Temple Sword

Chapter 178 The Real Queen

1322, Saint Andrew's Month (November)
Timisoara, Hungary
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Charles Anjou strode to the other side of the palace, wanting to say hello to his wife and make sure that Elizabeth's pregnancy was all right.

His Chancellor of the Exchequer circled around him with a troubled face, harassing the king, who had no interest in arithmetic, as usual with head-scratching figures, complex ideas, and strategies for solving them.

Charlie was not interested in what Demeter Nexel had to say, the Chancellor had long since known and accepted that.But without these things, the kingdom can't really change even after various successful campaigns.

He also knew that the king had unconditional confidence in him, so he could carry on his work without any hindrance, and exercise all the rights he was given to carry out reforms.

At the same time he had to find an opportunity to present his ideas and plans to the King, both so that Charles could approve and sign and seal them, and that he might present them in decrees and seditious speeches, so that they could be seen. Looks like a reform proposed by the Crown, increasing its legitimacy and success.

"God bless you, Demeter," Charlie said, looking up at the sky, "you're hanging on me before my horse is tied up in the stable, at least don't bother me until I have a good face with the queen." !"

"I don't need much of your time, Your Majesty," insisted Demeter, "you should know..."

"I said, wait until I see my wife!"

"But Your Majesty, when you're not here..."

Before the chancellor could finish speaking, the king had passed the guards, entered the queen's palace wing, and opened the door to the great room where Elizabeth and her maids usually spent most of their time.

He crossed the threshold, and a harmonious picture appeared in front of him.In comfy upholstered chairs, young girls in colorful clothes embroider, sew, weave and do crafts Charlie has only heard of.

One of them reads from an illuminated manuscript written in German with exquisite love verses, while the Polish lady, Elisabeth Piast's nurse and head chamberlain, watches them from a corner, bushy-browed With a look in his eyes, he quietly maintained the decent morals that a lady should have.

But she doesn't need to worry, the poems she read must be from some noble poet wearing fancy clothes, because there is a flashy sense of moaning between the lines, but it makes the ladies in the court feel thoughtful. Sigh, it can only be said that this is an insult to good taste, although the birth of a poet should be regarded as decent.

It was an island of comfort and charm, an island of privacy and tranquility in a world built and ruled by men with blood and iron, as Charlie usually saw when he visited his wife's palace. scene.

This time, though, it seems something is different.

He didn't immediately realize what it was, he just felt a little strange, but his intuition told him that there seemed to be a person secretly watching him from behind, and this kind of weirdness permeated the air.

Even four months pregnant, Elizabeth Piast still maintains the figure of a fawn.

Dressed in a gorgeous red velvet gown, she sat in a chair without a back, her back turned to her husband who had just walked in, gazing at her favorite gilded altar, talking in a soft voice about the figures on it, and asking others The man displayed its precious charm, while her maids were busy listening to the verse, which was obviously more interested in the latter.

Charlie cleared his throat and greeted his wife first, then the rest of the room.The surroundings fell silent for a moment, Elizabeth turned around, and the king realized who she had been talking to just now.

The little boy was no more than five and a half years old, and his chubby face still reminded the king of himself in his childhood, with his peachy wavy hair, his broad nose and thick mouth, and his father, his grandfather, his Same as ancestors.

Charlie froze suddenly, his face was completely drained of blood, and he didn't know what to say for a moment.He hadn't seen the boy for many years, but he knew the child's characteristics very well.

For whenever the king himself looked in the mirror he saw these features, and these features lived on in his memory too, in his childhood, and whenever he thought of relatives whom he had parted with for so many years, similar features floating in front of his eyes.

The boy had the same physical features as the Anjou males of Naples.

Dozens of questions welled up in Charlie's mind, but he didn't know which one to ask.

He was bewildered, unable to understand what was going on.

How did this boy get here?Is Blanca here too?Was she the one who brought Kamen here?Did she blackmail Elizabeth for money?Maybe she was mad at me for not seeing her in two years and now wants me to make it up?

"Go and meet your father, just like I taught you." The queen, who was at least half a head taller than the women around her, stood up and gently pushed the boy towards Charlie.

