bookandnovel Chapter 853 The Crown of Jerusalem
Chapter 853 The Crown of Jerusalem
Chapter 853 The Crown of Jerusalem
In the Dafna Palace on the westernmost side of the Grand Palace, candle flames jumping like soybeans reflected half of a picture of a woman holding a book on the stained glass window. The fountain in the courtyard gurgled and was filled with intoxicating incense.
"I am back."
The lady with a cold expression stared at the visitor silently, which made the great Basileus feel uneasy.
for a long time.
She then turned her gaze away and said calmly: "Don't get on the bed until you're clean."
Losa smiled and said, "There is a special bathroom in Dafna Palace. I have been using it for a long time."
After a long silence, he tiptoed onto the bed.
Suddenly, Prajna said calmly, "If you like being outdoors, we can try it next time."
“Ah, actually not.”
"Forget it. I'm not as shameless as that woman Jeanne."
Prajna thought for a while, then gently pushed Losa, and the two of them immediately fell into another world.
They were standing on a tall tower, and below them was the palace of the Kingdom of Cintra from the Witcher novel. Palace servants and nobles were walking in an endless stream. The army of the Nilfgaard Empire was approaching, and everyone was preparing for war.
Prajna gently pulled off the bath towel wrapped around Losa's body and brushed her cold fingers across Losa's back.
"If it's just in front of these 'people', I don't mind."
The world in the book was created and destroyed by her thoughts. She could make no one see the two of them, or even if people saw them, she wouldn't care much.
...
Time flies, and a week has passed in the blink of an eye.
The first shipment of grain from Egypt arrived in Constantinople, and many Greek citizens cheered with tears in their eyes, saying, “This is the first return of Aegyptus since it fell to the pagans five hundred years ago!”
In name, Lothar had entered the ruling sequence of the Eastern Empire after all, and most citizens could not actually tell the difference between the "co-emperor" and the "vice emperor".
Since the reign of Komnenos, titles for the highest officials in the empire have emerged in large numbers, many of which were created by the emperors of the time and were used to award their confidants to show their honor.
"Thank you again for your help, Basilius."
The queen on the throne thanked her sincerely. This batch of grain was actually transported to Galata, but as long as it passed through Constantinople, it would produce a wonderful association that would make the people of Constantinople extremely proud.
"You're too kind."
Lothar didn't care about it. Compared with the previous emperor of the empire who just granted a "title" and claimed that the barbarian king had surrendered, Lagaia was obviously more sincere.
There was a sudden noise outside, which did not stop for a long time.
The Queen's expression froze slightly, and she frowned: "What happened outside?"
The palace steward rushed out of the palace and said awkwardly, "Your Majesty, I don't know who spread the news that His Majesty Basilius will return to Aegupsta soon. The citizens are asking for..."
Perhaps because they were unwilling to watch their original authority being eroded by the imperial power, there had recently been a rumor circulating in Constantinople that their queen had become the mistress of Basilius of Egypt.
The person who fabricated this rumor naturally had malicious intentions, but after it fermented, the rumor became completely unrecognizable.
The citizens of Constantinople actually had a very good impression of Losa, who saved Constantinople from disaster.
On the one hand, military discipline was generally corrupt during this era. The Crusaders of all generations would often invade and rob the imperial people along the way when passing through the imperial territory. However, the army under Lothar had been stationed in Constantinople for some time and had not committed any crime.
On the other hand, the citizens of Constantinople, who always paid attention to the "international situation", had naturally heard about Lothar's great achievements in fighting the pagans in the Holy Land.
If the future emperor is such a heroic figure, they will not mind whether the ruler of Constantinople is a Greek or a barbarian general.
The Queen frowned and said, "What do they keep asking for? Just tell me."
The palace steward glanced at Lothar awkwardly and said, "The citizens demand that your Majesty hold a royal wedding with His Majesty Basilius and that His Majesty Basilius stay in Constantinople to rule the empire with you."
If she didn't know who was behind the scenes, and if Losa had rejected her invitation several times.
Lagaia might now be doubting the source of the rumor, whether it came from Losa.
She sighed somewhat sadly. As expected, no matter how hard she tried, the people of the empire clearly knew better who could protect them.
