I think the problem with the revelation about Pius is that he was originally just a normal guardsman. For the tropers in the house, a Badass Normal. Now that he's some kind of superhuman, who didn't even sacrifice his life like in the "legend", the valor of the event is a bit reduced. At least, that's my take on it.
EDIT: Argh. There were no guardsmen in those days. A Imperial soldier then.