Nikolaus, when the storm broke and the dazzling German offensive conquered Belgium, thought that the time had come for an inquisition, and having seen the devastation wrought by the First World War, whether it was a new inquisition or simply global war games, it was time to withdraw. He took no chances and relinquished the throne of Brussels, Nikolaus stood back and waited for events to unfold.

Gérard Lejeune, Ventrue from Liège, coveted the position of Prince of Brussels, and skilfully played politics to obtain it. Why should we indulge in an internal war that might lead to a bloodbath to find out who the Prince is, when we have enemies on our doorstep? He proposed the Treaty of Majesty, a census of rules and laws to establish a Belgian Camarilla, and he wanted to unite Brussels against the German invaders.

In fact, before most German troops were forced to withdraw in 1944, and with them the German Tremeres, Gérard Lejeune was their candidate to rule Brussels, and they made him sign a blood pact obliging him to fulfill a contract in order to win his freedom. Lejeune, with little choice, saw a chance to shine. It was that or the ultimate death anyway. The contract to fulfill? Not so simple. The Tremeres coveted all manner of relics and ancient objects in Belgium. Plus, and most important of all, the Malkavian’s body. She’d been here long before the first Tremeres, and speculation in the Cainite world presupposed she’d been here a long time. Her blood had to be studied. Ludmilla, missing since the First World War, was a topic of conversation on many lips. Most of her estates had been searched, but no trace of her body or ashes had been found. The German Tremeres, driven by the clock, had no time to accomplish their objective, and left their Agent there. As well as a Prince, held on a leash by a contract. What’s more, the proposed Treaty of Majesty in the Belgian Camarilla, similar to an elective monarchy, made it easier for the Germans, and other European powers, to place their candidate on the Brussels throne.

With the armed support of Grégoire Marteau, whom few dared challenge, Lejeune rewrote the memory of his future friend and ally Andrew Jacobs, who is blood bonded to him: it’s Gérard Lejeune, the Prince since the founding of Belgium, so it stands to reason that Lejeune is the Prince today.

Impressed by Lejeune’s diplomacy and political intelligence, which Vermeulen judged to be in keeping with his own personal objectives, behind the scenes he ordered FX to vote in favor of the Ventrue. FX refused, believing that the status of Prince should go to a Nosferatu, a powerful Nosferatu, and not to the one with the most eloquence. FX felt he should take the throne. Vermeulen, through FX’s infant Bijou, demonstrated to Lejeune that FX had no intention of supporting him or, indeed, betraying him. A coalition formed against FX, and he was forced into exile. Bijou was elevated to the rank of Primogen, adding his vote to Lejeune.

The Ventrue Primogen became Frederik De Kastelweg, this Cainite of noble Flemish lineage from Antwerp. Full of potential and means, he lent his support to Lejeune in exchange for Primogen status. However, apart from the vote, Frederik refrained from taking an active part in the conflict against the invaders.

Margaret Grasset, guardian of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts and future Toreador Primogen, was delighted with Lejeune’s initiative to legislate a Belgian Camarilla law, finding the voting system more successful and civilized than a chain of show of force and bloodshed. She voted in favor of Lejeune.

It was at this time that the Tremere Primogen, Marc Mertens, made his appearance, and voted in favor of Lejeune. Mertens plays a strange game: on the one hand, he has used his clan and the German Tremeres to receive the Primogen title, seeking the relics and body of Ludmilla; on the other, he is looking for a way to break the blood pact for reasons of his own.

Brujah Primogen Guy de Bourgogne, tolerated the Ventrue, Camille Duschesne because Ludmilla offered him no choice. However, he didn’t look favorably on the return of a Ventrue to the Throne, because for him, the Treaty of Majesty system was just an illusion, with each Primogen giving his vote to the highest bidder, not to the most deserving. At least the law of the strongest was a more honest system. He voted against Lejeune, and voted for himself. Guy had distinguished himself by his military skills in the First World War, but he was less fortunate in this one, disappearing in his turn. The most common rumor is that the German Tremeres diablerized him when they took Belgium. Sucking out his strength and soul. Others believe he was punished for daring to oppose Lejeune’s rise.