Chapter 76 < He Left >
Sister, I'm The Queen In This Life
Prince Alfonso, who fully understood what his mother meant, stared ahead with a devastated expression. Tears flowed endlessly from his dry eyes that looked exactly like his mother's.
"You are the future monarch. You have a duty to your people. Prudentia (prudence), temperantia (temperance)."
Prudence, courage, temperance, justice. It was a virtue of the monarchs who followed in the central continent.
'Prudence', which commands us to act appropriately, and 'temperance', which requires us to control ourselves and not give in to our desires. In this case, it would refer to an attitude of devoting oneself to the needs of the nation rather than being distracted by a mere woman. But Alfonso had no choice but to protest to his mother.
"According to the philosopher Boniface of the Latin Empire, 'A monarch's wife is also a monarch."
Heat flashed from the Prince's tear-filled blue-gray eyes,
"The person who stands next to the monarch must have the same wisdom and insight as the monarch, see the big picture, deal with subordinates with generosity and virtue, and assist the monarch with boldness and courage."
He clenched his fists.
"Ariadne is the most suitable person for that position. She has the potential to take the power of the Etruscan kingdom to the next level."
There were some words that he couldn't convey, and he, Queen's son, wanted her. Last night, upon hearing Count Cesare's marriage proposal, Alfonso was shocked as if he had been hit on the head with a hammer. Someday Ariadne will become someone's wife. She will stand by the man's side, prepare his meals, and bear his children. This was the future that would happen if he didn't reach out.
Alfonso continued speaking without stopping.
"I have met Grand Duchess Lariesa of Valoa. She may have great qualities in her, but she is not what I am looking for in a companion."
She was impatient, stubborn, and too self-absorbed. No matter how you look at it, she was not the right person to rule Palagio Carlo peacefully and help with the internal affairs of the Etruscans.
"The Etruscan mother should be Ariadne."
That way, she can stand next to him. That way, he doesn't have to see another guy running through her hair, touching her skin, feeling her lips, and waking up with her.
At her son's resolute declaration, Queen Marguerite looked at her son blankly. At her mother's unreadable expression, Prince Alfonso tensed and felt his mouth dry. The story Queen Marguerite told after a long silence was shocking.
"If Acereto invades, without Gallico's aid, we will collapse within half a year."
Acereto was an island grand duchy located at the southern tip of the Etruscans. The island nation always lags behind the development of the mainland, and Acereto is less than half the size of the Etruscans, so the original Etruscans did not even consider Acereto their competition. The current situation of the Etruscan Kingdom was so serious that it was threatened even by Acereto.
"The Etruscans do not have a decent fleet. The peace of the sea is maintained by the Republic of Porto. With your own money. If we are attacked by Acereto, will the Republic of Porto come to our aid?
"I'm lucky if we don't applaud."
The queen looked sharply at her son, who was very surprised.
"You've heard the story about Acereto's newly built galley fleet, right? If this trend continues, the number of Acereto's galley fleet will double within five years. If Acereto blocks just three Etruscan ports with its fleet, our entire country will be subject to a forced sit-in war."
There was no stopping anticipation of Queen Marguerite's bright future.
"If Acereto lands from the south, the army must stop them. That role was played solely by the Duke of Taranto. Now that he is dead, Bianca of Taranto, a motherless twelve-year-old, is left to protect Taranto alone."
"What about the other southern nobles besides the Duke of Taranto?"
"Other nobles were suspicious, so didn't your father personally disband the private army and bring it to the capital?"
It referred to Leo III's policy of consistently reducing the power of feudal lords and reducing their authority to have private armies. Under Leo III, the old nobles were transformed from lords who ruled their own lands directly into court nobles, or subjects of the King, who served at the capital's court.
"There are only a few feudal lords left who can mobilize military power. Among them, if you were to find someone who was loyal to the King, they would be on the verge of extinction. Is that all?"
Queen Marguerite did not look at all warmly towards her native country.
"The biggest problem is the Kingdom of Gallico in the north. No one can deny it. The Kingdom of Gallico has been putting pressure on the Gaeta region for three years to return."
Three years ago, Queen Marguerite's brother, Charles VII, passed away and her nephew, Philip IV, succeeded to the throne.
"Isn't that the land that Mother received sovereignty over?"
"I know Philippe well. The child thinks that everything inside Gallico's borders is his, based on when they were at their greatest expansion. Philip will not hesitate to go to war to regain his lost lands."
It was a cool-headed assessment of her nephew, whom she had seen throughout his childhood.
"Fortunately, this time Philip, on some whim, sent a wedding delegation to the capital instead of sending knights to the border."
Queen Marguerite spoke in a pitchless voice.
"I am not the final arbiter of these marriage negotiations. The decision-making authority lies with your father. But I think it will be very difficult for your father to refuse this offer."
Her story was coming to an end.
"Acereto lasts at least half a year. If Gallico attacks, it will only take two months until San Carlo falls."
The Queen reminded her Prince son.
"Don't you have a duty?"
A monarch had a duty to keep his people safe and well-fed, which was above all else among prudence, moderation, courage, and justice. A monarch could sometimes abandon his moral duties or be unfaithful. He could avoid challenges or have a cruel temper. He will either become a 'cowardly monarch' or a 'tyrannical monarch'
However, the moment he abandoned his duty to protect and feed his people, he was no longer a monarch.
