Chapter 550 - To Jaundiced Eyes, the World Is All Yellow
There was no time to save face, and the nature of the document was that of an imperial decree issuing a command rather than a recommendation. It would be humiliating if the Pope's decree were ignored, but since he would be crawling between the legs of the King Gallico anyway if this decree were ignored, such things didn't matter. The recipient's name was not clearly written on the decree. This was to prepare for the possibility that only one of the Etruscan Prince or the King would agree to the expedition. Therefore, the messengers howled and shouted the Prince's name at the top of their lungs, even though it was not in the decree.
"I, the servant of Trevero, earnestly implore Your Highness Prince Alfonso, the wise one, the savior of Yesak, and the victorious commander of the Holy War!"
The envoy from Trevero, holding a little just below that of a bishop, knelt and pleaded. Although he was a church scribe who had even been granted the title of Monsignor, given that even the Pope had cast aside his dignity, it was not a situation where a mere envoy, no matter how elite a cleric he was, could haughtily hold his head high. This was the treatment received by those with the most raw form of power, namely, those who possessed military forces. Prince Alfonso, who had heard the news of the tense relationship between the Kingdom of Gallico and the Holy See over the port of Pisalino but was completely unaware that Gallico's siege weapons were massing on the border, asked back.
"Does His Holiness the Pope truly believe that Phillip IV will invade the City of Gold?"
"If he is not going to invade Trevero, why on earth is Philip IV gathering troops on the border with the Holy See!"
No matter how you looked at it, it was difficult to deny that the army. including battering rams, siege cannons, and catapults, had a different purpose.
"What about the declaration of war?"
The kingdom of the Central Continent strictly observed the implicit custom of sending a formal declaration of war before an invasion. The challenge of a knight to a duel expanded to the national level and became established as a custom. Failure to comply resulted in a reputation as a lowly commoner, preventing one from holding one's head high.
"Although the declaration of war has not yet been formally received, the leadership of Trevero anticipates that a nasty excuse will soon arrive from Gallico."
When the monarch of the Yesak nation was attacking the Holy See of all places, it was impossible to send a conventional declaration of war stating, "On such and such a date, your country will commence military action against your country, which is claiming baseless sovereignty over the port of Pisarino." Historically, the most common response in such situations was an accusation of sexual promiscuity.
"I'm already trembling with fear at the thought of what terrible nonsense they're going to spout!"
The deputy added from the side.
"Wouldn't something like incest come up?"
Prince Alfonso couldn't keep his composure for a moment and cleared his throat. The chief envoy spoke solemnly.
"Because it is an utterly absurd situation where the monarch of Yesak is raiding the headquarters of Yesak."
The adjudant nodded.
"To justify such absurdity, shouldn't there at least be an excuse that the King raised an army to punish the Pope, who turned the city of Gold into Sodom and Gomorrah, and to purify the holy land?"
Accusations of incest with one's own siblings were traditionally a favorite theme, ironically. The official urged Prince Alfonso earnestly.
"We, too, are firmly prepared. We ask Your Highness not to be swayed by any false rumors that may circulate."
Prince Alfonso, who was well aware of what Philip IV had actually done to his sister, had to cover his face with his hand for a moment to maintain his composure. Sir Manfredi comforted the messengers.
"His Holiness the Pope Justinian's older sister passed away long ago, so put aside your worries about such preposterous accusations..."
Alfonso hoped that Sir Manfredi would get a clue.
"King Gallico's sister is dead, Manfredi."
Sir Bernardino also signaled Sir Manfredi to be quiet.
"Just because you're dead doesn't mean you can't do strange things, you know, Manfredi."
Of course, since the accusation was to be fabricated anyway, it did not need to make any sense. Pope Justinian had never had ny significant scandals involving women throughout his life. In that case, it was the perfect opportunity to exercise creativity and frame him for liking men. If one were determined to piece things together, they could even let their imaginations run wild regarding bribery, considering his advanced age and physical limitations. It would be the icing on the cake if he liked men and received a bribe.
'Heresy' was also a frequently used ingredient, but since Pope Justinian was young and not a scholar, not many of his own writings remained to serve as material for attack. Furthermore, since doctrinal battles were overwhelmingly advantageous for the Holy See over a mere King's court, it seemed unlikely they would come this way. However, the reason for the declaration of war was not important. An army was coming. The messenger of Trevero roared.
"On the way from Gallico tribesman's gathering place of Trevero, there is nothing but the Prinoyac Mountains!"
"Neither the fortress, nor the guerrillas, nor the traps, nor the garrison, nothing at all," Sir Manfredi muttered with a look of utter despair.
"It would take three weeks at most, or ten days at least, to arrive."
Prince Alfonso asked the messenger of Trevero.
"What about defensive capabilities?"
