Cardinal de Mare, returning to the Palazzo degli Sei after meeting with the Pope, was startled to find Ariadne sitting there with a neat face.
And next to him was his prospective son-in-law and his daughter's friend, whom he never thought he would meet here.
“When did you come back?”
“Just now.”
Ariadne kept quiet. The Cardinal didn’t bother to ask any further questions. Digging into it would only make everyone involved feel worse. The Cardinal decided to open his hazy eyes and pretend not to see.
But the mood had already gotten so bad that he had to let it out, so the Cardinal pointed to his daughter's friend sitting in the corner with the tip of his chin and asked.
“By the way, why is that guy here?”
Raphael, who had been huddled in the corner of the living room with Alfonso, suddenly jumped up from his seat and greeted him cheerfully.
“Your Eminence, Cardinal! How have you been?”
Cardinal Mare pursed his lips, completely unaware of the good fortune that had been bestowed upon him.
If Raphael himself had known what he had done, he would have chased him to the ends of hell and made him pay for it, but unfortunately, Raphael had no idea that he had decided who would be the next Pope.
It was not hard to understand why the Cardinal was in a bad mood.
He thought that the guy who was not her type and who was always hovering around his daughter was still hovering around his daughter even after she got married.
But today was a good day! He gave up on arguing any further and sat down with Ariadne.
“Ari, Prince. I think there will be some changes in my body.”
“A change in your body? What...”
The position of Cardinal of the Archdiocese of San Carlo was not particularly prone to promotion or transfer, so it was understandable that they were confused.
“Ahem, I am the next Pope.”
At those words, Ariadne, Alfonso, and even Raphael, who had been sitting in the corner like an outsider, all looked at the Cardinal with their eyes wide open.
“So... what happened?”
Cardinal de Mare reconstructed the story, leaving out only the outlines, the humiliating 'tests' of Ludovico and the four great provocations he had heard.
“...Your father has taken the vacant position of successor due to the purge of Archbishop Buschduren. Ahem.”
“Wow, Dad. That went so well.”
“That’s a good thing.”
“Congratulations, Your Eminence Cardinal!”
The reaction of the bashful and carefree guy who came along was much better than that of the daughter, who was stiff no matter what was said, and the Prince, who was far from cheerful by nature.
The Cardinal didn't like this either, so he licked his lips, but he couldn't help but lick his lips. Praise always tastes good!
“The former Archbishop of Buschduren attempted to poison the Pope, and was only half-successful, so the Pope will not live long. We will soon have to discuss the specifics of the succession.”
Before the arrival of Philip IV, Pope Louis explained to Cardinal de Mare, one by one, who the voters were on his side and how they had obtained their votes.
“We were having an important conversation when an unexpected guest barged in and we were interrupted midway.”
Ariadne looked at her father with an expression that said, 'How important is it that you have to cut off private contact with the Pope and his successor?'
There was also a suspicion that maybe her father had misunderstood something.
“Philip IV of Gallico came today to see the Pope!”
When Ariadne heard that, she was surprised, but then immediately understood. Yes, he was a guest who deserved to be cut off from the conversation. At the same time, Alfonso's thick eyebrows twitched.
“Are you saying that Philip is in Trevero now?”
“Yes!”
Alfonso had no good feelings towards his cousin Philipp, who had imprisoned him in Montpellier and even considered killing him.
But now Alfonso was not simply moving with emotion, but was operating a chessboard with many pieces on it. Philip's visit was clearly a good opportunity for him.
Cardinal de Mare further explained:
“He came today and made an absurd request to the Pope.”
Raphael asked right away.
“Do you want the Pope to make him an Emperor?”
Cardinal de Mare glanced at Raphael.
“It’s not that strange.”
Raphael pouted, feeling embarrassed. Cardinal de Mare, seeing that Raphael seemed upset, handed him a sugar cookie that was on the table.
Cardinal de Mare and Raphael de Baldesar got along quite well.
“He is asking for a general amnesty under the Allemand Law.”
