Justinian VIII inherited the papal throne unexpectedly after the sudden death of Louis I. This meant that the new Pope was completely unaware of the details surrounding the transfer of the port of Pisarino.
So, the Allemand law of 1127 was not prepared to save the poor souls who were born illegitimately in the Central Continent through no fault of their own, but was a plan to make King Gallico's illegitimate child his rightful successor, and the fact is that the then Archbishop of Calienda, Baldesar, shattered King Gallico's earnest wish by passing a bill to strengthen documentary rule at the Council of San Carlo.
At that time, immediately following the conclave, the only high-ranking cleric in San Carlo who knew the details of the situation was Cardinal de Mare. However, having been swept up in the very last moments of the papal conclave, Cardinal de Mare was in no position to voluntarily step forward to take over.
If someone from Pope Justinian's camp had approached Cardinal de Mare seeking help, they wouldn't have deliberately hidden it, but no one sought him out. Rather than being a member of the former Pope Louis's faction or a long-established successor, Cardinal de Mare was more like a sudden, failed presidential candidate.
Thus, the intimate affair between Philip IV and his wicked illegitimate son John remained a perpetual secret to the Holy See under Justinian VIII.
So now, the highest-ranking clergy of the Central Continent, including the Pope, who were trapped in Trevero, were at a loss as to what to do to calm the raging Philip IV.
“It was a complete travesty that Philip IV closed his borders to the simple statement that secular rulers must submit to His Holiness the Pope, who holds the ‘spiritual sword.’”
For a clergyman, he was a bit harsh. But that was inevitable. These noble men had never met anyone so unfazed in their lives.
The Holy Ser originally advocated the "Two Swords" doctrine. The theory was that the Pope was given two swords: a "spiritual sword" and a "worldly sword," and that the "worldly sword" was delegated to each monarch, who then established a dynasty.
According to this, the "secular sword" could be withdrawn at any time, so it was natural for secular rulers to submit to the "spiritual sword." Under Pope Louis I, who successfully carried out the Holy War, the prestige of the Holy See was greatly enhanced, and its doctrines were greatly solidified.
Bringing up the "Sword of the World" was a subtle threat. Retrieving the Sword of the World was a prelude to excommunication.
If an excommunicated person is banished from all the religious communities, and if those who helped him—those who hid him, gave him shelter, or gave him food or drink—are treated as people who should not be approached, then a monarch who does not follow the instructions of the Holy Spirit has lost the spirit of the heavenly god who gave him the authority to rule the country.
Since Philip IV, whose secular sword had been officially withdrawn, was no longer qualified to rule the Gallico kingdom, any other heir with a claim to the Gallico throne was free to make a bid for Philip's throne.
However, Philip IV did not blink at such threats and sent troops close to the Prinoyac Mountains to block the movement of goods from Gallico to Trevero.
Justinian VIII could not understand why the Gallico King, who had personally provided funds for the Crusade, and not the minor northern lords who had long been eager to rebel against the Holy See whenever the opportunity arose, were suddenly acting so violently.
“This is the first time I’ve heard that the tithe of the Holy See prevents the movement of the country’s tithe outside its borders.”
The new Pope lamented. The tithes collected from the churches of the Holy See throughout Gallico were intercepted on their way to Trevero by the Knights Templar of Montpellier. While the movement was currently restricted, they could be confiscated at any moment.
It was something that was completely unimaginable for the Pope, who came from the Kingdom of Gredo, a country with a strong Catholic Church and a very devout population.
“If it had been a kingdom, the people would have risen up and driven out the king.”
“At this rate, even if we threaten excommunication, it seems like neither the King nor the common people will blink an eye...”
“The faith of the Kingdom of Gallico is pathetic!”
Cardinal Arcandele, a hardliner, erupted in anger. Cardinal Fraverti, a rational, efficient Cardinal from Gallico, simply nodded.
Originally, these men should have been in their own dioceses, but Justinian VIII was elected by chance. Those who had lent a hand to his accession gathered in the golden city to share the spoils, like vultures devouring a rotting corpse.
