Cesare was slightly offended by Leo III’s question, “How are you?” but did not show it on his face.
“My mother was locked up in the dungeon and I searched the capital to find out, so I must be doing very well.”
Instead, he praised the king with exaggerated gestures. It was his survival instinct.
“Thanks to Your Majesty the King’s grace, I am always well-fed and warm! How could I be in bad shape?”
He glared at the chamberlain. It seemed as if he was telling him to leave. The chamberlain looked at Count Cesare’s expression while also looking at the King’s expression.
The chamberlain, who realized that Leo III did not particularly need his presence, quickly gathered the servants in the room and hurriedly left.
“So, what brings you to the palace today? It is really hard to see my son’s face.”
Instead, he praised the king with exaggerated gestures. It was his survival instinct.
“Thanks to Your Majesty the King’s grace, I am always well-fed and warm! How could I be in bad shape?”
He glared at the chamberlain. It seemed as if he was telling him to leave. The chamberlain looked at Count Cesare’s expression while also looking at the King’s expression.
The chamberlain, who realized that Leo III did not particularly need his presence, quickly gathered the servants in the room and hurriedly left.
“So, what brings you to the palace today? It is really hard to see my son’s face.”
Cesare did not enter the palace unless something special came up. He could only meet his parents once a month at the great mass. Rubina would nag him whenever she saw him, and Leo III was a total mood-monger. He couldn’t guess what nonsense he would say. They weren’t people who benefited much from meeting each other.
“I heard that His Highness the Wise Prince left San Carlo, so I, a lowly person, came here because I was worried that my father might be lonely. Father only has two children, so shouldn’t one of them show off his skills by my father’s side?”
Leo III laughed heartily at the pleasant words.
“Yes, you’re the only one I care about!”
He remembered Alfonso’s big fight yesterday, and his forehead grew sinewy.
“That bastard Alfonso, I raised him like gold and jade, but he doesn’t know his place! I should have broken him long ago! He’s just like his mother!”
Cesare asked secretly.
“Did His Highness the Prince get into some kind of trouble?”
“Accidents!”
Leo III, who had almost mentioned the Duke of Mireille, coughed and chose his words. He did not trust anyone. Not even his own blood relative, his illegitimate child, who was like a tongue in his mouth.
“I sent him to Gallico to finish the marriage alliance, but he resisted, saying that it was against etiquette for him to go there.”
Cesare touched his forehead. This was something Alfonso would do. The image of Alfonso, a man of principle, getting on Leo III’s nerves came to mind. He didn’t care what happened to his half-brother, but he couldn’t dare to speak up to Leo III, so Alfonso seemed great for acting freely, and at the same time, he was filled with jealousy.
‘That great ‘legitimate bloodline’. The damned ‘blessing of the church’.
Legitimate children are irreplaceable. Leo III could not change his successor unless he married a new Queen and had a new son from her body, even if he did not like Alfonso.
Cesare, who was about to lose himself in thought, shook his head to shake off his thoughts and smiled broadly. He was determined to provoke Leo III.
“What a blasphemy against the blazing sun of the Etruscans.”
He said casually.
“It is so outrageous because he is descended from the Gallico blood of the barbarians.”
Leo III looked shocked for a moment.
Intermarriage between royal families of various countries was common. Leo III also had blood from overseas dynasties in his lineage. Through his great-grandmother, he was 1/8th of the lineage of the Kingdom of Brunelleschi, and thanks to this, he had a large frame and light complexion like a northerner.
However, Leo III had never thought of himself as a Brunelleschi. He had never been there and did not speak the language.
So he had thought of Alfonso as his son and had never even considered the fact that he was half Gallico on his mother’s side. Even his son was fluent in Gallico, having learned from both his mother and his teacher.
Cesare, not missing the moment of realization that suddenly came to Leo III, whispered.
“The Gallico people do not know gratitude. And not only that. They do not know diplomacy or culture, and they blindly rely on the military and metals.”
It was the moment when the image of Alfonso in Leo III’s mind was superimposed on that of Gallico. The Gallico kingdom was currently rapidly increasing in national power. Leo III gasped as he saw this part overlap with his son, who had been young and cute a few years ago, growing into a healthy adult.
However, the reason Cesare came here today was not simply to sow discord between Leo III and Prince Alfonso. He had an urgent task at hand.
“The ones who murdered Her Majesty the Queen... weren’t they actually the gang of the wicked Gallico Kingdom?”
