114 – Appointment – 3
“My proposal is this. Since ancient times, assassination attempts on diplomats have been an issue that can turn into a diplomatic issue. Therefore, in order to protect the dignity and credibility of the Holy Kingdom, a meeting of cardinals will definitely be held, and when that happens, Cardinal Bergamo will definitely use this incident as an opportunity to advocate for starting a war with Princess Leonia.”
“Let’s strike first before Her Majesty the Princess gets angry and raises an army?”
“That’s right.”
“It’s a pretty well-constructed plot. If the assassination is successful, Her Royal Highness will start a war, so Cardinal Bergamo, the main fighter, will benefit, and even if the assassination fails, the fact that there was an assassination attempt will worsen the relationship between the two countries, so Cardinal Bergamo, the main fighter, will benefit again. Let’s see. “It’s a scheme that only benefits the Moro Garden and the Cardinal of Bergamo.”
As expected, it seems that the next successful candidate is not just anyone.
“So, what is Salome’s suggestion? How do you plan on making me a duke?”
“I will give you the entire Taspilia Peninsula.”
I was momentarily speechless at one shocking word.
“Yes?”
“His Holiness Alexander has already made up his mind. He decided to join hands with Princess Leonia. And if His Holiness grants Princess Leonia’s hand, wouldn’t it be a matter of giving the Taspilia Peninsula into her hands?”
“That’s right. “What was lacking was not power, but justification.”
We are one-sided invaders. If you devour the Taspilia Peninsula without any justification, you will definitely be tackled from somewhere else. In the worst case scenario, there may be a scenario where you are surrounded from all sides and come under heavy fire. In that case, we will never survive. It is a separate issue from the strength and weakness of the military. Didn’t Xiang Yu of Chu Hanji also win every battle and never lose a war?
However, if the Holy Kingdom of Lydia stands behind it, the story is different. If the Holy Emperor gives us a coronation, we can rightfully become the rulers of Taspilia.
“That’s a good offer for me. But there is a bit of a problem.”
Salome looked puzzled at my words.
“What’s the catch? What is that?”
“Isn’t that offer too advantageous for us? You’re giving me Taspilia Peninsula for free? It’s strange. “What do you want in return?”
“… Title.”
“Title?”
“Please appoint me as the Duke of the Kingdom of Taspilia, which will be created in the future.”
Duke! The moment I heard that, I couldn’t help but be shocked. A duke? If that happens, he will become number 2 after Dean de Balboa. Does this person want to surpass me, Yuria, and Isabelle and become the number 2 of the Leonian army? Do you mean to say that they want to remove the stone that rolled over?
As I was thinking that, Salome said this.
“It’s about selling the country. Not just our country, but the entire Taspilia Peninsula. So, I think it’s enough to receive a commission.”
“Well, that’s true, but… “
Compared to the entire Taspilia Peninsula, the duchy is insignificant.
“And if you appoint me as the Duke of Taspilia Kingdom and succeed in taking control of the Taspilia Peninsula, Her Royal Highness Princess Leonia may appoint Count Rochepol as Duke as well.”
“If that happens, I’ll be number 3.”
Because one person comes between Dian, number 1, and me, number 2. Salome smiled charmingly.
“Are you not feeling guilty about selling your country?”
When asked that question, Salome answered calmly.
“Nothing. Although I am Ceylonian, I have lived on the Taspilia Peninsula my whole life. Taspilians sell anything. Friendship, honor, loyalty, friends, family. If you can sell it, and if you get the right price, there is nothing you can’t sell. So, I just sell when I can.”
“What are your beliefs as a religious person?”
As far as I know, Salome was a person with some religious beliefs.
“There is that. However, handing over the Taspilia Peninsula to Princess Leonia does not mean that Lydianism will disappear. “In fact, I believe that we can become stronger.”
“Is it becoming stronger?”
“How many believers of Lydia do you think there are currently in the entire continent of Arcadia?”
“Well, I don’t know. “The total population is 600 million, so wouldn’t you believe about 400 million of them?”
“That’s right. 60 To 70 percent of the total population believes in Lydia. I want to raise that 60 to 70 percent to over 90 percent. To do that, we need the power of Her Highness Princess Leonia.”
“The idea is to have Her Majesty Leonia conquer the world.”
Salome smiled with satisfaction at those words.
