Tyranny Of Steel

Chapter 349: Redesigning the Fashion of Austria

Berengar sat at his desk within his study; at the moment, he was drawing designs for a new era of fashion for his people. With his Nation advancing into the Industrial Age, Berengar wanted an appropriate sense of style for not only his civilians and the nobility but his military as well.

The puffy and superfluous attire of the renaissance, while aesthetically pleasing, was not nearly as functional as the designs he was hard at work at creating. Most importantly, he wanted a more modern attire for his upcoming wedding to his loving bride-to-be.

With this in mind, Berengar chose the Late Victorian and the Edwardian Eras of fashion as a basis for his new clothing style. Thus he was bringing a type of clothing and culture to Germany that was centuries more advanced than it currently had.

Suits, ties, dress shirts, and shoes would become the norm within his society for men. At the same time, the women would wear far more modern dresses than what was currently available. As for the nobility, they would wear a clothing style similar to that of the European Nobility from the 1870s to 1918.

For the military Uniforms, he had decided to base them off the uniforms used by the Prussians in the Franco-Prussian war of his previous life, with a few minor adjustments. The tunic was cut in the form of an M35 Waffenrock where its colors were changed to black, with a dark grey collar and matching sleeve cuffs. If one was a high enough rank white rectangles would appear on the dark grey collars, and cuffs that would contain a golden rank insignia.

Secondly, the Uniforms utilized a standard-issue high carbon, quenched, and hardened steel cuirass based upon those used by 19th-century Cuirassiers from Berengar's previous life. These cuirasses were also painted black with a superior lacquer. The only Soldiers not issued these cuirasses were the ones in artillery or support roles.

Seeing as how Berengar's new artillery he planned to create and implement once his industry had reached the capability had such an exceptional range that his enemies could never harm them, it was a waste of resources to equip them with such unnecessary protective gear.

Thirdly, the Pickelhaube style helmets that his soldiers would be wearing were made of high carbon quenched and hardened steel, painted black, and had brass accents. On the front of the helmet beneath the brass spike was a brass double-headed eagle. The material it was made of ensured superior protection of his soldier's heads against the style of weapons they would be going up against.

As for the Navy, they would be issued uniforms based upon those used by the Imperial German Navy in the years leading up to the Great War. The primary difference was that they would follow the same color scheme as the Royal Austrian Army.

Now that he had established new military uniforms, Berengar began to create a series of medals and orders of merit for the men who served in his military to earn through exemplary means of service to the state. Particularly in the field of combat.

The first medal on his list would be the Iron Cross, a medal from his previous life, the German equivalent of the US Medal of Honor. Berengar planned to establish several grades, the Second Class, the First Class, The Knight's Cross, the Grand Cross, and the Star of the Grand Cross.

Other medals he began to design included what he would refer to as the Austrian Wound Medal, an award based upon the idea behind the American Purple Heart. It was awarded for courageously shedding blood on the field of battle in the name of the Fatherland. In other words, any member of the Austrian Armed Forces who were wounded or killed in combat would receive this medal.

This medal was in the form of a golden medallion, with Berengar's personage imprinted upon the center of it. The ribbon itself was rectangular and black, with multiple gold stripes that had white edges.

He also intended to design two other awards that were similar in purpose but awarded differently based upon whether one was a commissioned officer or an NCO/enlisted soldier. This would be the Austrian Military Merit Cross; and the Austrian Military Merit Order. These awards would be awarded to soldiers who proved their bravery and merit in the field of battle.

The Military Merit Cross was based upon the Prussian Military Merit Cross from Berengar's previous life. It was the highest award of bravery for non-commissioned officers and enlisted soldiers. It was also known as the Golden Military Merit Cross to distinguish it from the Military Honor Medal, which was an inferior medal awarded for bravery and valor.

The Order was based upon the Pour le Mérite, more commonly known as the Blue Max, from Berengar's past life. In essence, it was the highest military honor awarded to Commissioned Officers within the Austrian Royal Military. As for the physical award, there were some differences from the Blue Max; for example, the ribbon was black with gold stripes, instead of black with silver stripes

At the top of the medal was a golden oakleaf with crossed swords. Below that was the maltese cross which was white instead of blue, and it lacked the golden engraving of the words Pour le Mérite upon it. In between the golden edges of the white maltese cross were a series of golden double-headed eagles, rather than the single-headed ones on the Blue Max from his past life.

