Episode 48
Late night at the heart of the Western Church, the Vatican in Rome.
Cardinal Orsini found himself unable to sleep, as if haunted by a ghost, even after returning home.
What is this?
Could it be that I’m dreaming?
Yes, this must be a dream.
The Pope receiving a prophecy of his death and me becoming the next Pope—what else could this be but a dream?
Yet no matter how many times he washed his face or shook his head, he couldn’t wake from this dream.
As dawn broke, Cardinal Orsini finally accepted reality.
Everything that happened today was not a dream but a fact.
And with that realization, a wave of fear surged within him once more.
‘What is this? How did things end up like this?’
The most unsettling part was Marshal’s sudden change in demeanor.
The Marshal who had been so polite and formal during the day was unrecognizable from the one who prophesied the Pope’s death in the evening.
On reflection, it wasn’t so strange.
After all, when delivering a message from God, anyone would naturally adopt a more solemn demeanor.
The real issue was the content of the prophecy.
“If His Holiness won’t be able to officiate next year’s Easter ceremony, it means he won’t survive the spring…”
It was hard to believe, especially seeing the Pope so vigorously pushing for war.
But it was Marshal, the prophet himself, who delivered the message, so it couldn’t be dismissed.
“Still, his desire to reclaim the Holy Land must have been genuine… Or perhaps this is divine retribution for hiding his true intentions behind such excuses.”
Frankly, everyone knew that reclaiming the Holy Land and eradicating Islam were tied to strengthening papal authority.
The Pope and the cardinals all supported this course, considering it only natural.
As the papal authority rose, so too would the Church’s influence, and by extension, their own power.
And it wasn’t as if they were deceiving anyone to gain authority; they were reclaiming the Holy Land from Islam, which they believed would please God.
Yet instead of approval, they faced judgment for pursuing personal gain.
And the next Pope was to be none other than Cardinal Orsini himself.
‘What should I do? It’s too late to stop this momentum…’
He had promised Marshal to reform the Church according to his will, but he lacked confidence.
The Crusades couldn’t be abandoned.
Doing so would mean admitting that all previous Popes had been wrong.
Marshal had agreed on this point.
So, they needed to guide the Vatican and European opinion in a more sophisticated and discreet manner. But could it really be as easy as it sounded?
If he failed, would he face divine punishment like the current Pope?
He had lived long enough that the thought of dying didn’t bother him much.
But to be accused of not following God’s will—that was a different story.
As a devout believer, the thought of falling out of God’s favor terrified him.
It felt like he was King David from the Bible, sinning and repenting with tears.
He wanted nothing more than to sleep and forget everything, but the Pope summoned him, leaving him no choice.
Of all times, he had to face the Pope now. What on earth was he supposed to say?
Contrary to Cardinal Orsini’s worries, Pope Clement III casually asked for a report.
“How is Marshal? He hasn’t shown any suspicious behavior, has he?”
Suspicious… or perhaps, behavior that leaves no room for doubt.
Cardinal Orsini swallowed the words that rose to his throat and shook his head slightly.
“Marshal seems wholly devoted to following God’s will.”
He wasn’t lying. Not really.
“Yes, that’s how he’s always been. Then he should serve as our symbol quite well this time.”
“Hahaha…”
“Still, keep an eye on him. There’s something about him that bothers me. Maybe it’s just my sensitivity.”
“Isn’t Cardinal Lothaire usually with Marshal? Hasn’t he reported anything unusual?”
Everyone close to the Pope knew that Cardinal Lothaire was assigned to monitor Marshal.
But it seemed there had been no reports of suspicious behavior from him either.
As expected, Pope Clement III clicked his tongue softly and frowned.
“He’s been silent too. In fact, he says Marshal is a model of faith and a friend of the Church.”
“Isn’t that a good thing? That’s how I saw it too.”
“I hope it’s just my overreaction.”
The Pope was known for his suspicion, but this seemed almost pathological.
Of course, in some ways, the Pope’s concerns were valid, but Marshal wasn’t an enemy of the Church.
He emphasized the Church’s original functions, which didn’t align with the current Vatican’s stance.
Pope Clement III still seemed wary, but Cardinal Orsini had already decided where to place his bets.
No matter how powerful someone is, if they’re going to die in a few months, it doesn’t matter.
“Your Holiness, from what I’ve seen, Marshal is a true believer who loves the Church and upholds God’s word. You can trust and rely on him.”