The reason why the Cardinal of the Archdiocese of San Carlo has not yet been appointed is that the rewards for merits among these founding fathers have not yet been finalized.
If Cardinal Fraverti had returned to his homeland and even talked with the Archbishop of Montpellier, he might have had a chance to find out why Philip IV was acting this way.
Cardinal Fraverti and the Archbishop of Montpellier were bitter enemies, and it was uncertain whether the Archbishop would share sensitive information, such as the identity of Philip's illegitimate child, with the Cardinal. However, being nearby offered a chance to obtain information. However, Cardinal Fraverti, having stayed at the Palazzo dei Vatican, intending to intervene in the new guilds to be distributed among the factions, ended up trapped like a rat in a cage, threatened by his own country, Philip IV.
"The Montpellier Knights Templar are creeping up the walls. They appear to be protesting."
Trevero, the Golden City, was a city-state with no territories. Trevero appeared almost immediately after crossing the Prinoyav Mountains within the Kingdom of Gallico.
“Is the gate properly closed? Is there enough food?”
Justinian VIII, who had to prepare for a battle that was not even in his fortunes before ascending to the throne six months earlier, sighed deeply.
Fortunately, there was no road north, from the Kingdom of Gallico to Trevero, that would allow a large army to cross directly. The main route across the Prenoyac Mountains led from the Kingdom of Gallico to the Etruscan kingdom, or more precisely, to the County of Gaeta.
So now, the Kingdom of Gallico was only repeating the provocative act of sending a couple of light knights to scout the surrounding area and then returning.
"Yes, yes. We have more than three months' worth of food reserves. It's winter, so we've been saving up for a while."
“Siege weapons haven’t appeared yet?”
"No reports from the scouts. And really, how could we possibly cross the snow-covered mountains in this winter with siege weapons?"
To march directly to Trevero, the Montpellier Heavy Knights of the Kingdom of Gallico would have to traverse the snow-covered, pathless Prinoyac Mountains in the dead of winter. More precisely, they would have to traverse them, wearing over 30 rotolos of heavy armor, dragging siege engines. It was simply not feasible.
If someone actually did something like that, it would be a stupid enough tactic to be listed in the history books as one of the top ten "101 Most Useless Ways to Expend Your Heavy Knights."
The new Pope sighed, his heart sinking. No matter how rugged the frozen mountains, how strong the walls, or how abundant the food supply, what use was it? Trevero had no army.
It was reprehensible that Leo III of the Etruscan Kingdom did not maintain a standing army. A monarch must be able to defend his own territory. However, Trevero's lack of an army, aside from the Praetorian Guard, was simply a lack of one.
Who on earth would bring an army into the sacred golden city? Not a pagan barbarian, but a sane ruler of the Yesak religion!
“There is no sign of the Montpellier Knights Templar moving.”
“Yes. Fortunately, we’ve blocked the path to prevent the tithe from reaching us, and we’re not moving any further.”
“Have you tried asking for reinforcements from each country?”
“The troops are leaving in order.”
The messenger first went to the Kingdom of Gredo, the Pope's home country, and the Kingdom of Salamanta, the closest to Trevero.
“What about the Duchy of Sternheim?”
The Duchy of Sternheim, ruled by the Grand Duke of Yuldenburg, was the country that produced the commander-in-chief of the last Holy War. He could be considered the Pope's first sword.
“That is... You have to cross the land of Gallico to get to the Duchy of Sternheim, and the Grand Duke of Yuldenburg himself is ill.”
“Are you still feeling better?”
“Yes... and the Duchy of Sternheim is currently in a state of internal and external trouble.”
"Yes?"
The new Pope didn't ask for specific reasons. He was already three feet tall and didn't have the time to ask about the details of someone else's house being set on fire.
“I’ll hear from you later. When do you think the messenger you sent to the Gredo Kingdom will return?”