“On the continent of Arcadia, there is a culture in which when a lord converts to Lydia, all his subjects also convert. It is a different culture from the eastern continent, where religious freedom is guaranteed. Therefore, if we conquer the entire continent of Arcadia and force the lords to convert to Lydianism, all the subjects under them will also convert to Lydianism, so we can create more than 500 million believers in an instant.”
“All the balls belong to Salome?”
“Yes. “It has nothing to do with the clergy, but there’s no harm in being indebted to the clergy, right?”
“You have your own thoughts.”
Although he looks sloppy, he is a formidable character in his own way. That’s why they tried to recruit Salome from the beginning.
In any case, there was no need to persuade Salome to come under her wing. She didn’t even need to persuade me because Salome suggested it to her first. And the answer is of course…
“Good. “Let’s do our best together.”
I said that and held out my hand. Salome took her hand, and so our alliance began.
—–
The next day, Cardinal Bergamo came to visit me while I was staying at Salome’s house.
The Cardinal of Bergamo seemed a little surprised when he saw my face. I didn’t know the reason, but I could vaguely sense what he said next.
“Count Rochepol.”
“Cardinal of Bergamo.”
We briefly greeted each other. There was no handshaking. A handshake is an act of letting the other person know that you have no weapons to harm them, and although we may not have a weapon in our hands, we each have a sword in our hearts.
And Cardinal Bergamo said.
“Even though something unpleasant happened, you did not return to your country. “Do you believe it will never happen again?”
“If I continue like this, the friendship between our two countries will worsen. My goal is to return with good news, if possible.”
“You are acting so useless. A lion cannot be friendly with a sheep. No matter what the lion thinks. “Do you think it’s easy to acknowledge as a friend someone who could kill you at any time?”
After hearing this, I was convinced. Salome was right. Cardinal Bergamo was the main preacher.
“It’s an interesting story. Since the lion can kill the sheep at any time, does this mean that it should attack the sheep before it is killed? Wouldn’t it be better to at least try to become friends to increase your survival rate?”
“If the lion is full, that might be the case. But this lion is a very hungry lion. He is ravenously devouring the other sheep. “How can it be wrong for sheep to unite against such a lion?”
“There was a story like this in my hometown. A flock of 100 sheep led by one lion is stronger than a flock of 100 lions led by one sheep. A lion is essentially a lion and a sheep is essentially a sheep. “Nothing changes just because we get together.”
“You arrogant person! “Recognize that this is not your living room!”
“Why? Are you planning to send assassins again?”
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The Cardinal of Bergamo huffed, and soon Salome intervened.
“Now, now. Let us not fight each other on good days. And anyway, even if we don’t fight here, we will meet at the council soon.”
“Hmph. Just one last word. Stop thinking that just because you are a diplomat you will be safe. There is only one way for you to survive in the Holy Kingdom. “Leaving the Holy Kingdom.”
Hearing Salome’s words, Bergamo threw the fruit basket he had brought on the floor and disappeared. It seemed that Salome’s words that Bergamo was against me were true.
“It seems like the Cardinal of Bergamo is very eager?”
“Eager?”
“He was threatening with his mouth, but he was pleading with his eyes. “Please leave.”
I felt that too. The Cardinal of Bergamo wanted me to leave the Holy Land. I understand that much, but the question is why.
“Why does the Cardinal of Bergamo want me to leave?”
“If the Count of Rochepol stays here and says that he is okay with the fact that I was almost assassinated, and that he still considers the Holy Kingdom a friendly country, the position of the main faction will no doubt be diminished. “It is quite a difficult story for Bergamo, the head of the main faction.”
“Aha… “
There are various circumstances in politics within the Holy Kingdom. As an outsider, there seems to be quite a lot of stories that I don’t know.
“Anyway, shall we go buy some clothes first?”
“Clothes? Why are the clothes… “
“The council will begin today. “I want to prepare a show for that time.”
Shora. I don’t know what Salome is thinking, but it won’t be bad for her to hear what she says. I followed her and bought clothes for her to wear to the council. Only then did I realize what the ‘show’ Salome wanted was. And it was not until that afternoon that the council began.
The council was completely different from what I thought. As the time for the council approached and we entered the Holy Palace, the 51 cardinals gathered there were sitting on both sides of the central hall, looking at me and Salome in the center with solemn expressions.
“From now on, the 357th Council on how to respond to assassination attempts on diplomats from other countries begins. Cardinals, please take your seats.”
Not only the high-ranking cardinals but also the low-ranking cardinals gathered here and the meeting about the Principality of Claudia began.