“Very well. I’ll follow your advice for now. So, the launch of the new Crusade will proceed without issue?”
“I think it would be best to align it with the coronation of the Holy Roman Emperor, as previously discussed.”
“Indeed, that would be the most fitting. Heinrich VI would appreciate being highlighted in such a way.”
Repeating what Marshal had told him, Pope Clement III nodded in agreement.
Traditionally, the coronation of the Holy Roman Emperor took place in Rome.
The Pope would crown the Emperor as the King of Rome, showcasing the Emperor’s authority.
If, at this time, the Holy Roman Empire, along with England, France, and the Iberian Peninsula, declared war on Islam?
Imagining such a historic moment, Pope Clement III laughed with satisfaction.
But the shadow cast over his laughter felt like the beckoning of the angel of death.
A shiver ran down Cardinal Orsini’s spine.
Having secured the next Pope as a puppet, my political goals were achieved for now.
Cardinal Orsini, the future Pope, couldn’t openly oppose the current course, but I could manage things from behind the scenes.
After all, there wouldn’t be many more opportunities to use prophecies like this, so I had to make the most of it.
With my intervention, the butterfly effect was in full swing, inevitably affecting people’s lifespans.
For instance, Richard I, who was supposed to die in battle, would have a different fate with me around.
Sultan Saladin of Ayyubid was originally supposed to die in 1193.
But with the Third Crusade canceled, Saladin wouldn’t be going to war as in the original history, nor would he face the same stress. Would his lifespan remain unchanged?
Considering the toll of leading an army at an old age, I could confidently say no.
So instead of using someone’s death as a prophecy for gain, it was time to reap the benefits of the seeds already sown.
With the next Pope as a puppet, it was time to secure real military power.
Realizing that unexpected variables could lead to war, I felt the need for a proper military organization.
I had planned to wait for my domain to develop, but I had overlooked the possibility of unforeseen events.
I needed a subordinate organization capable of raising an army immediately.
So, who should I bring in?
In truth, I had already chosen my target the moment I arrived here.
I greeted the guest who arrived right on time and led him to his seat.
“It’s been a while.”
“Yes, since we fought together in the civil war. I should have visited you in Auvergne, but the timing never worked out.”
“That’s alright. Being elected as the Grand Master of the Knights Templar must keep you busy.”
“Thanks to you, the Templar Order is recovering. I owe you my gratitude.”
Robert de Sablé, who succeeded Gerard de Ridefort as the Grand Master of the Knights Templar, looked at me with genuine goodwill.
As an advisor to Richard I, he had fought on his side during the previous civil war.
So he had no reason to view me unfavorably, and as the Grand Master of the Templars, he naturally wanted to maintain a good relationship with me.
For my part, it was easier to bring in someone I was already acquainted with and who was based in the same country.
“Technically, I’m also a member of the Templar Order, so we could say we’re quite close. Though, having deserted, I might have been expelled by now?”
“Expelled? Not at all! You, and Count of Dammartin in France, are eternal members of our Templar Order. In fact, we’d like to officially use your name in our activities.”
“That’s not difficult. I often find myself missing the days when I fought alongside my comrades in the Templar Order.”
“Oh! In that case…”
Instinctively, I leaned in slightly, adding a meaningful comment to the chancellor, who was visibly intrigued.
“The order needs both the Knights Templar and the Hospitallers to maintain balance. If one side becomes too dominant, it wouldn’t be a healthy situation.”
”…Pardon?”
“Oh, didn’t you know? The Vatican plans to favor the Hospitallers in future endeavors.”
”…I was aware of the Pope’s closeness to the Hospitallers, but… is that true?”
Indeed, it is. I’m planning to encourage Cardinal Orsini, the future Pope, to openly favor the Hospitallers.
The Templars, unaware that the Pope is essentially my puppet, will inevitably be swept up in this situation.
Since the recapture of Jerusalem, the Templars and Hospitallers have been traditional rivals. While they haven’t openly clashed, it’s true that if the Pope starts favoring one side, the balance of power could quickly tip.
It’s no wonder Chancellor Robert seemed so alarmed.
“Nothing is set in stone yet, so I’ll look into it further. In the meantime, please don’t react. Doing so might only provoke the Vatican more.”
“I see. Understood. Please, Count, do investigate and keep me informed of any developments.”
I reassured the increasingly anxious chancellor with a confident smile.
“Of course. You can count on me.”