The citizen representative shouted as if spitting blood.
"Bandits are rampant across the border and even inland. I've repeatedly appealed to His Majesty the King for help through various local lords, but I've received no response!"
The Citizens' Representatives were those who engaged in overland trade with the Porto Republic and the Gallico Kingdom in the northeastern part of the Etruscan kingdom. This was a smaller-scale overland version of the Unaisola, which was based in the central west and engaged in maritime trade before becoming independent from the existing lords.
“It has been a common occurrence in the past for the Acereto people to sneak their ships and pillage the coast without revealing their nationality.”
Between the Etruscan kingdom and the Principality of Asseretto lay countless uninhabited islands, each claimed by the other but whose exact ownership remained unclear. On some of these islands, Etruscans and Asseretto, whose identities are unclear, landed and transformed them into inhabited islands.
However, none of these islands was fertile. Those who infiltrated them were almost always pirates, raiding the fertile coasts of the Etruscan kingdom during harvest season. The Etruscans firmly believed they were 100% pure Acereto.
"They never really came inland. But these days, perhaps because the food along the coast has run out, they've been crawling inland down the river, plundering not only merchants but even ordinary farmers!"
The convergence of merchants who had previously been scattered along the coast, engaging in maritime trade, at Unaisola played a significant role. As merchants gathered in Unaisola, nestled in the middle of a swamp, built walls, and began traveling in groups, maritime traders ceased to be easy prey for pirates. Coastal pirates swarmed inland in search of softer, easier prey.
“Is it certain that the report has reached His Majesty?”
Alfonso briefly entertained a hopeful thought. Perhaps the local lords, vying among themselves, had simply neglected to report to the central government. He hoped Leo III wouldn't be so desperate as to ignore even a foreign invasion.
But the words of the citizen representative shattered his expectations without a doubt.
"Yes, Your Highness. I have made requests to His Majesty at least three times, through Count Baljo, Count Dellatorre, and Marquis Montefeltro."
Even if the Counts of Baljo and Montefeltro weren't the only ones, they were quite upright men. This means they possessed the character to not omit urgent local issues from their reports to the central government simply because they didn't directly impact their own interests.
“His Majesty has never once responded.”
Alfonso let out a low groan. Where on earth was His Majesty spending all the national budget, that he couldn't even address national defense? The King was even relying on the budget allocated to the Prince's Palace to sustain the Knights of the Black Helmet. If the King were to truly cut off the Palace's budget, Leo III would have a significant amount of money left over. He answered gravely.
“Don’t you know that I can’t move?”
A look of despair crossed the citizen's face. But it was true. Despite the presence of knights ready to deploy, the Prince couldn't move. The moment he deployed them, Leo III's courage would explode. The citizen's representative bowed his head and pleaded.
“Your Highness. We have no choice but to simply look toward the center and pray...!”
There were local lords, including the Marquis of Montefeltro, who operated small private armies. However, they were limited to protecting the inner territories of their own domains, unable to protect the trading groups that traveled between them.
“...I am well aware of your situation. I will personally request His Majesty to look into the situation in the northeast.”
A look of relief crossed the merchant's face. But Prince Alfonso, who knew the full story, looked at the citizen representative with a gloomy expression.
There was no guarantee that his words would resonate with Leo III any more than those of the Marquis of Montefeltro or the Count of Dellatorre. Indeed, it would be fortunate if they didn't backfire.
After the citizen representative withdrew, Prince Alfonso let out a long sigh. A situation was unfolding in which he could neither come to the forefront nor not.
The capital's social scene was unusually vibrant. Interesting rumors abounded, and now there was work to be done.
After Prince Alfonso's return, the aristocracy continued to struggle over which side to take. However, there was no significant discord between the King and the Prince. The Prince generally humbled himself and largely accommodated the King.
So, it was rather ambiguous to raise the flag behind the Prince. It was unclear whether Prince Alfonso had the will to break away from Leo III and establish his own power base. Until then, he had only passively encouraged the Prince's confidants, such as Sir Manfredi and Sir Desilio, who were from noble families, to foster closer ties between their families.
This calm before the storm ended with the Prince's secret marriage and its grand publicity. The King and his heir began to squabble openly, and the aristocracy began to openly debate which side would be advantageous.
“Count Pinatelli sent the finest chamomile flowers to the Prince’s palace.”
“Oh my, already?”
“Miss Colonna, Count Pinatelli is already a step too late!”
At all the salons and tea parties, stories were secretly spread about who sent what where and who saw whom.
"Countess Baljo, did you send a gift? If so, to which side?"
Countess Baljo simply smiled awkwardly when asked the question. She had already sent a gift to Countess Ariadne of the Prince's Palace, but she didn't want to reveal her secrets to anyone else. Instead, she asked a question.
