“Yes, Father? To the Kingdom of Gallico?”
‘How young and naive he is.’
Leo III felt a secret sense of satisfaction as he watched his flustered son. His son was still young, and he was still in his grasp.
It was not that Leo III did not know anything about Princess Lariesa. Although the late Queen Marguerite did not specifically tell him the truth, such as ‘Princess Lariesa ordered the killing of Lady de Mare, and Alfonso killed Duke Mireille, who was carrying out that order, while trying to protect Lady de Mare,’ he was also a seasoned monarch who had protected the throne for nearly 30 years.
When he heard the jester's testimony that Alfonso had killed the Duke of Mireille, he had already sensed that there was some kind of inside story he did not know about, and when the Grand Duchess of Lariesa, who had been keeping herself in her room and had returned to the country in a hurry by order of the home country, realized that it must have something to do with the Grand Duchess of Lariesa.
However, Leo III decided to pretend not to know. It was because it was against his purpose, which was to send his son to the Kingdom of Gallico to receive a chemical formula.
Leo III spoke kindly, pretending to be kind.
"You have never met your maternal relatives. Your mother has passed away, and they must all be very sad. How much better would it be if you, who resembles your mother, went and comforted them!"
It was an absurd story. If the Queen died, the Queen's relatives should come to pay their respects, and the chief mourner should go abroad to comfort his relatives, which was a story that would make a passing dog snort. However, Leo III did not give in.
“Besides, even though Princess Lariesa is a bit socially awkward, she doesn’t seem like a bad kid. Go and do well this time.”
“Father.”
Finally, a wrinkle formed between Prince Alfonso’s neat eyebrows. Leo III pretended not to notice his son’s expression and continued.
“It must be because Princess Lariesa lacks beauty that you are acting like this. You don’t choose a wife based on looks, you foolish punk.”
Alfonso replied with a frown.
“Father, the reason I don’t desire Princess Lariesa is not because of her looks. Her lack of virtue is not the biggest reason either.”
“It’s not a flaw for a man to desire a beautiful woman. It’s okay to admit it. Why are you so embarrassed in front of your father?”
Leo III, who still hadn’t figured out the situation and was laughing, added a word.
“Your mother wasn’t beautiful either, but she raised you so well. A woman doesn’t need to be pretty. She should be modest and gentle. The more they bring as a dowry, the better. Like the Gaeta estate or the chemical formula.”
“Father!”
Alfonso couldn’t hold back and raised his voice at the mention of Queen Marguerite, who hadn’t even been buried yet.
“It hasn’t even been 21 days since my mother passed away! She hasn’t even been buried yet! How can you say something like that and talk about marriage already!”
Blood rushed to Leo III’s face at Alfonso’s words that seemed to be reprimanding him. To cover up his shame, he raised his voice and shouted.
“You’re still short-sighted!”
The blood in Leo III’s neck rose.
“Filial piety is the duty of all people, but how can you not know that the royal family must pursue more than filial piety! Mourning the death of a mother is something that has already served the national interest!”
“Father!”
Alfonso did not back down at all.
“Establishing justice is also for the good of the country!”
The Prince had no intention of bending a single word to his father, who seemed to be deeply mistaken about something.
“My mother, the Queen of the great Etruscan kingdom, has passed away. The evil man has not yet been caught and is still roaming the streets!”
Alfonso’s forehead also turned red and his voice grew louder. He was harshly pressuring his father. Leo III, who had only seen Alfonso neatly dressed by Queen Marguerite, was seeing this for the first time.
It was the first time his father had called him since Queen Marguerite’s death. Alfonso had thought Leo III would at least say something like, “You must have had a hard time,” or “You must have worked hard to preside over your mother’s funeral.”
Prince Alfonso was quite surprised by the story that he had never imagined. It wasn’t just because Leo III was acting strangely emotional.
Royals with the right to the throne did not cross borders unless it was a war of conquest. It was also unusual for Grand Duchess Lariesa, a collateral member of the royal family, to leave the Kingdom of Gallico and visit the Etruscan Kingdom.
Prince Alfonso was quite surprised by the story that he had never imagined. It wasn’t just because Leo III was acting strangely emotional.
Royals with the right to the throne did not cross borders unless it was a war of conquest. It was also unusual for Grand Duchess Lariesa, a collateral member of the royal family, to leave the Kingdom of Gallico and visit the Etruscan Kingdom.
But the only right to the throne? And why now, when the two countries were hostile to each other?
“Yes. I need you to go and negotiate as the representative of the Etruscan Kingdom.”
Leo III waved away the ministers around him. The members of the Lesser Curia Regis, including the Marquis of Baldessar, the Count of Marquez, and the Count of Contarini, and even the servants all left the room like the tide receding, keeping an eye on the King.
