If he had been in Etruscan times, Prince Alfonso would have flatly refused the visit of the Grand Duchess of Lariesa.
However, since the physical background changed to Gallico, a subtle difference in position arose between the two.
These days, the only person from the Gallico side who comes to visit Prince Alfonso is the Grand Duchess of Lariesa.
If he refused to visit Lariesa, Alfonso would often go for a whole week without seeing anyone.
“I brought this because I wanted to eat it together.”
She put down on the table the bread, cheese, and fruit she had brought in from a basket full of gourds as if she were imitating a country girl.
It was enough food for one person, enough for two or three days.
The food wasn't particularly bad, so there was no particular need, but Alfonso accepted it with a word of thanks.
“You packed it for me today too. It wasn’t necessary, but thank you.”
Princess Lariesa pretended not to notice the Prince's lukewarm reaction and took a bottle of wine out of the basket as well.
“This is sparkling wine, a specialty of the Kingdom of Gallico. I brought it because I wanted to drink it with you, Prince.”
If the food in front was a consideration for Alfonso, the wine brought was Lariesa's selfish intention.
But there are times when one person's hope is another's despair.
Drinking with the Grand Duchess of Lariesa in his own quarters was something Prince Alfonso really wanted to decline.
If you hold hands while drunk, you'll be mortgaging your life. It's absolutely unacceptable.
“It’s too early to have a drink. Let’s meet again next time.”
As she watched the Prince put the sparkling wine that Lariesa had taken out back into the basket, the Archduchess felt strangely offended.
I.... How much I suffer for you...
Archduke Odes told his wife to take good care of his daughter, but Archduchess Bernadette always backed down without any rules.
But that didn't mean Lariesa could go out as she pleased.
Today too, she made up all sorts of excuses, lied that she was going to the costume shop, got into the carriage, and went straight to the palace.
But, there is no way to hide the entrance to the palace from the house.
If Lariesa were to return to the Grand Duke's residence, she would be severely scolded by Madame Eugenie, who had a knife in her tongue, while Grand Duchess Bernadette stood by her, looking embarrassed.
And that was if she was lucky. She had to pray that it wouldn't reach her father's ears.
"If..."
Prince Alfonso spoke. Lariesa looked at him with bright eyes.
“Have you heard any updates on the knight I requested?”
There was another reason why he accepted the visit of the Grand Duchess of Lariesa instead of rejecting it.
He wanted to hide the fact if possible, but it becomes difficult for anyone to maintain elegance when circumstances are dire.
“Ah... you’re talking about that Etruscan knight.”
Lariesa replied, visibly dejected.
Prince Alfonso had previously asked Grand Duchess Lariesa to inquire about Sir Elko's situation.
There was no one else to ask.
Lariesa didn't want to talk about that time because it overlapped with her own mistakes.
Strictly speaking, it was probably more than a third of Princess Lariesa's fault for Sir Elko's sacrifice, but she considered it a 'mistake' rather than a 'fault'.
“That knight...”
But Lariesa couldn't help but ask questions about Sir Elko.
Because granting Alfonso's request was the only way to connect with the 'Golden Prince'.
Even though she was oblivious, Lariesa knew that she was not warmly welcomed by Alfonso.
“Are he alive?”
Alfonso asked, unable to wait for Lariesa's answer.
Lariesa, suppressing her bad mood, answered slowly—Why have you never had such pressing questions about my daily life?
“Yes, he's not dead. He's alive.”
“Thank you, my God!”
Alfonso sighed and made the sign of the cross without realizing it.
Hoping to draw his attention back to herself, Lariesa continued.
“Since being taken to Gallico, the knight has been questioned by His Majesty Philip IV’s men about the Duke of Mireille. However, he does not appear to have made any significant confessions.”
Sir Elko kept his mouth shut until the end...!
Alfonso felt as if his heart was breaking.
Despite the brief description of being 'interrogated', he could clearly see the torture that Sir Elko had been subjected to.
They said they would make things easier if he just called Alfonso's name. And Sir Elko still does that.
“And after that?”
“There has been no news since then. There is no word of death, nor of further executions. Perhaps he is still locked up in the dungeons of the Palace of Montpellier.”