“Someone sends a gift to Countess Contarini, Marchioness Salvati?”
“Oh my, I thought Countess Baljo would have sent it since you were close to Countess Contarini!”
The Marquis of Salvati laughed heartily. Countess Baljo, who had once been a member of the Silver Cross Society with Isabella, covered her mouth with her fan, faked a smile, and glared at the Marchioness with cold eyes.
She loathed those who would look at other people's cards while neglecting their own. Furthermore, the fact that she was intimate with the King's "pure" mistress... was an unacceptable insult to the deeply religious Countess Baljo.
“I only volunteered with her for a short time.”
"Still. Volunteering is hard, but the camaraderie we build together during difficult times is truly the real deal!"
The Marchioness Salvati, who had been deeply attached to the Countess of Baljo, saw this as the perfect opportunity to link her with Isabella. The Countess of Baljo muttered to herself in anger.
'You're the one who slept with the dwarf!'
However, even those who weren't as religious as the Countess of Baljo sent gifts to the Prince's palace, not to Isabella, who lay ailing in the King's quarters. This wasn't necessarily due to an aversion to women engaging in extramarital affairs. Other tea parties in the capital were discussing the same thing.
“Really? No one sent her? No one here?”
“With all the sympathy going around, I thought they would send one of her.”
“Yes, Marchioness of Montefeltro. But you said you felt sorry for Countess Contarini.”
The old Marchioness of Montefeltro, who had sent Ariadne a gift, smiled sheepishly. The elderly Marchioness was displeased with Prince Alfonso's behavior. It was an anxiety projected onto her own son.
"How could a son defy his father, marry on his own, and declare it? It's irresponsible, considering the issue of heirs. If you're blinded by women...?"
The old Marchioness was dissatisfied that her son, Petruchio, was completely infatuated with his new young wife, Gabriele—at least by her standards.
‘I have to think about my children too, not being dragged around by my daughter-in-law... That’s why I have to maintain discipline in the house...’
But it was one thing to dislike Prince Alfonso's actions, and another thing entirely to have the Marchioness of Montefeltro stand behind Countess Isabella Contarini.
“No, there’s a difference between being pitiful and that...”
Countess Contarini, a new government figure who rose to fame like a comet, died after only a few days in office. The King was currently in a state of flux, but it was unclear how long his favor would last.
“You say she has a large scar on her face? Will His Majesty continue to keep Countess Contarini in the palace?”
"Is a scar on her face a problem? If you get hit like that, you'll die."
“Has there been any word yet on what has become of Countess Contarini?”
“They said she’s been locked up and sick ever since, so no one has seen her yet.”
“By any chance... aren’t you cleaning up the body?”
"Surely, if that were the case, they would have announced it. It's not something to hide, right?"
"That's right. If Countess Contarini dies, the stakeholders will have a clearer mind, and no one will be harmed."
Isabella, if she survived, could never know when she would be replaced by another woman. That's why the ladies of high society, even with Leo III's attention, couldn't bet on Isabella.
Besides, it was clear as day that if he stood behind Countess Contarini, the Grand Duchess Rubina would not remain silent.
“I heard that the Grand Duchess Rubina also sent a gift to Countess de Mare, Marquis Cepinelli?”
The Marchioness Cepinelli, who had become the new chief maid of honor to the Grand Duchess Rubina, smiled awkwardly.
“Ohhoho, ohhohoho. When did the rumor get that far?”
This was a real positive. She ended up getting caught by the socialite hyenas about Rubina sending Ariadne a gift.
The fact that information that could have been used as a tactic was so easily leaked was not only because the Marchioness de Cepinelli wasn't particularly skilled in social relations, but also because she desperately tried to hide it, as it wasn't her business. Rubina had always been unlucky.
“Oh my, the Grand Duchess has made up her mind.”
“We would appreciate it if you would do that.”
"Her highness the Grand Duchess, isn't she secretly good at politics? In times like these, she should be able to lead with a firm hand and give her a firm hand."
Rubina's compliments poured in from all sides, a dance of courtship, begging her to convey them to the March de Cepinelli herself.
Someone asked cautiously.
“But, won’t His Majesty be offended?”
This was something they hadn't considered. The ladies of high society assumed that Isabella, who had caused such a huge accident and was also a beautiful woman, would naturally be ousted.
"That's right. The Prince's palace is overflowing with gifts, while Countess Contarini's quarters are empty. It's unpleasant to see that."
“If you misinterpret that, it could seem like the nobles are supporting Prince Alfonso rather than His Majesty the King.”
Another person asked back.
“What if he decides to keep Countess Contarini?”