“Yes? The Allemand Law Amnesty?”
This time, Ariadne was surprised.
'That? Why already?'
The first mention of the Allemand amnesty was made five years later at the earliest, and it would not be realized until about ten years later.
The previous King, Philip IV, had also demanded a general pardon under the Allemand law, which granted succession rights to illegitimate children. There were various opinions at the time as to why the King of Gallico made such a demand.
But Ariadne, who had access to state secrets through Cesare, knew why.
'The illegitimate child, Jean.'
Philip IV was ultimately unsuccessful in obtaining Bianca of Taranto and married a Princess who was the daughter of the previous King of Gredo.
The Princess of the kingdom of Gredo came with a large dowry, but her first husband died, and she had children from that marriage.
He was also older than Philip. And, crucially, he did not live long.
There were rumors that she had been poisoned by Princess Auguste, who coveted the position of acting Queen. But no one knows the truth.
Apart from a few brief passing women as Queen, Philip IV led a remarkably clean life in women's affairs.
And then a boy who looked just like the King, 'the illegitimate son Jean', appeared, to whom he wanted to pass the kingdom.
'Princess Auguste died earlier than planned, so now the whole order is messed up.'
The Allemand amnesty, promoted by the previous Philip IV, was eventually carried out, placing the regent Cesare, the illegitimate son of the King, on the Etruscan throne.
“Do you think that will pass?”
“Well.”
Cardinal de Mare tilted his head. Pope Louis did not come to a clear conclusion.
But when he spoke of the port of Pisarino, greed flashed in Pope Ludovico's eyes.
“I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.”
If they left Pope Louis alone, it seemed like he might one day grant a general pardon under the Allemand Law.
But Ludovico had his limits. He could die at any moment. If he dragged his feet without making a decision, the decision would go to Cardinal de Mare.
“I’m tired now, I think I should go to sleep.”
“Go to sleep.”
“Rest, Your Eminence.”
“Get some rest!”
After Cardinal de Mare entered the room, Raphael said with a curious look.
“Why is Philip IV suddenly obsessed with such a strange idea? He’s an expansionist lunatic. If he repeals the Law of Allemand, isn’t there a country where his illegitimate ancestors can inherit and eat the land?”
It was a very reasonable inference, but it was wrong. Ariadne decided to reveal some of what she knew. She slowly opened her mouth.
“...It must be because of ‘illegitimate child Jean’.”
“The illegitimate child, Jean?”
It was a name that Raphael and Alfonso had never heard before.
“...I heard a rumor that Philip IV has an illegitimate son whom he dotes on.”
Raphael aside, it was also new to Alfonso, who had regular contact with ambassadors sent by the Etruscan kingdom and had recently begun to run his own intelligence organization.
“What? Where did you learn that?”
Ariadne, who could not say that it had happened in a past life, chose the easiest excuse.
“It’s a rumor floating around in the business world. But sometimes, it gets out when goods are delivered, and sometimes it gets out through servants doing odd jobs, so sometimes this kind of story gets out the fastest.”
In fact, advanced information does not come out through such a route, but the two men readily accepted it. If Ariadne says so, then so be it. She continued.
“Now Philip IV has no legitimate heir, so after his death we must find one of his cousins to succeed to the throne.”
Ariadne pointed to Alfonso.
“One of the candidates for King Gallico is also here.”
"Ari."
Alfonso gently stopped her. He turned and hugged her.
“I wouldn’t do that position even if you asked me to. Odes’s proposal was one I couldn’t accept.”
Raphael, who was pretending to vomit, opened his eyes wide at the words 'Odes's proposal'.
“What’s Odes’s proposal? What did Grand Duke Odes propose?”
Alfonso laughed bitterly. He said briefly.
“He says that if I marry Princess Lariesa, he will make me the King of the Kingdom of Galico.”
"Wow."
Alfonso glared at Raphael's exclamation. He had appeased Ariadne, but he absolutely refused to go back to digging the ground after hearing Raphael's reaction.
