<Episode 549> The Old Man and the Soldier
The Marchioness de Montefeltro smiled confidently as she looked at her daughter-in-law, Gabrielle, who was sitting with a gloomy expression. She intended to offer her daughter-in-law as a temporary lady-in-waiting to Countess Isabella Contarini.
"Since the Master is at the estate right now, that kid won't be able to whine to his own family for help."
The Marchioness de Montefeltro was convinced that her daughter-in-law would naturally follow her advice. Her son's new wife, Gabrielle Delatore, the eldest daughter of the prestigious Count Delatore family, now Gabrielle de Montefeltro, had never disobeyed her command. Though the sight of her staging a silent protest with a stubborn expression and clenched teeth was a bit of an eyesore.
"Hey, how long are you going to sit there like that?"
However, there was a certain satisfaction in breaking that stubborn face old lady who raised her voice a tone.
"The sun is about to set. Hurry up and get dressed, go into the winter palace, and request an audience with Countess Contarini."
Offering her daughter-in-law as Isabella's lady-in-waiting was something she would never have done had she known what cards the Marchioness of Ceppinelli held. However, the Old Marchioness was in a situation of information asymmetry, overwhelmed by Isabella's commanding presence, and, in fact, had little interest in the safety of her daughter-in-law, Gabrielle, above all else.
As Gabrielle remained silent with her lips tightly sealed, the Old Marchioness lowered her voice and coaxed her daughter-in-law.
"It's no big deal. You just need to keep Countess Contarini company while you're in Taranto."
However, the daughter-in-law's own resistance was greater than expected. Gabrielle parted her lips, trembling like an aspen tree.
"...Mother."
Her pupils trembled, and her lips turned blue. She was trembling so much that the Marchioness de Montefeltro naturally expected a "yes" answer. However, Gabrielle spoke with clear pronunciation.
"I won't go, even if my life dies."
It was the first time she had expressed her refusal to the Marchioness de Montefeltro since the beginning of her married life. The Marchioness looked at Gabrielle with her mouth slightly open. Assuming that her silence meant she had accepted the rejection, Gabrielle mustered the courage to begin speaking her mind.
"I would rather return to the estate with the children."
"You said it well!"
The old Marchioness interrupted her daughter-in-law's sentence. She did not even hide her rising anger. Gabrielle realized that she had provoked the wrong mother-in-law.
"The second child is a daughter; shouldn't she be educated in etiquette and proper conduct by frequenting the palace from a young age?"
Madame de Montefeltro looked Gabrielle up and down with a look that seemed to say, "Look at that bitch."
"Are you saying he's not your child, but you're going to shove him into a corner of the estate and pretend you don't know him?"
Gabrielle, having been subjected to an undefendable 'stepmother attack', bowed her head and stepped back.
"Mother, that's not it..."
"What do you mean it's not!"
She felt utterly wronged. Despite her husband's pleas to stay on the estate, Gabrielle insisted on following her mother-in-law down to Taranto to expose the children to society. She hoped to provide the children with the opportunity to mingle not only with the children of the retainers but also with the sons of other noble families, so that they could learn to form equal relationships.
However, there was a prerequisite that for them to learn how to form equal relationships with the sons of noble families befitting the Marquis of Montefeltro, their own family would not be made a fool of.
"Mother. You didn't enter as a lady-in-waiting to the late Grand Duchess Rubina, either."
"Well, it's because I had Queen Marguerite. Why would I have gone in as a lady-in-waiting to the mistress?"
She was different from her daughter-in-law. Embarrassing and arduous work is for the young. There was a reason she didn't do the same work when she was young. And she happened to have a good excuse. The Marchioness retorted sharply.
"The position of Queen is vacant right now."
However, Gabriele was no pushover either. She retorted immediately.
"I would rather become a lady-in-waiting to the Princess Consort."
It had been a long time since she last saw Ariadne. It would be awkward to ask her to accept her. However, it was better than serving as a maid next to Isabella. Yet, the Marchioness scoffed at the words her daughter-in-law had mustered up the courage to utter.
"Where is the Princess in this kingdom?"
The old lady spoke with a faint smirk on her face.
"The only dignity of this country is His Majesty, King Leo III. Prince Alfonso hasn't even had his marriage approved."
Gabrielle was stunned by her mother-in-law's shortsightedness. No matter how much Prince Alfonso had married on his own accord, he was nonetheless the King's sole legitimate heir. However, the Marchioness had her own calculations. And the San Carlo society was a place where one had to have quite precise calculations to survive for long.
"If His Majesty Leo III truly considered Prince Alfonso his successor, he would have bestowed at least one collateral royal title upon the Countess of de Mare."
