Temple Sword

Chapter 143 The Habsburg Request (continued)
Hearing this sentence, Charlie's eyes finally lit up, and when the king found out, it was too late to hide his emotions.

He had always wanted Pozzoni, which had been the Habsburg property since the Austrian widow of Andrew III, Queen of Hungary, Agnes of Austria, had given the city to her natal family.

"You can't deny that you want that territory," Frederick said with a chuckle, "help me defeat my opponent, Pressburg is yours!"

Charlie didn't meet the Duke's eyes. He looked far ahead, as if he could see through a closed window, piercing the night behind the planks.

"You have promised me Pozzoni twice," he finally said in a low, hoarse voice, "seven years ago, then four years ago.

Perhaps I should not lend you the army now, but lead an army to retake it myself.Who knows, maybe I'll even be able to claim other territories while you and Louie are busy fighting among themselves. "

"Don't be stupid, little cousin!" Frederick smiled reluctantly, "You know I wanted to keep my promise those two times, but..."

"Give me Bozzoni," the King of Hungary did not let Frederick finish, "I will give you a great army that you have never led, to finish your war, but even if you are defeated, you will send Pozzoni to me."

"I think," said the Duke of Austria uncomfortably, "that I must have misheard, because..."

"You heard me right," said the Three-Crowned King, standing up from his throne, "I will give you a well-equipped cavalry army for you to fight next year, but you must come on my terms.

Regardless of the outcome of the ensuing war, you will return Pozzoni to the Hungarian Crown.With all its civilians, soldiers, property and taxes.One more thing, stop calling me cousin, you are one year younger than me, Frederick! "

Frederick swallowed, still unable to digest what he had heard, but Charlie thought the discussion was over.

"It's almost midnight and we've all had a very long day," he said, leading his guest toward the door. "Please allow me to take you to your residence in person! You need a good rest after the long journey and banquet, not to mention the conversation between the two of us..."

"But Charlie, I still..."

"Stop talking, my dear cousin!" Charlie put his arm around the ermine-clad shoulders of the handsome Frederick. "Tomorrow we will decide together how many of my soldiers you can take, and then we will draw up and sign the official document before lunch.

I hope you have brought your seal, for there is no delay in the agreement between us. "

"I……"

"Come on, I'll let you spend the rest of the night in regal comfort!"

Frederick still tried to resist, but Charles knew how to calm the duke.He hurriedly escorted his guest through the dark corridors of the castle, then led him inside a huge door, turned and quickly disappeared from his sight.

Frederick Habsburg murmured to himself for a while, but as soon as he entered the bedroom, lit by candles and warmed by the stove, all worries vanished.

On the comfortable and spacious bed prepared for him, three clean women were waiting for his orders like three obedient kittens.

They were the most expensive courtesans in Timisoara, paid personally by the imperial finance minister, Demeter Nekser, to satisfy all the needs of the Duke of Austria, whatever they might be.

The treaty between Charles Anjou and Frederick Habsburg was signed the next morning.

(End of this chapter)