Raphael, who was quick-witted, glanced at Ariadne's expression.
“But, I guess you said you couldn’t accept it because it had a tail attached to it?”
“He said that she would live a simple life, but if I had children, he would register them as Lariesa’s children and send them to Gallico. He would raise them himself.”
At those words, Raphael straightened his posture.
“You want to give up your bloodline and gain power?”
The successor will not have a single drop of the Grand Duke Odes's blood flowing in his body, but instead, he will have grown up under the Archduke Odes's care and will embody his identity as a Gallican.
“You’ve done a really nice job of telling me that you’re going to take over the Etruscan kingdom by feeding me a cushion.”
Alfonso nodded.
“I am half Gallic by blood, but I have no Gallico identity. And in fact, the spirit is more important than the body. If the next successor to both the Etruscan and Gallico kingdoms were to be 1/4 Gallic by blood, but a full Gallic emotionally... From Odes’s perspective, it would be no different from easily devouring the Etruscan kingdom.”
Alfonso gently kissed Ariadne's cheek.
“So, don’t be sorry. It was an offer I couldn’t accept anyway.”
Instead of pretending to vomit this time, Raphael looked at Alfonso and asked seriously.
“Did you tell Grand Duke Odes about your intention to refuse?”
“I refused, but he refused to listen to my answer and went back. I guess I’ll have to say no one more time before this trip ends.”
Alfonso had already figured out a way. He had no choice but to let him go.
“It’s better now that Philip has come to Trevero.”
“Yes? What do you mean?”
"I am."
Alfonso smiled.
“If Grand Duke Odes does not give me written assurance that the engagement or marriage between me and the Grand Duchess of Larriesa is untrue and that there is nothing between them, I will go to see my dear cousin, His Majesty King Philip IV, and ask after his well-being.”
Alfonso's smile, which was always kind, rarely showed a hint of mischief.
“Our cousin, Grand Duke Odes, who is a close associate of my cousin, has proposed to me that I should remove my brother and become the King of Gallico. I asked if my brother was in good health.”
And next to him was his prospective son-in-law and his daughter's friend, whom he never thought he would meet here.
“When did you come back?”
“Just now.”
Ariadne kept quiet. The Cardinal didn’t bother to ask any further questions. Digging into it would only make everyone involved feel worse. The Cardinal decided to open his hazy eyes and pretend not to see.
But the mood had already gotten so bad that he had to let it out, so the Cardinal pointed to his daughter's friend sitting in the corner with the tip of his chin and asked.
“By the way, why is that guy here?”
Raphael, who had been huddled in the corner of the living room with Alfonso, suddenly jumped up from his seat and greeted him cheerfully.
“Your Eminence, Cardinal! How have you been?”
Cardinal Mare pursed his lips, completely unaware of the good fortune that had been bestowed upon him.
If Raphael himself had known what he had done, he would have chased him to the ends of hell and made him pay for it, but unfortunately, Raphael had no idea that he had decided who would be the next Pope.
It was not hard to understand why the Cardinal was in a bad mood.
He thought that the guy who was not her type and who was always hovering around his daughter was still hovering around his daughter even after she got married.
But today was a good day! He gave up on arguing any further and sat down with Ariadne.
“Ari, Prince. I think there will be some changes in my body.”
“A change in your body? What...”
The position of Cardinal of the Archdiocese of San Carlo was not particularly prone to promotion or transfer, so it was understandable that they were confused.
“Ahem, I am the next Pope.”
At those words, Ariadne, Alfonso, and even Raphael, who had been sitting in the corner like an outsider, all looked at the Cardinal with their eyes wide open.
“So... what happened?”
Cardinal de Mare reconstructed the story, leaving out only the outlines, the humiliating 'tests' of Ludovico and the four great provocations he had heard.
“...Your father has taken the vacant position of successor due to the purge of Archbishop Buschduren. Ahem.”
“Wow, Dad. That went so well.”
“That’s a good thing.”