“If we only estimate the time it takes to get there and back, ten days would be sufficient, but since we still need to meet with the King of the Kingdom and receive his response, it seems we’ll need a little more time than that.”
“Ugh...!”
Justinian VIII's anxious groans filled the papal chambers. It was a sound unheard of in the days of Louis XIV, when a single cough could bring down a flying falcon.
“Your Holiness, how about sending a messenger to the Etruscan kingdom as well?”
Cardinal Wittelbausen asked cautiously. He was in charge of the diocese of Anheim, near the Duchy of Sternheim.
“Etruscan Kingdom?”
"Yes. The Etruscan kingdom doesn't border us. In fact, it's as close as the Kingdom of Salamanta."
Trevero's location was exquisite. He occupied a prime location, yet there was no room for further expansion. The expansionist Pope Ludovico I always complained that the first Pope Pietro had a poor eye for real estate.
“It’s still attached... About 5 PEDs.”
5 feet wide was slightly wider than a grown man's arms outstretched. This was the standard for paved roads during the ancient Ratan Empire.
"It's a border that's only as wide as a road, but it's paved. It's ample space for reinforcements to arrive, and it's also the fastest route for the Knights."
To the east of Trevero was the Etruscan kingdom, to the west was the Salamanta kingdom, and to the north was the Gallico kingdom, and to the south was the Gallico kingdom.
That is, the golden city of Trevero, wedged right in the center of the Gallico kingdom, forcibly dividing it into north and south. South of Trevero was Pisarino, the controversial port that Philip IV had pledged to cede and then later reneged on. It was the kingdom's only access to the Aeolian Sea.
Thus, the successive Kings of the Gallico kingdom desperately coveted the Etruscan fief of Gaeta. Capturing Gaeta would secure the strategically important island port of Pisarino, safely connecting it to the Gallico mainland.
It was a successful attempt in the previous timeline where Ariadne lived. And Philip IV was so eager to bring his illegitimate son, Jean, out of the shadows and make him his official successor that he was willing to abandon Pisarino.
Cardinal Wittelbausen reported.
“King Gallico had once tried to use his tactic against the Etruscan kingdom when the Holy War was just beginning, but failed.”
This refers to the incident in which Philip IV attempted to lure Prince Alfonso, the heir to the throne, into his country by deceptively imprisoning him. Had this been successful, after Leo III's death, King Gallico would have also held the title of King of the Etruscan kingdom in a personal union.
Even if war broke out, it would have been unthinkable, but Leo III of the Etruscan Kingdom had no troops ready to march on Gallico. Leo III remained silent, offering no real protest. Fortunately, Prince Alfonso returned safely to his homeland afterward, becoming a hero of the Holy War.
No one was hurt, no one died. Leo III was too cowardly to be questioned, and Philip IV was too much to be questioned. So the Etruscan Prince's captivity in the Montpellier palace was officially buried.
Of course, Prince Alfonso, through his secret wife and her influence, pushed for documentalism, exacting revenge on Philip IV with an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. Far from severing the line of succession to the Etruscan kingdom, he left the Gallico kingdom's successor in limbo.
And because of this, the new Pope and all the Cardinals gathered in this room were imprisoned in Trevero. But no one in this room knew about this.
“Since the two sides are not on good terms, if there is an excuse, the Etruscan kingdom may also be willing to cooperate in pushing Philip IV.”
Justinian VIII frowned.
“If only Leo III of Etruscans had had half a shred of pride, he would have done the same.”
Justinian VIII could not be sure that those who had not protested then would want revenge now.
“Your Holiness, the Black Helmet Knights are currently the only force comparable to the Montpellier Heavy Cavalry.”
Cardinal Arcandele responded to Cardinal Wittelbausen's words.
"What's the comparison? It's the best. Do you know where you can easily find a knight with actual combat experience?"
It's been nearly ten years since the Montpellier Knights Templar fought the civil war against Prince Louis's men. Most of the warriors of that era have retired and returned to their homelands, their swords rusting and rusting. In contrast, the Knights of the Black Helmet, having just returned from their holy war last year, are still in good health.
