“Your Holiness, it is truly a great achievement to have subdued the barbarians across the sea.”
Leo III praised the past Crusade and Pope Louis, who had led it until his mouth was dry.
“It will be remembered for a long time in the millennium of history of the Central Continent.”
Pope Ludovico could not hide the corners of his mouth rising.
No matter how seasoned a politician is, there are times when he can't control his expression, even though he knows it's just flattery.
“The advance that opened up a new world! Expansion of the world of Yesak to other continents!”
Leo III cried passionately. It had been a long time since he had cried at this age.
These days, the keyword that makes the hearts of all those in power in the Central Continent flutter is none other than ‘expansion to other continents.’
Everyone lost their minds just by hearing those words. Even Leo III became confused and intoxicated by the words that came out of his own mouth.
“You must also go to the next temple. The Holy City is still threatened in its hinterland. You must thoroughly wipe out the barbarians further inland, so that there are no more heretics left on the peninsula.”
At Leo III's words, Alfonso raised his head and looked at his father.
Blue-gray eyes were visible between his luscious blond hair. The way he was glaring at his father was not a good look.
'Are you trying to push me again?'
Leo III left all the troubles to the Prince and enjoyed the fruits himself.
He was the complete opposite of other monarchs, who took care of all the hard and dirty work and gave only the essentials to their sons.
The indulgences that Alfonso received from Trevero were also swallowed up by Leo III.
Of course, Prince Alfonso had no need for indulgences since he had received a special decree from the Pope remission of all his sins up to that point in recognition of his victory in the Crusades, but he hated what he hated.
The Prince had a puzzled expression, either because his hair was so bushy that he thought the girl couldn't see his eyes or because he didn't care whether she saw him or not.
But the Pope was essentially uninterested in what his vanguard thought.
It is the biological father who should take care of such things, not someone with a vested interest. Pope Ludovico shouted in a rage.
“Behind! That’s right!”
After Yesak, the Pope spent a long time talking about the power structure in the rest of the Hejaz peninsula.
“If the rear is comfortable, the future will be comfortable! If Prince Alfonso had been able to stay in the Hejaz Peninsula for three more years, he could have completely driven those infidels out of the peninsula!”
Ariadne bit the tip of her tongue as she was about to shout out loud that the old man was crazy. On the other hand, Cesare looked at the Pope with sparkling eyes.
Please, please take him back. It would be better if he died in battle. I won't be jealous even if you canonize me.
From this point on, Pope Louis began listing forty-eight reasons why he loved Prince Alfonso.
Most of it was sincere, but to some extent, it was just lip service to Leo III.
“The success of this crusade was also greatly due to the contribution of the King’s son! Prince Alfonso was so brave that the pagans of Yesak trembled just by looking at his black helmet. Hahahaha!”
“Alfonso Casco Nero. It reached my ears.”
Cardinal de Mare chimed in.
It was not the usual nods that one makes in social life, but a soulful agreement that contained excitement in restrained sentences. They say that a son-in-law's love is like that of a father-in-law.
However, the Pope, realizing that he had praised Prince Alfonso too much despite the large number of people who had participated in the crusade, secretly added the names of other people who had played a significant role in its success.
“Grand Duke Yuldenburg of the Duchy of Sternheim did a very good job as Commander-in-Chief even in difficult situations.”
Leo III accepted it with open arms. Today, he seems to have been born to agree.
“Yes, war is something that needs to be supported by military equipment and logistics.”
Leo III secretly turned the Gallico kingdom around, reminding them that they would have been much more successful if they had not been playing around with money and supplies.
The hatred of the Gallico kingdom and of Philip IV was a sentiment shared by all those in power at the time. They could all passionately agree.
Ludovico, elated by the constant influx of admiration and the feeling of keeping a common enemy in check, spoke of his plans.
“However, since he was not the type to be a field commander, he wasted a lot of the Crusaders’ capabilities while commanding from the rear, and it is said that his health has also deteriorated a lot lately.”