“Congratulations, Your Eminence Cardinal!”
The reaction of the bashful and carefree guy who came along was much better than that of the daughter, who was stiff no matter what was said, and the Prince, who was far from cheerful by nature.
The Cardinal didn't like this either, so he licked his lips, but he couldn't help but lick his lips. Praise always tastes good!
“The former Archbishop of Buschduren attempted to poison the Pope, and was only half-successful, so the Pope will not live long. We will soon have to discuss the specifics of the succession.”
Before the arrival of Philip IV, Pope Louis explained to Cardinal de Mare, one by one, who the voters were on his side and how they had obtained their votes.
“We were having an important conversation when an unexpected guest barged in and we were interrupted midway.”
Ariadne looked at her father with an expression that said, 'How important is it that you have to cut off private contact with the Pope and his successor?'
There was also a suspicion that maybe her father had misunderstood something.
“Philip IV of Gallico came today to see the Pope!”
When Ariadne heard that, she was surprised, but then immediately understood. Yes, he was a guest who deserved to be cut off from the conversation. At the same time, Alfonso's thick eyebrows twitched.
“Are you saying that Philip is in Trevero now?”
“Yes!”
Alfonso had no good feelings towards his cousin Philipp, who had imprisoned him in Montpellier and even considered killing him.
But now Alfonso was not simply moving with emotion, but was operating a chessboard with many pieces on it. Philip's visit was clearly a good opportunity for him.
Cardinal de Mare further explained:
“He came today and made an absurd request to the Pope.”
Raphael asked right away.
“Do you want the Pope to make him an Emperor?”
Cardinal de Mare glanced at Raphael.
“It’s not that strange.”
Raphael pouted, feeling embarrassed. Cardinal de Mare, seeing that Raphael seemed upset, handed him a sugar cookie that was on the table.
Cardinal de Mare and Raphael de Baldesar got along quite well.
“He is asking for a general amnesty under the Allemand Law.”
“Yes? The Allemand Law Amnesty?”
This time, Ariadne was surprised.
'That? Why already?'
The first mention of the Allemand amnesty was made five years later at the earliest, and it would not be realized until about ten years later.
The previous King, Philip IV, had also demanded a general pardon under the Allemand law, which granted succession rights to illegitimate children. There were various opinions at the time as to why the King of Gallico made such a demand.
But Ariadne, who had access to state secrets through Cesare, knew why.
'The illegitimate child, Jean.'
Philip IV was ultimately unsuccessful in obtaining Bianca of Taranto and married a Princess who was the daughter of the previous King of Gredo.
The Princess of the kingdom of Gredo came with a large dowry, but her first husband died, and she had children from that marriage.
He was also older than Philip. And, crucially, he did not live long.
There were rumors that she had been poisoned by Princess Auguste, who coveted the position of acting Queen. But no one knows the truth.
Apart from a few brief passing women as Queen, Philip IV led a remarkably clean life in women's affairs.
And then a boy who looked just like the King, 'the illegitimate son Jean', appeared, to whom he wanted to pass the kingdom.
'Princess Auguste died earlier than planned, so now the whole order is messed up.'
The Allemand amnesty, promoted by the previous Philip IV, was eventually carried out, placing the regent Cesare, the illegitimate son of the King, on the Etruscan throne.
“Do you think that will pass?”
“Well.”
Cardinal de Mare tilted his head. Pope Louis did not come to a clear conclusion.
But when he spoke of the port of Pisarino, greed flashed in Pope Ludovico's eyes.
“I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.”
If they left Pope Louis alone, it seemed like he might one day grant a general pardon under the Allemand Law.
But Ludovico had his limits. He could die at any moment. If he dragged his feet without making a decision, the decision would go to Cardinal de Mare.
“I’m tired now, I think I should go to sleep.”
“Go to sleep.”
“Rest, Your Eminence.”
“Get some rest!”
After Cardinal de Mare entered the room, Raphael said with a curious look.
