Episode 79
Tap.
Tap.
The sound echoed heavily through the vast room.
Pieces moved across the checkered chessboard, settling into place.
The outcome of the game was nearly decided with the current move.
With a light push, the knight advanced, leaving the opponent’s king with nowhere to escape.
No matter how the opponent tried, the game was lost by just one move.
“Ah, it seems I’ve lost again this time.”
The head of the Western Church, Pope Celestine III of the Catholic Church, chuckled as he held his trapped king.
“I can never win against you. Next time, perhaps you should play without a knight.”
“Your Holiness, your skills are formidable. If I played without a knight, I would surely lose.”
“Such modesty. Even without a knight, I doubt I could win more than three out of ten games.”
The Pope grumbled as he toppled his king on the chessboard.
“No point in dragging it out, I’ve lost. Besides, it’s about time for our guests to arrive, so we should tidy up.”
“I’ll take care of the pieces.”
Cardinal Lothaire swiftly and quietly began to clear the board.
Once finished, he cautiously observed the Pope’s expression before speaking.
“Your Holiness, are you sure it’s wise to leave the Count of Auvergne as he is?”
“Is there a problem?”
“Not exactly a problem, but…”
Cardinal Lothaire hesitated, choosing his words carefully as he watched the Pope’s face.
As the nephew of the previous Pope, he was a strong candidate for succession and was steadily building his influence within the Vatican.
A key figure in the Christian world, he was also a professor at Edward Marshall’s university, which added to his standing.
The current Pope had neither favored nor opposed him, so he had no particular complaints.
Yet, there was an inexplicable sense of unease.
He couldn’t pinpoint it, but he wondered if the Pope was placing too much trust in Edward Marshall.
Perhaps it was because the previous Pope had been overly suspicious of Marshall, making the current Pope’s trust seem excessive by comparison.
“The Count of Auvergne is now tied to the Byzantine Emperor’s daughter through marriage. This makes him a significant political figure, not just a religious one.”
“Indeed. You were there, weren’t you? How was the atmosphere?”
“It was indescribable. I’ve never seen a scene where an emperor was so confidently dethroned. It made me realize the Count of Auvergne’s prophetic power might be beyond imagination.”
“Hmm. So you’re worried the prophet might slip out of the Vatican’s control. But haven’t you considered that trying to keep him under our thumb was a mistake from the start?”
The Pope’s reasoning wasn’t entirely off.
Cardinal Lothaire had felt something similar during the recent council.
The Count of Auvergne’s sanctity was now beyond doubt.
The Orthodox Church recognized him, and the new emperor sent his daughter to Europe to marry him, proving his significance.
Trying to restrain him, as the previous Pope did, might indeed invite divine retribution.
Or perhaps it already had.
With these thoughts, Cardinal Lothaire understood why the Pope was so lenient with Marshall.
Perhaps he feared divine punishment if he incurred the prophet’s wrath.
If he were Pope, he might feel the same.
“Your Holiness, what should we do about the Count of Auvergne’s domain?”
“Well, to be honest, we can only watch for now. Given the current situation, others will likely stir things up without our intervention.”
It wasn’t the perfect answer, but considering the circumstances, it wasn’t a bad approach.
In a way, the real game was just beginning.
Given Europe’s current dynamics, the Count of Auvergne wouldn’t be left alone.
Cardinal Lothaire set aside his unease and rose from his seat.
Just then, a knock at the door announced the arrival of their guests.
“Your Holiness, the prophet and the Byzantine princess have arrived.”
“Very well. Please, show them in.”
Lothaire quickly brought an extra chair and stepped aside.
A year ago, when this person left, they were like a gentle breeze. Now, they had become a storm capable of shaking all of Europe.
How this return would affect the political landscape of various nations was beyond even Cardinal Lothaire’s imagination.
“Hmm.”
I followed the bishop who had come to greet us, heading towards the room where the Pope awaited, taking in my surroundings.
This place seemed to feel smaller each time I visited.
Perhaps it was because my wife was walking beside me now.
Or maybe it was because we had just come from Constantinople.
The heart of the Roman Empire, the center of European Catholicism.
The city of Rome, by name alone, reigns over all other cities in the world.
Thus, anyone setting foot here for the first time does so with eyes full of anticipation.
Even Fatima, a devout Muslim, couldn’t resist exploring every corner of the city when she visited Rome.
Anna was no exception, asking about Rome even before we disembarked from the ship.
I had warned her that she might be disappointed if she compared it to Constantinople, but perhaps she still held onto the hope that Rome would be Rome.
Anna was still in shock at the humble sight of Rome’s skyline.
“To think this is the current state of Rome, once the capital of the world…”
“It’s inevitable. The empire fell hundreds of years ago. If it still boasted its former glory, that would be the real surprise.”