“...Let’s wait for a response from Gredo and the Salamanta Kingdom.”
Justinian VIII spoke slowly. He had lived his entire life with a reputation for caution, and that caution had led him to the unexpected position of Pope. The old Pope felt no need to alter his strategy, which had always been successful.
“Wouldn’t it be unfair to owe something you didn’t need and then have to pay it back later?”
Moreover, Leo III undertook a southern tour every winter. He would still be in Taranto, the southernmost point of the kingdom. The proximity of the border and the proximity of the King's seat were entirely separate matters.
“If I send a messenger to Leo III now, it will take more than twenty days to receive a reply.”
This was an added excuse. Justinian VIII had little faith or expectation in Leo III.
Cardinal Fraverti's face paled at the Pope's passive and even emotional decision. He was well aware of the Gallico kingdom's attachment to the port of Pisarino.
In the first place, the reason Philip IV, who had no religious faith even if he tried to trade it for candy, emptied the national treasury to support Pope Ludovico's crusade was because he wanted to secure stable access to the port of Pisarino.
But you said you'd give up the port of Pisarino? To save the souls of the illegitimate children born out of wedlock? And now you're making a fuss and refusing to give it to them? Clearly, they're missing something.
'Even if we use all the available resources, it won't be enough...'
Philip was an unpredictable man. You never knew when he would march like a madman across the frozen Prenoyac Mountains and cross the border.
But the old Pope was stubborn. Pushing him further now wouldn't make a difference. Cardinal Fraverti closed his eyes, praying that the Kingdom of Gredo would dispatch a sufficient number of troops in time.
“Our smart-aleck Princess.”
"Please."
“How do you feel about being taken hostage by your own feet?”
“That’s harsh.”
“You’re a hostage! Can’t you see the guards outside the carriage window?”
“It was there originally!”
Princess Julia Helena lost her temper.
“I even suggested we ride together in the carriage because I was worried you might have a hard time on Irene’s horse, but you’ve been nagging me all day!”
So, the Allemand law of 1127 was not prepared to save the poor souls who were born illegitimately in the Central Continent through no fault of their own, but was a plan to make King Gallico's illegitimate child his rightful successor, and the fact is that the then Archbishop of Calienda, Baldesar, shattered King Gallico's earnest wish by passing a bill to strengthen documentary rule at the Council of San Carlo.
At that time, immediately following the conclave, the only high-ranking cleric in San Carlo who knew the details of the situation was Cardinal de Mare. However, having been swept up in the very last moments of the papal conclave, Cardinal de Mare was in no position to voluntarily step forward to take over.
If someone from Pope Justinian's camp had approached Cardinal de Mare seeking help, they wouldn't have deliberately hidden it, but no one sought him out. Rather than being a member of the former Pope Louis's faction or a long-established successor, Cardinal de Mare was more like a sudden, failed presidential candidate.
Thus, the intimate affair between Philip IV and his wicked illegitimate son John remained a perpetual secret to the Holy See under Justinian VIII.
So now, the highest-ranking clergy of the Central Continent, including the Pope, who were trapped in Trevero, were at a loss as to what to do to calm the raging Philip IV.
“It was a complete travesty that Philip IV closed his borders to the simple statement that secular rulers must submit to His Holiness the Pope, who holds the ‘spiritual sword.’”
For a clergyman, he was a bit harsh. But that was inevitable. These noble men had never met anyone so unfazed in their lives.
The Holy Ser originally advocated the "Two Swords" doctrine. The theory was that the Pope was given two swords: a "spiritual sword" and a "worldly sword," and that the "worldly sword" was delegated to each monarch, who then established a dynasty.
According to this, the "secular sword" could be withdrawn at any time, so it was natural for secular rulers to submit to the "spiritual sword." Under Pope Louis I, who successfully carried out the Holy War, the prestige of the Holy See was greatly enhanced, and its doctrines were greatly solidified.
