“Why...? There’s Princess Julia Helena.”
In fact, the biggest mistake Sir Delpiano made was not being listed on Clemente de Bartolini's never-ending list of men.
One out of a hundred people didn't even show up. Just as jaywalking and theft from a stable are no problem when a hundred people gather, the responsibility was diluted, and Count Bartolini was in no position to do anything to Lord Delpiano personally.
The real problem was the marriage alliance document with Manchike, which he had sent out thinking it would be okay.
'A clause stating that the Princess would be welcomed as a Principessa of the Etruscan kingdom within six months...'
The clause included a provision for damages. Leo III received about 10 percent of Julia Helena's dowry as a deposit in advance. The marriage contract stipulated that if the contract was not carried out as agreed, he would have to pay back five times that amount.
'It was a clause that was included because I was worried that it wouldn't happen within 6 months due to the precedent of the Grand Duchess of Lariesa, but I didn't know that the Principessa itself wouldn't happen...'
Leo III signed with enthusiasm, saying, "Why should I break my promise?", but there are things that even a King cannot do as he pleases. This was especially true when it came to his children.
'You are not the kind of person who would spit out 36,000 ducats from your mouth to His Majesty Leo III.'
If he did not want to ask for money, the King had only two options: either take Princess Julia Helena as his adopted daughter or somehow marry her off to a man who could earn the title of Principessa.
'Taking her in as an adopted daughter is absolutely not an option His Majesty the King would choose.'
Delpiano knew Leo III very well. An ordinary monarch would not take an adopted daughter or an adopted son, even if it meant holding a sword to his neck. He was afraid that the succession plan would become entangled, and a war for the right of succession might break out.
But the reason he's sure Leo III wouldn't even consider the option of adopting the Princess as his daughter was not because the King was worried about the succession, but because if the Princess were a daughter, he would have to send her off to another man with her dowry intact.
'Marquis Synadenos would never agree to allowing the Princess to become the second wife of His Majesty Leo III.'
In that case, the only thing left was to force the marriage with Prince Alfonso, or to give the Princess the title of Princessa and give her to Cesare. When Lord Delpiano compared the stubbornness of Leo III and Prince Alfonso, he predicted that the Prince would win this game.
“I believe we will have good news from Duke Cesare soon. Please wait.”
Rubina's face brightened. In a way, it was a warning not to act rashly, but the reason she could be so happy after hearing such words was because of the large number of cases, and also because Rubina had a strong side.
In any case, a new path had opened up for Rubina. A mother of a Grand Duke with a strong daughter-in-law and a right to the throne. She was determined to grab this with all her might.
But the long and the short of it is to be seen. Sir Delpiano's prediction was only half right.
Although it was true that Leo III had no intention of adopting Princess Julia Helena as his own daughter, the King decided to try to persuade Prince Alfonso one more time before offering Duke Cesare as his wife.
It was purely a display of stubbornness. Leo III never considered himself inferior to his son in terms of stubbornness.
“Alfonso.”
The Prince, who was about to wash up and head to his wife's house, ran into his father on his way out. Leo III had not been on friendly terms with his son lately.
“...Father.”
The Prince immediately realized the business of his father, who rarely appeared. Calling him “father” instead of “Your Majesty” was his last act of filial piety. The father also realized that his son had noticed his intentions. Leo III did not give up, however. He had already been caught, so he threw away his friendly behavior and got straight to the point.
“Prince. Think again about marrying Princess Julia Helena.”
Alfonso's face distorted at the change of title, but Leo III thought he had made a huge concession. Instead of saying "Marry now," he said, "Think about it." Wasn't that an incredibly anti-authoritarian order for a King? He felt a little bit at a loss, intoxicated by his own easygoing self, and continued talking.
“Princess Julia Helena not only has the rightful succession rights to the Kingdom of Dodesa and the Manchike Marquisate, but also possesses the bloodline to rebuild the royal family of the Central Continent.”
“Isn’t this a bright apricot?”
Alfonso answered with a stiff expression.