At this question, the envoy let out a deep sigh. He felt ashamed to be honest about such things to an outsider, but since he had come to request reinforcements. There was nothing he could do to hide it.
"We believed that if the city walls held out for three days after reaching them, they were holding out well."
Prince Alfonso responded to the Holy See's envoy with a long silence. The envoy grew impatient at the Prince's lack of response. The standard procedure for such matters was to answer with boiling religious fervor, "I shall go!" and then worry about the consequences later. Once people start thinking, it becomes difficult for the HOly See to receive aid. He urged the other party on.
"Your Highness! The Golden City is about to fall to a monarch of the Yesal, who is not even a pagan!"
A High Priest who had never bowed to anyone in his entire life cried out earnestly.
"Hero of the continent who came to the Holy War and restored the Kingdom of Yesak to the world of Yesak religion, please do not turn a blind eye to the hardship faced by the foremost servant of the Heavenly God!"
"..."
"Gredo and Salamanta have turned their heads away. Of even Your Highness does not respond to the request for reinforcement, there is truly no alternative but the fall of Trevero!"
However, Alfonso did not answer immediately. After a long silence, he finally spoke.
"Since you have traveled such a long distance, I will arrange accommodations for you. Please take a bath and get some good rest."
The two messengers roared at the same time.
"Your Highness!"
The handsome young blonde Prince answered with a wry smile.
"No matter what answer I give, this is absolutely necessary."
Despite the envoys pleading as if their intestines were about to be torn apart, the Prince's attitude remained unwavering.
"You need to get a good night's sleep so you can return to Trevero with some answer, won't you?"
Alfonso rose from his chair in the audience chamber without waiting any longer for the envoy to speak.
"Your Highness! Your Highness!"
He did not show any sign of being agitated. However, the voice of the envoy crying out anxiously from behind weighed heavily on his heart.
The savior of the Central Continent, the Prince of the Holy War, who had returned victorious from the war against the pagans. The title made him an object of worship, but at the same time, it placed a weight he had to bear upon his shoulders.
Trevero, the city of gold that would burn at the feet of the occupying forces if he did not march out. Trevero, the city of spires that had welcomed him with all its might. The beautiful sanctuary of the Church of Yesak, the city of joy where he found his wife was soon to be trampled under the boots of Philip IV.
***
The entire leadership of the Order of the Black Helm Knights gathered in the Prince's office.
"Trevero's envoy says that the Kingdom of Gallico is gathering siege weapons at the border. Is this reliable?"
Sir Manfredi was in charge of the search party dispatched in connection with the bandits, but it was Sir Bernardino's duty to aggregate the routine reports coming in from various places. He reported cautiously.
"Your Highness. Among the reports sent from the city north of Callico earlier this month, there was mention of the siege ram moving."
The Prince looked at Sir Bernardino with a grim expression. He continued his report with his head bowed.
"I did not report it immediately because it was not the movement of the siege cannons that the Gallico army boasts about. However, there is a possibility that the battering ram headed directly to Trevero, or that it moved to the warehouse where the cannons are stored and then sent them to Trevero."
Alfonso eventually let out a deep sigh.
"Really, that's something only a madman like Philip would do.'
Even Alfonso, the very embodiment of common sense, knew that the hope that Philip would not attack was meaningless. While it was certainly madness for a monarch of the Yesak order to attack the headquarters of the Yesal order, Philip was indeed a madman. Alfonso had witnessed firsthand Philip and Auguste immersed in their own world, completely alone. Whether one defined madness as falling into, being absorbed in, being fascinated, going crazy, losing one's mind, or being ecstatic, they fit every single one of those definitions. Talk of a Yesak monarch's piety held no sway over Philip IV.
"Your Highness, however, sending out troops... Is it truly permissible?"
Sir Bernardino and Sir Manfredi had guarded Prince Alfonso at the Pallazo Carlo for a very long time. However, at their core, they were knights. The decision whether or not to march out now was a political one, not a military one. Alfonso could not easily speak.
"As for us... it os our duty to go forth if Your Highness orders us to."
"I will go to the battlefields with joy."
In their minds, this expedition was no longer a demonstration at the border, but a phisically military clash. Nevertheless, the two knights were ready to pledge their loyalty to Alfonso's orders. This is the sword of a well-forged monarch.
"However, I find it unsettling that Gredo and Salamanta refused to send troops."
Alfonso was troubled by that very point, too. Either Justinian VII had not offered sufficient compensation to the secular monacrh who would come to his rescue, or he had judged that those two kingdoms were no match for Philip IV in terms of military power.
Only the occasional crackling of burning logs in the fireplace broke the deathlyy silence. It was a low, soft female voice that splip this stillness.
"What would you like to do, gentlemen?"
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