Bringing up the "Sword of the World" was a subtle threat. Retrieving the Sword of the World was a prelude to excommunication.
If an excommunicated person is banished from all the religious communities, and if those who helped him—those who hid him, gave him shelter, or gave him food or drink—are treated as people who should not be approached, then a monarch who does not follow the instructions of the Holy Spirit has lost the spirit of the heavenly god who gave him the authority to rule the country.
Since Philip IV, whose secular sword had been officially withdrawn, was no longer qualified to rule the Gallico kingdom, any other heir with a claim to the Gallico throne was free to make a bid for Philip's throne.
However, Philip IV did not blink at such threats and sent troops close to the Prinoyac Mountains to block the movement of goods from Gallico to Trevero.
Justinian VIII could not understand why the Gallico King, who had personally provided funds for the Crusade, and not the minor northern lords who had long been eager to rebel against the Holy See whenever the opportunity arose, were suddenly acting so violently.
“This is the first time I’ve heard that the tithe of the Holy See prevents the movement of the country’s tithe outside its borders.”
The new Pope lamented. The tithes collected from the churches of the Holy See throughout Gallico were intercepted on their way to Trevero by the Knights Templar of Montpellier. While the movement was currently restricted, they could be confiscated at any moment.
It was something that was completely unimaginable for the Pope, who came from the Kingdom of Gredo, a country with a strong Catholic Church and a very devout population.
“If it had been a kingdom, the people would have risen up and driven out the king.”
“At this rate, even if we threaten excommunication, it seems like neither the King nor the common people will blink an eye...”
“The faith of the Kingdom of Gallico is pathetic!”
Cardinal Arcandele, a hardliner, erupted in anger. Cardinal Fraverti, a rational, efficient Cardinal from Gallico, simply nodded.
Originally, these men should have been in their own dioceses, but Justinian VIII was elected by chance. Those who had lent a hand to his accession gathered in the golden city to share the spoils, like vultures devouring a rotting corpse.
The reason why the Cardinal of the Archdiocese of San Carlo has not yet been appointed is that the rewards for merits among these founding fathers have not yet been finalized.
If Cardinal Fraverti had returned to his homeland and even talked with the Archbishop of Montpellier, he might have had a chance to find out why Philip IV was acting this way.
Cardinal Fraverti and the Archbishop of Montpellier were bitter enemies, and it was uncertain whether the Archbishop would share sensitive information, such as the identity of Philip's illegitimate child, with the Cardinal. However, being nearby offered a chance to obtain information. However, Cardinal Fraverti, having stayed at the Palazzo dei Vatican, intending to intervene in the new guilds to be distributed among the factions, ended up trapped like a rat in a cage, threatened by his own country, Philip IV.
"The Montpellier Knights Templar are creeping up the walls. They appear to be protesting."
Trevero, the Golden City, was a city-state with no territories. Trevero appeared almost immediately after crossing the Prinoyav Mountains within the Kingdom of Gallico.
“Is the gate properly closed? Is there enough food?”
Justinian VIII, who had to prepare for a battle that was not even in his fortunes before ascending to the throne six months earlier, sighed deeply.
Fortunately, there was no road north, from the Kingdom of Gallico to Trevero, that would allow a large army to cross directly. The main route across the Prenoyac Mountains led from the Kingdom of Gallico to the Etruscan kingdom, or more precisely, to the County of Gaeta.
So now, the Kingdom of Gallico was only repeating the provocative act of sending a couple of light knights to scout the surrounding area and then returning.
"Yes, yes. We have more than three months' worth of food reserves. It's winter, so we've been saving up for a while."
“Siege weapons haven’t appeared yet?”
"No reports from the scouts. And really, how could we possibly cross the snow-covered mountains in this winter with siege weapons?"
To march directly to Trevero, the Montpellier Heavy Knights of the Kingdom of Gallico would have to traverse the snow-covered, pathless Prinoyac Mountains in the dead of winter. More precisely, they would have to traverse them, wearing over 30 rotolos of heavy armor, dragging siege engines. It was simply not feasible.
