Prince Alfonso, uncharacteristically, peppered the room with questions.
"What was their equipment like? Tell me everything. Did they just disembark from the ship, or did they look like they'd been inland for a while? Were they on horseback or on foot? Anything else unusual?"
Sir Manfredi's face darkened as he grasped the Prince's question and the hidden meaning behind it. Each question Alfonso posed was a detailed one, but ultimately, it was a question aimed at estimating the overall scale of the enemy.
Sir Manfredi answered, recalling his memories.
“Of the eighteen men, three, who appeared to be the captain and other commanders, were on horseback, while the rest were foot soldiers.”
The enemy, loitering and waiting for prey, suddenly rushed down from the hillside. It was a surprise attack, so even if they had been carrying anything, they must have left it behind. However, Sir Manfredi's keen eyes still took in everything.
“There was clearly a side hook hanging from the saddle of the captain’s horse, used for securing luggage.”
It was evidence that they had usually carried their load on horseback. The presence of the horse, along with the luggage hooks attached to the saddles, was strong evidence that the group no longer followed the typical pirate custom of using a ship as a base, roaming the coast or rivers, and then immediately returning to their ships after plundering. Prince Alfonso's expression also grew increasingly grave.
“Did the prisoners tell you where they got off the ship?”
“He died before I could figure that out.”
The prince sighed heavily and ran a hand through his long blond hair.
If the pirates from Asereto had increased their voyage distance, it would have been fortunate. If they had set sail from their home base, the southeastern seas by Etruscan standards, and, after enduring a long voyage, landed on the Etruscan midwestern coast and encountered Manfredi and his party, then the Asereto pirates' newly acquired navigational skills were worthy of praise.
The Etruscan kingdom was not a maritime power. Their primary industry was agriculture, and the cloth produced by the recently emerging textile industry was shipped overland to the Republic of Porto for sale. While pirates rampaging off the coast were a nuisance, they had little bearing on the nation's survival.
However, if the bandits disembarked in the southeastern part of the Etruscan kingdom, near their home base, and reached the central western part of the kingdom by land, the situation was dire. The Asereto pirates had grown into a powerful Etruscan inland banditry band. This posed a direct threat to public order and livelihood.
"Military map. Draw the exact location where the carriage was attacked."
Even Alfonso's voice, which was never known to get angry, was filled with sternness.
“We need to first figure out exactly how far these rotten bastards have infiltrated.”
Sir Manfredi answered with a booming salute, as if he had been transported back to the days of Yesak.
“Yes! Your Highness!”
No matter what happened in the center and north, the fertile south was filled with drinking and partying.
The royal carriage stopped for a moment. It was on the last hillside before passing through the Taranto region and entering the Taranto Castle.
Today, Leo III remained in his carriage, so Rubina was the leader of the group. Looking down at the scenery, Rubina spoke with the air of a thoughtful ruler.
"I heard there's been a lot of trouble with bandits these days? They usually appear in the south. Princess, is Taranto okay?"
Bianca was not pleased with Rubina's natural tendency to thrust her nose into the King's domain, and she also did not like Rubina's arrogance in still calling her 'Princess'.
But she was the land's master, and the other person was a guest. The host had a duty to make the guest comfortable.
“It’s okay for now.”
Bianca, mounted on her huge, chick-colored horse, Pulcino, looked around the shore and answered stiffly.
“This year is going by a bit more quietly than usual.”
This was purely a show of humility. The coastline now unfolding before their eyes had never been approached by the bandits of Asereto. It was the Duchy of Taranto.
In the dukedom, there was a well-established alarm system in place where if a village was attacked, a messenger would immediately leave for the main castle, and the Duke's troops would quickly rush to control the situation.
No enemy would invade knowing they would be robbed. The Duke of Taranto always maintained an ironclad defense of his coastal territory.
And most of the coastal waters within the Duchy of Taranto were directly adjacent to the main island of the Duchy of Asereto, which also contributed to the peace.
