With the support of Leo III, Le Vien searched every dark place near the pool of blood. Nothing was found, and the only place left to look was the temporary structure.
The captain of the guard reported as concisely as possible, but everyone immediately remembered the famous story that had spread throughout the palace.
It was a story about a jester confessing his love to a Marchioness, and the lady’s husband barged in and beat him to death.
Although it was an incident where a royal servant was assaulted, the royal family did not take the clown’s side, and except for issuing a light disciplinary warning to the Marquis, they mostly tolerated the incident.
The clown had eaten a mad mushroom and gone crazy, and the palace, which was due to go down to Taranto, seemed to have left him alone in the hope that he would recover.
“While the court was going down to Taranto, he was being treated in the Palazzo Carlo, but it seems that they were not able to kick him out in time for his return to the court.”
It was a rule that a person who was not sound could not be in the palace. However, since there was no one to take care of the administration thoroughly, he had been staying in the palace until now.
The man smirked as if he had no idea where he was safe.
It was definitely not good news. Leo III nodded and called the captain of the guard closer to listen to his story.
“He did not see the murder scene, but he heard that someone saw the body being disposed of. This time, it was the gardener, and he was a whole person.”
“Who could have done such a terrible thing?”
The captain of the guard looked around in confusion and whispered even lower.
“I don’t know exactly who it was, but it was one of the knights of His Highness Prince Alfonso...”
“What?”
Leo III was about to shout, “The Prince’s Palace!” but swallowed his last word as he looked at the expressions of Gallico’s men. Doubly enraged, he jumped up from his seat and stormed out of the room, leading all the guards in the room.
“Permission to open this...”
The King’s manpower expressed its discomfort. Count Le Vien was furious.
“I’ll take responsibility, so open it now!”
Bam!
The first shed that he forcibly opened with a crowbar was a failure.
“Damn it!”
Le Vien pointed to the next shed in annoyance.
“Over there!”
Bam!
Count Le Vien’s manpower shouted as he looked inside.
“There’s nothing!”
The second shed was also a failure. However, Count Le Vien could not stop there. As Le Vien tried to open the third shed, the King’s man stopped him once again.
“Didn’t I tell you! If you keep tearing it apart like this, you’ll get into trouble!”
“I told you! I’ll take responsibility!
Tear it apart!”
Gallico’s men rushed in and tore open the third barn door.
Crack!
Behind the forcibly torn barn door, a middle-aged man with a large build was lying face down.
“Huh!”
Everyone tensed up, and Count Le Vien held his breath in tension.
One of Gallico’s men ran into the barn, checked the middle-aged man’s face, and returned.
The King’s manpower expressed its discomfort. Count Le Vien was furious.
“I’ll take responsibility, so open it now!”
Bam!
The first shed that he forcibly opened with a crowbar was a failure.
“Damn it!”
Le Vien pointed to the next shed in annoyance.
“Over there!”
Bam!
Count Le Vien’s manpower shouted as he looked inside.
“There’s nothing!”
The second shed was also a failure. However, Count Le Vien could not stop there. As Le Vien tried to open the third shed, the King’s man stopped him once again.
“Didn’t I tell you! If you keep tearing it apart like this, you’ll get into trouble!”
“I told you! I’ll take responsibility!
Tear it apart!”
Gallico’s men rushed in and tore open the third barn door.
Crack!
Behind the forcibly torn barn door, a middle-aged man with a large build was lying face down.
“Huh!”
Everyone tensed up, and Count Le Vien held his breath in tension.
One of Gallico’s men ran into the barn, checked the middle-aged man’s face, and returned.
“Your Excellency the Duke of Mireille!... He has passed away.”
Everyone present was shocked.
Leo III, who heard the news of the Duke of Mireille’s death at such a late hour, was at first speechless in shock, and then roughly washed his face.
“How could this happen in my palace...!”
The world seemed to be spinning.
Clearly, the marriage alliance with the Kingdom of Gallico was going well. If he pushed a little harder, just a little more, even the gunpowder mixture formula, his long-cherished wish, would come out. Leo III was absolutely certain that the negotiations would succeed. He was determined to make them happen.
