Episode 101
In this world, there’s no such thing as a perfect alliance of pure goodwill.
An alliance is just that—an alliance.
Ultimately, the best interest of one’s own nation takes precedence, and those who are always ready to exploit their allies for their own benefit are the true experts in diplomacy.
And no one criticizes them for it.
If someone lacking these skills were to engage in diplomacy, they’d simply become a pushover, easily manipulated by others.
Though not quite a diplomatic expert, Cardinal Lothaire, representing the Catholic Church on behalf of the Pope, was brimming with plans to drain the resources of the Byzantine Empire.
”…”
“The meals in Constantinople are always delightful, aren’t they? Would you like a glass, Prophet?”
“Sure, fill it to the brim.”
“Of course.”
Every time I visit, I’m struck by the stark cultural differences between the East and the West.
Honestly, it’s a wonder Anna adapted so well after being thrust from such luxury to my own domain.
I leaned back in my chair, savoring the aroma of the finest wine the Byzantines had proudly offered.
“Ah, this is it. The aroma is something else.”
“Italian wine is the best, but Byzantine wine isn’t bad either.”
“Well, Italy has a tradition dating back to Roman times.”
“But, Prophet, what did Emperor Alexios III have to say?”
Now he’s fishing for information outright.
“I thought he might have a request, but there was nothing of the sort. It was genuinely a private family gathering.”
“Is that so?”
Of course, no one would be foolish enough to take that at face value.
I subtly let slip some information to keep Cardinal Lothaire from growing suspicious.
“Well… it wasn’t entirely devoid of political discussion. I’m telling you this in confidence, so it mustn’t leave this room.”
“Of course.”
“His Majesty seems to consider my child a potential candidate for the next Byzantine emperor. He showed great interest in when the child might be born.”
“Ah, I see.”
The cardinal nodded, as if a mystery had been solved.
Why else would he have needed to meet with me alone at this time? It was obvious the family gathering was a cover for another agenda.
“I thought perhaps he intended to seek your help in this meeting, but it seems that wasn’t the case.”
“Cardinal, as I’ve mentioned before, I can only offer minimal advice. I can’t take sides. I’m a prophet for both the Catholic and Orthodox Churches, and I must also consider my position as the Byzantine emperor’s son-in-law.”
“Haha, of course, I understand. Just maintaining your neutrality is enough for us. And rest assured, what you’ve shared will be forgotten as soon as I leave this room.”
“There’s no need to go that far. While it can’t be leaked, it’s fine for you to know, as you’re likely to become the next pope. It might even make it easier to balance interests later on.”
“Hahaha… I’m grateful for your words.”
Indeed, no one is entirely detached from power. Just look at that smile.
The prospect of becoming the next pope seems to have struck a chord.
A little more, and he might turn into a joker.
“Anyway, what I hope for is that this strengthens the Catholic Church’s position and fortifies the Orthodox Church enough to fend off Islamic invasions. After all, aren’t we all children of God?”
“Of course, of course. We must aim for an outcome that satisfies everyone.”
He talks a good game, even if he doesn’t mean it.
I took another sip of wine and stood up.
“I should be going. Lingering too long might cause unnecessary anxiety for the Byzantines. I hope your preparations go well, Cardinal.”
“The preparations for the meeting are mostly complete, so don’t worry.”
“Oh, I wasn’t referring to that. I meant the preparations for when you return home. The conclave might convene almost immediately upon your return.”
”…You mean to say…”
While ‘conclave’ originally referred to a room that could be locked with a key, it’s now used exclusively for the meeting of cardinals to elect a new pope, which implies the current pope has passed away.
“Though you’ve mentioned it, I didn’t expect it to be so soon… His Holiness didn’t seem that unwell…”
“It’s not certain, so just keep it in mind. It could be next year, the year after, or even later.”
Old age doesn’t announce itself with signs. It’s not uncommon for someone who seemed fine a week ago to quietly pass away.
Pope Celestine III is over 90 years old this year.
By modern standards, that’s akin to living past 110—a remarkable lifespan.
After composing himself, the cardinal bowed solemnly.
“I’ll heed your words and prepare.”
“Yes. Then I’ll take my leave.”
Though they speak of harmony and peace, it’s all just a show to see who can outmaneuver whom.
For those involved, it’s a nerve-wracking ordeal, but for me, who can achieve my goals regardless of the outcome, it’s just a matter of sitting back and enjoying the spectacle.
I’ve laid the groundwork on both sides. Now, let’s see which side proves more competent.
**.
“Greetings. I am Logothetes tou Dromou, Monomachos, representing the Roman Emperor at this meeting.”
“I am Lothaire, representing His Holiness Celestine III of the Catholic Church.”
The representatives of each faction exchanged polite greetings in the meeting hall.
Logothetes tou Dromou is the highest official responsible for diplomacy and documentation.
In modern terms, it’s akin to holding the positions of both foreign minister and postmaster general.
Moreover, the Monomachos family is a prestigious lineage that once produced an emperor.
Though they’ve lost some of their former glory, their status is not to be underestimated.
And most importantly…
“With His Majesty personally overseeing this meeting, I will do my utmost for the friendship between our nations.”
Having the emperor preside over the meeting from a high seat is an intentional move to exert pressure.