If someone actually did something like that, it would be a stupid enough tactic to be listed in the history books as one of the top ten "101 Most Useless Ways to Expend Your Heavy Knights."
The new Pope sighed, his heart sinking. No matter how rugged the frozen mountains, how strong the walls, or how abundant the food supply, what use was it? Trevero had no army.
It was reprehensible that Leo III of the Etruscan Kingdom did not maintain a standing army. A monarch must be able to defend his own territory. However, Trevero's lack of an army, aside from the Praetorian Guard, was simply a lack of one.
Who on earth would bring an army into the sacred golden city? Not a pagan barbarian, but a sane ruler of the Yesak religion!
“There is no sign of the Montpellier Knights Templar moving.”
“Yes. Fortunately, we’ve blocked the path to prevent the tithe from reaching us, and we’re not moving any further.”
“Have you tried asking for reinforcements from each country?”
“The troops are leaving in order.”
The messenger first went to the Kingdom of Gredo, the Pope's home country, and the Kingdom of Salamanta, the closest to Trevero.
“What about the Duchy of Sternheim?”
The Duchy of Sternheim, ruled by the Grand Duke of Yuldenburg, was the country that produced the commander-in-chief of the last Holy War. He could be considered the Pope's first sword.
“That is... You have to cross the land of Gallico to get to the Duchy of Sternheim, and the Grand Duke of Yuldenburg himself is ill.”
“Are you still feeling better?”
“Yes... and the Duchy of Sternheim is currently in a state of internal and external trouble.”
"Yes?"
The new Pope didn't ask for specific reasons. He was already three feet tall and didn't have the time to ask about the details of someone else's house being set on fire.
“I’ll hear from you later. When do you think the messenger you sent to the Gredo Kingdom will return?”
“If we only estimate the time it takes to get there and back, ten days would be sufficient, but since we still need to meet with the King of the Kingdom and receive his response, it seems we’ll need a little more time than that.”
“Ugh...!”
Justinian VIII's anxious groans filled the papal chambers. It was a sound unheard of in the days of Louis XIV, when a single cough could bring down a flying falcon.
“Your Holiness, how about sending a messenger to the Etruscan kingdom as well?”
Cardinal Wittelbausen asked cautiously. He was in charge of the diocese of Anheim, near the Duchy of Sternheim.
“Etruscan Kingdom?”
"Yes. The Etruscan kingdom doesn't border us. In fact, it's as close as the Kingdom of Salamanta."
Trevero's location was exquisite. He occupied a prime location, yet there was no room for further expansion. The expansionist Pope Ludovico I always complained that the first Pope Pietro had a poor eye for real estate.
“It’s still attached... About 5 PEDs.”
5 feet wide was slightly wider than a grown man's arms outstretched. This was the standard for paved roads during the ancient Ratan Empire.
"It's a border that's only as wide as a road, but it's paved. It's ample space for reinforcements to arrive, and it's also the fastest route for the Knights."
To the east of Trevero was the Etruscan kingdom, to the west was the Salamanta kingdom, and to the north was the Gallico kingdom, and to the south was the Gallico kingdom.
That is, the golden city of Trevero, wedged right in the center of the Gallico kingdom, forcibly dividing it into north and south. South of Trevero was Pisarino, the controversial port that Philip IV had pledged to cede and then later reneged on. It was the kingdom's only access to the Aeolian Sea.
Thus, the successive Kings of the Gallico kingdom desperately coveted the Etruscan fief of Gaeta. Capturing Gaeta would secure the strategically important island port of Pisarino, safely connecting it to the Gallico mainland.
It was a successful attempt in the previous timeline where Ariadne lived. And Philip IV was so eager to bring his illegitimate son, Jean, out of the shadows and make him his official successor that he was willing to abandon Pisarino.
Cardinal Wittelbausen reported.
“King Gallico had once tried to use his tactic against the Etruscan kingdom when the Holy War was just beginning, but failed.”