The Prince, having heard that far, was lost in thought. It seemed as if he had fallen into his own world.
Lariesa, who had finally delivered the news and was expecting words of congratulations, was now in a very bad mood.
“Excuse me, Prince Alfonso.”
“Yes, Grand Duchess?”
“Are you going to keep up that stiff attitude?”
“What did you just say?”
Prince Alfonso looked at Princess Lariesa with a serious expression.
Ever since the Etruscans had arrogantly proclaimed the 'Great Gallico Kingdom' to be Lariesa, Alfonso had been sensitive to this kind of provocation.
Besides, now he was really being dragged into the Kingdom of Gallico.
Although he was nominally an envoy, he was in fact a hostage. The situation was even more delicate.
As Prince Alfonso's expression hardened, the stinging Lariesa tucked her tail between her legs.
She said with a pitiful look on her face, raising her eyebrows.
“Prince, please don’t do this to me. Right now, I’m really all you have.”
She got up quickly from her seat. In fact, it was past time to get up.
In the afternoon, her father, Grand Duke Odes, was scheduled to enter the palace. She had to leave the palace before she could see her father.
“Beware of Princess Auguste. She is a very different person on the outside than on the inside... No, don’t trust anyone in this palace. Not even my father.”
Having given such a warning, Princess Lariesa hurriedly left the Prince's quarters.
She looked back a couple of times on her way out, but she had no choice but to leave.
After Princess Lariesa swept through the room, shaking off her foolishness, Prince Alfonso, who was left alone with the basket of bones she had left behind in the luxurious prison, was lost in thought.
'What on earth did the Grand Duchess mean?'
At first glance, it sounded like Lariesa was being irrationally jealous as usual. But...
'No one in the palace? Not even her own father?'
It seemed like a hint of something beyond a woman's jealousy.
It was strange that she would come by every three days and leave food for him. It was necessary to take a closer look.
Cardinal de Mare appeared at the palace in his cardinal's red robes at the summons of Leo III.
It was an official audience at the King's formal request.
'I know why you called me, but...'
Cardinal de Mare had also heard that the situation in the province of Gaeta was dire.
He didn't know that the infantry was being reinforced, but when the cavalry refused to budge, it was obvious what the King would say when he summoned the messenger from the Great Hall.
'I'm asking Pope Ludovico to put pressure on King Gallico.'
Cardinal de Mare walked elegantly down the splendid corridors of the Palazzo Carlo, calculating in his small head, and stood in front of the King's office.
'I know what you want, but now is not the right time.'
Cardinal de Mare, with his aching cheek pressed against his throat, not knowing what to say to the King, followed his servant's guidance into the study.
“Bring Cardinal De Mare here!”
Inside were sitting Leo III and his three entourage: the Marquis Baldessar, Count Contarini, and Lord Delpiano.
Starting with Sir Delpiano, the three nobles stood up at once.
Even the King rose from his throne to greet Cardinal de Mare.
The cardinal didn't show it, but he was secretly smiling bitterly.
'This is extremely hospitable. I guess you're in a hurry.'
“Cardinal de Mare!”
Leo III himself rose from his seat and walked a few steps toward him, his hands extended in a friendly manner.
'Are you saying I should hug you?'
“Have you been recovering well?”
Cardinal de Mare answered with smooth manners, hiding his true feelings of sarcasm.
“Thanks to Your Majesty the King’s heavenly sincerity, I have been able to live comfortably.”
“Sit down, sit here.”
After they sat down at the table, the story Leo III told did not deviate one bit from Cardinal de Mare's expectations.
“So... We would like Pope Louis to intervene...”
It was the Marquis Baldessar who first suggested inviting Cardinal de Mare to seek his assistance and explained the matter to him.
'This guy. Before asking the King, at least contact me first.'
Cardinal de Mare clicked his tongue and replied that the person who would turn around today's failure was the Marquis Baldessar, who was his friend.
“I fully understand your intentions, Marquis. In normal times, I would have naturally made such a request to His Holiness Pope Louis.”
There was only one word that could come next. Marquis Baldessar and Leo III waited for the next word, hoping it would not be him.
“But...”
Well then, that's right. They couldn't hide their distorted expressions.