Only Leo III, sitting on the throne, and Prince Alfonso, standing respectfully in front of him, remained in the King’s large audience chamber. Alfonso, trying to control his frown, asked his father,
“Is this a truce?”
“Well, something like that.”
Leo III, unable to bring himself to tell his son, “You should finish your marriage alliance negotiations with your own hands,” trailed off.
“What are the terms of the truce? Since the other party has marched their troops into our territory without permission, I think we should receive compensation.”
However, judging from his son’s strong stance, it seemed like the two were dreaming different dreams. To prevent his son from going to Gallico and ruining the game, a little more explanation was needed.
“Politics isn’t like that! How foolish.”
Leo III, who had gained the upper hand by threatening his son, lowered his voice and spoke subtly.
“If compromise and cooperation are possible, then we should go that way. The Kingdom of Gallico has brought up the issue of a marriage alliance again. This time, the conditions are better than last time. The marriage will be accompanied by a chemical formula.”
“Father!”
Alfonso raised his voice without realizing it at Leo III’s absurd words.
However, Leo III, who was already upset by the fact that his son was not being obedient, glared at Alfonso. Alfonso paid no attention and looked straight at Leo III. No is no, and wrong is wrong.
“Father. I thought this matter was settled. The Princess of Lariesa’s departure from the Etruscans means that she is responsible for what she did, and the marriage alliance is broken off.”
“Responsibility for what?”
Leo III pretended not to know and asked back. Prince Alfonso, who had been blocked from direct communication with Leo III due to Queen Marguerite, was momentarily flustered. Does his father not know what Princess Lariesa has done...?
“Yes. I need you to go and negotiate as the representative of the Etruscan Kingdom.”
Leo III waved away the ministers around him. The members of the Lesser Curia Regis, including the Marquis of Baldessar, the Count of Marquez, and the Count of Contarini, and even the servants all left the room like the tide receding, keeping an eye on the King.
Only Leo III, sitting on the throne, and Prince Alfonso, standing respectfully in front of him, remained in the King’s large audience chamber. Alfonso, trying to control his frown, asked his father,
“Is this a truce?”
“Well, something like that.”
Leo III, unable to bring himself to tell his son, “You should finish your marriage alliance negotiations with your own hands,” trailed off.
“What are the terms of the truce? Since the other party has marched their troops into our territory without permission, I think we should receive compensation.”
However, judging from his son’s strong stance, it seemed like the two were dreaming different dreams. To prevent his son from going to Gallico and ruining the game, a little more explanation was needed.
“Politics isn’t like that! How foolish.”
Leo III, who had gained the upper hand by threatening his son, lowered his voice and spoke subtly.
“If compromise and cooperation are possible, then we should go that way. The Kingdom of Gallico has brought up the issue of a marriage alliance again. This time, the conditions are better than last time. The marriage will be accompanied by a chemical formula.”
“Father!”
Alfonso raised his voice without realizing it at Leo III’s absurd words.
However, Leo III, who was already upset by the fact that his son was not being obedient, glared at Alfonso. Alfonso paid no attention and looked straight at Leo III. No is no, and wrong is wrong.
“Father. I thought this matter was settled. The Princess of Lariesa’s departure from the Etruscans means that she is responsible for what she did, and the marriage alliance is broken off.”
“Responsibility for what?”
Leo III pretended not to know and asked back. Prince Alfonso, who had been blocked from direct communication with Leo III due to Queen Marguerite, was momentarily flustered. Does his father not know what Princess Lariesa has done...?
‘How young and naive he is.’
Leo III felt a secret sense of satisfaction as he watched his flustered son. His son was still young, and he was still in his grasp.
It was not that Leo III did not know anything about Princess Lariesa. Although the late Queen Marguerite did not specifically tell him the truth, such as ‘Princess Lariesa ordered the killing of Lady de Mare, and Alfonso killed Duke Mireille, who was carrying out that order, while trying to protect Lady de Mare,’ he was also a seasoned monarch who had protected the throne for nearly 30 years.
When he heard the jester's testimony that Alfonso had killed the Duke of Mireille, he had already sensed that there was some kind of inside story he did not know about, and when the Grand Duchess of Lariesa, who had been keeping herself in her room and had returned to the country in a hurry by order of the home country, realized that it must have something to do with the Grand Duchess of Lariesa.
However, Leo III decided to pretend not to know. It was because it was against his purpose, which was to send his son to the Kingdom of Gallico to receive a chemical formula.
Leo III spoke kindly, pretending to be kind.
"You have never met your maternal relatives. Your mother has passed away, and they must all be very sad. How much better would it be if you, who resembles your mother, went and comforted them!"