But then the head of the delegation from the opposing side was found dead in his palace.
“Who would have done such a terrible thing!”
He would not let him live! Tear him limb from limb and hang him on the walls!
Leo III could not contain his anger and banged his hand on the handle of the throne.
Everyone present was shocked.
***
Leo III, who heard the news of the Duke of Mireille’s death at such a late hour, was at first speechless in shock, and then roughly washed his face.
“How could this happen in my palace...!”
The world seemed to be spinning.
Clearly, the marriage alliance with the Kingdom of Gallico was going well. If he pushed a little harder, just a little more, even the gunpowder mixture formula, his long-cherished wish, would come out. Leo III was absolutely certain that the negotiations would succeed. He was determined to make them happen.
But then the head of the delegation from the opposing side was found dead in his palace.
“Who would have done such a terrible thing!”
He would not let him live! Tear him limb from limb and hang him on the walls!
Leo III could not contain his anger and banged his hand on the handle of the throne.
“I will get to the root of this and make this matter clear!”
It was a gesture filled with the wish that no one would be wronged so that the negotiations would not be hindered. However, the death of the Duke of Mireille was too big a deal to be covered up like this.
Count Le Vien, who personally delivered the news of the Duke of Mireille’s death, carefully lowered his head.
Getting to the root of this, he is not happy about it. If they dig into it, it might even lead back to the Princess of Lariesa.
‘That cannot be.’
Count Le Vien shook his head.
Fortunately, there was someone who knew that Princess Lariesa had acted wickedly upon finding out that Prince Alfonso and Cardinal de Mare's second daughter were secretly in love. No, it would be okay if it was known that she had acted wickedly.
It was a gesture filled with the wish that no one would be wronged so that the negotiations would not be hindered. However, the death of the Duke of Mireille was too big a deal to be covered up like this.
Count Le Vien, who personally delivered the news of the Duke of Mireille’s death, carefully lowered his head.
Getting to the root of this, he is not happy about it. If they dig into it, it might even lead back to the Princess of Lariesa.
‘That cannot be.’
Count Le Vien shook his head.
Fortunately, there was someone who knew that Princess Lariesa had acted wickedly upon finding out that Prince Alfonso and Cardinal de Mare's second daughter were secretly in love. No, it would be okay if it was known that she had acted wickedly.
The only people who knew that she had demanded the life of Cardinal de Mare's second daughter were the Count of Le Vien, Princess Lariesa herself, and Duke Mireille's confidants, aside from the already deceased Duke Mireille. They were people who could easily be kept quiet. They just had to keep their mouths shut.
But what if Duke Mireille's cause of death was never revealed?
'The Etruscan palace would be in big trouble.'
The Kingdom of Gallico would be in turmoil for a long time. For a representative of a negotiation delegation to die in the palace meant that either public order was in disarray, or some forces did not want the negotiations to come to a conclusion or both.
'It is a hundred times better for us that the Etruscan royal family remains incompetent than that Princess Lariesa becomes a murderer and Duke Mireille becomes a criminal.'
However, Count Le Vien had the task of making this marriage negotiation a success.
But what if Duke Mireille's cause of death was never revealed?
'The Etruscan palace would be in big trouble.'
The Kingdom of Gallico would be in turmoil for a long time. For a representative of a negotiation delegation to die in the palace meant that either public order was in disarray, or some forces did not want the negotiations to come to a conclusion or both.
'It is a hundred times better for us that the Etruscan royal family remains incompetent than that Princess Lariesa becomes a murderer and Duke Mireille becomes a criminal.'
However, Count Le Vien had the task of making this marriage negotiation a success.
'Would His Majesty Philip IV break off the negotiations and order us to return just because Duke Mireille has died?'
That would have been common sense. However, Count Le Vien was skeptical.
'There was something strange about this negotiation from the beginning.'
It was strange that Princess Lariesa accompanied them to the site. However, the way the negotiations proceeded was also strange.