It’s a rather transparent tactic, but it seems Emperor Alexios III is aware of how it might be perceived, as he added a plausible excuse.
“Given the potential for significant national matters to be discussed, it’s beneficial to have someone who can immediately confirm what we can accept. I’m here only to verify such matters, so proceed with the meeting without any pressure.”
Since the pope isn’t present, it’s unusual for the emperor to attend the meeting directly.
Thus, by using a proxy, he intends to apply pressure while maintaining decorum, and it’s an effective strategy.
However, Cardinal Lothaire, unfazed, bowed to Emperor Alexios III and calmly took his seat.
Perhaps he’s thinking that once he returns to Rome, he’ll be the pope himself.
The encouragement I gave him a few days ago seems to be serving him well now.
As is customary in diplomatic proceedings, the cardinal began by expressing gratitude for the Byzantine hospitality and praising the splendor of Constantinople.
Logothetes Monomachos reciprocated with words of appreciation for the Catholic Church’s generosity and the friendship shown by the pope.
After about an hour of mutual flattery, Cardinal Lothaire decided it was time to get to the point.
“However, even a ruler as magnificent as His Majesty must find it unsettling that those barbaric Khwarazmians are causing trouble.”
“Indeed. They’ve even sent us this absurd letter.”
Monomachos handed Lothaire the letter from Tekish that the emperor had previously shown me.
Even a cardinal skilled in maintaining a poker face couldn’t help but let out a genuine chuckle at the ridiculous contents of the letter.
“This is practically a declaration of war. I knew they were uncouth, but I didn’t expect this level of audacity.”
“Exactly. The Holy See was well aware of this, which is why the Crusades were organized in the past.”
“Indeed. But with the Ayyubids officially declaring they won’t hinder pilgrimages to Jerusalem, that issue has been resolved.”
There will be no Crusade to reclaim the Kingdom of Jerusalem. So abandon any thoughts of using this as a pretext to provoke a conflict with Khwarazm.
Understanding the implication in the cardinal’s words, Monomachos nodded with a chuckle.
“Having achieved our goals, we can consider the Crusades a victory for Europe, or rather, for Christianity. This was possible because God valued the Catholic Church’s devotion.”
“Thank you for saying so. The Orthodox Church’s devotion is no less, and God won’t turn a blind eye to Khwarazm’s tyranny.”
“Indeed. But it’s also true that God doesn’t favor those who don’t act. Europe should show its sincerity in organizing a Crusade.”
“It was only because God opened the path to the Holy Land that we were able to make progress. If we had just been praying, things wouldn’t have turned out this way.”
“Absolutely. Faith in action is crucial.”
“In that sense, I believe the rise of Khwarezm is a test from Christ for Christianity. It’s a warning that if we become complacent and lose our devotion, we won’t be able to hold our ground here. Don’t you agree, Prophet?”
Why are they suddenly asking me this?
As Monomachos turned his gaze towards me, seated at the head of the table with Alexios III, Lothaire quickly interjected.
“The Prophet has made it clear that he won’t take sides. It’s not appropriate to involve him in this discussion.”
“I’m not asking him to take sides. I just want the Prophet to define the nature of the threat posed by Islam. That would help clarify the direction of our discussions, wouldn’t it?”
If this is merely seen as a conflict between nations, the Papacy’s justification for involvement becomes weaker.
The cardinal, after a moment of contemplation, nodded slightly in my direction and spoke.
“It seems Monomachos has a point. I was short-sighted. Prophet, what do you believe the invasion by Khwarezm signifies?”
“Since both of you agree, I’ll answer. Khwarezm’s ambitions are clear: to completely expel Christianity from Asia and establish themselves as the rulers of the Islamic world.”
”…As expected.”
“And if that happens, I personally doubt that pilgrims will be able to travel safely to Jerusalem as they do now. Ayyub guaranteed safety, but Khwarezm has made no such promises.”
By leaving this opening, Europe now has a solid reason to intervene.
Seizing the opportunity, Lothaire swiftly built on my words to clarify the situation.
“So, this isn’t just a power struggle between Rome and Khwarezm. It’s a clash between Christianity and Islam. We can’t just stand by and watch.”
“God will be pleased with the Papacy’s faith.”
“When the Crusaders land in Anatolia, we can’t simply divide our forces into those of European monarchs and Rome.”
“That’s… something to consider later…”
A topic the Byzantines were most reluctant to discuss.
Monomachos tried to change the subject, but Lothaire wouldn’t let it go.
“No, this is precisely what we need to address first. God does not permit His name to be used in vain. We, too, have a history where a previous Pope tried to move armies for worldly purposes and incurred God’s wrath. Since then, the Papacy has focused solely on adhering to God’s will, free from greed.”
”…”
“If we claim to act for Christianity and God, yet wage a secular war, God’s wrath will turn on us again. We must demonstrate through our actions that this war is not driven by worldly desires!”
The cardinal took a deep breath, glancing at both me and Alexios III. The emperor’s unexpectedly calm expression gave him pause, but the die was cast.
The Papacy declared its purpose for being here loud and clear.
“In the war against Khwarezm, the secular rulers of Europe and Rome must unite their armies under the single banner of Christ!”