The main island of Asereto was relatively firmly under the control of the Grand Duke of Asereto. With his administrative authority reaching every corner, pirates had little room to run wild. The pirates' rampage began further north, along the complex southeastern coast, where the duchy's territory ended.
“While His Majesty the King is away, Princess Taranto, please exert yourself.”
"Yes?"
Bianca looked at Rubina with a mysterious expression. Surely she wasn't telling her to go out and launch a subjugation operation.
The quick-witted Marquis Guatieri intervened and quickly applied the lubricant.
"The Duchy of Taranto is not so poorly defended as to warrant any unpleasant incidents during His Majesty's presence, Your Highness. Please do not worry."
Although Bianca didn't like Guatieri, she was satisfied that Taranto had been recognized for his words.
The city was the pride of the family. Taranto was a defensive fortress with solid sandstone walls, situated on a clear, shallow coast.
“The castle of Taranto has never suffered from the pirates of Asereto.”
Bianca looked at Taranto Castle with a proud face.
"Your Highness, you don't have to worry about that at all."
Bianca firmly stated that Rubina's concerns were unfounded and that she wanted to stop talking about the subject.
While some looked at the endless, complex coastal terrain and pondered the defensive lines and possible attack positions, others observed Taranto's scenery with the eyes of a pure tourist.
“Oh my, it’s even more beautiful than I’ve heard!”
It was the exclamation of Julia Helena just before entering Taranto Castle. The Etruscan southern region, through which she had tediously traveled by carriage, was somewhat reminiscent of her homeland, Latgalin, except for its lush greenery.
For Julia Helena, who had loved the refined and splendid city of San Carlo, the trip was quite disappointing. However, when they finally arrived at Taranto Castle, it was dazzlingly beautiful, sophisticated, and advanced.
“Such a beautiful sandstone palace on such a beautiful coastline!”
Princess Julia Helena was being escorted by Grand Duke Cesare. But calling it an escort felt a bit awkward.
Describing the surrounding scenery and serving as a conversationalist are basic qualities an escort man should possess. However, Grand Duke Cesare was now acting as little more than a railing or a crutch. He simply held out his arms, his mouth shut, and his gaze fixed on the ground, expressionless.
'Tsk tsk, you ugly, sharp thing!'
Rubina clicked her tongue inwardly. She had no idea who her son was hanging out with since his best friend, Ottavio, disappeared.
'Does that idiot have any friends?'
Her ignorance stemmed from Cesare's refusal to communicate with his mother and from the subsequent downfall of Count Contarini and Countess Bartolini, which significantly diminished the Grand Duchess Rubina's information network. Cesare also didn't make a big deal about making new friends.
But the problem was instantly solved with the appearance of the Marquis Guatieri. After much searching, the Marquis located the Grand Duke Pisano, who was hiding in the carriage of the Count of Gaeta, within half a day. Cesare's wit was a given. It seemed he had become acquainted with Pisano, having landed in the area.
The Marquis of Guatieri immediately ordered Rubina to capture Grand Duke Cesare. This was the Marquis's first military achievement.
But you can't expect loyalty from a captured prisoner. Cesare just stood there, his mouth shut. The only one who could argue with Princess Julia Helena was the late Grand Duchess Rubina.
“That’s right! Taranto is the jewel of the Etruscan kingdom.”
Rubina would do anything to please Julia Helena, including bragging about Taranto in front of the city's rulers.
Rubina, who hadn't even seen Bianca's cold expression, was asked a question by Julia Helena.
“Is that the royal winter palace in Taranto?”
The Princess pointed to a beautiful building with some Moorish architectural features, perched high on a sheer cliff.
The walls and pillars, covered with delicate carvings that were more like lace than architecture, lined up endlessly in symmetry. It was truly a spectacular sight.
“That’s right. It’s beautiful.”
Rubina blurted out a word to Julia Helena, whose face was flushed with excitement at the thought of being assigned a room in the palace.
“Unfortunately, the Princess will not be able to stay at the villa during this trip.”
"Yes?"
A look of disappointment immediately spread across the young Princess's face.
