112 – Appointment – 1
‘This is Alexander IV…’ ‘
This is the prosperity of the Holy Kingdom of Lydia, famous for its corrupt priests. He is also a person who can move the world with just one word.
Alexander IV seemed to be examining me closely and then spoke.
“You are young.”
“Yes?”
“I became a cardinal when I was 24 years old. “At that time, even I was making a fuss about being the youngest cardinal ever, but you are younger than me when I became a cardinal.”
That’s… That was correct. Since I was only 20 years old and did not ‘inherit’ the title but ‘earned it’, it could be seen as a truly rapid success.
“You must have big dreams since you succeeded at a young age. Since you have the ability, you can make most of your dreams come true. At first, I wondered what made Salome so distracted that she abandoned the flowery path laid by her father and took the thorny path, but after seeing Count Rochepol, she seems to know a little more. “Times are changing.”
“… “
I didn’t know what to say, so I just smiled quietly.
“If it were just 20 years ago, you wouldn’t have been as successful. “Do you know that?”
“… Yes.”
It was obvious. 20 Years ago, the emperor was fine, and when the emperor was fine, Arcadia was gathered together, so no major wars broke out on the continent. Since it was only a small war, there was no opportunity to make a living and get ahead in one go.
“Well, of course someone with your level of talent would know. “I am not saying this as you, but as Alejandro de Jirón, and I am very jealous of you.”
“Is it because you are young?”
Then Seonghwang laughed lowly. He looked at me like he was looking at an immature child.
“No, admiring youth is meaningless. I also have no intention of denying the life I have lived as a monarch and a human being. But… “
But, what on earth is it?
“There was no opportunity like that in my time.”
“Aha… “
Now I understand a little bit.
“My time was peaceful. Even if you wash your eyes and look for a major war, no major war occurred, and at most it was a peaceful time when the Kingdom of Swadia invaded the Duchy of Salerno, this time with an army of 7,000. Even after the war ended, the territory was not swallowed up like it is now. A peace agreement was concluded in the presence of neighboring countries, and only a portion of the territory taken under the agreement was received, and gold coins were distributed free of charge even to countries that did not participate in the war. Just in exchange for taking territory. As a result, both sides knew full well that war would only result in losses, and they did not want to go to war under any circumstances. In such a situation, how could there be any way to get ahead? The answer is simple. It was plutocracy and nepotism. They bought a country with money and put their relatives in important positions in the country they bought. In that way, the country was being eroded little by little from within. I’ve lived like that for 40 years. It was the reign of a petty villain whose name was difficult to leave in history. “I am not particularly ashamed of being corrupt as a prosperous emperor, but I still regret not being able to rise to the pinnacle of world power as a corrupt priest.”
At that moment, I looked around in shock. There were several knights and Cardinal Urbino, but no one looked surprised. Then I couldn’t help but be surprised. Is this normal in a holy country? Or is it that the Holy Emperor has taken control of the Holy Kingdom to this extent?
“So, I can’t help but envy you, who was born in such an interesting era as now, right?”
Now I understand. I am not jealous of my youth. He said that the era in which he was born was a reigning era and the era in which I was born was a difficult era, so he envied the era that I was enjoying.
“If that’s the case, I think you should envy someone other than me.”
“Huh? “Who is that?”
“Salome de Hiron.”
I am only from a fallen noble family, but she is truly a golden girl. Because she has a bag called Seonghwang. Moreover, it may be Salome who is living her most interesting life, as she is breaking away from the stable path laid out for her by her father and forging her own path.
“hehehehe, hehehehe… “
Alexander laughed. He looked out of breath, perhaps because of his age, but his expression looked genuinely happy.
“I see. Maybe so. “My daughter may be enjoying the most delicious part of the dessert called difficult times.”
I smiled lightly. Cardinal Urbino continued to stand behind me, expressionless, listening to the conversation.