“The time is not good. His Holiness Pope Louis cannot possibly say anything unpleasant to Philip IV of Gallico at this time.”
“By any chance... Is it because of Yesak’s work?”
Count Contarini asked cautiously. Cardinal de Mare nodded.
“Yes. Are you aware that Pope Louis is currently preparing a ‘holy war’?”
As the Moorish Empire grew stronger, successive popes gathered together the Yesapist monarchs and sent troops to recapture Yesak, the holy city of Yesapism.
This was called a 'holy war' or a 'crusade'.
The First Crusade was about 100 years ago, and the Second Crusade was about 40 years ago.
What Pope Louis was now preparing was the Third Crusade.
The Pope who raises the flag of the Holy See in Yesak, the eternal kingdom of a thousand years, will be praised for his achievements for a thousand years and even for ten thousand years.
“I have heard that the Grand Duke of Sternheim, Yuldenburg, has volunteered to be Commander-in-Chief.”
"You're right."
“Then what is the relationship with the Kingdom of Gallico...”
The Duchy of Sternheim was a Grand Duchy in the north, renowned for the loyalty of its monarch, the Grand Duke of Yuldenburg.
And that was it.
Overall, it was a relatively better country than the poor northern allied nations, but in the end, it was unable to escape its status as a small country.
Moreover, it was a state that had little connection with Gallico, although it was distantly related to Leo III of the Etruscans.
“The commander-in-chief is the Grand Duke of Yuldenburg, but the finances cannot be taken care of by the Duchy of Sternheim. Philip IV of Gallico has promised Pope Louis a large-scale aid for the Third Crusade.”
“Ah...”
The Marquis Baldessar's voice of regret echoed through the office.
“It is said that Grand Duke Sternheim will visit Gallico soon to discuss the specifics.”
“Then...”
“Until the amount of support is determined, naturally, Pope Louis will not want to say anything unpleasant to His Majesty Philip IV. Even after the amount of support is determined, it will be a great burden until the actual payment is made.”
It was a reasonable argument. No debtor could raise his head stiffly to the lender.
Even the Pope cannot escape the rules of the human world.
“There is a way, but...”
Cardinal de Mare has taken up the cause.
However, since the physical background changed to Gallico, a subtle difference in position arose between the two.
These days, the only person from the Gallico side who comes to visit Prince Alfonso is the Grand Duchess of Lariesa.
If he refused to visit Lariesa, Alfonso would often go for a whole week without seeing anyone.
“I brought this because I wanted to eat it together.”
She put down on the table the bread, cheese, and fruit she had brought in from a basket full of gourds as if she were imitating a country girl.
It was enough food for one person, enough for two or three days.
The food wasn't particularly bad, so there was no particular need, but Alfonso accepted it with a word of thanks.
“You packed it for me today too. It wasn’t necessary, but thank you.”
Princess Lariesa pretended not to notice the Prince's lukewarm reaction and took a bottle of wine out of the basket as well.
“This is sparkling wine, a specialty of the Kingdom of Gallico. I brought it because I wanted to drink it with you, Prince.”
If the food in front was a consideration for Alfonso, the wine brought was Lariesa's selfish intention.
But there are times when one person's hope is another's despair.
Drinking with the Grand Duchess of Lariesa in his own quarters was something Prince Alfonso really wanted to decline.
If you hold hands while drunk, you'll be mortgaging your life. It's absolutely unacceptable.
“It’s too early to have a drink. Let’s meet again next time.”
As she watched the Prince put the sparkling wine that Lariesa had taken out back into the basket, the Archduchess felt strangely offended.
I.... How much I suffer for you...
Archduke Odes told his wife to take good care of his daughter, but Archduchess Bernadette always backed down without any rules.
But that didn't mean Lariesa could go out as she pleased.
Today too, she made up all sorts of excuses, lied that she was going to the costume shop, got into the carriage, and went straight to the palace.
But, there is no way to hide the entrance to the palace from the house.
If Lariesa were to return to the Grand Duke's residence, she would be severely scolded by Madame Eugenie, who had a knife in her tongue, while Grand Duchess Bernadette stood by her, looking embarrassed.
And that was if she was lucky. She had to pray that it wouldn't reach her father's ears.
