Aggressive Negotiations with the Byzantine Emperor

Berengar stared down Vetranis with a gaze of utter confidence; the Byzantine Emperor was visibly shaking from the rage building up within himself. This minor nobleman from the west who had risen to the status of a King had won his only daughter's heart and most likely taken her virtue with it. This was a massive blow to the prestige of the Byzantine Imperial Family; after all, Berengar may be the most powerful man in Europe at the moment, but he was still of a lesser pedigree. 

As such, those who had come from dynasties that had ruled over Kingdoms and Empires for centuries still tended to look down upon him as nothing more than an upstart. Vetranis was one of these men. Austria may be exceptionally wealthy and hold supreme martial power compared to its neighbors, but it was a rising star.