“Although the Kingdom of Gallico is suffering from internal strife, the Montpellier heavy cavalry is still intact, and there are also disturbances in the Duchy of Assereto. The Etruscan Kingdom is not in a position to engage in a war of conquest anytime soon.”
Leo III felt something rising in his stomach. It was extremely presumptuous of him, a man who was not even a King, to dare to discuss the situation in neighboring countries.
The order to go on an expedition was entirely at his discretion. The Prince had merely laid out the objective circumstances, but the old King felt that this was an infringement on his authority. However, Leo III, with his superhuman patience, decided to try to appease his son once more.
“That’s true for those who can’t eat! But for you, it’s a claim that can actually be realized! You don’t have to go right away. You can do it in 10 years, in 15 years, or even in your children’s generation.”
When the topic of children came up, Alfonso thought of Ariadne's body, which had changed subtly. Children. If there were children between him and Ari, he would be even more unable to compromise.
Alfonso's lips were pulled firmly. Leo III, oblivious to the change in his son, continued to mumble.
“Think about it, would you accept this marriage from Gallico, where there is only an army, or would you go to recover the land of Dodessa from a weak country like Brunnen? Neither Salamanta, Gredo, nor Toulleur is worth a penny!”
“Wouldn’t things be different there in 15 years?”
“How can the barn situation change so quickly?”
Leo III turned his words, which he had said three minutes earlier, "It is possible in the next generation as well," over and over again.
“If it’s the Republic of Porto, then the navy is strong, so the national power is possible, but those guys are just commoners! Even if a Princess rolls in, who are you going to marry her to, elected Marshal?”
“Father, we don’t have a navy, and we don’t have the physical strength to undertake an intercontinental expedition.”
“What the heck are you? You don’t have the fighting spirit to do it!”
Leo III was very upset.
“What do you gain by going against me like this?”
Prince Alfonso answered in a flat tone.
“I’m not doing this to disobey you, Father. What you’re asking of me is something I can’t give you.”
“Why can’t you listen? Just close your eyes and get married!”
Leo III eventually revealed his true feelings.
“Is it because of that pretty girl?”
The corners of the Prince's mouth rose slightly and then fell.
He knew very well that his father did not think of his wife as 'just a woman'.
She was the woman that his father himself had considered as a possible wife. Leo III's current intention to belittle Ariadne may be due to his anger over what he did not have.
Alfonso did not reveal this to Leo III openly. It was not in his nature to do so. But Leo III was sensitive enough to read much more information from the little corners of his mouth than his son had intended.
“I know very well that you are crazy about women and have abandoned your filial piety towards your father!”
Alfonso let out a long sigh.
“Father, she is not just any woman. She is the person I love.”
“I know very well that you are loyal to your master and that you are crazy about women and are trying to throw them away!”
The Prince's brow furrowed. This was a more practical matter than abstract filial piety. If it had been Alfonso in the past, he would have been busy comforting his father, who was talking about filial piety, but the current Alfonso only consoled the King when it came to loyalty issues that could escalate into political issues.
“Your Majesty, how could my loyalty waver? I have fought in the war for my country.”
“Ugh...!”
“But she is my wife, whom I have sworn before the gods. My loyalty to the country and to Your Majesty, its incarnation, is unwavering, but I also must keep my oath to the gods.”
There was no room for logical reasoning. The King ended up raising his voice.
“This is disloyalty! Disobedience! You just talk too much, aren’t you rebelling?”
Alfonso kept his mouth shut. His priorities were clear. If his married life with his wife was disloyal to his father, then there was nothing he could do. He had no choice but to become disloyal.
Alfonso glanced down the corridor behind the King. Leo III turned white with rage as he realized his son was rolling his eyes and preparing to leave.
“If this is how it goes, let’s see what I can do to you!”
Alfonso looked at his father in disbelief. Am I really his son? Leo III shouted without paying attention.
“Your magnificent palace budget, it’s all money that comes out of my pocket! If you don’t obey me, I won’t give you a single penny!”
It was a shocking story. Alfonso asked, dumbfounded by the King's increasingly absurd words.
“Father, you know that all of that goes towards the upkeep of the Knights, right?”
