章節 9: Negotation with the king of Bohemia (2)

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Conradin was in fact correct, for Ottokar could not really grasp the kingdom's predicament; otherwise, he would not have taken his word so easily.

Of course, Ottokar rebuked him to not give away his ignorance'' Many easy invasions turned out to be disasters, so why don't we skip this subject for the time being and talk about something else? Let us make a big jump and assume that the war is successful. What will compel you to pay me back? Since it would be a long way here from Sicily, I would be unable to utilize my forces to persuade you to pay me back, and the prospect of dominating the wealthier and more fruitful lands of Magna Grecia will undoubtedly outweigh any raid on your holding in the duchy of Swabia, which undeniably crosses out military operations as a way to compel you to repay your debt.''

"I understand your reluctance," Conradin said without sweating, as he had already predicted such a question.

"It is more than reasonable that I should provide you with some kind of guarantee that you will be repaid for the loan you are kindly providing me. Military threats, as you stated, may not be a viable option for you, but there must be some way for us to ensure that you are reimbursed. We could, for example, make an agreement guaranteeing monthly payments over a set period of time. This way, you'll know straight away if I have no intention of repaying you. '' Conradin responded to Ottokar while looking him in the eyes with a calm and determined expression.

''It's not that I don't trust you; given the option and possibility to pay back your debts, I am confident you will keep your words, but I think you should name out some sort of guarantee that, in the worst case, will completely dissolve your debts in case of your inability to pay up,'' Ottokar said, smiling at the young man on the other side.

'He doesn't trust me, mh, Conradin reasoned.

He then stuck his hand in his face, caressing his non-existent beard and pretending to think of anything that might serve such a purpose. Obviously, he was acting since he already knew what would pique the counterpart's attention and make his time worthwhile.

''I completely understand your situation, Your Highness, and I am confident that you do not mean in any way that I am not a trustworthy person, but simply that I may be unable to do so''. Conradin continued, his voice calm and composed.

"I am confident that if anything bad were to happen to me, you would be unable to recoup your loan. It is understandable that you would want some sort of guarantee that would allow you to sleep better at night knowing that the money you loaned me is secured in some way in the event of the worst-case scenario. In that instance, I believe that providing collateral in the form of land is the best approach to guaranteeing the loan. If the worst happens, these assets can be utilized to assure loan repayment. Offering land as collateral not only provides a tangible asset that can be sold or used to repay the loan, but it also demonstrates my commitment to fulfilling my financial obligations. Additionally, this arrangement ensures that you have a higher chance of recovering your investment, providing you with peace of mind in case of any unforeseen circumstances. Is it a satisfactory solution for you, your highness?''

Ottokar smiled, his mouth hidden by the cup he was drinking from. He gazed at the young man in front of him, calming himself down.

"I am truly happy," he says, pausing briefly to breathe before continuing. to know that the person I'm working with knows the precarity of my circumstances and the concern I have about doing business over which I have no control to ensure its success. But tell me, your highness, whether you have any plans for a land that might relieve me of my anxiety'' Ottokar asked, already knowing the answer that Conradin was going to give.

''The land that I believe could serve as collateral is the Duchy of Swabia. In any case, if something happened to me, I have no other member of my house as such; nobody could claim such a title after my death, and my handing its rights to you undoubtedly makes your claim genuine and unopposed by both the German king and pope'' , he reasoned.

Ottokar paused briefly to consider it. ' If I truly owned that duchy, I would control the majority of the territory bordering Italy, giving me a strategic foothold to prevent Italian forces from joining forces with the emperor's or king's in the event of a confrontation'.

It's important to note that the relationship between the Kaiser and Ottokar was strained, and it was in Ottokar's best interests to prepare for a possible war with him, as he never knew when a conflict between his liege and him could occur.