Ludovico's plans for the future were not going to last. This time, it was Prince Alfonso who intervened. Alfonso, who had been sitting awkwardly, straightened up and asked.
“Is the Grand Duke of Yuldenburg in poor health?”
Prince Alfonso corresponded frequently with the Grand Duke of Yuldenburg, but in their last letter, the Grand Duke did not say a word about his health.
“It seems like things have suddenly gotten worse. That’s what inflammation is.”
The Pope, as a privilege reserved for those who have endured poison, showed little sympathy for the condition of the Prince of Yuldenburg.
You collapsed from inflammation and other aftereffects of an accident. You seem like a weak friend.
“The Grand Duke's daughter is still very young, and the Grand Duke's health is not good, so there is much talk in that town. In the next holy war, no matter which side it is on, it will be difficult for the Duchy of Sternheim to participate.”
Instead of sympathizing, the Pope made predictions about the situation.
The Fifth Crusade will be carried out by completely different people, with both the spiritual leader, the Pope, and the actual leader, the Commander-in-Chief, being replaced.
He had already chosen his candidate for Pope, and his candidate for Commander-in-Chief was also before his eyes.
“We need a commander-in-chief who knows both the field and the rear! Prince Alfonso, you are the best for this job.”
Ariadne clenched her fists and trembled under the table. She was not at all pleased with her husband's compliments.
'Who are you trying to make a widow out of?'
Although there were occasional cases of wives accompanying the crusaders—usually the spouses of young men whose heirs were in dire need of a successor—Alfonso had to be crowned first in the capital.
Every trip abroad was something to think about later.
Cardinal de Mare was also a fellow student. He muttered to himself, 'Whoever wants it.' He was determined to have his son-in-law stationed in the capital.
Prince Alfonso himself was lukewarm.
“Thank you for your high praise...”
After barely ending the war and returning home, he was told to join the military again.
Moreover, leaving his beautiful wife, whom he had obtained after going through all kinds of hardships, in San Carlo, a place teeming with wolves—and, unfortunately, with a high probability, his relatives—wolves? He was not happy about any compliments he received.
Although it was a rave review intended to make others happy, Pope Ludovico's praise made no one happy.
Even Leo III, the object of praise, smiled back, but his smile was somewhat lukewarm.
Pope Louis, who was indifferent to the actions of his own men and subordinates, de Mare, de Mare's daughter, and Prince Alfonso, immediately caught the slightest sign of Leo III.
'Look at this?'
He finally glanced towards Prince Alfonso.
As soon as the Prince finished answering his questions, he went back to focusing solely on destroying the appetizer.
Eating without engaging in conversation is the gentlest way to tell the person dominating the table that you don't like it.
Pope Louis did not know that he was the one who had told his son to go to the army once more, but he sensed that his son was dissatisfied with his father.
Now this rich man is in a power struggle.
Rather than transferring power to his son, the father is keeping him in check, and the son, who has achieved enough, is not respected, so he is not only disappointed but has also given up on having any expectations of his father.
The Pope, who had roughly realized the situation, clicked his tongue at Leo III's greed.
'You're not going to live for a thousand years.'
He has a child and doesn't think about passing it on to him, and even though that child is Alfonso Castro Nero, he's doing this. He's a full-bellied bastard.
It was understandable that the Pope, who had adopted de Mare when he was old and had no successor, would have been annoyed.
However, it is impossible for the feelings of Pope Ludovico, who literally had his day to die, and Leo III, whose greatest concern these days was his health in old age, to be the same.
As the meal progressed, Leo III doggedly questioned Louis about his future plans.
He was so focused that he didn't even notice that the Pope barely ate his meals.
Leo III's creative approach was to capture the point where the Etruscan kingdom could bring in the most benefit with the least investment.
However, since Pope Louis was in no position to make long-term plans for the future, he could only give a vague answer.
“...There are also voices calling for a special pardon to be considered in celebration of the victory of the Fourth Crusade.”