“Why is Philip IV suddenly obsessed with such a strange idea? He’s an expansionist lunatic. If he repeals the Law of Allemand, isn’t there a country where his illegitimate ancestors can inherit and eat the land?”
It was a very reasonable inference, but it was wrong. Ariadne decided to reveal some of what she knew. She slowly opened her mouth.
“...It must be because of ‘illegitimate child Jean’.”
“The illegitimate child, Jean?”
It was a name that Raphael and Alfonso had never heard before.
“...I heard a rumor that Philip IV has an illegitimate son whom he dotes on.”
Raphael aside, it was also new to Alfonso, who had regular contact with ambassadors sent by the Etruscan kingdom and had recently begun to run his own intelligence organization.
“What? Where did you learn that?”
Ariadne, who could not say that it had happened in a past life, chose the easiest excuse.
“It’s a rumor floating around in the business world. But sometimes, it gets out when goods are delivered, and sometimes it gets out through servants doing odd jobs, so sometimes this kind of story gets out the fastest.”
In fact, advanced information does not come out through such a route, but the two men readily accepted it. If Ariadne says so, then so be it. She continued.
“Now Philip IV has no legitimate heir, so after his death we must find one of his cousins to succeed to the throne.”
Ariadne pointed to Alfonso.
“One of the candidates for King Gallico is also here.”
"Ari."
Alfonso gently stopped her. He turned and hugged her.
“I wouldn’t do that position even if you asked me to. Odes’s proposal was one I couldn’t accept.”
Raphael, who was pretending to vomit, opened his eyes wide at the words 'Odes's proposal'.
“What’s Odes’s proposal? What did Grand Duke Odes propose?”
Alfonso laughed bitterly. He said briefly.
“He says that if I marry Princess Lariesa, he will make me the King of the Kingdom of Galico.”
"Wow."
Alfonso glared at Raphael's exclamation. He had appeased Ariadne, but he absolutely refused to go back to digging the ground after hearing Raphael's reaction.
Raphael, who was quick-witted, glanced at Ariadne's expression.
“But, I guess you said you couldn’t accept it because it had a tail attached to it?”
“He said that she would live a simple life, but if I had children, he would register them as Lariesa’s children and send them to Gallico. He would raise them himself.”
At those words, Raphael straightened his posture.
“You want to give up your bloodline and gain power?”
The successor will not have a single drop of the Grand Duke Odes's blood flowing in his body, but instead, he will have grown up under the Archduke Odes's care and will embody his identity as a Gallican.
“You’ve done a really nice job of telling me that you’re going to take over the Etruscan kingdom by feeding me a cushion.”
Alfonso nodded.
“I am half Gallic by blood, but I have no Gallico identity. And in fact, the spirit is more important than the body. If the next successor to both the Etruscan and Gallico kingdoms were to be 1/4 Gallic by blood, but a full Gallic emotionally... From Odes’s perspective, it would be no different from easily devouring the Etruscan kingdom.”
Alfonso gently kissed Ariadne's cheek.
“So, don’t be sorry. It was an offer I couldn’t accept anyway.”
Instead of pretending to vomit this time, Raphael looked at Alfonso and asked seriously.
“Did you tell Grand Duke Odes about your intention to refuse?”
“I refused, but he refused to listen to my answer and went back. I guess I’ll have to say no one more time before this trip ends.”
Alfonso had already figured out a way. He had no choice but to let him go.
“It’s better now that Philip has come to Trevero.”
“Yes? What do you mean?”
"I am."
Alfonso smiled.
“If Grand Duke Odes does not give me written assurance that the engagement or marriage between me and the Grand Duchess of Larriesa is untrue and that there is nothing between them, I will go to see my dear cousin, His Majesty King Philip IV, and ask after his well-being.”
Alfonso's smile, which was always kind, rarely showed a hint of mischief.
“Our cousin, Grand Duke Odes, who is a close associate of my cousin, has proposed to me that I should remove my brother and become the King of Gallico. I asked if my brother was in good health.”
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