“To begin with, His Holiness’s dream may not have ended yet.”
“Hmm? What do you mean?”
“From now on, Her Majesty the Duke of Leonia von Arcadia will take control of the world. If Her Holiness joins hands with His Royal Highness the Duke, she will be able to become a saint who will leave a great mark in history. “Your Majesty the Duke controls actual politics, and your Holiness controls world religion.”
“hehehe, maybe Princess Leonia can get the world.”
After saying that, Seonghwang looked into the distance for a moment.
“Maybe, maybe not.”
I believe it is almost 100% true. That’s why it was attached to Leonia in the first place.
“What is certain is that even if Princess Leonia takes control of the world, it will likely be after my lifespan is over.”
In other words, Alexander is saying this. He said he was too old to make his dream come true anyway.
Alexander’s current age is 70 years old. Considering the standard of medical care in this era, it is not unreasonable to think that there is not much left.
“Your Holiness, may I say a word?”
“I gladly allow it.”
“I know that the first time the Hiron family entered the Holy Kingdom was after your uncle, Stephen III, ascended to the throne. When Stephen III ascended to the throne, he was already 77 years old and close to death, but he lived and actively pursued politics for three years. During his political career, he appointed numerous Ceylonians and family relatives to priestly positions, thereby strengthening the position of Ceylonians within the Holy Kingdom of Lydia.”
“Should I work for my family and country until I die like my uncle?”
“It is not the family or the country.”
“Then what?”
“This is Salome de Hiron.”
Alexander sighed deeply at the sound of that name appearing once again.
“Indeed… “It seems my role is not over yet.”
Salome kicked off the flower path that had been paved for Salome. But that didn’t mean there wasn’t much she could do for her daughter. Seonghwang is still alive and while she is alive, she will have something to do for her daughter.
“I will listen carefully to your words. “Go out.”
After bowing to the Holy Emperor, I followed Cardinal Urbino.
—–
From Noble mtl dot com
“Your Excellency the Count is quite eloquent. “His Holiness seemed to be listening very carefully to what you said.”
“That’s too much praise.”
Actually, I can’t tell whether Seonghwang listened or not. This is because the person named Alexander IV was a very unpredictable person.
I just throw stones. On a calm lake. How the stone changes the lake is only up to the lake.
“Your Excellency, during your stay in the Holy Kingdom, you can stay at my residence, enjoy the Holy Communion, and enjoy many other pleasures that are forbidden to us clergy.”
“Unfortunately, I don’t like that kind of thing. Just having a place to sleep and something to eat will be enough.”
“You live a more humble life than the clergy of the Holy Kingdom.”
“I will take this as a compliment.”
As we were chatting for a while, servants brought food. The food was literally a feast. The table was decorated with food so sumptuous that it would be difficult to imagine it as a priest’s diet.
“Since we had guests, we paid a little more attention. Please eat as much as you want.”
I’m saying this, but I don’t think it would be wise to decline, so I’m about to start with wine.
“Wait a minute.”
Glacia grabbed her hand and dragged her. Then he took something out of her arms.
It looks like a glass stick on the outside, but it was an artifact. An artifact that can determine whether or not it is poisonous. However, it is disposable and expensive, so it is difficult to use on a daily basis. Without hesitation, Glacia tilted the wine glass and let her water droplets fall onto her artifact. OK…
-Shui Iik
The artifact absorbed the wine and began to turn green. Glacia frowned.
“If it’s colorless, it’s not poisonous, and if it’s green, it’s poisonous, right?”
When I whispered and asked, Glacia answered firmly.
“Yes.”
“Then…” “Cardinal Urbino?”
With that thought in mind, he looked at Cardinal Urbino, and Cardinal Urbino grabbed his neck, started jerking, and started foaming at the mouth.
“I don’t think so.”
At the same time as Glacia spoke, Cardinal Urbino collapsed and collapsed.
It was poisoning.