Episode 106

The news of the Pope’s passing spread like wildfire across Europe.

Given his advanced age, it wasn’t entirely unexpected, and most people took the news with a sense of calm acceptance.

Now, the focus shifted to who would be elected as the new Pope.

Naturally, each country had its favored cardinals, and secular rulers hoped that someone close to them would ascend to the papacy.

Some even engaged in lobbying, though it rarely had a significant impact.

Regardless, the election of the next Pope was bound to bring about significant changes.

The Pope’s influence extended to diplomacy, politics, international relations, and even economic policies.

France, too, was keenly observing, waiting for news from the Vatican.

The timing of the new Pope’s election could also offer clues.

If the conclave dragged on without a decision, it would indicate a lack of consensus among the cardinals.

Theoretically, a conclave could conclude on the first day or stretch on for years.

If the cardinals unanimously agreed on a candidate on the first day, the process would end immediately.

Such a result would be seen as divine intervention, granting the chosen one the papal authority.

If consensus couldn’t be reached, anonymous voting would continue until a Pope was elected.

Failing to secure a sufficient majority could lead to a prolonged and contentious election.

A Pope elected with overwhelming support naturally held a different standing than one chosen by a narrow margin.

It was only natural.

A Pope chosen unanimously by divine will would wield considerable influence.

However, a strong Pope could be more of a liability than an asset for secular rulers.

Thus, King Philip II secretly hoped for a prolonged conclave, lasting at least several months.

Unfortunately, the outcome was quite the opposite.

“A new Pope has already been elected? It’s only been a few days since the news of the passing. Has there ever been a quicker election?”

“Indeed, Your Majesty, this is the shortest in history. Reports from Rome suggest the conclave ended as soon as it began… It seems the election was concluded during the mourning period.”

“Or perhaps a successor was already decided beforehand. What do you think, Count?”

Philip II turned to Count Alberic of Dammartin, who had been listening quietly.

The count, known as the sharpest mind in the French kingdom, shrugged nonchalantly.

“I believe Your Majesty’s assumption is close to the truth. We’ll know for sure once we hear who was elected.”

“Ah, right. I was so taken aback by the speed that I forgot to ask who the lucky cardinal is.”

“Cardinal Lothaire, the nephew of the late Pope Clement III, has been appointed as the new Pope. He will take the name Pope Peter II.”

“Cardinal Lothaire? The one who came to Auvergne as the papal envoy? He’s been elected Pope?”

This was an unexpected turn of events.

Though he was on the list of potential candidates, his chances hadn’t seemed particularly high.

In recent times, Popes were typically older, a trend that had become customary.

“Isn’t Cardinal Lothaire not even forty yet?”

“He’s either thirty-seven or thirty-eight.”

“Perhaps they chose a younger Pope due to the short reigns of recent Popes. But if that were the case, there should have been more discussion… It seems he was indeed pre-selected.”

“The reason for the unusually swift conclave is said to be divine intervention.”

“Well, of course. A unanimous decision would naturally lead to a quick election. No need to state the obvious.”

Philip II’s skepticism was evident, and the messenger, flustered, shook his head.

“No, I mean it literally. Pope Peter II is said to be chosen by the Lord Himself. The papal name speaks for itself.”

What kind of nonsense was this?

“A Pope chosen directly by Christ? That’s unprecedented.”

Philip II frowned and turned to the bishop present.

“Has there ever been a precedent of the Holy Spirit directly choosing a Pope?”

“Well… perhaps only the first Pope, Saint Peter.”

“Exactly. That’s what I thought.”

The name Peter held immense symbolic weight in Catholicism.

While Popes often chose names like Paul or John, following the apostles, none had ever taken the name Peter.

There was no rule against it, yet no Pope had ever dared to use the name Peter II.

After all, Peter was the name given by Christ Himself to a fisherman named Simon.

The symbolic power of being the first Pope was so overwhelming that even Popes refrained from taking the name Peter.

If someone were to use the name Peter II, they would be challenged with, “Are you as great as the one named by Christ Himself?”—a question difficult to answer.

Yet, Cardinal Lothaire, upon ascending to the papacy, chose the name Peter II without hesitation.

The symbolism was significant.

The bishop of Paris, who had shown a slight discomfort upon hearing the name Peter II, turned to the messenger.

“Is the choice of the name Peter II because the Holy Spirit directly intervened?”

