I Became The King Of Crusaders [EN]: Chapter 30

The Greatest Bribe Operation (5)

* * *

“Yeah, that’s right, that’s right.”

The stables of the Konstantinos Palace, cloaked in darkness.

I held an apple in front of Burt’s mouth.

His favorite snack.

But Burt turned his head away.

“Are you sulking because I haven’t visited for a few days?”

He snorted as if in response.

Mares are really hard to understand.

“I’m sorry, but Aieg took good care of you, right? Here, I’ll give you more apples.”

I gently stroked his mane.

After a few minutes, he finally bit into the apple.

‘I’ve been very busy these past few days.’

Endless banquets with nobles and clergy.

Even going around the shelters and taking care of the sick.

‘Actually, it’s just repeating what I did in Jerusalem.’

I don’t think I was this busy even in Eilat.

“If I had known this would happen, I should have left you in Jerusalem, Burt.”

Just then, I heard a sound from outside the stable.

The sound of a sword cutting through the air.

What is it?

I carefully approached the source of the sound.

I didn’t feel any strange emotions.

Calmness.

A figure was wielding a sword.

As I got closer, I saw a strange face under the moonlight.

Wait.

Those movements look familiar.

‘It’s Wieg?’

He wasn’t wearing a mask.

He looked similar to his younger brother, Valian.

Is he doing sword training?

I approached and cleared my throat.

“Ah, Prince! I didn’t expect you to be awake at this hour.”

He shouted in his usual hearty voice.

“Hurry and put on your mask…”

“You don’t have to wear it because of me.”

I said.

Standing under the moonlight, his face was clearly visible.

Scars covered his entire face.

And it wasn’t just his skin.

His left eye was blurry and unfocused.

Is he blind?

“They say that if you have leprosy, you’ll go blind after a while.”

He said, smiling as if he noticed my gaze.

“Fortunately, only my left eye is blind. My right eye is still fine.”

“When did you lose your sight?”

“It was quite a while ago. Before I went to Eilat to escort you, Prince.”

He fought with one eye blind all this time?

How much of a monster was he before he got leprosy?

“It happened in Jerusalem. I was training without my mask…”

He said.

“A child accidentally saw me through the window and screamed. Since then, I’ve only wielded my sword at night when there’s no one around.”

“…”

Most people felt disgusted by the appearance of leprosy patients.

Even in 20th century Korea, they were confined to an island.

‘Japan, America, and other European countries were the same.’

It was a bonus to force pregnant women to have abortions and castrate men, claiming that leprosy was hereditary.

‘A problem that can be easily solved with antibiotics…’

I asked, half unconsciously.

“Have you ever resented anyone?”

“Are you talking about me getting leprosy?”

He burst out laughing.

A genuine laugh.

“I’ve spent my whole life trying to live according to chivalry and the words of the Lord. I’ve visited countless holy sites besides Jerusalem.”

He said.

“When I first got leprosy, I resented the Lord. I wondered why I had to suffer this pain when I had lived so faithfully my whole life.”

“…”

“I even went to the Saracen [Arab Muslim] witches to beg for a cure. But one day, it suddenly occurred to me.”

He smiled.

“If everything that happens on this earth is truly the will of the Lord, shouldn’t I somehow go to heaven and ask the Lord?”

“Ask what…”

“Why did you give me this trial, why do innocent children and women starve to death, and why do so many knights and priests commit evil deeds in the name of the Lord?”

He added.

“If I fall into hell, I won’t have a chance to do that. I’ll never be able to satisfy my curiosity. Wouldn’t that be the most painful torture?”

He looked at my reaction and continued to laugh as if it was funny.

“I have a question for you, Prince.”

“Ask away.”

“You personally went around the relief centers of Constantinople and took care of the sick. Why did you bother doing that?”

His expression changed to serious.

“If it was just to gain the favor of the Roman citizens, donating money would have been enough.”

“Let’s just say I was that desperate.”

I gave a faint smile.

It wasn’t easy to change the public sentiment of the Constantinople citizens in a short period of time.

Besides festivals, priests, and elixirs, I had to use everything I had.

‘That includes myself.’

Wieg wiped his sweat and said.

“At first, I was skeptical, but you really think this city will burn, Prince. Just like Eilat was attacked.”

“If I didn’t think so, I wouldn’t have come here in the first place.”

“If you say this city, this empire, is in danger, then it must be so.”

Wieg turned his head and looked at Constantinople outside the palace.

“If something happens to this great city, countless people will lose their lives. Christians and Muslims alike.”

He looked at me.

“Protecting the innocent, if that’s what we have to do, then we’ll do it as much as we can…”

Just then, someone approached.

A Varangian Guard [elite Viking bodyguards of the Byzantine emperors] soldier with his signature axe.

He looked at me and said.

“Prince Baldwin, Empress Maria is looking for you.”

“At this hour?”

I frowned without realizing it.

That means it’s not a public setting.

“Yes, the Empress wants to have a ‘private’ conversation with you.”

“Then show me the way.”

I exchanged glances with Wieg.

He put on his silver mask again.

“The night is late, Prince. I’ll go with you.”

* * *

Empress Maria’s room was separated from the other rooms.