“Are you talking about the Amnesty Act of Allemand?”
A lively voice intervened. It was Duke Cesare who had been happy all along.
“Talented young people are suffering under the limitations imposed by the system.”
Pope Ludovico smiled and looked at the young Duke. He did not answer a word. He only looked at Cesare with a warm expression, as if he were looking at the son of a friend.
Ariadne thought Pope Louis was truly generous.
How can you laugh off such an intrusive behavior? If she were the Pope, she would have opened the question by asking, 'Do you really think you have talent?'
But such a handsome young man was sure to be liked by the elders. Cesare, who enjoyed the benefit of first impressions, continued to talk with the Pope's approval.
“I think this is an opportunity for illegitimate children to devote their lives to their country and people rather than wasting their lives like vagabonds.”
Alfonso took a sip of white wine after hearing those words to hide the corners of his lips rising.
It was absurd to blame the system for his own lack of power. Alfonso was certain that even though Cesare was the eldest son, he was not a man who would have lived diligently.
“If you are born unfortunate, you have no incentive to devote yourself to self-improvement.”
Alfonso, who was born 180 degrees opposite to the unfortunate birth, but was dragged to the battlefield and forced to develop his abilities, just smiled.
If it were Raphael, he would have said something like, 'If it's true that he didn't have a chance to develop his abilities because he was an illegitimate child and didn't get drafted, then that's understandable,' but Alfonso was a more finite person than that.
Still, he couldn't hide his ridicule.
Fortunately, Cesare was so intently focused on Pope Ludovico that he could not see Alfonso's expression and continued talking.
“Illegitimate children have no opportunity to demonstrate their abilities.”
With the nonsense playing in the background, Alfonso looked over his glass of wine at the elegant, dark-haired beauty in the blue dress.
He raised his glass to her alone. A toast to the woman who had overcome all limits.
There was a woman who became the director of a relief center and was even granted the title of Countess, despite being an illegitimate child and not being allowed any space to display her abilities.
And Duke Cesare shamelessly criticized his own shortcomings as if they were the shortcomings of the group.
An ordinary person may despair that his path to public office is blocked.
But the person who would rise to the most noble position that Cesare was aiming for could not do that. The position of a monarch required overcoming any adversity.
Alfonso thought that Cesare was making a fool of himself. It was embarrassing to be lumped together with someone of the same royal lineage as him.
Cesare, too, would have quickly realized that he was being ridiculous and shut his mouth.
But he was intoxicated by the prospect of Pope Louis and the Allemand amnesty right under his nose.
And Leo III's decision to side with Cesare only served to further lull the King's eldest son into a deep trance.
“There is some truth to what the Duke of Pisano said.”
Leo III held a glass of white wine in his hand and smiled amiably. He drank the wine like water and still felt light. It was his only boast.
“I think that if someone has talent, I want to hire them regardless of their origin.”
The King pointed with his chin at Ariadne, who was sitting diagonally across from him.
“In the case of our Countess de Mare, I also saved her. How wonderful. She helped the poor with her young body.”
The expressions of everyone present, except Pope Louis, became ambiguous.
Ariadne and Cesare, of course, as well as Cardinal de Mare, who had seen the scene in real time, and Alfonso, who had heard about it later, all knew that Leo III had awarded Ariadne the countship because he wanted to have her as his second wife.
Of course, Leo III would be furious if he found out what they were thinking.
He had no other intention than to take her as his Queen to obtain her grain and gold, so it was right that he saw that woman's abilities. Yes, that's right.
The King continued speaking.
“The Allemand Law amnesty seems like a good policy. It maintains the foundation of society that protects families and the Virgin Mary, while temporarily releasing them and providing a way for talented people to find work.”
There was a remarkable change in Leo III's attitude, who had said that an illegitimate child was just an illegitimate child. Cesare's face brightened.
Leo III asked his firstborn the question he most wanted to ask.
“Will the Allemand Amnesty Act pass?”