Leo III’s aquamarine eyes wavered, and his gaze met Count Cesare’s eyes of the same color.
Count Cesare insisted on adding a word.
“I found out a few more details about the merchant who ran away. He is originally from Gallico, and he has been meeting with people from Gallico’s homeland until recently.”
Cesare looked up at Leo III, expecting to be praised. The King’s mouth opened slowly, and after a long time, he finally managed to utter a word. However, it was not the kind of words Cesare had expected.
“You rascal-!!!”
Leo III shouted at his son, who had eyes that looked just like his own.
Cesare opened his eyes wide in surprise at his father’s sudden anger and looked up at Leo III.
“I took pity on you and allowed you to live comfortably without any shortcomings, and now you dare to climb up without knowing your place?”
Something was wrong. Count Cesare immediately shut his mouth like a clamshell and bowed his head. However, it was not enough to calm Leo III’s anger. The old King hurled curses at his son, even while panting.
“Who would want to investigate the assassination of a royal family member on their own accord? Who would want to poke their nose into politics on their own accord!”
If someone were to come forward and stir up the story of the Queen’s murder and the kingdom of Gallico really came out behind her back, the marriage alliance, or rather the gunpowder formula, would be lost.
Leo III had no intention of completely burying the truth. He would investigate. If Gallico really was a villain, he would clearly hold them responsible.
After receiving the gunpowder formula, it would be a good idea to break off Alfonso’s engagement and circulate the marriage alliance again to marry someone else. He would be able to eat the bride’s dowry again.
It felt good to just imagine giving those damned barbarians a stern rebuke and giving them a piece of shit. But not now.
Leo III took two steps closer to Cesare and shouted at him right in front of his nose.
“You and Rubina are just quietly eating the pieces of meat that are given to you! You are just scraps that act funny! Why are you trying to stir up the water’s surface with your hands?”
When he saw Cesare’s auburn hair and slender, handsome features, he saw Rubina in his son. Then he remembered Rubina’s insult to him by mentioning Salvarsan, and Leo III’s anger doubled.
Cesare could not say a word, but lowered his head and trembled. He was in his early twenties. Although he was considered an adult, he was lacking in experience and maturity.
And everything he had was not his but was given to him by Leo III’s grace. The King had the power to take away his favor at any time, at any whim.
So when he opened his mouth, he had to muster up all his courage.
“But please, spare my life, Your Majesty.”
He was in no mood to call the King, father. Tears welled up in Cesare’s aquamarine eyes. These tears were half sincere, half false. He had to look as pitiful as possible in Leo III’s eyes. That way, he would get what he wanted.
Count Cesare threw himself on the floor and muttered desperately. His handsome forehead touched the white marble floor. His expression reflected in the shining marble was distorted into a mess.
“I will gladly eat the leftovers, not the pieces of meat you give me. I dare not ask for more. But that is only possible if I can still breathe. Please save my mother, Your Majesty the King.”
Cesare crawled forward and kissed his father’s shoes. There was a little dirt on his silk slippers. He vomited, but he couldn’t show it.
At the same time, Leo III’s anger exploded.
“You reckless, filthy bastard!!!”
Rubina had to be the culprit. To successfully conclude the negotiations with Gallico, to obtain the chemical formula, and to make the dirty feudal nobles kneel at the feet of the great King!
“I heard that His Highness the Wise Prince left San Carlo, so I, a lowly person, came here because I was worried that my father might be lonely. Father only has two children, so shouldn’t one of them show off his skills by my father’s side?”
Leo III laughed heartily at the pleasant words.
“Yes, you’re the only one I care about!”
He remembered Alfonso’s big fight yesterday, and his forehead grew sinewy.
“That bastard Alfonso, I raised him like gold and jade, but he doesn’t know his place! I should have broken him long ago! He’s just like his mother!”
Cesare asked secretly.
“Did His Highness the Prince get into some kind of trouble?”
“Accidents!”
Leo III, who had almost mentioned the Duke of Mireille, coughed and chose his words. He did not trust anyone. Not even his own blood relative, his illegitimate child, who was like a tongue in his mouth.
“I sent him to Gallico to finish the marriage alliance, but he resisted, saying that it was against etiquette for him to go there.”
Cesare touched his forehead. This was something Alfonso would do. The image of Alfonso, a man of principle, getting on Leo III’s nerves came to mind. He didn’t care what happened to his half-brother, but he couldn’t dare to speak up to Leo III, so Alfonso seemed great for acting freely, and at the same time, he was filled with jealousy.