“Why?!”
"What was their equipment like? Tell me everything. Did they just disembark from the ship, or did they look like they'd been inland for a while? Were they on horseback or on foot? Anything else unusual?"
Sir Manfredi's face darkened as he grasped the Prince's question and the hidden meaning behind it. Each question Alfonso posed was a detailed one, but ultimately, it was a question aimed at estimating the overall scale of the enemy.
Sir Manfredi answered, recalling his memories.
“Of the eighteen men, three, who appeared to be the captain and other commanders, were on horseback, while the rest were foot soldiers.”
The enemy, loitering and waiting for prey, suddenly rushed down from the hillside. It was a surprise attack, so even if they had been carrying anything, they must have left it behind. However, Sir Manfredi's keen eyes still took in everything.
“There was clearly a side hook hanging from the saddle of the captain’s horse, used for securing luggage.”
It was evidence that they had usually carried their load on horseback. The presence of the horse, along with the luggage hooks attached to the saddles, was strong evidence that the group no longer followed the typical pirate custom of using a ship as a base, roaming the coast or rivers, and then immediately returning to their ships after plundering. Prince Alfonso's expression also grew increasingly grave.
“Did the prisoners tell you where they got off the ship?”
“He died before I could figure that out.”
The prince sighed heavily and ran a hand through his long blond hair.
If the pirates from Asereto had increased their voyage distance, it would have been fortunate. If they had set sail from their home base, the southeastern seas by Etruscan standards, and, after enduring a long voyage, landed on the Etruscan midwestern coast and encountered Manfredi and his party, then the Asereto pirates' newly acquired navigational skills were worthy of praise.
The Etruscan kingdom was not a maritime power. Their primary industry was agriculture, and the cloth produced by the recently emerging textile industry was shipped overland to the Republic of Porto for sale. While pirates rampaging off the coast were a nuisance, they had little bearing on the nation's survival.
However, if the bandits disembarked in the southeastern part of the Etruscan kingdom, near their home base, and reached the central western part of the kingdom by land, the situation was dire. The Asereto pirates had grown into a powerful Etruscan inland banditry band. This posed a direct threat to public order and livelihood.
"Military map. Draw the exact location where the carriage was attacked."
Even Alfonso's voice, which was never known to get angry, was filled with sternness.
“We need to first figure out exactly how far these rotten bastards have infiltrated.”
Sir Manfredi answered with a booming salute, as if he had been transported back to the days of Yesak.
“Yes! Your Highness!”
***
No matter what happened in the center and north, the fertile south was filled with drinking and partying.
The royal carriage stopped for a moment. It was on the last hillside before passing through the Taranto region and entering the Taranto Castle.
Today, Leo III remained in his carriage, so Rubina was the leader of the group. Looking down at the scenery, Rubina spoke with the air of a thoughtful ruler.
"I heard there's been a lot of trouble with bandits these days? They usually appear in the south. Princess, is Taranto okay?"
Bianca was not pleased with Rubina's natural tendency to thrust her nose into the King's domain, and she also did not like Rubina's arrogance in still calling her 'Princess'.
But she was the land's master, and the other person was a guest. The host had a duty to make the guest comfortable.
“It’s okay for now.”
Bianca, mounted on her huge, chick-colored horse, Pulcino, looked around the shore and answered stiffly.
“This year is going by a bit more quietly than usual.”
This was purely a show of humility. The coastline now unfolding before their eyes had never been approached by the bandits of Asereto. It was the Duchy of Taranto.
In the dukedom, there was a well-established alarm system in place where if a village was attacked, a messenger would immediately leave for the main castle, and the Duke's troops would quickly rush to control the situation.
No enemy would invade knowing they would be robbed. The Duke of Taranto always maintained an ironclad defense of his coastal territory.
And most of the coastal waters within the Duchy of Taranto were directly adjacent to the main island of the Duchy of Asereto, which also contributed to the peace.