Leo III praised the past Crusade and Pope Louis, who had led it until his mouth was dry.
“It will be remembered for a long time in the millennium of history of the Central Continent.”
Pope Ludovico could not hide the corners of his mouth rising.
No matter how seasoned a politician is, there are times when he can't control his expression, even though he knows it's just flattery.
“The advance that opened up a new world! Expansion of the world of Yesak to other continents!”
Leo III cried passionately. It had been a long time since he had cried at this age.
These days, the keyword that makes the hearts of all those in power in the Central Continent flutter is none other than ‘expansion to other continents.’
Everyone lost their minds just by hearing those words. Even Leo III became confused and intoxicated by the words that came out of his own mouth.
“You must also go to the next temple. The Holy City is still threatened in its hinterland. You must thoroughly wipe out the barbarians further inland, so that there are no more heretics left on the peninsula.”
At Leo III's words, Alfonso raised his head and looked at his father.
Blue-gray eyes were visible between his luscious blond hair. The way he was glaring at his father was not a good look.
'Are you trying to push me again?'
Leo III left all the troubles to the Prince and enjoyed the fruits himself.
He was the complete opposite of other monarchs, who took care of all the hard and dirty work and gave only the essentials to their sons.
The indulgences that Alfonso received from Trevero were also swallowed up by Leo III.
Of course, Prince Alfonso had no need for indulgences since he had received a special decree from the Pope remission of all his sins up to that point in recognition of his victory in the Crusades, but he hated what he hated.
The Prince had a puzzled expression, either because his hair was so bushy that he thought the girl couldn't see his eyes or because he didn't care whether she saw him or not.
But the Pope was essentially uninterested in what his vanguard thought.
It is the biological father who should take care of such things, not someone with a vested interest. Pope Ludovico shouted in a rage.
“Behind! That’s right!”
After Yesak, the Pope spent a long time talking about the power structure in the rest of the Hejaz peninsula.
“If the rear is comfortable, the future will be comfortable! If Prince Alfonso had been able to stay in the Hejaz Peninsula for three more years, he could have completely driven those infidels out of the peninsula!”
Ariadne bit the tip of her tongue as she was about to shout out loud that the old man was crazy. On the other hand, Cesare looked at the Pope with sparkling eyes.
Please, please take him back. It would be better if he died in battle. I won't be jealous even if you canonize me.
From this point on, Pope Louis began listing forty-eight reasons why he loved Prince Alfonso.
Most of it was sincere, but to some extent, it was just lip service to Leo III.
“The success of this crusade was also greatly due to the contribution of the King’s son! Prince Alfonso was so brave that the pagans of Yesak trembled just by looking at his black helmet. Hahahaha!”
“Alfonso Casco Nero. It reached my ears.”
Cardinal de Mare chimed in.
It was not the usual nods that one makes in social life, but a soulful agreement that contained excitement in restrained sentences. They say that a son-in-law's love is like that of a father-in-law.
However, the Pope, realizing that he had praised Prince Alfonso too much despite the large number of people who had participated in the crusade, secretly added the names of other people who had played a significant role in its success.
“Grand Duke Yuldenburg of the Duchy of Sternheim did a very good job as Commander-in-Chief even in difficult situations.”
Leo III accepted it with open arms. Today, he seems to have been born to agree.
“Yes, war is something that needs to be supported by military equipment and logistics.”
Leo III secretly turned the Gallico kingdom around, reminding them that they would have been much more successful if they had not been playing around with money and supplies.
The hatred of the Gallico kingdom and of Philip IV was a sentiment shared by all those in power at the time. They could all passionately agree.
Ludovico, elated by the constant influx of admiration and the feeling of keeping a common enemy in check, spoke of his plans.
“However, since he was not the type to be a field commander, he wasted a lot of the Crusaders’ capabilities while commanding from the rear, and it is said that his health has also deteriorated a lot lately.”