‘That great ‘legitimate bloodline’. The damned ‘blessing of the church’.
Legitimate children are irreplaceable. Leo III could not change his successor unless he married a new Queen and had a new son from her body, even if he did not like Alfonso.
Cesare, who was about to lose himself in thought, shook his head to shake off his thoughts and smiled broadly. He was determined to provoke Leo III.
“What a blasphemy against the blazing sun of the Etruscans.”
He said casually.
“It is so outrageous because he is descended from the Gallico blood of the barbarians.”
Leo III looked shocked for a moment.
Intermarriage between royal families of various countries was common. Leo III also had blood from overseas dynasties in his lineage. Through his great-grandmother, he was 1/8th of the lineage of the Kingdom of Brunelleschi, and thanks to this, he had a large frame and light complexion like a northerner.
However, Leo III had never thought of himself as a Brunelleschi. He had never been there and did not speak the language.
So he had thought of Alfonso as his son and had never even considered the fact that he was half Gallico on his mother’s side. Even his son was fluent in Gallico, having learned from both his mother and his teacher.
Cesare, not missing the moment of realization that suddenly came to Leo III, whispered.
“The Gallico people do not know gratitude. And not only that. They do not know diplomacy or culture, and they blindly rely on the military and metals.”
It was the moment when the image of Alfonso in Leo III’s mind was superimposed on that of Gallico. The Gallico kingdom was currently rapidly increasing in national power. Leo III gasped as he saw this part overlap with his son, who had been young and cute a few years ago, growing into a healthy adult.
However, the reason Cesare came here today was not simply to sow discord between Leo III and Prince Alfonso. He had an urgent task at hand.
“The ones who murdered Her Majesty the Queen... weren’t they actually the gang of the wicked Gallico Kingdom?”
Leo III’s aquamarine eyes wavered, and his gaze met Count Cesare’s eyes of the same color.
Count Cesare insisted on adding a word.
“I found out a few more details about the merchant who ran away. He is originally from Gallico, and he has been meeting with people from Gallico’s homeland until recently.”
Cesare looked up at Leo III, expecting to be praised. The King’s mouth opened slowly, and after a long time, he finally managed to utter a word. However, it was not the kind of words Cesare had expected.
“You rascal-!!!”
Leo III shouted at his son, who had eyes that looked just like his own.
Cesare opened his eyes wide in surprise at his father’s sudden anger and looked up at Leo III.
“I took pity on you and allowed you to live comfortably without any shortcomings, and now you dare to climb up without knowing your place?”
Something was wrong. Count Cesare immediately shut his mouth like a clamshell and bowed his head. However, it was not enough to calm Leo III’s anger. The old King hurled curses at his son, even while panting.
“Who would want to investigate the assassination of a royal family member on their own accord? Who would want to poke their nose into politics on their own accord!”
If someone were to come forward and stir up the story of the Queen’s murder and the kingdom of Gallico really came out behind her back, the marriage alliance, or rather the gunpowder formula, would be lost.
Leo III had no intention of completely burying the truth. He would investigate. If Gallico really was a villain, he would clearly hold them responsible.
After receiving the gunpowder formula, it would be a good idea to break off Alfonso’s engagement and circulate the marriage alliance again to marry someone else. He would be able to eat the bride’s dowry again.
It felt good to just imagine giving those damned barbarians a stern rebuke and giving them a piece of shit. But not now.
Leo III took two steps closer to Cesare and shouted at him right in front of his nose.
“You and Rubina are just quietly eating the pieces of meat that are given to you! You are just scraps that act funny! Why are you trying to stir up the water’s surface with your hands?”
When he saw Cesare’s auburn hair and slender, handsome features, he saw Rubina in his son. Then he remembered Rubina’s insult to him by mentioning Salvarsan, and Leo III’s anger doubled.
Cesare could not say a word, but lowered his head and trembled. He was in his early twenties. Although he was considered an adult, he was lacking in experience and maturity.
And everything he had was not his but was given to him by Leo III’s grace. The King had the power to take away his favor at any time, at any whim.
So when he opened his mouth, he had to muster up all his courage.
“But please, spare my life, Your Majesty.”
He was in no mood to call the King, father. Tears welled up in Cesare’s aquamarine eyes. These tears were half sincere, half false. He had to look as pitiful as possible in Leo III’s eyes. That way, he would get what he wanted.