"If..."
Prince Alfonso spoke. Lariesa looked at him with bright eyes.
“Have you heard any updates on the knight I requested?”
There was another reason why he accepted the visit of the Grand Duchess of Lariesa instead of rejecting it.
He wanted to hide the fact if possible, but it becomes difficult for anyone to maintain elegance when circumstances are dire.
“Ah... you’re talking about that Etruscan knight.”
Lariesa replied, visibly dejected.
Prince Alfonso had previously asked Grand Duchess Lariesa to inquire about Sir Elko's situation.
There was no one else to ask.
Lariesa didn't want to talk about that time because it overlapped with her own mistakes.
Strictly speaking, it was probably more than a third of Princess Lariesa's fault for Sir Elko's sacrifice, but she considered it a 'mistake' rather than a 'fault'.
“That knight...”
But Lariesa couldn't help but ask questions about Sir Elko.
Because granting Alfonso's request was the only way to connect with the 'Golden Prince'.
Even though she was oblivious, Lariesa knew that she was not warmly welcomed by Alfonso.
“Are he alive?”
Alfonso asked, unable to wait for Lariesa's answer.
Lariesa, suppressing her bad mood, answered slowly—Why have you never had such pressing questions about my daily life?
“Yes, he's not dead. He's alive.”
“Thank you, my God!”
Alfonso sighed and made the sign of the cross without realizing it.
Hoping to draw his attention back to herself, Lariesa continued.
“Since being taken to Gallico, the knight has been questioned by His Majesty Philip IV’s men about the Duke of Mireille. However, he does not appear to have made any significant confessions.”
Sir Elko kept his mouth shut until the end...!
Alfonso felt as if his heart was breaking.
Despite the brief description of being 'interrogated', he could clearly see the torture that Sir Elko had been subjected to.
They said they would make things easier if he just called Alfonso's name. And Sir Elko still does that.
“And after that?”
“There has been no news since then. There is no word of death, nor of further executions. Perhaps he is still locked up in the dungeons of the Palace of Montpellier.”
The Prince, having heard that far, was lost in thought. It seemed as if he had fallen into his own world.
Lariesa, who had finally delivered the news and was expecting words of congratulations, was now in a very bad mood.
“Excuse me, Prince Alfonso.”
“Yes, Grand Duchess?”
“Are you going to keep up that stiff attitude?”
“What did you just say?”
Prince Alfonso looked at Princess Lariesa with a serious expression.
Ever since the Etruscans had arrogantly proclaimed the 'Great Gallico Kingdom' to be Lariesa, Alfonso had been sensitive to this kind of provocation.
Besides, now he was really being dragged into the Kingdom of Gallico.
Although he was nominally an envoy, he was in fact a hostage. The situation was even more delicate.
As Prince Alfonso's expression hardened, the stinging Lariesa tucked her tail between her legs.
She said with a pitiful look on her face, raising her eyebrows.
“Prince, please don’t do this to me. Right now, I’m really all you have.”
She got up quickly from her seat. In fact, it was past time to get up.
In the afternoon, her father, Grand Duke Odes, was scheduled to enter the palace. She had to leave the palace before she could see her father.
“Beware of Princess Auguste. She is a very different person on the outside than on the inside... No, don’t trust anyone in this palace. Not even my father.”
Having given such a warning, Princess Lariesa hurriedly left the Prince's quarters.
She looked back a couple of times on her way out, but she had no choice but to leave.
After Princess Lariesa swept through the room, shaking off her foolishness, Prince Alfonso, who was left alone with the basket of bones she had left behind in the luxurious prison, was lost in thought.
'What on earth did the Grand Duchess mean?'
At first glance, it sounded like Lariesa was being irrationally jealous as usual. But...
'No one in the palace? Not even her own father?'
It seemed like a hint of something beyond a woman's jealousy.
It was strange that she would come by every three days and leave food for him. It was necessary to take a closer look.
***
Cardinal de Mare appeared at the palace in his cardinal's red robes at the summons of Leo III.
It was an official audience at the King's formal request.
'I know why you called me, but...'
Cardinal de Mare had also heard that the situation in the province of Gaeta was dire.