Ludovico's plans for the future were not going to last. This time, it was Prince Alfonso who intervened. Alfonso, who had been sitting awkwardly, straightened up and asked.
“Is the Grand Duke of Yuldenburg in poor health?”
Prince Alfonso corresponded frequently with the Grand Duke of Yuldenburg, but in their last letter, the Grand Duke did not say a word about his health.
“It seems like things have suddenly gotten worse. That’s what inflammation is.”
The Pope, as a privilege reserved for those who have endured poison, showed little sympathy for the condition of the Prince of Yuldenburg.
You collapsed from inflammation and other aftereffects of an accident. You seem like a weak friend.
“The Grand Duke's daughter is still very young, and the Grand Duke's health is not good, so there is much talk in that town. In the next holy war, no matter which side it is on, it will be difficult for the Duchy of Sternheim to participate.”
Instead of sympathizing, the Pope made predictions about the situation.
The Fifth Crusade will be carried out by completely different people, with both the spiritual leader, the Pope, and the actual leader, the Commander-in-Chief, being replaced.
He had already chosen his candidate for Pope, and his candidate for Commander-in-Chief was also before his eyes.
“We need a commander-in-chief who knows both the field and the rear! Prince Alfonso, you are the best for this job.”
Ariadne clenched her fists and trembled under the table. She was not at all pleased with her husband's compliments.
'Who are you trying to make a widow out of?'
Although there were occasional cases of wives accompanying the crusaders—usually the spouses of young men whose heirs were in dire need of a successor—Alfonso had to be crowned first in the capital.
Every trip abroad was something to think about later.
Cardinal de Mare was also a fellow student. He muttered to himself, 'Whoever wants it.' He was determined to have his son-in-law stationed in the capital.
Prince Alfonso himself was lukewarm.
“Thank you for your high praise...”
After barely ending the war and returning home, he was told to join the military again.
Moreover, leaving his beautiful wife, whom he had obtained after going through all kinds of hardships, in San Carlo, a place teeming with wolves—and, unfortunately, with a high probability, his relatives—wolves? He was not happy about any compliments he received.
Although it was a rave review intended to make others happy, Pope Ludovico's praise made no one happy.
Even Leo III, the object of praise, smiled back, but his smile was somewhat lukewarm.
Pope Louis, who was indifferent to the actions of his own men and subordinates, de Mare, de Mare's daughter, and Prince Alfonso, immediately caught the slightest sign of Leo III.
'Look at this?'
He finally glanced towards Prince Alfonso.
As soon as the Prince finished answering his questions, he went back to focusing solely on destroying the appetizer.
Eating without engaging in conversation is the gentlest way to tell the person dominating the table that you don't like it.
Pope Louis did not know that he was the one who had told his son to go to the army once more, but he sensed that his son was dissatisfied with his father.
Now this rich man is in a power struggle.
Rather than transferring power to his son, the father is keeping him in check, and the son, who has achieved enough, is not respected, so he is not only disappointed but has also given up on having any expectations of his father.
The Pope, who had roughly realized the situation, clicked his tongue at Leo III's greed.
'You're not going to live for a thousand years.'
He has a child and doesn't think about passing it on to him, and even though that child is Alfonso Castro Nero, he's doing this. He's a full-bellied bastard.
It was understandable that the Pope, who had adopted de Mare when he was old and had no successor, would have been annoyed.
However, it is impossible for the feelings of Pope Ludovico, who literally had his day to die, and Leo III, whose greatest concern these days was his health in old age, to be the same.
As the meal progressed, Leo III doggedly questioned Louis about his future plans.
He was so focused that he didn't even notice that the Pope barely ate his meals.
Leo III's creative approach was to capture the point where the Etruscan kingdom could bring in the most benefit with the least investment.
However, since Pope Louis was in no position to make long-term plans for the future, he could only give a vague answer.
“...There are also voices calling for a special pardon to be considered in celebration of the victory of the Fourth Crusade.”
“Are you talking about the Amnesty Act of Allemand?”
