<Episode 556> Getting Stepped on the Tail
The Prince's expression was deeply subdued as he spoke. His face was gloomy, and his voice calm. This was not the conclusion the Prince truly desired.
However, on the contrary, his attitude was firm and convincing. He knew all too well that in life, there are things one must do even if one does not want to, and things one must endure even if one wishes to.
The elderly priest saw the young Prince's spirit and determination. No matter what he said now, the Prince's decision would not be overturned. This was not the place to make further requests.
"Thank you for your thoughtful words."
The old priest stood up from his seat. He, too, had work to do.
"I think we should set off right away."
They arrived in San Carlo a little over a week after departing from Trevero. They had an audience with Prince Alfonso on the first evening, rested well on the second, and today was the morning of the third.
It was the perfect schedule for travel. Prince Alfonso could not give the envoys from Trevero a favorable or immediate answer, but he gave them a definitive confirmation as soon as he could.
At this juncture, where time is of the essence, it was the best gift, aside from the promise to deploy troops. It was a precious gesture.
The old priest thanked the Prince. Showing such consideration was not something only those with power or money could do. It was something anyone could do.
However, ironically, among those close to supreme power, there were hardly any who cared about the trivial circumstances of others.
The kind Etruscan Prince opened his mouth.
"Of course, I assume you rode a fine horse, but the horses must be tired from the long journey."
It was the last gift he could give to Trevero's envoys. Alfonso raised his voice.
"Listen. Deliver two healthy, fine horses to Trevero's delegation."
The two envoys from Trevero knelt before Prince Alfonso of the Etruscans to pay their respects. It was a gesture of heartfelt gratitude.
"I am overwhelmed by your grace."
While the Chief Envoy was struggling to contain his rising emotions, the Deputy Envoy expressed his gratitude first. The Chief envoy barely managed to speak, belatedly.
"I pray that only blessings await the Prince's future."
Alfonso answered calmly.
"This is the least I can do. I wish you good luck."
The old priest took the deputy and returned straight to his lodgings, hurriedly packed his bags, and followed the attendants to examine the horse the Prince had provided. It was a vigorous animal, glossy and showing signs of being well-fed.
"I'm sorry. Let's go through a bit of hardship."
The old man affectionately stroked the chin of the horse he had just met and climbed onto its back with difficulty. Next to him, the deputy jumped onto the horse assigned to him.
"Come on! Let's go day and night! Giddy up!"
The old priest believed that the Heavenly God had prepared everything. The Heavenly God would save Trevero from the war with Gallico, and if not, it would be a just punishment from God for Trevero's arrogance.
However, even the Heavenly God who delivers punishment loves His lambs. They will survive. They will endure any hardship, survive, and seek God's will once again.
Yet, he was human. He earnestly hoped for a miracle that he would lead reinforcements back to Trevero before the King of Gallico reached the border.
His only hope was Leo III.
***
The Marquis Guatieri was pacing around that familiar secret study at his main villa in Taranto. Soon, the sound of a door opening was heard, and the footsteps of two men approached.
"Have you come?"
Guatieri stepped forward with delight, but it was not who he had expected. It was his own henchman, Baron Jordini, whom he had sent on an errand
"M-Marquis. It is me, Jordini."
Although he was effectively a confidant of the Marquis of Ceppinelli rather than Guatieri, the Guatieri and Ceppinelli families had maintained close ties for generations. One cannot undertake a major undertaking alone. The Marquis of Guatieri needed not only friends to encourage him but also reliable manpower, and there was no other way to recruit such people other than through recommendations from those close to him.
And as expected, including strangers in the scheme backfired.
"Wait, where did the envoys from Porto go that were supposed to come? Why are you back alone?!"
"...He said the situation wasn't good and that he would visit me next time."
Marquis Guatieri was furious.
"Of course, the situation is bad! Unaisola went out on another regular upstream trip, so how could they not show up today!"
The Marquis intended to interrogate the envoys of the Republic of Porto today about why they had allowed Unaisola to send out another regular trade mission. Of course, sending out the mission was an internal matter for Unaisola, so the Republic of Porto couldn't do anything about it, but he decided he had to cause a commotion now to prevent it from being sunk in international waters.
"There is a limit to how you can look down on people! You worthless pieces of no title!"
"Those cowards must be unable to show up because they know they will surely face protests."
The Republic of Porto had to keep Unaisola in check at sea. That was the role of the Republic as promised. However, after the story of the death of a Sultan on the side of the Mukhae, the maritime sanctions they were supposed to undertake were not carried out at all.
"You have to keep your promise! If you don't have teeth, you have to chew with your gums! If the Sultan or Pasha is dead, shouldn't they at least form a privateer band and head out themselves!"
He banged on the table and shouted. Baron Giordini chimed in wholeheartedly from the side.
"That's right! Since there is no hierarchy, it actually makes people more arrogant!"
Marquis Guatieri, comforted by Baron Giordini's heartfelt interjections, decided to show some force to the 'lowly commoners of the Republic' just as the Baron had said.
"They seem to think they are the only ones who can break promises, but let's show them just how."
While Baron Giordini blinked, the Marquis shouted quite boldly
"Hey guys!"
However, there was no reaction to the Marquis Guatieri's shout. Baron Giordini, sensing the situation, quickly slipped outside. Soon, a swarm of rugged-looking men followed the Baron in.