Count Cesare threw himself on the floor and muttered desperately. His handsome forehead touched the white marble floor. His expression reflected in the shining marble was distorted into a mess.
“I will gladly eat the leftovers, not the pieces of meat you give me. I dare not ask for more. But that is only possible if I can still breathe. Please save my mother, Your Majesty the King.”
Cesare crawled forward and kissed his father’s shoes. There was a little dirt on his silk slippers. He vomited, but he couldn’t show it.
At the same time, Leo III’s anger exploded.
“You reckless, filthy bastard!!!”
Rubina had to be the culprit. To successfully conclude the negotiations with Gallico, to obtain the chemical formula, and to make the dirty feudal nobles kneel at the feet of the great King!
It was much more important than that hat that was hanging on to his feet without any sense today. Leo III, whose anger reached the sky, kicked Cesare, who was prostrated on the ground in anger.
Bam!
Leo III's shoe hit Count Cesare squarely in the eye, and Count Cesare flew backward as far as a person's torso and fell on his buttocks.
"Keep your mouth shut..."
He put his hand on his chest and groaned in agony, unable to breathe.
Startled by the state of his son, who had fallen much farther than he had expected, Leo III ran to Cesare and knelt beside him.
"Cesare, Cesare!"
Count Cesare did not respond to Leo III's call. Instead, he struggled to catch his breath.
Beside him, Leo III, not knowing what to do, tried to comfort his son.
"I spoke harshly, Cesare. I did it because I was angry, not on purpose."
He swept Count Cesare's forehead with his thick, wrinkled hands. Looking at him like this, he resembled his mother in body shape, but his high nose and sunken cheeks were his own.
And what about his personality? Alfonso was exactly like his mother. However, Cesare’s actions resembled himself more than Rubina’s.
He had admired the way Cesare rolled his head when he was young and had admired him many times. The mystery of bloodlines!
Bam!
Leo III's shoe hit Count Cesare squarely in the eye, and Count Cesare flew backward as far as a person's torso and fell on his buttocks.
"Keep your mouth shut..."
He put his hand on his chest and groaned in agony, unable to breathe.
Startled by the state of his son, who had fallen much farther than he had expected, Leo III ran to Cesare and knelt beside him.
"Cesare, Cesare!"
Count Cesare did not respond to Leo III's call. Instead, he struggled to catch his breath.
Beside him, Leo III, not knowing what to do, tried to comfort his son.
"I spoke harshly, Cesare. I did it because I was angry, not on purpose."
He swept Count Cesare's forehead with his thick, wrinkled hands. Looking at him like this, he resembled his mother in body shape, but his high nose and sunken cheeks were his own.
And what about his personality? Alfonso was exactly like his mother. However, Cesare’s actions resembled himself more than Rubina’s.
He had admired the way Cesare rolled his head when he was young and had admired him many times. The mystery of bloodlines!
Even though he was not born of a marriage recognized by the church.
Leo III shook Cesare with trembling hands.
“My child.”
Cesare was already suffering from severe stomachache, and Leo III shook him so much that he almost screamed. However, he was in no position to displease Leo III right now. He mustered up all his strength to say.
“It’s okay, Your Majesty.”
Seeing his son, who looked just like him, call him “Your Majesty” instead of his father, Leo III suddenly felt his heartache. He caressed Cesare’s cheek as if he were a child and said.
“Shh, if it hurts, don’t tell me, my child.”
Tears welled up in Cesare’s aquamarine eyes once again. Leo III, interpreting this as he pleased, comforted his son.
“I can’t release Rubina right now. It’s not anyone else, but Marguerite. Queen, Queen! We need a thorough investigation at the central level. It’ll take some time. But I understand your position.”
Leo III pondered what he could do. He could not release Rubina. He could not move her from the dungeon to the western tower.
If her place of imprisonment was changed, word would spread outside, and it would be evidence that he did not consider Rubina a criminal.
“I will tell Count Contarini to take special care of Rubina. No matter what, she is my son’s mother. Would I behead her without any proof?”
That was a blatant lie. Leo III would have no hesitation in beheading Rubina if it meant securing a marriage alliance with Gallico. Cesare shed tears of blood at his own situation.
His mother was a chess piece. He was not even a chess piece. A Princess would not accept an illegitimate child as her marriage partner.