A lively voice intervened. It was Duke Cesare who had been happy all along.
“Talented young people are suffering under the limitations imposed by the system.”
Pope Ludovico smiled and looked at the young Duke. He did not answer a word. He only looked at Cesare with a warm expression, as if he were looking at the son of a friend.
Ariadne thought Pope Louis was truly generous.
How can you laugh off such an intrusive behavior? If she were the Pope, she would have opened the question by asking, 'Do you really think you have talent?'
But such a handsome young man was sure to be liked by the elders. Cesare, who enjoyed the benefit of first impressions, continued to talk with the Pope's approval.
“I think this is an opportunity for illegitimate children to devote their lives to their country and people rather than wasting their lives like vagabonds.”
Alfonso took a sip of white wine after hearing those words to hide the corners of his lips rising.
It was absurd to blame the system for his own lack of power. Alfonso was certain that even though Cesare was the eldest son, he was not a man who would have lived diligently.
“If you are born unfortunate, you have no incentive to devote yourself to self-improvement.”
Alfonso, who was born 180 degrees opposite to the unfortunate birth, but was dragged to the battlefield and forced to develop his abilities, just smiled.
If it were Raphael, he would have said something like, 'If it's true that he didn't have a chance to develop his abilities because he was an illegitimate child and didn't get drafted, then that's understandable,' but Alfonso was a more finite person than that.
Still, he couldn't hide his ridicule.
Fortunately, Cesare was so intently focused on Pope Ludovico that he could not see Alfonso's expression and continued talking.
“Illegitimate children have no opportunity to demonstrate their abilities.”
With the nonsense playing in the background, Alfonso looked over his glass of wine at the elegant, dark-haired beauty in the blue dress.
He raised his glass to her alone. A toast to the woman who had overcome all limits.
There was a woman who became the director of a relief center and was even granted the title of Countess, despite being an illegitimate child and not being allowed any space to display her abilities.
And Duke Cesare shamelessly criticized his own shortcomings as if they were the shortcomings of the group.
An ordinary person may despair that his path to public office is blocked.
But the person who would rise to the most noble position that Cesare was aiming for could not do that. The position of a monarch required overcoming any adversity.
Alfonso thought that Cesare was making a fool of himself. It was embarrassing to be lumped together with someone of the same royal lineage as him.
Cesare, too, would have quickly realized that he was being ridiculous and shut his mouth.
But he was intoxicated by the prospect of Pope Louis and the Allemand amnesty right under his nose.
And Leo III's decision to side with Cesare only served to further lull the King's eldest son into a deep trance.
“There is some truth to what the Duke of Pisano said.”
Leo III held a glass of white wine in his hand and smiled amiably. He drank the wine like water and still felt light. It was his only boast.
“I think that if someone has talent, I want to hire them regardless of their origin.”
The King pointed with his chin at Ariadne, who was sitting diagonally across from him.
“In the case of our Countess de Mare, I also saved her. How wonderful. She helped the poor with her young body.”
The expressions of everyone present, except Pope Louis, became ambiguous.
Ariadne and Cesare, of course, as well as Cardinal de Mare, who had seen the scene in real time, and Alfonso, who had heard about it later, all knew that Leo III had awarded Ariadne the countship because he wanted to have her as his second wife.
Of course, Leo III would be furious if he found out what they were thinking.
He had no other intention than to take her as his Queen to obtain her grain and gold, so it was right that he saw that woman's abilities. Yes, that's right.
The King continued speaking.
“The Allemand Law amnesty seems like a good policy. It maintains the foundation of society that protects families and the Virgin Mary, while temporarily releasing them and providing a way for talented people to find work.”
There was a remarkable change in Leo III's attitude, who had said that an illegitimate child was just an illegitimate child. Cesare's face brightened.
Leo III asked his firstborn the question he most wanted to ask.
“Will the Allemand Amnesty Act pass?”
Support Novellate!
Comments
Post a Comment