"Bandits are rampant across the border and even inland. I've repeatedly appealed to His Majesty the King for help through various local lords, but I've received no response!"
The Citizens' Representatives were those who engaged in overland trade with the Porto Republic and the Gallico Kingdom in the northeastern part of the Etruscan kingdom. This was a smaller-scale overland version of the Unaisola, which was based in the central west and engaged in maritime trade before becoming independent from the existing lords.
“It has been a common occurrence in the past for the Acereto people to sneak their ships and pillage the coast without revealing their nationality.”
Between the Etruscan kingdom and the Principality of Asseretto lay countless uninhabited islands, each claimed by the other but whose exact ownership remained unclear. On some of these islands, Etruscans and Asseretto, whose identities are unclear, landed and transformed them into inhabited islands.
However, none of these islands was fertile. Those who infiltrated them were almost always pirates, raiding the fertile coasts of the Etruscan kingdom during harvest season. The Etruscans firmly believed they were 100% pure Acereto.
"They never really came inland. But these days, perhaps because the food along the coast has run out, they've been crawling inland down the river, plundering not only merchants but even ordinary farmers!"
The convergence of merchants who had previously been scattered along the coast, engaging in maritime trade, at Unaisola played a significant role. As merchants gathered in Unaisola, nestled in the middle of a swamp, built walls, and began traveling in groups, maritime traders ceased to be easy prey for pirates. Coastal pirates swarmed inland in search of softer, easier prey.
“Is it certain that the report has reached His Majesty?”
Alfonso briefly entertained a hopeful thought. Perhaps the local lords, vying among themselves, had simply neglected to report to the central government. He hoped Leo III wouldn't be so desperate as to ignore even a foreign invasion.
But the words of the citizen representative shattered his expectations without a doubt.
"Yes, Your Highness. I have made requests to His Majesty at least three times, through Count Baljo, Count Dellatorre, and Marquis Montefeltro."
Even if the Counts of Baljo and Montefeltro weren't the only ones, they were quite upright men. This means they possessed the character to not omit urgent local issues from their reports to the central government simply because they didn't directly impact their own interests.
“His Majesty has never once responded.”
Alfonso let out a low groan. Where on earth was His Majesty spending all the national budget, that he couldn't even address national defense? The King was even relying on the budget allocated to the Prince's Palace to sustain the Knights of the Black Helmet. If the King were to truly cut off the Palace's budget, Leo III would have a significant amount of money left over. He answered gravely.
“Don’t you know that I can’t move?”
A look of despair crossed the citizen's face. But it was true. Despite the presence of knights ready to deploy, the Prince couldn't move. The moment he deployed them, Leo III's courage would explode. The citizen's representative bowed his head and pleaded.
“Your Highness. We have no choice but to simply look toward the center and pray...!”
There were local lords, including the Marquis of Montefeltro, who operated small private armies. However, they were limited to protecting the inner territories of their own domains, unable to protect the trading groups that traveled between them.
“...I am well aware of your situation. I will personally request His Majesty to look into the situation in the northeast.”
A look of relief crossed the merchant's face. But Prince Alfonso, who knew the full story, looked at the citizen representative with a gloomy expression.
There was no guarantee that his words would resonate with Leo III any more than those of the Marquis of Montefeltro or the Count of Dellatorre. Indeed, it would be fortunate if they didn't backfire.
After the citizen representative withdrew, Prince Alfonso let out a long sigh. A situation was unfolding in which he could neither come to the forefront nor not.
***
The capital's social scene was unusually vibrant. Interesting rumors abounded, and now there was work to be done.
After Prince Alfonso's return, the aristocracy continued to struggle over which side to take. However, there was no significant discord between the King and the Prince. The Prince generally humbled himself and largely accommodated the King.
So, it was rather ambiguous to raise the flag behind the Prince. It was unclear whether Prince Alfonso had the will to break away from Leo III and establish his own power base. Until then, he had only passively encouraged the Prince's confidants, such as Sir Manfredi and Sir Desilio, who were from noble families, to foster closer ties between their families.
This calm before the storm ended with the Prince's secret marriage and its grand publicity. The King and his heir began to squabble openly, and the aristocracy began to openly debate which side would be advantageous.
“Count Pinatelli sent the finest chamomile flowers to the Prince’s palace.”
“Oh my, already?”
“Miss Colonna, Count Pinatelli is already a step too late!”
At all the salons and tea parties, stories were secretly spread about who sent what where and who saw whom.
"Countess Baljo, did you send a gift? If so, to which side?"
Countess Baljo simply smiled awkwardly when asked the question. She had already sent a gift to Countess Ariadne of the Prince's Palace, but she didn't want to reveal her secrets to anyone else. Instead, she asked a question.
