Chapter 28: Volume 4 – Chapter 1 – Taking the Situation in Hand …

| Lunch November 25 - 1248 - Acre Castle Bedroom - Attila |

<< Your Majesty >>

Who is calling me?

<< Wake up, Your Majesty >>

Still, with my head on the soft pillow I said: << Who's calling me? >>

<< I'm the maid. I understand that yesterday you had the celebrations to greet the Emperor, but it is now noon >>

<< I understand, thank you for waking me up. While I get up, let me prepare lunch kindly >>

<< Thanks for the compliments Your Majesty, I'll go immediately to inform the cooks >>

After the maid closed the door, my brain went into excruciating pain.

I thought maybe it was because of the alcohol.

Instead, memories of past days were flowing into my head.

I was crowned by the Emperor himself in Jerusalem in the basilica of the sacred sepulchre after they had cleaned it, and I became King of Jerusalem.

But despite this, I remain a vassal of the Emperor.

So if he orders me to do something, I still have to do it.

This is a secondary thing, since being King of Jerusalem is a huge reward.

Yet the Emperor is not stupid and I think I understand why he put me at the head of this kingdom.

Because this kingdom is like a hot potato, which means it can't be managed easily.

The Kingdom of Jerusalem did not last very long and this is also testified by the fact that this kingdom was not "created" but "reconstituted". A sign of the fact that it already existed, but that for some reason it had fallen.

Oh well, I think it's time to get up.

| November 25 - 1248 Lunch - Acre Castle Dining Room - Attila |

I had sat at the large table where, days ago, the Emperor and Bruni Leonardo had a private conversation.

Where did it go by the way?

As if it were done on purpose, Bruni entered the room and sat down at the other end of the table.

Once seated he said to me: << Well awakened Your Majesty. I hope you have a great sleep after yesterday evening >>

I replied: << It's not bad, even if I must admit that I am destroyed >>

<< Don't worry, the important thing now is to enjoy the food of our fantastic chefs >>

Even though I'm the King, I'm still Bruni's guest. It wouldn't be productive for my image to act like a jerk.

While the servants brought us food, I was deep in my thoughts.

Managing a kingdom in a video game is easier than managing a real one.

There are so many factors to take into consideration, such as quality of life (and what it takes to improve it), a good domestic policy, an egregious foreign policy (given the position my kingdom is in) and excellent military power.

Now that the French and Imperial troops are gone, the troops at my disposal are limited, so I am very vulnerable to enemy attacks.

I have so many things going through my head, but I can't do them all by myself.

I need people to work for me, and not just for money.

I said to Bruno: << Listen, I had in mind to do things. Very important things. So when you finish lunch, I would like you to announce that the King is looking for competent people to work as ministers. Do you think you will be able to do it? >>

<< Er, certainly Your Majesty. Now that you are King I am at your orders, so I will do everything you want >>

<< I'm glad to hear it. So if you can do something else too >>

<< Sure tell me as well >>

<< I would like you to send, in my name, an invitation to Sultan Al Kamil. I would like to talk to him about something important in Jerusalem >>

Bruno was a bit uncertain: << I can do this too but is it safe? Besides, he was your enemy >>

<<Bruno>>

<< Yes? >>

<< Now I will ask you a question, to which I want you to answer me sincerely. Do you believe in God? >>

Bruno was so surprised by the question I asked him that he didn't answer for a while.

Then he said: << To be honest no. I was relegated here because the church ordered me to. Furthermore, I don't care that much about the holy city, since I had to go through a lot of agonies to defend it >>

<< Well, now that you have answered this question. Do the two things I asked you >>

<< At your Majesty's orders >>

We both finished lunch in silence.

| Afternoon of November 25 - 1248 - The provisional throne room of the Acre castle - Attila |

I was sitting on the throne in silence.

I was just thinking about a lot of things.

Bruno knocked on my door and, once inside, he said to me: << Well Your Majesty, I did everything you asked me. Do I have to do anything else? >>

<< If you want, yes, send a letter to the Emperor. Simply write him that "Let me grant your wish" >>

Bruno looked at me dazed: << A decidedly cryptic message. May I know what it would mean, Your Majesty? >>

<< Do not worry, you will know in due time >>

CREATORS' THOUGHTS
Artur_Battaglieri

Hello readers.

If you think that the first chapter of this volume is short, well you are right. I've had a lot of things to do lately. But I will try to redeem myself in the future. In any case, thanks as usual for your support ^^

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