“Yes, Bishop. This is confirmed by the prophet, so it must be true. Pope Peter II is chosen by God Himself. The cardinals believed no one else could embody the name Peter better.”

So it wasn’t just youthful ambition that led to the grand name.

Intrigued by the mention of a prophet, Philip II asked the messenger for more details.

“So, the reason for choosing a young and strong Pope is that God has chosen him?”

“Additionally, the current Pope is said to be well-versed in theology and law, with extensive experience traveling the world. Here is a letter from the Vatican addressed to Your Majesty. I have no authority to open it, so I don’t know its contents.”

“Very well, thank you.”

Under normal circumstances, the letter would contain pleasantries from the new Pope to the King of France, but Philip II had a bad feeling about it.

Breaking the seal and unfolding the parchment, he couldn’t help but chuckle.

“As expected, my bad feeling was spot on.”

Seeing Philip II’s expression change, the nobles around him asked with concern.

“Your Majesty, is there a problem?”

“No, not a problem per se. But the letter suggests a high likelihood of future issues.”

Philip II cast a cynical smile at the worried nobles, his gaze finally resting on Alberic.

“Count, can you guess what the letter might contain?”

“If I could deduce the contents from Your Majesty’s reaction alone, I’d be practicing mind-reading. But if I were to speculate… perhaps the new Pope intends to act differently than his predecessors? For instance, he might plan to visit here personally.”

“You’re sharp as ever. You’re almost right. The Pope wishes to meet with me. But, unfortunately, the meeting won’t be in Paris or Rome.”

“Pardon?”

“The location is Auvergne, the prophet’s domain. He’s inviting not just me, but also the King of England and the Holy Roman Emperor for a summit. It seems he’s planning a significant announcement.”

Has there ever been a Pope who, upon ascending to the papacy, gathered secular rulers in one place?

While it might seem offensive at first, the fact that the Pope was willing to leave Rome for Auvergne suggested a more nuanced approach.

The choice of Auvergne over Rome was likely to avoid appearing too domineering.

Philip II closed his eyes, recalling his past encounter with Cardinal Lothaire in Auvergne.

Though their conversation had been brief, the cardinal hadn’t seemed like an easy opponent. With his intentions still unclear, it would be wise to approach the meeting with caution.

In matters of intellect and strategy, Philip II had absolute confidence.

Whether it was England’s Richard or the Holy Roman Empire’s Henry VI, he was ready to face them on the chessboard of diplomacy.

These words could be put to good use.

If he had to name a worthy adversary, perhaps Saladin, the Sultan of Ayyubid, would be a fitting choice.

But when the divine intervenes, things get a bit more complicated.

He had learned this lesson after encountering the enigmatic Edward Marshall in the past.

No matter how meticulously he crafted his plans, if the divine intervened, everything could turn to dust.

“Well, it’s not like there’s no way around it.”

This time, he would ensure that his actions aligned as closely as possible with divine will to avoid any such mishaps.

After all, serving Christ while dedicating himself to the interests of France wasn’t entirely contradictory.

The key was to understand the character of the new Pope, Peter II.

To do that, he needed to surround himself with sharp minds.

“Count Damartin, what do you think His Holiness has summoned us for?”

“It’s hard to say for certain, but there’s one point worth noting. The current Pope recently traveled to Byzantium with the prophet Marshall. And we’ve received intelligence that Byzantium is wary of the Islamic threat.”

“You think it might be related?”

“Yes. We should also note that he has summoned the rulers of England and the Holy Roman Empire. The situation might be worse than we anticipated, or perhaps he’s preparing for something grand.”

“As expected of you, Count. You always seem to be on the same wavelength as me.”

In the past, he might have thought the Count was merely reciting something memorized. But after hearing it so often, he had grown accustomed to it.

It was likely a habit the Count had when he was deeply focused.

“Then, Count, accompany me to Auvergne. We should pay our respects to the new Pope and observe the developments closely.”

“I will follow Your Majesty’s command.”

Though Alberic spoke of a grand plan, what situation involving Islam could possibly require the gathering of all European monarchs?

The answer was already half-revealed.

And given the urgency, there must be a compelling reason that secular rulers couldn’t refuse.

“If that’s the case, assuming the mobilization of forces is inevitable…”

The most esteemed king in the history of the Kingdom of France was already sensing the curtain rising on a new stage and began his preparations.

A great calamity.

The fuse had been lit.

Contrary to the flickering flames of impending war, Philip II’s heart grew ever colder.