With its splendid murals, silks, and gold.

Just looking at the room, you could feel the wealth of the Eastern Roman Empire.

“I’ll ask you directly, Prince.”

Empress Maria looked at me.

Only she and I were in the room.

I think it’s the first time since we met on the first day.

She had fair skin and distinct features.

Anyone could tell she was from Europe.

“What’s the real reason you’re sponsoring such a big festival?”

“…….”

“You don’t have to worry about words leaking out. This is the most secure place in the empire.”

She pointed to the door.

It seemed like not a single word could escape through the thick door.

“It’s not just the festival. You’ve donated a lot of money to the clergy and even given elixirs to the great nobles. It’s as if you came to the empire aiming for this from the beginning.”

“I received one order from King Baldwin IV.”

I leaned forward.

Baldwin IV wanted it too, so what I’m saying isn’t wrong.

“That was to solidify the alliance between the Kingdom of Jerusalem and the Roman Empire.”

“You’re spending so much money for that?”

She asked.

“For an already existing friendship?”

“I believe the Empress knows more accurately what the situation of the empire is.”

I looked at her.

I felt curiosity and anxiety.

She wasn’t a fool.

And even more so, not a beast who was crazy about power and shook her son in her grasp.

‘In the first place, the current representative of the regency is a nun.’

Then she would know what I mean.

“I’ve heard rumors that Princess Mani is trying to shake the Emperor and the regency at every turn.”

I said.

“And I’ve also heard that Admiral Kontosfenanos and the imperial Andronikos have joined hands. They were the ones who attacked us, weren’t they?”

“…”

Maria was silent for a moment.

She let out a small sigh.

“That’s right, the ship that attacked you belonged to Admiral Kontosfenanos’ fleet. Of course, he denies any involvement…”

She added.

“It’s obviously a lie. But if we punish them extensively now…”

“The people will rise up immediately. I know what the situation is. That’s what I’m here to solve.”

I gave a faint smile.

That’s why the Eastern Roman play was so difficult.

I had to keep appeasing the fickle public sentiment.

“Honestly, I’ve been able to rest easy since you came, Prince. The atmosphere of the empire has changed a lot.”

She muttered with a thoughtful expression.

“Before that, it felt like it was about to explode.”

“What I want is the favor of the Emperor and the Empire. And if possible, we can plan a joint expedition in the future.”

I said.

She must know that there’s no need to doubt me this much.

There was no need to hide what I wanted.

Because what we both want is the same.

“To that end, I will use all means. If necessary, I can even take up a sword and fight.”

The knights who accompanied me were about thirty.

Only veterans among veterans.

‘Although the number is small…’

During the Fourth Crusade, it was only a few dozen Frankish knights who crossed the walls of Constantinople and opened the gates.

In terms of courage, the Crusader knights were warriors worth a hundred men.

“Not all citizens have returned to a favorable position yet. There are still many who oppose me and the regency.”

She said.

“It will take time to appease them and punish the imperial family like Mani and Andronikos.”

“I’ll lend my strength until then.”

“That’s a relief.”

Maria smiled.

“Then let’s have a more open conversation.”

With the dim lamplight behind us, the night grew deeper.

* * *

“Everything went wrong because of those stupid bastards.”

Princess Mani muttered, biting her lip.

She glared at her husband.

“What are you doing? I told you to persuade the other nobles somehow.”

“I tried! I tried.”

Renier shouted in a hurried tone.

He looked at his wife.

“But that Baldwin guy spread too many gifts everywhere. Even the nobles who were favorable to us have crossed over.”

“So you just stood by and watched it happen?”

Princess Mani asked in an angry tone.

Everything was turning against them.

The public sentiment of the Eastern Roman Empire, which had been favorable until recently, was now engrossed in the festival.

“Still no contact from Andronikos?”

“He said he would gather troops, but he’s still nowhere to be seen. I guess he’s trying to figure out the situation in the empire first.”

She muttered.

“There’s nothing we can do now. We have to take action even if it’s just us. We have to do something before we get buried like this.”

“Take action? What exactly?”

Renier asked back with an anxious expression.

He kept wiping the sweat from his forehead.

“The way I see it, now is the time to hide our claws and wait. When the time comes again…”

“‘That time’ will come after we’re both old and dead.”

Mani said.

She clapped her hands and muttered.

“In a few days, the Emperor will have dinner with the delegation himself. According to imperial tradition, all sorts of performance groups and food will be prepared.”

“So…?”

“We have no choice now. We have to get rid of that Baldwin guy while he’s in the imperial palace.”

She said.

“That way, the responsibility can go to those guys. Not us.”

“You mean… kill the Emperor?”

Renier’s expression turned white.

“If we do something like that, the people will never forgive us. ‘Remove the corrupt regency and help the Emperor!’ That’s what we planned in the first place.”

“If we just get rid of the Emperor, Maria will have no justification to maintain power. The real power will come to us.”

She waved her hand.

“All the blame will be on Baldwin and his delegation. If we just handle it properly, there’s nothing we can’t do. We have to get rid of him right now.”

She reached out and grabbed her husband’s arm.

Renier swallowed hard without saying anything.

“You’re not thinking of backing out now, are you?”