“Stop whining! I don’t need your knights!”
“Your Majesty! The Black Helmet Knights are the only standing army the Etruscan Kingdom has.”
"Lie!"
Leo III shouted.
“The kingdom has a knight guard, a guard of 4,000 men!”
The guards were more of a palace guard and ceremonial force than a viable military force. Moreover, most of the 4,000 were guards, and the guard knights were only used to give titles to the sons of nobles.
It was by no means a significant force in the war. Leo III knew that what he was saying was nonsense, but he gathered whatever he could to win.
“Just make it new! What can’t be done with money? Just make it with Princess Julia Helena’s dowry, just make it with my own money and my own hands!”
Princess Julia Helena brought 72,000 ducats of gold and half that amount of jewels as a dowry. Her personal clothing, silks, cosmetics, and horses were separate. Leo III had already spent 7,200 ducats, which was 10% of the total cash. The King did not have 36,000 ducats to return to the princess when the marriage was dissolved.
“So go confess your love to the Princess and get some money, you useless thing!”
Leo III was terribly displeased with the fact that he had nearly 100,000 ducats right in front of him, but could not touch them. With the marriage to Alfonso, Princess Julia Helena's dowry would be transferred to the treasury. The Prince sighed.
“You treat me like a stallion.”
“Being born a man is the best treatment!”
"Oh my god."
Leo III, who was 100% willing to take the position if Princess Julia Helena would only give her permission, could not understand why Alfonso refused to do so. He began to truly believe that his son had brought Countess de Mare against him.
“I’m warning you for the last time. Listen to me right now, break up with that horrible woman, and marry Princess Manchike.”
“It’s difficult.”
Boom!
Leo III stamped his feet in anger.
“A guy who doesn’t even know what’s important!”
A corrupted young man who has forgotten his father, his country, and his people, all because he was bewitched by the black-haired siren!
“Just watch how I make your life a living hell!”
The old King scolded his own son, who risked his life for the country and fought on the battlefield. He walked toward the King's quarters, snorting. The King called out to people while shouting.
“Hey, listen!”
In fact, the biggest mistake Sir Delpiano made was not being listed on Clemente de Bartolini's never-ending list of men.
One out of a hundred people didn't even show up. Just as jaywalking and theft from a stable are no problem when a hundred people gather, the responsibility was diluted, and Count Bartolini was in no position to do anything to Lord Delpiano personally.
The real problem was the marriage alliance document with Manchike, which he had sent out thinking it would be okay.
'A clause stating that the Princess would be welcomed as a Principessa of the Etruscan kingdom within six months...'
The clause included a provision for damages. Leo III received about 10 percent of Julia Helena's dowry as a deposit in advance. The marriage contract stipulated that if the contract was not carried out as agreed, he would have to pay back five times that amount.
'It was a clause that was included because I was worried that it wouldn't happen within 6 months due to the precedent of the Grand Duchess of Lariesa, but I didn't know that the Principessa itself wouldn't happen...'
Leo III signed with enthusiasm, saying, "Why should I break my promise?", but there are things that even a King cannot do as he pleases. This was especially true when it came to his children.
'You are not the kind of person who would spit out 36,000 ducats from your mouth to His Majesty Leo III.'
If he did not want to ask for money, the King had only two options: either take Princess Julia Helena as his adopted daughter or somehow marry her off to a man who could earn the title of Principessa.
'Taking her in as an adopted daughter is absolutely not an option His Majesty the King would choose.'
Delpiano knew Leo III very well. An ordinary monarch would not take an adopted daughter or an adopted son, even if it meant holding a sword to his neck. He was afraid that the succession plan would become entangled, and a war for the right of succession might break out.
But the reason he's sure Leo III wouldn't even consider the option of adopting the Princess as his daughter was not because the King was worried about the succession, but because if the Princess were a daughter, he would have to send her off to another man with her dowry intact.
'Marquis Synadenos would never agree to allowing the Princess to become the second wife of His Majesty Leo III.'