It was an absurd story. If the Queen died, the Queen's relatives should come to pay their respects, and the chief mourner should go abroad to comfort his relatives, which was a story that would make a passing dog snort. However, Leo III did not give in.
“Besides, even though Princess Lariesa is a bit socially awkward, she doesn’t seem like a bad kid. Go and do well this time.”
“Father.”
Finally, a wrinkle formed between Prince Alfonso’s neat eyebrows. Leo III pretended not to notice his son’s expression and continued.
“It must be because Princess Lariesa lacks beauty that you are acting like this. You don’t choose a wife based on looks, you foolish punk.”
Alfonso replied with a frown.
“Father, the reason I don’t desire Princess Lariesa is not because of her looks. Her lack of virtue is not the biggest reason either.”
“It’s not a flaw for a man to desire a beautiful woman. It’s okay to admit it. Why are you so embarrassed in front of your father?”
Leo III, who still hadn’t figured out the situation and was laughing, added a word.
“Your mother wasn’t beautiful either, but she raised you so well. A woman doesn’t need to be pretty. She should be modest and gentle. The more they bring as a dowry, the better. Like the Gaeta estate or the chemical formula.”
“Father!”
Alfonso couldn’t hold back and raised his voice at the mention of Queen Marguerite, who hadn’t even been buried yet.
“It hasn’t even been 21 days since my mother passed away! She hasn’t even been buried yet! How can you say something like that and talk about marriage already!”
Blood rushed to Leo III’s face at Alfonso’s words that seemed to be reprimanding him. To cover up his shame, he raised his voice and shouted.
“You’re still short-sighted!”
The blood in Leo III’s neck rose.
“Filial piety is the duty of all people, but how can you not know that the royal family must pursue more than filial piety! Mourning the death of a mother is something that has already served the national interest!”
“Father!”
Alfonso did not back down at all.
“Establishing justice is also for the good of the country!”
The Prince had no intention of bending a single word to his father, who seemed to be deeply mistaken about something.
“My mother, the Queen of the great Etruscan kingdom, has passed away. The evil man has not yet been caught and is still roaming the streets!”
Alfonso’s forehead also turned red and his voice grew louder. He was harshly pressuring his father. Leo III, who had only seen Alfonso neatly dressed by Queen Marguerite, was seeing this for the first time.
“The one who murdered my mother was a foreigner, and no other country, including the Kingdom of Gallico, has yet been freed from the line of suspicion! But at such a sensitive time, to a country that could be a threat, and even if it wasn’t, to a country that sent troops to the border instead of mourning the death of the Princess they sent, and the person who is the heir to the throne is going to do it himself!”
“This...This guy...”
“I understand that Your Majesty is having a hard time rejecting the marriage with Gallico because of the chemical formula.”
“That guy is like that!”
“It’s because the direction is wrong!”
Leo III’s face turned red. He seemed really angry.
Prince Alfonso, who observed his father’s expression, felt that he had gone too far, so he softened his voice and spoke softly.
“I know very well that Your Majesty is trying to raise the central army and make the country rich.”
Leo III finally looked at Alfonso with an expression that seemed to think that this guy was making sense.
“However, self-reliance is achieved internally, not suddenly by bringing in a single strategic weapon from outside.”
Leo III’s face was becoming increasingly distorted.
“We need to increase investment in the Knights and organize a standing army. Just because we have gunpowder from Gallico doesn’t mean we can suddenly create a complete artillery unit!”
Clang!
Leo III, whose face turned as red as a tomato, finally threw the glass he had placed on the side table to the floor, filling the empty hall.
“This idiot with a wet head...!”
Leo III shouted.
“How dare you, an ignorant idiot, try to teach your father!”
The high marble ceiling echoed with the shout.
This was why Queen Marguerite, when she was alive, had desperately tried to prevent her son from bringing up this topic in front of her husband.
Leo III terribly, irrationally hated anyone opposing his policies. It was even worse when he heard such talk from someone he had an inferiority complex about.
Dozens of great nobles had been pushed out of politics because of Leo III’s eccentricity. Queen Marguerite herself could not say anything to her husband because of this.
Leo III adored her late-born legitimate heir, but this was only because Queen Marguerite meticulously managed her son and did not allow him to interfere in political affairs. The moment he realized that his grown son, a virtuous son who was popular with the people and nobles, the 'golden Prince', was his rival and potential replacement... Leo III's attitude would change abruptly.
"Your role is to learn and practice quietly and become a great King later, not to step forward and act like you're king right away!"
He shouted, his blood boiling in his throat.
"I wanted to entrust you with this important task because I felt sorry for your mother who died, but you are so arrogant!"
“This...This guy...”