This was indeed true. The royal family was overflowing with various minor titles. These were titles originally held by the House of Charles, not the Etruscan Kingdom, or acquired through the marriages of royal members. Of course, there were titles with attached fiefs, and there were enough titles of nominal value without estates to fill an entire roll of parchment.
"However, since you haven't even bestowed a single menial royal title upon the Countess of de Mare, let alone appointed a Crown Prince, he does not consider that a place for her to stand in."
The Etruscan Kingdom traditionally bestowed the title of Principessa Valledio, that is, Grand Duke of Valledio, alongside the investiture of a Crown Prince. The title that Leo III had in mind when he brought Julia Helena of Manchike as Alfonso's consort was also Principessa Valledio. Prince Alfonso had not yet inherited the title of Principessa Valledio; it still belonged to Leo III. Gabrielle cautiously raised an objection.
"I am fully aware that His Majesty Leo III is not pleased with Countess de Mare."
"Yes?"
Madame de Montefeltro picked up a piece of pickled fruit, put it in her mouth, and answered while chewing.
"His Majesty didn't acknowledge her as a Princess, grant her a title, or even grant her the right to receive royal courtesies. It doesn't cost anything to give her the right to make the nobles kneel!"
In a sense, the Marchioness de Montefeltro understood Leo III better than anyone else. For some, rising in the royal protocol ranking might be more important than life itself, but for Leo III, the accompanying budget was far more important.
"However..."
Gabrielle cautiously opened his mouth.
"Refusing to acknowledge the marriage and changing the successor are completely different matters."
It is wise not to meddle in the King's succession. However, whether they liked it or not, they were family. If they were to be beheaded for treason, they would all go to the gallows hand in hand. That is why Gabrielle was able to express her inner opinion, even to the mother-in-law she hated so much.
"His Majesty has only one son, so isn't it impossible to exclude Prince Alfonso from the line of succession?"
The Marchioness de Montefeltro simply chewed on her preserved fruit and gave no particular answer. There was no mention of Grand Duke Cesare or that the illegitimate child was a son. Gabrielle added in a low voice.
"Mother, His Highness the Prince has an army as well."
Marchioness de Montefeltro, having barely managed to remove the pickled fruit stuck between her teeth, answered coldly.
"Yeah, that's the problem."
Gabrielle merely blinked, unable to grasp her mother-in-law's intentions. The only legitimate son, possessing military power, is that really a problem? On the contrary, isn't that the perfect condition to solidify his position as heir?
"It is true that Prince Alfonso is His Majesty the King's sole heir. But that is only while he is alive."
Gabriele still did not understand what her mother-in-law was saying. The Marchioness continued speaking without hesitation.
"He was lucky enough to return alive from the War of Yesak. Let's assume that since he went on that mission with the help of heaven, he won't be dragged into the Fourth Crusade either."
The Marchioness de Montefeltro wore a spiteful smile. The Prince's army was the Etruscan kingdom's sole military force, and Leo III was the kind of man blinded by momentary gains. As a fellow of her caliber, she could picture-perfectly predict the King's state of mind.
Leo III would likely treat his son like a mercenary captain, manipulating him here and there to collect crumbs. All the more so given their current relationship, in which he held not a shred of affection for the son.
"Prince Alfonso will be dragged around here and there to all kinds of battlefields countless times."
"Yes?"
"His Highness the Prince has no heir."
Marchioness de Montefeltro asked meaningfully.
"Have you ever seen a knight who survived for a long time on the battlefield?"
Gabrielle covered her mouth with her eyes wide open. Prince Alfonso had no heir. As long as his marriage to the Countess de Mare continued, even the possibility of obtaining an heir was blocked. If Alfonso had a legitimate son, the claim to the next throne would pass to his wife and son even if he died. Unless Leo III committed an act that would enrage the public, that order could not be changed.
However, in the current state. If Prince Alfonso were gone, it was highly likely that the person chosen by Leo III would become the ruler of the kingdom. Ultimately, it was a situation where the old man and the soldier were competing to see whose life would last longer. The problem was that the authority to command the soldiers was in the old man's grasp.
***
Leo III was not the only old man seeking to mobilize an army of young knights for his own power. Pope Justinian's choice was also Prince Alfonso, not Leo III. Prince Alfonso's comparative advantage over Leo III was clear. The Prince held the army in his own hands, was likely devout as a victorious commander of the Third Crusade, and, above all, was physically close. Pope Justinian was in a hurry.
[Therefore, I, Justinian VIII, command the faithful Servant of the Heavenly God of the Justinian VIII, command the faithful Servant of the Heavenly God of the Etruscan Kingdom to send an army to Trevero to punish the King of Gallico, who harbors treason against the King of Kings, the Lord of Heaven. Let him who receives this request march out immediately.
Servant of servants of the Heavenly God, Pope Justinian.]
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