In that case, the only thing left was to force the marriage with Prince Alfonso, or to give the Princess the title of Princessa and give her to Cesare. When Lord Delpiano compared the stubbornness of Leo III and Prince Alfonso, he predicted that the Prince would win this game.
“I believe we will have good news from Duke Cesare soon. Please wait.”
Rubina's face brightened. In a way, it was a warning not to act rashly, but the reason she could be so happy after hearing such words was because of the large number of cases, and also because Rubina had a strong side.
In any case, a new path had opened up for Rubina. A mother of a Grand Duke with a strong daughter-in-law and a right to the throne. She was determined to grab this with all her might.
***
But the long and the short of it is to be seen. Sir Delpiano's prediction was only half right.
Although it was true that Leo III had no intention of adopting Princess Julia Helena as his own daughter, the King decided to try to persuade Prince Alfonso one more time before offering Duke Cesare as his wife.
It was purely a display of stubbornness. Leo III never considered himself inferior to his son in terms of stubbornness.
“Alfonso.”
The Prince, who was about to wash up and head to his wife's house, ran into his father on his way out. Leo III had not been on friendly terms with his son lately.
“...Father.”
The Prince immediately realized the business of his father, who rarely appeared. Calling him “father” instead of “Your Majesty” was his last act of filial piety. The father also realized that his son had noticed his intentions. Leo III did not give up, however. He had already been caught, so he threw away his friendly behavior and got straight to the point.
“Prince. Think again about marrying Princess Julia Helena.”
Alfonso's face distorted at the change of title, but Leo III thought he had made a huge concession. Instead of saying "Marry now," he said, "Think about it." Wasn't that an incredibly anti-authoritarian order for a King? He felt a little bit at a loss, intoxicated by his own easygoing self, and continued talking.
“Princess Julia Helena not only has the rightful succession rights to the Kingdom of Dodesa and the Manchike Marquisate, but also possesses the bloodline to rebuild the royal family of the Central Continent.”
“Isn’t this a bright apricot?”
Alfonso answered with a stiff expression.
“Although the Kingdom of Gallico is suffering from internal strife, the Montpellier heavy cavalry is still intact, and there are also disturbances in the Duchy of Assereto. The Etruscan Kingdom is not in a position to engage in a war of conquest anytime soon.”
Leo III felt something rising in his stomach. It was extremely presumptuous of him, a man who was not even a King, to dare to discuss the situation in neighboring countries.
The order to go on an expedition was entirely at his discretion. The Prince had merely laid out the objective circumstances, but the old King felt that this was an infringement on his authority. However, Leo III, with his superhuman patience, decided to try to appease his son once more.
“That’s true for those who can’t eat! But for you, it’s a claim that can actually be realized! You don’t have to go right away. You can do it in 10 years, in 15 years, or even in your children’s generation.”
When the topic of children came up, Alfonso thought of Ariadne's body, which had changed subtly. Children. If there were children between him and Ari, he would be even more unable to compromise.
Alfonso's lips were pulled firmly. Leo III, oblivious to the change in his son, continued to mumble.
“Think about it, would you accept this marriage from Gallico, where there is only an army, or would you go to recover the land of Dodessa from a weak country like Brunnen? Neither Salamanta, Gredo, nor Toulleur is worth a penny!”
“Wouldn’t things be different there in 15 years?”
“How can the barn situation change so quickly?”
Leo III turned his words, which he had said three minutes earlier, "It is possible in the next generation as well," over and over again.
“If it’s the Republic of Porto, then the navy is strong, so the national power is possible, but those guys are just commoners! Even if a Princess rolls in, who are you going to marry her to, elected Marshal?”
“Father, we don’t have a navy, and we don’t have the physical strength to undertake an intercontinental expedition.”
“What the heck are you? You don’t have the fighting spirit to do it!”
Leo III was very upset.
“What do you gain by going against me like this?”
Prince Alfonso answered in a flat tone.
“I’m not doing this to disobey you, Father. What you’re asking of me is something I can’t give you.”
“Why can’t you listen? Just close your eyes and get married!”
Leo III eventually revealed his true feelings.
“Is it because of that pretty girl?”
The corners of the Prince's mouth rose slightly and then fell.