“I understand that Your Majesty is having a hard time rejecting the marriage with Gallico because of the chemical formula.”
“That guy is like that!”
“It’s because the direction is wrong!”
Leo III’s face turned red. He seemed really angry.
Prince Alfonso, who observed his father’s expression, felt that he had gone too far, so he softened his voice and spoke softly.
“I know very well that Your Majesty is trying to raise the central army and make the country rich.”
Leo III finally looked at Alfonso with an expression that seemed to think that this guy was making sense.
“However, self-reliance is achieved internally, not suddenly by bringing in a single strategic weapon from outside.”
Leo III’s face was becoming increasingly distorted.
“We need to increase investment in the Knights and organize a standing army. Just because we have gunpowder from Gallico doesn’t mean we can suddenly create a complete artillery unit!”
Clang!
Leo III, whose face turned as red as a tomato, finally threw the glass he had placed on the side table to the floor, filling the empty hall.
“This idiot with a wet head...!”
Leo III shouted.
“How dare you, an ignorant idiot, try to teach your father!”
The high marble ceiling echoed with the shout.
This was why Queen Marguerite, when she was alive, had desperately tried to prevent her son from bringing up this topic in front of her husband.
Leo III terribly, irrationally hated anyone opposing his policies. It was even worse when he heard such talk from someone he had an inferiority complex about.
Dozens of great nobles had been pushed out of politics because of Leo III’s eccentricity. Queen Marguerite herself could not say anything to her husband because of this.
Leo III adored her late-born legitimate heir, but this was only because Queen Marguerite meticulously managed her son and did not allow him to interfere in political affairs. The moment he realized that his grown son, a virtuous son who was popular with the people and nobles, the 'golden Prince', was his rival and potential replacement... Leo III's attitude would change abruptly.
"Your role is to learn and practice quietly and become a great King later, not to step forward and act like you're king right away!"
He shouted, his blood boiling in his throat.
"I wanted to entrust you with this important task because I felt sorry for your mother who died, but you are so arrogant!"
If only he had the heart to lock him in the palace and prevent him from going outside for six months. However, the Kingdom of Gallico set a specific condition: 'Prince Alfonso must visit the palace of Montpellier.' Alfonso must cooperate.
Instead of coaxing and appeasing, Leo III used threats, as was his nature.
“Do you think I don’t know that you killed Duke Mireille?”
Prince Alfonso’s body flinched and froze. Leo III didn’t miss the opportunity to press on.
“Do you know why I covered you up? It was so that I wouldn’t leave a stain on the future King. Do you know what the future King should have the most? It’s a sense of responsibility!”
He lowered his voice with a false sense of authority.
“By killing Duke Mireille, you blew away the potential this country had! The gunpowder formula! The possibility of becoming a powerful nation! Don’t you feel sorry for your future people?”
“...”
That was also a difficult problem that had been bothering Prince Alfonso for a long time. The Etruscan Kingdom did not currently have a proper central standing army. Raising troops from scratch was the most urgent task. However, obtaining the gunpowder formula would not be detrimental to raising a strong army.
There was the possibility of excessive interference from the Kingdom of Gallico and the burden of having a direct descendant of an enemy country as Queen in the palace, but these problems could be largely solved if he figured out the chemical formula itself rather than receiving a supply of gunpowder.
Leo III made a blunt declaration.
“Depart for the Kingdom of Gallico. I will assign Count Marquez as the person in charge. The departure time will be tomorrow morning.”
Instead of coaxing and appeasing, Leo III used threats, as was his nature.
“Do you think I don’t know that you killed Duke Mireille?”
Prince Alfonso’s body flinched and froze. Leo III didn’t miss the opportunity to press on.
“Do you know why I covered you up? It was so that I wouldn’t leave a stain on the future King. Do you know what the future King should have the most? It’s a sense of responsibility!”
He lowered his voice with a false sense of authority.
“By killing Duke Mireille, you blew away the potential this country had! The gunpowder formula! The possibility of becoming a powerful nation! Don’t you feel sorry for your future people?”
“...”
That was also a difficult problem that had been bothering Prince Alfonso for a long time. The Etruscan Kingdom did not currently have a proper central standing army. Raising troops from scratch was the most urgent task. However, obtaining the gunpowder formula would not be detrimental to raising a strong army.
There was the possibility of excessive interference from the Kingdom of Gallico and the burden of having a direct descendant of an enemy country as Queen in the palace, but these problems could be largely solved if he figured out the chemical formula itself rather than receiving a supply of gunpowder.
Leo III made a blunt declaration.
“Depart for the Kingdom of Gallico. I will assign Count Marquez as the person in charge. The departure time will be tomorrow morning.”
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