The Kingdom of Gallico acted rationally at first. On the other hand, from the perspective of the Kingdom of Etruscanus, they must have seemed like unscrupulous thieves. In any case, the Kingdom of Gallico made demands that were helpful to the national interest and succeeded in enforcing a significant portion of them at the working level.
But once the reports reached the higher-ups, the Gallico kingdom would often back down on very important matters in exchange for concessions on a few less important ones.
For example, after providing cannons, how many military instructors from Gallico would be dispatched to help train the Etruscan army was a very sharp issue.
However, when reporting on the progress of the negotiations, the Duke of Mireille instructed him to make concessions on more sensitive matters to change relatively minor issues such as the timing of the wedding, the location of the wedding, the size of the wedding, and the wedding hall.
Le Bietn protested and sent several messengers to the Gallico homeland, but Philip IV only sent a telegram saying, 'I have given full authority to the Duke of Mireille, so follow his instructions.'
'This marriage negotiation is unconditionally concluded. If the Etruscan royal family apologizes profusely or even expresses regret without going that far, the homeland will pretend not to know and let it slide.'
That would have been common sense. However, Count Le Vien was skeptical.
'There was something strange about this negotiation from the beginning.'
It was strange that Princess Lariesa accompanied them to the site. However, the way the negotiations proceeded was also strange.
The Kingdom of Gallico acted rationally at first. On the other hand, from the perspective of the Kingdom of Etruscanus, they must have seemed like unscrupulous thieves. In any case, the Kingdom of Gallico made demands that were helpful to the national interest and succeeded in enforcing a significant portion of them at the working level.
But once the reports reached the higher-ups, the Gallico kingdom would often back down on very important matters in exchange for concessions on a few less important ones.
For example, after providing cannons, how many military instructors from Gallico would be dispatched to help train the Etruscan army was a very sharp issue.
However, when reporting on the progress of the negotiations, the Duke of Mireille instructed him to make concessions on more sensitive matters to change relatively minor issues such as the timing of the wedding, the location of the wedding, the size of the wedding, and the wedding hall.
Le Bietn protested and sent several messengers to the Gallico homeland, but Philip IV only sent a telegram saying, 'I have given full authority to the Duke of Mireille, so follow his instructions.'
'This marriage negotiation is unconditionally concluded. If the Etruscan royal family apologizes profusely or even expresses regret without going that far, the homeland will pretend not to know and let it slide.'
If only the Count of Le Vien kept his mouth shut, the plot of the Duke of Mireille and the Princess of Lariesa would remain unknown to anyone else.
The documents of the Duke of Mireille, which the foolish Lariesa had signed, were not found with the body of the Duke of Mireille. If so, they must have been stored somewhere in the quarters of the Gallico negotiating team. All they have to do is find them quickly and burn them.
The Etruscan Kingdom apologizes profusely to the Gallico Kingdom for failing to maintain order within the palace, and after the Gallico Kingdom accepts this apology, the marriage negotiations will be concluded in a more favorable form, and Prince Alfonso and Grand Duchess Lariesa will be engaged this year and get married in the year after next. It was a perfect scenario.
However, the world did not go as smoothly as Count Le Vien had hoped.
The documents of the Duke of Mireille, which the foolish Lariesa had signed, were not found with the body of the Duke of Mireille. If so, they must have been stored somewhere in the quarters of the Gallico negotiating team. All they have to do is find them quickly and burn them.
The Etruscan Kingdom apologizes profusely to the Gallico Kingdom for failing to maintain order within the palace, and after the Gallico Kingdom accepts this apology, the marriage negotiations will be concluded in a more favorable form, and Prince Alfonso and Grand Duchess Lariesa will be engaged this year and get married in the year after next. It was a perfect scenario.
However, the world did not go as smoothly as Count Le Vien had hoped.
“Your Majesty!”
Leo III’s captain of the guard approached and bowed.
“Your Majesty, we have a witness!”
“Oh?”
Leo III smiled and leaned forward from his throne. However, the captain of the guard avoided the King’s willing response.
“But that... It’s not a perfect witness...”
“Now is the time to decide who the witness is when we need to grab even the slightest straw! Bring him here!”