He knew very well that his father did not think of his wife as 'just a woman'.
She was the woman that his father himself had considered as a possible wife. Leo III's current intention to belittle Ariadne may be due to his anger over what he did not have.
Alfonso did not reveal this to Leo III openly. It was not in his nature to do so. But Leo III was sensitive enough to read much more information from the little corners of his mouth than his son had intended.
“I know very well that you are crazy about women and have abandoned your filial piety towards your father!”
Alfonso let out a long sigh.
“Father, she is not just any woman. She is the person I love.”
“I know very well that you are loyal to your master and that you are crazy about women and are trying to throw them away!”
The Prince's brow furrowed. This was a more practical matter than abstract filial piety. If it had been Alfonso in the past, he would have been busy comforting his father, who was talking about filial piety, but the current Alfonso only consoled the King when it came to loyalty issues that could escalate into political issues.
“Your Majesty, how could my loyalty waver? I have fought in the war for my country.”
“Ugh...!”
“But she is my wife, whom I have sworn before the gods. My loyalty to the country and to Your Majesty, its incarnation, is unwavering, but I also must keep my oath to the gods.”
There was no room for logical reasoning. The King ended up raising his voice.
“This is disloyalty! Disobedience! You just talk too much, aren’t you rebelling?”
Alfonso kept his mouth shut. His priorities were clear. If his married life with his wife was disloyal to his father, then there was nothing he could do. He had no choice but to become disloyal.
Alfonso glanced down the corridor behind the King. Leo III turned white with rage as he realized his son was rolling his eyes and preparing to leave.
“If this is how it goes, let’s see what I can do to you!”
Alfonso looked at his father in disbelief. Am I really his son? Leo III shouted without paying attention.
“Your magnificent palace budget, it’s all money that comes out of my pocket! If you don’t obey me, I won’t give you a single penny!”
It was a shocking story. Alfonso asked, dumbfounded by the King's increasingly absurd words.
“Father, you know that all of that goes towards the upkeep of the Knights, right?”
“Stop whining! I don’t need your knights!”
“Your Majesty! The Black Helmet Knights are the only standing army the Etruscan Kingdom has.”
"Lie!"
Leo III shouted.
“The kingdom has a knight guard, a guard of 4,000 men!”
The guards were more of a palace guard and ceremonial force than a viable military force. Moreover, most of the 4,000 were guards, and the guard knights were only used to give titles to the sons of nobles.
It was by no means a significant force in the war. Leo III knew that what he was saying was nonsense, but he gathered whatever he could to win.
“Just make it new! What can’t be done with money? Just make it with Princess Julia Helena’s dowry, just make it with my own money and my own hands!”
Princess Julia Helena brought 72,000 ducats of gold and half that amount of jewels as a dowry. Her personal clothing, silks, cosmetics, and horses were separate. Leo III had already spent 7,200 ducats, which was 10% of the total cash. The King did not have 36,000 ducats to return to the princess when the marriage was dissolved.
“So go confess your love to the Princess and get some money, you useless thing!”
Leo III was terribly displeased with the fact that he had nearly 100,000 ducats right in front of him, but could not touch them. With the marriage to Alfonso, Princess Julia Helena's dowry would be transferred to the treasury. The Prince sighed.
“You treat me like a stallion.”
“Being born a man is the best treatment!”
"Oh my god."
Leo III, who was 100% willing to take the position if Princess Julia Helena would only give her permission, could not understand why Alfonso refused to do so. He began to truly believe that his son had brought Countess de Mare against him.
“I’m warning you for the last time. Listen to me right now, break up with that horrible woman, and marry Princess Manchike.”
“It’s difficult.”
Boom!
Leo III stamped his feet in anger.
“A guy who doesn’t even know what’s important!”
A corrupted young man who has forgotten his father, his country, and his people, all because he was bewitched by the black-haired siren!
“Just watch how I make your life a living hell!”
The old King scolded his own son, who risked his life for the country and fought on the battlefield. He walked toward the King's quarters, snorting. The King called out to people while shouting.
“Hey, listen!”
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