The main island of Asereto was relatively firmly under the control of the Grand Duke of Asereto. With his administrative authority reaching every corner, pirates had little room to run wild. The pirates' rampage began further north, along the complex southeastern coast, where the duchy's territory ended.
“While His Majesty the King is away, Princess Taranto, please exert yourself.”
"Yes?"
Bianca looked at Rubina with a mysterious expression. Surely she wasn't telling her to go out and launch a subjugation operation.
The quick-witted Marquis Guatieri intervened and quickly applied the lubricant.
"The Duchy of Taranto is not so poorly defended as to warrant any unpleasant incidents during His Majesty's presence, Your Highness. Please do not worry."
Although Bianca didn't like Guatieri, she was satisfied that Taranto had been recognized for his words.
The city was the pride of the family. Taranto was a defensive fortress with solid sandstone walls, situated on a clear, shallow coast.
“The castle of Taranto has never suffered from the pirates of Asereto.”
Bianca looked at Taranto Castle with a proud face.
"Your Highness, you don't have to worry about that at all."
Bianca firmly stated that Rubina's concerns were unfounded and that she wanted to stop talking about the subject.
While some looked at the endless, complex coastal terrain and pondered the defensive lines and possible attack positions, others observed Taranto's scenery with the eyes of a pure tourist.
“Oh my, it’s even more beautiful than I’ve heard!”
It was the exclamation of Julia Helena just before entering Taranto Castle. The Etruscan southern region, through which she had tediously traveled by carriage, was somewhat reminiscent of her homeland, Latgalin, except for its lush greenery.
For Julia Helena, who had loved the refined and splendid city of San Carlo, the trip was quite disappointing. However, when they finally arrived at Taranto Castle, it was dazzlingly beautiful, sophisticated, and advanced.
“Such a beautiful sandstone palace on such a beautiful coastline!”
Princess Julia Helena was being escorted by Grand Duke Cesare. But calling it an escort felt a bit awkward.
Describing the surrounding scenery and serving as a conversationalist are basic qualities an escort man should possess. However, Grand Duke Cesare was now acting as little more than a railing or a crutch. He simply held out his arms, his mouth shut, and his gaze fixed on the ground, expressionless.
'Tsk tsk, you ugly, sharp thing!'
Rubina clicked her tongue inwardly. She had no idea who her son was hanging out with since his best friend, Ottavio, disappeared.
'Does that idiot have any friends?'
Her ignorance stemmed from Cesare's refusal to communicate with his mother and from the subsequent downfall of Count Contarini and Countess Bartolini, which significantly diminished the Grand Duchess Rubina's information network. Cesare also didn't make a big deal about making new friends.
But the problem was instantly solved with the appearance of the Marquis Guatieri. After much searching, the Marquis located the Grand Duke Pisano, who was hiding in the carriage of the Count of Gaeta, within half a day. Cesare's wit was a given. It seemed he had become acquainted with Pisano, having landed in the area.
The Marquis of Guatieri immediately ordered Rubina to capture Grand Duke Cesare. This was the Marquis's first military achievement.
But you can't expect loyalty from a captured prisoner. Cesare just stood there, his mouth shut. The only one who could argue with Princess Julia Helena was the late Grand Duchess Rubina.
“That’s right! Taranto is the jewel of the Etruscan kingdom.”
Rubina would do anything to please Julia Helena, including bragging about Taranto in front of the city's rulers.
Rubina, who hadn't even seen Bianca's cold expression, was asked a question by Julia Helena.
“Is that the royal winter palace in Taranto?”
The Princess pointed to a beautiful building with some Moorish architectural features, perched high on a sheer cliff.
The walls and pillars, covered with delicate carvings that were more like lace than architecture, lined up endlessly in symmetry. It was truly a spectacular sight.
“That’s right. It’s beautiful.”
Rubina blurted out a word to Julia Helena, whose face was flushed with excitement at the thought of being assigned a room in the palace.
“Unfortunately, the Princess will not be able to stay at the villa during this trip.”
"Yes?"
A look of disappointment immediately spread across the young Princess's face.
“Why?!”
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