The King usually does not receive personal letters from witnesses, but Leo III wanted to appeal to the fact that he was doing his best to handle the situation while the Gallico staff was watching.
“Your Majesty! Hey, bring the witness here!”
At the order of the captain of the guard, a hunchbacked dwarf was dragged into the King’s audience room. He was only as tall as a grown man’s thighs. When he reached the King, instead of bowing to him, the man simply rolled his eyes.
“This man is...”
“He is a court jester. No, he used to be a court jester. He ate mushrooms wrong last fall and went crazy...”
Leo III’s captain of the guard approached and bowed.
“Your Majesty, we have a witness!”
“Oh?”
Leo III smiled and leaned forward from his throne. However, the captain of the guard avoided the King’s willing response.
“But that... It’s not a perfect witness...”
“Now is the time to decide who the witness is when we need to grab even the slightest straw! Bring him here!”
The King usually does not receive personal letters from witnesses, but Leo III wanted to appeal to the fact that he was doing his best to handle the situation while the Gallico staff was watching.
“Your Majesty! Hey, bring the witness here!”
At the order of the captain of the guard, a hunchbacked dwarf was dragged into the King’s audience room. He was only as tall as a grown man’s thighs. When he reached the King, instead of bowing to him, the man simply rolled his eyes.
“This man is...”
“He is a court jester. No, he used to be a court jester. He ate mushrooms wrong last fall and went crazy...”
The captain of the guard reported as concisely as possible, but everyone immediately remembered the famous story that had spread throughout the palace.
It was a story about a jester confessing his love to a Marchioness, and the lady’s husband barged in and beat him to death.
Although it was an incident where a royal servant was assaulted, the royal family did not take the clown’s side, and except for issuing a light disciplinary warning to the Marquis, they mostly tolerated the incident.
The clown had eaten a mad mushroom and gone crazy, and the palace, which was due to go down to Taranto, seemed to have left him alone in the hope that he would recover.
“While the court was going down to Taranto, he was being treated in the Palazzo Carlo, but it seems that they were not able to kick him out in time for his return to the court.”
It was a rule that a person who was not sound could not be in the palace. However, since there was no one to take care of the administration thoroughly, he had been staying in the palace until now.
The man smirked as if he had no idea where he was safe.
“I saw him, the murderer.”
In an atmosphere where it was impossible to open his mouth, the clown spoke without thinking. Although his voice was not loud, the content was enough to grab people’s attention. Everyone’s eyes were focused on him.
The clown, who knew that everyone was watching, continued to grin and mutter in a singing tone.
“Blonde murderer. Beautiful blonde hair made of melted gold.”
Everyone was shocked by the clown’s bombshell statement.
However, since they could not dare to step forward first for the King’s safety unless Leo III stopped them, they all looked at each other. In that brief silence, the clown murmured, not knowing how scary it was.
“He’s crazy about women, and he’s always swinging his sword. Women are one of two things. They either drive men crazy or they’re crazy themselves.”
The clown cackled to himself and clapped his hands.
“He doesn’t want gold or treasure, he doesn’t want a kingdom, and all he needs is a woman. He's just like me! He’ll end up like me!”
He started laughing out loud.
The blonde hair made of melted gold, the one who will have the kingdom, it was a story that everyone could relate to, referring to Prince Alfonso.
The people who had been silent couldn’t hold it in any longer and began whispering among themselves.
In an atmosphere where it was impossible to open his mouth, the clown spoke without thinking. Although his voice was not loud, the content was enough to grab people’s attention. Everyone’s eyes were focused on him.
The clown, who knew that everyone was watching, continued to grin and mutter in a singing tone.
“Blonde murderer. Beautiful blonde hair made of melted gold.”
Everyone was shocked by the clown’s bombshell statement.
However, since they could not dare to step forward first for the King’s safety unless Leo III stopped them, they all looked at each other. In that brief silence, the clown murmured, not knowing how scary it was.
“He’s crazy about women, and he’s always swinging his sword. Women are one of two things. They either drive men crazy or they’re crazy themselves.”