He didn't know that the infantry was being reinforced, but when the cavalry refused to budge, it was obvious what the King would say when he summoned the messenger from the Great Hall.
'I'm asking Pope Ludovico to put pressure on King Gallico.'
Cardinal de Mare walked elegantly down the splendid corridors of the Palazzo Carlo, calculating in his small head, and stood in front of the King's office.
'I know what you want, but now is not the right time.'
Cardinal de Mare, with his aching cheek pressed against his throat, not knowing what to say to the King, followed his servant's guidance into the study.
“Bring Cardinal De Mare here!”
Inside were sitting Leo III and his three entourage: the Marquis Baldessar, Count Contarini, and Lord Delpiano.
Starting with Sir Delpiano, the three nobles stood up at once.
Even the King rose from his throne to greet Cardinal de Mare.
The cardinal didn't show it, but he was secretly smiling bitterly.
'This is extremely hospitable. I guess you're in a hurry.'
“Cardinal de Mare!”
Leo III himself rose from his seat and walked a few steps toward him, his hands extended in a friendly manner.
'Are you saying I should hug you?'
“Have you been recovering well?”
Cardinal de Mare answered with smooth manners, hiding his true feelings of sarcasm.
“Thanks to Your Majesty the King’s heavenly sincerity, I have been able to live comfortably.”
“Sit down, sit here.”
After they sat down at the table, the story Leo III told did not deviate one bit from Cardinal de Mare's expectations.
“So... We would like Pope Louis to intervene...”
It was the Marquis Baldessar who first suggested inviting Cardinal de Mare to seek his assistance and explained the matter to him.
'This guy. Before asking the King, at least contact me first.'
Cardinal de Mare clicked his tongue and replied that the person who would turn around today's failure was the Marquis Baldessar, who was his friend.
“I fully understand your intentions, Marquis. In normal times, I would have naturally made such a request to His Holiness Pope Louis.”
There was only one word that could come next. Marquis Baldessar and Leo III waited for the next word, hoping it would not be him.
“But...”
Well then, that's right. They couldn't hide their distorted expressions.
“The time is not good. His Holiness Pope Louis cannot possibly say anything unpleasant to Philip IV of Gallico at this time.”
“By any chance... Is it because of Yesak’s work?”
Count Contarini asked cautiously. Cardinal de Mare nodded.
“Yes. Are you aware that Pope Louis is currently preparing a ‘holy war’?”
As the Moorish Empire grew stronger, successive popes gathered together the Yesapist monarchs and sent troops to recapture Yesak, the holy city of Yesapism.
This was called a 'holy war' or a 'crusade'.
The First Crusade was about 100 years ago, and the Second Crusade was about 40 years ago.
What Pope Louis was now preparing was the Third Crusade.
The Pope who raises the flag of the Holy See in Yesak, the eternal kingdom of a thousand years, will be praised for his achievements for a thousand years and even for ten thousand years.
“I have heard that the Grand Duke of Sternheim, Yuldenburg, has volunteered to be Commander-in-Chief.”
"You're right."
“Then what is the relationship with the Kingdom of Gallico...”
The Duchy of Sternheim was a Grand Duchy in the north, renowned for the loyalty of its monarch, the Grand Duke of Yuldenburg.
And that was it.
Overall, it was a relatively better country than the poor northern allied nations, but in the end, it was unable to escape its status as a small country.
Moreover, it was a state that had little connection with Gallico, although it was distantly related to Leo III of the Etruscans.
“The commander-in-chief is the Grand Duke of Yuldenburg, but the finances cannot be taken care of by the Duchy of Sternheim. Philip IV of Gallico has promised Pope Louis a large-scale aid for the Third Crusade.”
“Ah...”
The Marquis Baldessar's voice of regret echoed through the office.
“It is said that Grand Duke Sternheim will visit Gallico soon to discuss the specifics.”
“Then...”
“Until the amount of support is determined, naturally, Pope Louis will not want to say anything unpleasant to His Majesty Philip IV. Even after the amount of support is determined, it will be a great burden until the actual payment is made.”
It was a reasonable argument. No debtor could raise his head stiffly to the lender.
Even the Pope cannot escape the rules of the human world.
“There is a way, but...”
Cardinal de Mare has taken up the cause.
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