This refers to the incident in which Philip IV attempted to lure Prince Alfonso, the heir to the throne, into his country by deceptively imprisoning him. Had this been successful, after Leo III's death, King Gallico would have also held the title of King of the Etruscan kingdom in a personal union.
Even if war broke out, it would have been unthinkable, but Leo III of the Etruscan Kingdom had no troops ready to march on Gallico. Leo III remained silent, offering no real protest. Fortunately, Prince Alfonso returned safely to his homeland afterward, becoming a hero of the Holy War.
No one was hurt, no one died. Leo III was too cowardly to be questioned, and Philip IV was too much to be questioned. So the Etruscan Prince's captivity in the Montpellier palace was officially buried.
Of course, Prince Alfonso, through his secret wife and her influence, pushed for documentalism, exacting revenge on Philip IV with an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. Far from severing the line of succession to the Etruscan kingdom, he left the Gallico kingdom's successor in limbo.
And because of this, the new Pope and all the Cardinals gathered in this room were imprisoned in Trevero. But no one in this room knew about this.
“Since the two sides are not on good terms, if there is an excuse, the Etruscan kingdom may also be willing to cooperate in pushing Philip IV.”
Justinian VIII frowned.
“If only Leo III of Etruscans had had half a shred of pride, he would have done the same.”
Justinian VIII could not be sure that those who had not protested then would want revenge now.
“Your Holiness, the Black Helmet Knights are currently the only force comparable to the Montpellier Heavy Cavalry.”
Cardinal Arcandele responded to Cardinal Wittelbausen's words.
"What's the comparison? It's the best. Do you know where you can easily find a knight with actual combat experience?"
It's been nearly ten years since the Montpellier Knights Templar fought the civil war against Prince Louis's men. Most of the warriors of that era have retired and returned to their homelands, their swords rusting and rusting. In contrast, the Knights of the Black Helmet, having just returned from their holy war last year, are still in good health.
“...Let’s wait for a response from Gredo and the Salamanta Kingdom.”
Justinian VIII spoke slowly. He had lived his entire life with a reputation for caution, and that caution had led him to the unexpected position of Pope. The old Pope felt no need to alter his strategy, which had always been successful.
“Wouldn’t it be unfair to owe something you didn’t need and then have to pay it back later?”
Moreover, Leo III undertook a southern tour every winter. He would still be in Taranto, the southernmost point of the kingdom. The proximity of the border and the proximity of the King's seat were entirely separate matters.
“If I send a messenger to Leo III now, it will take more than twenty days to receive a reply.”
This was an added excuse. Justinian VIII had little faith or expectation in Leo III.
Cardinal Fraverti's face paled at the Pope's passive and even emotional decision. He was well aware of the Gallico kingdom's attachment to the port of Pisarino.
In the first place, the reason Philip IV, who had no religious faith even if he tried to trade it for candy, emptied the national treasury to support Pope Ludovico's crusade was because he wanted to secure stable access to the port of Pisarino.
But you said you'd give up the port of Pisarino? To save the souls of the illegitimate children born out of wedlock? And now you're making a fuss and refusing to give it to them? Clearly, they're missing something.
'Even if we use all the available resources, it won't be enough...'
Philip was an unpredictable man. You never knew when he would march like a madman across the frozen Prenoyac Mountains and cross the border.
But the old Pope was stubborn. Pushing him further now wouldn't make a difference. Cardinal Fraverti closed his eyes, praying that the Kingdom of Gredo would dispatch a sufficient number of troops in time.
***
“Our smart-aleck Princess.”
"Please."
“How do you feel about being taken hostage by your own feet?”
“That’s harsh.”
“You’re a hostage! Can’t you see the guards outside the carriage window?”
“It was there originally!”
Princess Julia Helena lost her temper.
“I even suggested we ride together in the carriage because I was worried you might have a hard time on Irene’s horse, but you’ve been nagging me all day!”
Comments
Post a Comment