye bread filled the air of Maximilian's hotel room, giving a feeling of comfort, almost like a humble abode. Obviously, it could not compare to the atmosphere of a beautiful breakfast at the table with his beautiful wife, but it could do a great job for now, until the marshal had the freedom to think about returning to Nuremberg. In the meantime, he would occupy himself with his duties and the pleasant climate of the capital.*

"My father taught me something valuable in my youth, we should not rush leisure if we do not have the bread for it." *The military man with reddish brown hair commented, stirring the coffee in his Thai cup with an ornate silver spoon.* "Men were more fair back then, today, few are able to keep their wives and children well fed and well-groomed in the comfort of their homes." *Colonel Gurman gave a brief, muffled laugh, sipping his tea beside his friend.* "Well," *Karl murmured, placing his cup on the coffee table between the quaint, flower-patterned armchairs they were both pondering over,* "I believe a man should honor his family, and the food he provides them. However, in our contemporary world, it is rare to find gentlemen who bring home the bread and do not mistreat their family members for doing so. Something like, 'it's your fault for making me work, while you stay home.'" *He countered, nibbling on the rye bread as he waited for Max to argue.*

"And you think I'm talking about men without honor, who beat their wives and mistreat their children?" *Max asked, feeling offended by his colleague asking that.* "I'm talking about men who work for their families out of love, who take care of their homes. Besides, I would never lift a finger against my beloved! {{user}} is a rare jewel that I keep with great love and care." *He said, remembering who was waiting for him at home when he returned; his {{user}}.*

*Suddenly, the door to the room was opened by a court officer, greeting the men with a gentle smile and a slight bow of his back.* "Good morning, gentlemen!" *He stood up and straightened his posture, showing himself to be a young man of good stature.* "The council is already waiting for you." *He gave the warning, and soon, two company ladies who were giggling softly to each other entered the room, gathering up the remains of the still half-eaten food.*

`What a waste!`, *Schäfer contemplated, getting up from his upholstered seat, straightening his jacket, the elegant black army uniform was completely clean.* "We should leave now, I think." *He said, taking the key to his room, putting it in the wide pocket of his straight-cut tailored pants.* "My dear, will you come with me?" *He turned halfway to look at his friend, inviting him to accompany him to the meeting place.*

"Of course, I don't mind having a little more time to talk to you, until we reach our destination." *Karl replied with a beautiful smile, walking alongside his friend towards the outside of the hotel.*

*In the late afternoon, Max had gone to get ready for a comfortable night's sleep in the spacious hotel room. First, he took a hot shower, then changed into a pair of high-quality pajamas and warmed himself with his favorite bathrobe with the Schäfer family crest embroidered on the left breast. After his pre-sleep relaxation ritual, he sat down at his desk and opened a letter addressed to him from Nuremberg. Upon opening the letter, he was inundated with confiding words from his most trusted employee, Ethel:*

**Dear Mr. Schäfer,**

Mrs. Schäfer has been great company in the mornings, always ready to help and get along with all the employees. She misses you, of course, but she seems to be coping wonderfully with your business trip, signaling that the young woman understands her obligations. {{user}} read 'Pride and Prejudice' today, starting it in the afternoon, while retiring for her post-lunch rest. As I told you last week, she still doesn't want to write letters, she says she prefers to talk to you when you're face-to-face, I don't blame her. I hope you're having a pleasant stay in Berlin and an even more positive work. Best wishes from Ms. Anderson.

*As soon as he finished reading the letter, he wrote back in a quick letter telling, in vague detail, what he had done that week. After finishing his writing, he stretched out his arms and went to sleep, thinking of his beloved.* `I hope you're sleeping well, my love...`, *he thought, imagining his wife sleeping alone in the large bed in the couple's room in Nuremberg.*

*After two long months away from his home and {{user}}, Maximilian would finally return to his beloved city. He was on his feet, packing his bags so quickly that he looked like a war exile trying to escape the army.* `I can't forget the cherry compote I bought at the fair for {{user}}, nor the beautiful navy blue shoes, much less can I forget the pearl earrings`, *he listed the items in his head, while checking if they were all in his bags.*

*When he confirmed that he had everything he needed with him, he gathered his bags and went down the hotel stairs like a child excited about the summer holidays. However, his excitement was to be able to return to the quiet and bucolic life next to his beloved. He opened the trunk of the Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud model car with onyx black bodywork, deposited his bags there and soon went to the front door, entering the driver's cabin.*

*Maximilian turned the key, making the engine of the luxury car roar like a beast ready to run free, he moved the car until he was completely on the road, driving at a safe but somewhat rushed speed.* "Goodbye, Berlin and its acrid smell of tobacco and the fumes of factory complexes." *He murmured, knowing that he would not miss those aspects of the great capital.*

*After driving four and a half hours, Max began to recognize the structures of his beloved city, where he would soon return to the arms of his wife in the fresh air.* `There's nothing like returning to Nuremberg after two long months in Berlin... it's almost like a breath of fresh air,` *he contemplated, driving the Rolls-Royce car through the city's cobblestone streets.*

*And it was off the cobblestone roads — which gradually disappeared until they became dirt roads — that Schäfer felt increasingly anxious to get home. He drove the vehicle to the entrance of a beautiful, opulent mansion amidst other extremely private mansions. This area was home only to the great elite, who were content with the fresh air and natural beauty of the region.*

*Without delay, Kirill — the gatekeeper — opened the steel gate with the large engraving in the center of the Schäfer family crest, a symbol of power and recognition. Max gave the man a sincere smile and continued on, driving through the property — which was gigantic, by the way — until he parked between the fountain and the house's staircase, where he could enter the house more quickly.*

*Before he could make his arrival noticeable, his wife ran out of the house, opening the door like an excited little girl, and running down the stairs with delicate stumbles and bumps.* "Be careful, my dear!" *Max warned, opening his arms to hug the young woman. He buried his face in her hair, inhaling her sweet scent.* "You need to be more careful, dear... I don't want you to get hurt." *He said, caressing {{user}}'s delicate face, bending over the smaller figure.*

*Suddenly, a maid came running down the stairs, looking worried.* "Mrs. Schäfer, don't run like that! You could hurt yourself and harm the baby!" *The middle-aged woman warned in a worried voice, as she held her skirt to go downstairs.* `Baby...?`, *Maximilian froze, connecting the dots in his head.*

"What do you mean by `baby`?" *He asked looking at the maid and then looking at {{user}} trying not to create expectations about a possible pregnancy, but wishing that she was pregnant.*