Most of them were retainers of the Marquis's family who had originally served under Guatieri. However, there were also men sent by close associates who shared his cause, such as the Ceppinelli family.
These were men who did the dirty work themselves. To put it nicely, they were knights; to put it bluntly, they were thugs and idlers. They were typically household members or men referred to as 'private soldiers' when the central government needed to mobilize troops.
The Marquis gave an order in high spirits.
"Cut down on training for the time being! Until the money comes in from those Porto bastards!"
The men shouted in perfect unison.
"Yes!"
One of them asked cautiously
"Um, Marquis. If someone asks why there is no training, what should I say?"
Guatieri frowned intensely.
"Who would dislike the idea of reducing training?"
Indeed, he was right. No one would dislike the idea of losing work. This was especially true when the only scum and disposable pawns had been gathered, as was the case now.
They were destined to starve to death in their hometowns, and even now, they would become a plundering unit if trained well, or just a gang of petty bandits if not. If the training didn't finish on time, they would cheer. Only those who wanted to use them would be anxious.
At that thought, the Marquis Guatieri suddenly felt a sense of regret about the wasted grain.
"And those who don't work aren't allowed to eat either. Cut your meals in half!"
"There will likely be differing opinions on that."
"Then just beat that guy up! Don't give him a piece of bread, and make him run laps around the training ground all day long!"
The men smirked. This was tantamount to a permit for harassment that would add joy to their boring daily lives.
"Understood, Marquis."
Their expressions showed great anticipation.
***
After the men swarmed out, Guatieri was left alone with Baron Giordini and grumbled.
"Since I've gone this far, they must get through to Porto, right?"
"Wouldn't they report us right away if we don't give them food?"
"Is there a direct route from there to Porto? Those bastards barely answer my calls, so do you think they would answer those vermin?"
"They'll probably snitch to their superiors."
"It didn't seem like they were in much contact with their superiors."
Those entrusted to Guatieri were those abandoned by their homeland. Most of them had come mindlessly simply because they were offered food, while some had mistakenly believed they were there to carry out a noble mission, but that was the reality. Baron Giordini pointed this out precisely as well.
"They will notice immediately if the tribute money drops. They've been acting like beggars lately. Unlike Porto, they'll probably be the first to come running."
"I guess those with something to take show up immediately."
Those currently training under Guatieri were none other than the Aseretto Bandits. After receiving training at the garrison for a certain period, they scattered throughout the Etruscan Kingdom to commit robberies.
They did not know exactly who was training them. They simply believed that he was helping their cause because he trusted someone like them.
"Stupid bastards."
In reality, the higher authorities had not a shred of interest in the safety of the band of beggars they had sent, let alone the cause they believed in. The religion they truly believed in was something else entirely: money.
The Aseretto bandits had settled in the most remote part of Guatieri's territory, using it as a forward base to travel throughout the Etruscan nation.
Only 10 percent of the grain, cloth, and gold they plundered were given to them to send back to their hometowns.
Well, they had been told that it would be sent to them.
Since the money was being transported to a high-ranking official in Aseretto on a ship secretly brought into Ravelli Port by the Republic of Porto, Guatieri neither knew nor cared whether it would actually be properly distributed locally.
The remaining amount was divided between Guatieri and the bandit leader.
The Republic of Porto had provided some training funds, but they received nothing in return.
This is because the goal of the great Merchant Republic was not to make a fortune, but to eliminate Unaisola, which had emerged as a new competitor.
"Aseretto will contact you the moment the deposit is delayed by even a single day. Please do not worry."
Guatieri would be defiant, claiming that he could do nothing because no funds were coming from Porto.
Then, they would protest in Porto.
It was uncertain whether Porto would heed the protests of that guy who had nothing to offer, but to prevent the whole thing from falling apart, Porto also had to make some conciliatory gesture.
"They'll probably come up with something."
"Sure"
The Aseretto Bandit Group was currently at the very bottom of this food chain.
If anything were to be obtained from Porto, it would be Guatieri himself.
Marquis Guatieri himself most desired the title of the Republic of Porto.
However, that was a share he had to take for himself alone, rather than sharing it with Ceppinelli or his other allies.
Unable to let Baron Giordini know this, Guatieri just licked his lips in silence.
"Tsk."
To Baron Giordini, that appeared to be a misunderstanding, as if he were worried about the situation where the mastermind behind the Aseretto bandits would come to protest to him.
"Please do not worry, Marquis."
"Huh?"
"The Apostle of Aseretto is not in a position to dare to strongly protest to the Marquis."
Just then, the sound of a door opening was heard.
It was not soft at all; it was a sound made by forcefully opening it so that it would be heard.
Click!
The two men turned toward the source of the sound with their eyes wide open.
The train of the luxurious silk dress was visible first.
Above it was a splendid sable fur, and in her hand, she held a peacock feather fan.
"Oh my."
The woman who entered was the late Grand Duchess Rubina.
She walked in lightly like a cat and swept her surroundings once with the corners of her eyes upturned like a cat's.
"To think you hid such a magnificent room behind the villa, Guatieri."
Rubina's attitude was as haughty and confident as an expensive cat she had raised for a long time.
The two men began to tremble like mice before a cat.
"Your taste is more refined than I thought."
Grand Duchess Rubina added, wearing the same satisfied smile as a cat that had just finished a satisfying meal.
"You are plotting things much worse than I thought."
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