It was useless to blame Leo III. He was no better than a natural disaster. Once swept away, not only Cesare but anyone else would be devastated. Anyway, there was no emotional bond or trust. Natural disasters were like that.
Instead, once a storm swept through, the soil of the land was lifted and a light rain fell on it. It became fertile soil for farming. Natural disasters caused damage, but they were also the source of all his survival. Without Leo III, Count Cesare would be finished.
So he thought of Alfonso, who had stood up to Leo III just as much as he had, or even twice as much, but had held his head up high and walked away instead of being beaten.
He was jealous, but he didn’t want to admit it. So instead, he resented him.
The dirty direct lineage of San Carlo. The dirty bloodline. The palace should have been burned if it could not be had.
“Listen! Is there anyone who is there? Count Cesare seems to have a severe stomachache, so call a doctor!”
Leo III called out in a loud voice.
What about a stomachache. It was questionable when the pain in his stomach from being hit in the stomach started to be called a stomachache, but Leo III believed his own words.
“Cesare, I want you to see a doctor.”
Leo III spoke with apparent affection, but inside he seemed to want Cesare to leave quickly.
“I have a meeting right after, so I must go now.”
Cesare could not argue with such an obvious lie. Unlike the golden Prince, he was only half a son.
“For your kindness... thank you.”
In fact, Leo III had not promised anything regarding the treatment of Countess Rubina. Cesare could have done something like put a few more cushions in the prison. However, this was all Cesare could say.
Beneath his submissively bowed head, his blue eyes were blazing with anger.
Leo III shook Cesare with trembling hands.
“My child.”
Cesare was already suffering from severe stomachache, and Leo III shook him so much that he almost screamed. However, he was in no position to displease Leo III right now. He mustered up all his strength to say.
“It’s okay, Your Majesty.”
Seeing his son, who looked just like him, call him “Your Majesty” instead of his father, Leo III suddenly felt his heartache. He caressed Cesare’s cheek as if he were a child and said.
“Shh, if it hurts, don’t tell me, my child.”
Tears welled up in Cesare’s aquamarine eyes once again. Leo III, interpreting this as he pleased, comforted his son.
“I can’t release Rubina right now. It’s not anyone else, but Marguerite. Queen, Queen! We need a thorough investigation at the central level. It’ll take some time. But I understand your position.”
Leo III pondered what he could do. He could not release Rubina. He could not move her from the dungeon to the western tower.
If her place of imprisonment was changed, word would spread outside, and it would be evidence that he did not consider Rubina a criminal.
“I will tell Count Contarini to take special care of Rubina. No matter what, she is my son’s mother. Would I behead her without any proof?”
That was a blatant lie. Leo III would have no hesitation in beheading Rubina if it meant securing a marriage alliance with Gallico. Cesare shed tears of blood at his own situation.
His mother was a chess piece. He was not even a chess piece. A Princess would not accept an illegitimate child as her marriage partner.
It was useless to blame Leo III. He was no better than a natural disaster. Once swept away, not only Cesare but anyone else would be devastated. Anyway, there was no emotional bond or trust. Natural disasters were like that.
Instead, once a storm swept through, the soil of the land was lifted and a light rain fell on it. It became fertile soil for farming. Natural disasters caused damage, but they were also the source of all his survival. Without Leo III, Count Cesare would be finished.
So he thought of Alfonso, who had stood up to Leo III just as much as he had, or even twice as much, but had held his head up high and walked away instead of being beaten.
He was jealous, but he didn’t want to admit it. So instead, he resented him.
The dirty direct lineage of San Carlo. The dirty bloodline. The palace should have been burned if it could not be had.
“Listen! Is there anyone who is there? Count Cesare seems to have a severe stomachache, so call a doctor!”
Leo III called out in a loud voice.
What about a stomachache. It was questionable when the pain in his stomach from being hit in the stomach started to be called a stomachache, but Leo III believed his own words.
“Cesare, I want you to see a doctor.”
Leo III spoke with apparent affection, but inside he seemed to want Cesare to leave quickly.
“I have a meeting right after, so I must go now.”
Cesare could not argue with such an obvious lie. Unlike the golden Prince, he was only half a son.
“For your kindness... thank you.”
In fact, Leo III had not promised anything regarding the treatment of Countess Rubina. Cesare could have done something like put a few more cushions in the prison. However, this was all Cesare could say.
Beneath his submissively bowed head, his blue eyes were blazing with anger.
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