“True. Then perhaps one day, Constantinople might end up like this.”
Seeing a once-great city reduced can indeed stir mixed emotions.
“That’s why His Majesty ascended the throne, to prevent such a fate. Don’t worry too much.”
“Yes, I’ll trust in you, Marshal.”
Anna smiled softly, fiddling with the letter in her hand.
Despite her words, she was more than capable of handling herself.
Feeling satisfied, I stopped in front of the door where the Pope awaited.
When the bishop announced our arrival, the door opened to reveal the Pope’s beaming face.
“Ah, who do we have here? The symbol of our Christian faith returns, and it feels as if light has returned to the Vatican.”
“A symbol, you say? That’s too generous. I’m relieved to see Your Holiness in good health.”
“Yes, yes. I heard there was a personal celebration in the East. It was so sudden that I couldn’t send anyone, my apologies.”
Pope Celestine III turned his gentle gaze to Anna, who stood beside me.
“Thank you for coming from afar. I’ll ensure you have a comfortable stay here in Rome, and may God’s grace be with you, Princess.”
“Thank you for the warm welcome. Here is a letter from His Majesty Alexios III, the Emperor of Rome and head of the Orthodox Church, to Your Holiness.”
Anna bowed respectfully and handed over the ornate document bearing the Byzantine emblem.
The Pope’s eyes gleamed at Anna’s deliberate emphasis on “head of the Orthodox Church.”
By mentioning the title before the emperor’s, the letter’s nature was clearly defined by the sender.
Pope Celestine III straightened up and carefully read the letter, word by word.
“…to end the long-standing conflict between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches in this generation. We hope Count Edward Marshall of Auvergne will be the bridge, and the Orthodox Church promises to trust the prophet’s words and remain faithful to God’s will…”
Though it was almost a monologue, it was loud enough for us to hear if we focused.
It was clear the Pope was intentionally letting the contents slip to gauge our reaction.
Anna flinched momentarily but quickly lowered her gaze, showing no further reaction.
In truth, Pope Celestine III wasn’t trying to test her but to see if I was aware of the letter’s contents.
And of course, I knew everything.
To be more precise, I was the one who had orchestrated Alexios III to write such a letter.
With this officially stated, the Catholic Church’s options were narrowed to one.
Alexios III’s decision to marry off his daughter and allow me to return to Europe was to highlight the Orthodox Church’s sincerity.
If the Catholic Church didn’t seize this opportunity, they would appear petty.
Of course, Alexios III didn’t just offer words of reconciliation.
“If Jerusalem is reclaimed, we will fully support the establishment of a Crusader state… Isn’t this a complete reversal of your country’s previous stance?”
“The lack of cooperation with the Crusaders was entirely the fault of previous emperors. As God’s united children, the Orthodox and Catholic Churches should naturally support each other, don’t you think? His Majesty believes so.”
“Well… we’re truly grateful for such words, but…”
“Of course, we have our requests as well. We will acknowledge your sovereignty over Jerusalem if you…”
“I hope you can help us fully secure Anatolia.”
“That’s the natural course of action.”
Realistically, the Western European countries would struggle to maintain a strong presence in the distant Middle East. Even if the Kingdom of Jerusalem were restored, without the support of the Byzantine Empire, its longevity would be uncertain. And frankly, it’s not like the Pope himself is raising an army, so what’s the harm in making empty promises?
Pope Celestine III would be quite satisfied just to confirm Alexios III’s stance.
“It seems our prophet’s role will become even more crucial. I worry the Vatican might be placing too heavy a burden on you.”
“It’s alright. I’m just grateful to God for the opportunity to fulfill such a historic mission.”
“Then we shall trust and rely on you.”
As expected, I hid my expression and nodded calmly. Cardinal Lothaire, who had been observing everything from the side, suddenly spoke to the Pope.
“Your Holiness, shouldn’t we inform the prophet now?”
“Oh, right. My mind must have wandered. I got so caught up in Alexios III’s letter that I completely forgot.”
I thought everything was proceeding smoothly according to plan, but had something gone wrong? Given that I’d been away from my domain for a while, it wouldn’t be surprising if a few issues had arisen.
The Pope, noticing my gaze, clicked his tongue slightly and said, “Well, you see, a rather troublesome incident has occurred, and it’s been quite a headache. But now that you’re back, it seems divine providence has guided you here.”
“What on earth happened…?”
“King Richard of England has issued an ultimatum to the Holy Roman Emperor.”
”…Who sent what to whom?”
My head spun, and I instinctively rubbed my temples. Oh dear… Why is this happening to me? Lionheart King… or should I say, His Majesty with anger management issues.