“Someone sends a gift to Countess Contarini, Marchioness Salvati?”
“Oh my, I thought Countess Baljo would have sent it since you were close to Countess Contarini!”
The Marquis of Salvati laughed heartily. Countess Baljo, who had once been a member of the Silver Cross Society with Isabella, covered her mouth with her fan, faked a smile, and glared at the Marchioness with cold eyes.
She loathed those who would look at other people's cards while neglecting their own. Furthermore, the fact that she was intimate with the King's "pure" mistress... was an unacceptable insult to the deeply religious Countess Baljo.
“I only volunteered with her for a short time.”
"Still. Volunteering is hard, but the camaraderie we build together during difficult times is truly the real deal!"
The Marchioness Salvati, who had been deeply attached to the Countess of Baljo, saw this as the perfect opportunity to link her with Isabella. The Countess of Baljo muttered to herself in anger.
'You're the one who slept with the dwarf!'
However, even those who weren't as religious as the Countess of Baljo sent gifts to the Prince's palace, not to Isabella, who lay ailing in the King's quarters. This wasn't necessarily due to an aversion to women engaging in extramarital affairs. Other tea parties in the capital were discussing the same thing.
“Really? No one sent her? No one here?”
“With all the sympathy going around, I thought they would send one of her.”
“Yes, Marchioness of Montefeltro. But you said you felt sorry for Countess Contarini.”
The old Marchioness of Montefeltro, who had sent Ariadne a gift, smiled sheepishly. The elderly Marchioness was displeased with Prince Alfonso's behavior. It was an anxiety projected onto her own son.
"How could a son defy his father, marry on his own, and declare it? It's irresponsible, considering the issue of heirs. If you're blinded by women...?"
The old Marchioness was dissatisfied that her son, Petruchio, was completely infatuated with his new young wife, Gabriele—at least by her standards.
‘I have to think about my children too, not being dragged around by my daughter-in-law... That’s why I have to maintain discipline in the house...’
But it was one thing to dislike Prince Alfonso's actions, and another thing entirely to have the Marchioness of Montefeltro stand behind Countess Isabella Contarini.
“No, there’s a difference between being pitiful and that...”
Countess Contarini, a new government figure who rose to fame like a comet, died after only a few days in office. The King was currently in a state of flux, but it was unclear how long his favor would last.
“You say she has a large scar on her face? Will His Majesty continue to keep Countess Contarini in the palace?”
"Is a scar on her face a problem? If you get hit like that, you'll die."
“Has there been any word yet on what has become of Countess Contarini?”
“They said she’s been locked up and sick ever since, so no one has seen her yet.”
“By any chance... aren’t you cleaning up the body?”
"Surely, if that were the case, they would have announced it. It's not something to hide, right?"
"That's right. If Countess Contarini dies, the stakeholders will have a clearer mind, and no one will be harmed."
Isabella, if she survived, could never know when she would be replaced by another woman. That's why the ladies of high society, even with Leo III's attention, couldn't bet on Isabella.
Besides, it was clear as day that if he stood behind Countess Contarini, the Grand Duchess Rubina would not remain silent.
“I heard that the Grand Duchess Rubina also sent a gift to Countess de Mare, Marquis Cepinelli?”
The Marchioness Cepinelli, who had become the new chief maid of honor to the Grand Duchess Rubina, smiled awkwardly.
“Ohhoho, ohhohoho. When did the rumor get that far?”
This was a real positive. She ended up getting caught by the socialite hyenas about Rubina sending Ariadne a gift.
The fact that information that could have been used as a tactic was so easily leaked was not only because the Marchioness de Cepinelli wasn't particularly skilled in social relations, but also because she desperately tried to hide it, as it wasn't her business. Rubina had always been unlucky.
“Oh my, the Grand Duchess has made up her mind.”
“We would appreciate it if you would do that.”
"Her highness the Grand Duchess, isn't she secretly good at politics? In times like these, she should be able to lead with a firm hand and give her a firm hand."
Rubina's compliments poured in from all sides, a dance of courtship, begging her to convey them to the March de Cepinelli herself.
Someone asked cautiously.
“But, won’t His Majesty be offended?”
This was something they hadn't considered. The ladies of high society assumed that Isabella, who had caused such a huge accident and was also a beautiful woman, would naturally be ousted.
"That's right. The Prince's palace is overflowing with gifts, while Countess Contarini's quarters are empty. It's unpleasant to see that."
“If you misinterpret that, it could seem like the nobles are supporting Prince Alfonso rather than His Majesty the King.”
Another person asked back.
“What if he decides to keep Countess Contarini?”
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