Lothar, who was sitting at the bottom, chuckled and said, "Your Majesty, these are just some insignificant rumors. You don't have to worry about them. The Crusaders in Galata have been settled almost completely. After tomorrow, I will take those who want to leave with me and set off together."
He thought that the way the Queen looked at him showed that she felt threatened. After all, looking at the farce staged by the citizens of Constantinople, it seemed that they hoped he would rule or protect the empire.
Jerusalem, palace.
King Baldwin walked alone in the spring garden. Now that his leprosy was under control, he was finally able to escape from the dark room.
Today, his physical condition still has not recovered very well and he cannot move for a long time, but he still takes some time every day to pick up the long sword that has not been used for a long time and practice swordsmanship.
"His Majesty."
Still wearing plain robes, Urdin walked slowly into the garden, frowning slightly: "Your body has not yet recovered. Practicing such strenuous activities as swordplay is not good for your body."
Baldwin IV did not respond to this question. He smiled and shook his head: "Since you are here, then come with me for a walk."
At the beginning, when the court doctors gave him enema and bloodletting, they said it was good for his body. However, every time he endured the severe pain, he never felt any improvement.
He was tired of compromising for the sake of his body.
"His Majesty Lothar mentioned before..."
"Oh, you mean the cure for leprosy? Nishaya told me about it."
"You don't look as excited as I thought."
Urdin had been with Baldwin IV for a long time, and he thought he knew the patient well enough.
He defeated Saladin when he was sixteen years old. He should have been a vigorous and ambitious monarch, but because he suffered from the terrible disease of "God's wrath", he could only stay in bed and watch his kingdom fall into a power struggle.
Now that he could finally get rid of all this, Urdin thought that Baldwin IV would be more excited. After all, for a king, he was still very young and it was the time for him to make great achievements.
"Does this make you feel less accomplished? Then I can try to act more excited."
Baldwin IV made a joke and then explained: "After you first exorcised my illness, I was already excited. Whether I am cured or not, it will not make much difference now."
"I heard that Lothar went to Constantinople again?"
"Yes, at the request of the Queen of the Eastern Empire."
Baldwin IV smiled and said, "Sometimes, I really envy him. Egypt was just beginning to settle down and needed to be appeased, but he took a boat to the empire on the other side. As a result, Egypt not only did not fall into chaos, but gradually restored order."
"His Majesty Lothar had arranged everything before he left."
Baldwin laughed, "Yes, he did a good job in Egypt - and in Transjordan, and sometimes I wondered if he was really the savior of the world sent by God."
He paused for a moment, and then continued, "Since I took power, Jerusalem has always been threatened by the Saracens. Now that Egypt has been conquered, only Damascus and Aleppo are left. Saladin is no longer a major threat to the Holy Land. I think it's time to unload this burden."
Urdin didn't expect that the first thing Baldwin IV would do after recovering was to abdicate.
"What are you"
"I plan to be a knight-errant, the kind described in legendary novels... Hahaha, don't look at me like that. Actually, my swordsmanship is pretty good, but I've never had the opportunity to display it."
The personal servant of Baldwin IV who always carries a magic-blocking golden sword is a swordsman left to him by the late Emperor Amalric. He once killed countless monsters with the magic-blocking golden sword.
Baldwin learned swordsmanship from him.
"I have been trapped in this cage for too long, Uldin. Besides, don't you think Lothar is more suitable to be the king of Jerusalem than I or Sibylla?"
Baldwin IV smiled and said, "Looking at the changes in Transjordan during this period, I know that if there is only one person in the world who can make the Kingdom of Heaven in my mind a reality, it is only Lothar."
"Jerusalem has been a kingdom for nearly a hundred years. It has the most sacred name in the world, but we all know that apart from this name, it is no different from any other kingdom in the world. There is no earthly paradise flowing with milk and honey, but only endless desolation and frequent wars."
Urdin couldn't say anything against it. After all, it was a good thing for Lothar.
"It's still too dangerous to be a knight-errant anyway."
Baldwin IV blinked and said, "Nishaya once told me that I do have some extraordinary talents. Mr. Urdin, I think you should bless me."
"I think you should wait until His Majesty Lothar returns to discuss this matter with him."
(End of this chapter)