Berengar also intended to establish a new Chivalric Order for his Kingdom, based upon one that the Habsburgs had created in his previous life. This Chivalric Order would become known as the Order of Saint George and would be awarded to outstanding soldiers who have proven their loyalty and valor on the field of battle.

Other military honors were established based upon various achievements in battle or support roles. However, Berengar's criteria for being awarded these medals and orders were relatively strict compared to many of the awards from his previous life.

It was considered a great honor to be awarded a medal rather than something given out for a particular chore fulfilled in the barracks, and only those who truly earned them would receive such a thing.

After spending nearly half a day designing various clothing, uniforms, and accessories, Berengar dispatched the plans to his garment district and his armory to begin production as soon as possible.

Before his wedding, Berengar wanted these clothing designs made for him and his bride. As for what followed afterward, he planned to begin a massive military parade where he would award the veterans of his army with the decorations they had earned in his various campaigns over the years.

After completing this task, Berengar returned to his Palace, where Linde immediately greeted him. Berengar walked over to his lover and hugged her, and she immediately began to kiss him passionately. After several moments Berengar released himself from her grip where he started to ask the question on his mind.

"Where are the kids?"

Linde had a sly smile on her face as she revealed what she had done.

"I sent them to bed early."

Berengar was astonished by this and immediately followed up with an interrogation.

"Why? Did the boy do something?"

Linde shook her head in response to this question as she wrapped her arms around Berengar's neck; she whispered in his ear with a seductive voice.

"No, I just didn't want them to interrupt us!"

After saying this, she began to kiss him once more; as things progressed, Berengar found himself pulling up Linde's dress and rubbing her thigh with his hand, moving his hand to her nether regions. It was not until the couple heard a distinctive sound from behind them that they broke apart. It was the sound of a young woman coughing.

"Ahem..."

Upon hearing this, Berengar turned around to see Adela staring at the two of them with a murderous gaze. As she did so, she immediately began to interrupt Berengar and Linde's session with an assertive voice.

"Linde, If you don't mind, I have important matters to discuss with my fiancee."

Linde stared curiously at the young woman who was not behaving like her usual self; in fact, there was not a hint of hesitation in her voice. Instead, she was staring at her with a cold and domineering gaze. Linde decided to tease the girl by grabbing ahold of Berengar's lower region and retorting to her.

"I do mind, Berengar and I were in the middle of something equally important! Why don't you run along and play with your dolls, little girl."

However, to Linde's surprise, Adela did not budge in the slightest. Instead, she stared at Berengar with a chilling gaze and began to address him instead.

"Darling, would you please inform your mistress that your wife is speaking and that she should hold her venomous tongue."

Berengar realized he was put in an awkward situation; he had told Adela the night before that she was his primary wife and would always be the most important of his women. She was most likely testing him to see if that were true; as such, he was forced to let go of Linde, where he sighed heavily before addressing his lover.

"Linde, I'm sorry, it appears that it must be something rather important; we can have our fun later."

Linde stared at Berengar with a questionable gaze; he had never been one to back down just because Adela was upset, yet now he was so quickly abiding by her wishes. Just what had happened between the two for him to give in so easily? Ultimately, she knew it was unwise to push the issue further. As such, she kissed Berengar on the cheek before departing; as she did so, she left him with a parting phrase.

"I will be waiting for you in the bedroom tonight!"

After Linde's departure, Berengar immediately switched his attention to Adela, glaring at him with an oppressive stare while having her arms crossed. It was only after Adela was confident that Linde was out of earshot that she dropped her tough facade and jumped into Berengar's embrace before kissing him intensely.

This wasn't one of her previous childish pecks on the lips but a far more adult kiss. After some time had passed, she broke apart from Berengar before recovering her elegant demeanor. As she did so, her cheeks flushed red. Berengar knew she wanted more but was holding herself back; as such, he changed the topic by asking the question on his mind.

"So... What did you need me for?"

Adela immediately recognized why she had first set out to find him and recovered from her lustful trance before asking the question on her mind.

"I was wondering when my wedding dress will be ready. Our wedding is only a few days from now!"

In response to this, Berengar smiled before revealing the changes he had just made.

"Do not worry, my dear, I have just sent new designs to the garment district; you and I will have custom-made attire for the occasion, I promise you, that you will be the most beautiful woman in the entire Cathedral on the day of our wedding!"

After hearing this, a broad smile appeared on Adela's face before she kissed Berengar on the cheek where Linde had left her mark; after doing so, she hugged him fervently before revealing the thoughts on her mind.

"I look forward to it!"

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