"Only the strong can control luxury."
Queen Marguerite held her son's hand tightly. Prince Alfonso lowered his head.
"I am sorry that your mother and father were not able to build a stronger country from above."
Queen Marguerite's last words were a driving wedge and a final sentence. Prince Alfonso was speechless. If he was to keep his natural duty he had to give up his love. If he was to fulfill his responsibilities he had to stop his mind here. If Prince
Alfonso had been told that he could keep his love by giving up all his glory, honor, honor, and everything he had and enjoyed, Prince Alfonso would have chosen that path. But what he owed was a duty. A monarch had to protect his people. And Prince Alfonso was born as the eldest son of a monarch and lived every second he had with his eyes open to become a monarch.
"Oh my."
After a while, Prince Alfonso opened his mouth, and his voice cracked like a sound of metal.
"I understood what you said very well."
He very slowly, reluctantly, let the words roll off his tongue, syllable by syllable.
"My son."
A heavy resolve fell.
"As the future heir to the throne, I will do my duty and not abandon my people."
After the Prince lowered his head and returned to his palace, her maid, Madame Carla, entered the Queen's draped boudoir.
She handed the Queen a warm drink, who sat silently in front of her fireplace.
"It's a bank show."
"Yes. The weather was quite chilly at night, so I tried a taste of my hometown."
Queen Marguerite took a sip of boiled wine and looked again at the dancing embers in the fireplace. Madame Carla comforted her Queen.
"You're heartbroken. I'm sorry about your son."
"Don't be sorry."
She held the warm cup with both hands. She seemed to be trying to withstand her rising chill.
"What I'm most sorry about is the part where I treated my son with disgust. I am not qualified to talk about the people."
With a sad expression, Madame Carla brought a wool shawl and draped it over Queen Marguerite's shoulders.
"Isn't this all done for the Prince?"
Queen Marguerite nodded.
"My husband is moody and suspicious. He says that although he has only one choice, Alfonso's path will not be easy or safe. My son needs strength to protect him. I buried it well at the Rambouillet Center. I hope it will be of help when the time comes."
"Even a powerful craftsman will be of great help to the Prince."
Queen Marguerite nodded. Then, as if she suddenly remembered something, she asked Madame Carla.
"Oh, by the way, did you hear about your family from the attendants who accompanied Grand Duchess Lariesa this time?"
Madame Carla hastily lowered her head.
"Everyone is a benefactor of Her Majesty the Queen. The guard at Fort Lesarte delivered letters from my father and brothers to the Grand Duchess's attendant."
Madame Carla's family was implicated in treason three years ago when Queen Marguerite's older brother, Charles VII, passed away and the Queen's nephew, Philip IV, ascended the throne and were stripped of their noble titles. This happened while trying to enthrone Prince Louis, the king's second son and a person of high moral character.
Her surviving family members were all imprisoned at the Infamous Fort Lesarte. She was originally a high-ranking noblewoman, which is why she was called only by her first name without her title.
"I'm sorry there's only so much I can do for you."
Queen Marguerite also took the side of her second nephew, Louis, rather than her eldest nephew, Philip, in the battle for succession to the throne. This was because she judged that Philip could not be a good ruler due to his temperamental temperament and ruthless nature. As a queen without real power in a foreign country, she did not and could not actively intervene, but the victorious Philip IV never forgave his aunt for not supporting him. The current Queen Marguerite had no say in recommending a pardon for her nephew.
"No. I am just devastated that you took care of me without forgetting about it."
At least, it was a gesture of reconciliation from Philip IV to his aunt that the Kingdom of Gallico gave the daughter of Euod, Grand Duke of Valoa, to marry Alfonso. If Alfonso's marriage goes well, her relationship with her parents may also improve.
Queen Marguerite handed the pouch she had previously taken out to Madame Carla.
"It's not a lot of money, but I saved a little bit. Send it with the Grand Duchess when she returns."
Objectively, it wasn't a lot of money. It was just enough money to pay a small bribe to Lesarte's guard and provide food and fuel for his family to survive the winter. It was not an amount that Madam Carla could not bear on her own. But Mrs. Carla even showed her tears and took the bag with her trembling hands.
"What can something like me..."
She repeated over and over again, wiping away tears.
"I can't believe you care so much about such a lowly thing. Thank you, Your Majesty the Queen. I am honored."
Queen Marguerite put her hand on Madame Carla's shoulder and patted her.
"How humble you are. If it weren't for you, how would I have endured in this lonely land?"
The Queen laughed a little.
"In a way, you are like my sisters and family. Don't belittle yourself."
When Queen Marguerite called herself a sister, Madame Carla began to struggle and cry. The Queen tried to comfort her maid, but her maid's sobbing would not stop.
The autumn night passed like that.
***
The following week, the entire court of Leo III packed up and set off for the southern palace in the Taranto domain. It was a winter trip that takes place every year. The Grand Duchess of Lariesa, who should have returned to Gallico long ago, had been sitting in San Carlo due to her deteriorating health, and under the pretext of recuperating in a warm place, she returned to Leo III. He was brought down to the villa in Taranto with the court of three.
This was something that had never happened in Ariadne's previous life. The invitation from Prince Alfonso, who had said he would send an invitation to Ariadne through Bianca of Taranto and go see the Southern Palace together, never came.
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