The clown cackled to himself and clapped his hands.
“He doesn’t want gold or treasure, he doesn’t want a kingdom, and all he needs is a woman. He's just like me! He’ll end up like me!”
He started laughing out loud.
The blonde hair made of melted gold, the one who will have the kingdom, it was a story that everyone could relate to, referring to Prince Alfonso.
The people who had been silent couldn’t hold it in any longer and began whispering among themselves.
“Did I hear you correctly?”
“Shh! Keep your mouth shut. There’s nothing good to come from saying more now.”
“Let’s see how His Majesty feels.”
Leo III sat on the throne, gripping the handlebars tightly and trembling.
“Shh! Keep your mouth shut. There’s nothing good to come from saying more now.”
“Let’s see how His Majesty feels.”
Leo III sat on the throne, gripping the handlebars tightly and trembling.
“Captain of the guard!”
“Yes, Your Majesty."
“Yes, Your Majesty."
“Take that babbling lunatic away and behead him for insulting the King!”
The guards rushed in, grabbed the hunchbacked clown by his arms and legs, and began to drag him away. The clown continued to laugh and slap Leo III as he was dragged away.
“A man who knows nothing of what is important! Hahaha! Your Majesty, are you happy now? Hahahaha!”
“You insolent bastard!”
Leo III, who had caught the wart while trying to remove it, shouted, trembling.
“Everyone! Do not take to heart the nonsense that a mad clown has said. Anyone who goes out and repeats such nonsense will be executed!”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
All the courtiers in the room bowed their heads in unison. This included the Count of Le Vien.
At that moment, the guard officer rushed in and whispered to the captain. The captain of the guard reported to Leo III with an embarrassed expression.
“Your Majesty... I have a report. Would you like to listen to it privately?”
The guards rushed in, grabbed the hunchbacked clown by his arms and legs, and began to drag him away. The clown continued to laugh and slap Leo III as he was dragged away.
“A man who knows nothing of what is important! Hahaha! Your Majesty, are you happy now? Hahahaha!”
“You insolent bastard!”
Leo III, who had caught the wart while trying to remove it, shouted, trembling.
“Everyone! Do not take to heart the nonsense that a mad clown has said. Anyone who goes out and repeats such nonsense will be executed!”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
All the courtiers in the room bowed their heads in unison. This included the Count of Le Vien.
At that moment, the guard officer rushed in and whispered to the captain. The captain of the guard reported to Leo III with an embarrassed expression.
“Your Majesty... I have a report. Would you like to listen to it privately?”
It was definitely not good news. Leo III nodded and called the captain of the guard closer to listen to his story.
“He did not see the murder scene, but he heard that someone saw the body being disposed of. This time, it was the gardener, and he was a whole person.”
“Who could have done such a terrible thing?”
The captain of the guard looked around in confusion and whispered even lower.
“I don’t know exactly who it was, but it was one of the knights of His Highness Prince Alfonso...”
“What?”
“They said he was wearing a blue surcoat* and had His Highness Prince Alfonso’s laurel emblem on his arm.”
The King’s immediate guard wore a red surcoat, and the other knights wore blue surcoats. It was said that they were either from the Queen’s palace or the Prince’s palace.
“Furthermore... The place where the body of the Duke of Mireille was found is a barn under the management of the Prince’s Palace.”
Leo III could not hold back his anger and stood up from his seat.
The King’s immediate guard wore a red surcoat, and the other knights wore blue surcoats. It was said that they were either from the Queen’s palace or the Prince’s palace.
“Furthermore... The place where the body of the Duke of Mireille was found is a barn under the management of the Prince’s Palace.”
Leo III could not hold back his anger and stood up from his seat.
“Let’s go!”
“Where shall we take you?”
“Where, exactly!"
“Where shall we take you?”
“Where, exactly!"
Leo III was about to shout, “The Prince’s Palace!” but swallowed his last word as he looked at the expressions of Gallico’s men. Doubly enraged, he jumped up from his seat and stormed out of the room, leading all the guards in the room.
Support Novellate!
Comments
Post a Comment