Her slightly raised belly was revealed as she got up, and she carefully placed her left hand on it.

This five-year-old boy, this illegitimate child who was hidden, approached the strange man with some hesitation.

Carman was not yet three years old when he last saw this man, and no one around him told him that it was his father, so Charlie's face quickly disappeared from the world of his carefree childhood and became The same existence as other strange adults.

"Welcome home, my honorable father," the boy bowed his head obediently, repeating in his thin, slightly shy voice the words he had learned from the queen, "I hope your journey is successful and easy ..."

Elizabeth smiled with satisfaction, but Charlie still didn't say anything, but stretched out his right hand to little Carmen in shock, and the boy kissed lightly on his father's seal ring just right.

"Okay." The king forced a smile on his face, and then placed his palm on top of the child's head in embarrassment.He thought hard about what he could say to his son, but nothing came out.

He can confidently encourage the army before a battle, speak in halls with ease, shape his language at the negotiating table, and make everything go his way.

But now, the man stood there like a helpless child, without saying a word.

His shock and confusion didn't last long though, and Charlie came back to his usual composure and stared at his wife with a puzzled expression.

"What the hell does that mean, Elizabeth?" he asked in a stern but not sharp voice. "I need an explanation."

"This is your son, Your Majesty." Elizabeth replied in French, and Charlie guessed that she might not want the boy or others to know what was going on.

The king's guess was correct, Elizabeth Piast only used a few small glances to make her court ladies leave, and one of them walked out the gate with the young Kamen, and soon there were only couples left inside Two people and the old Polish steward.

Even Demeter Nexel, who had been waiting outside the door, moved further down the corridor so as not to appear to be eavesdropping.

"It's time for Kamen to come to the court," the queen began to explain.

There was no excuse in her tone, she was just stating the facts to her husband as if she were also one of the king's advisors.In fact, even though the queen never said so herself, she has always considered herself an advisor to Charles.

"Why are you doing this?" Charlie opened his arms, and the words began to pour out of his mouth, "I am a king, but I have flesh and blood like everyone else, and I am not a sinless person.

When I see him, I only think of my weakness. I see from him what I shouldn't do. Did you bring him to the court so that he can always remind me of my sin and weakness? "

"I would never do such a thing, Your Majesty." Elizabeth shook her head, she had no intention of lowering her eyes in shame, and she had no intention of pretending to be a repentant wife.

Instead, she raised her head confidently and looked at her husband almost defiantly, "I don't think it's a weakness or a sin to have a healthy and vigorous son."

The woman's words exuded an irresistible force, and Charlie had to look away. Before he could speak, Elizabeth continued to say aggressively:

"You won battle after battle, you conquered all castles and provinces, and soon every corner of this kingdom will bend to your will.

But without an heir, you have no guarantee of continuation of your power, and you must build a dynasty, no matter the cost!Do you think Kaman was one of the mistakes you made?No, he is a weapon in your hand..."

"Within half a year, you will give me a legal heir," Charlie sighed deeply. Although his mood was still not calm, it seemed to have eased a little. "At that time, the weapon you mentioned will be It will only be an illegitimate child, that's all."

"The existence of Kaman proves that your species is strong, Your Majesty," the queen approached him, gently grabbed her husband's hand, and pulled it to her slightly bulging belly,
"Your legitimate child is growing in my womb, but what if it's a girl? You can't leave her your throne, the nobles of Hungary won't agree. And if..."

"No!" Charlie exclaimed, breaking away from the intimate moment, taking a step back because he knew exactly what Elizabeth meant.

What if the offspring is also stillborn or does not survive a few days?
"Stop it!" he begged sadly. "I know fate has beaten me so far...but it's going to be different now, I'm sure."

"Whatever the future holds," the queen chose her words carefully, "even an illegitimate child is better than no heir. Kaman's blood runs through him, whether he is a legal heir or not.

I saw the way you looked at his face, you couldn't deny his blood, and he was as sharp as a blacksmith's hammer.

I brought him to your court, but I cannot decide his next fate for you.All I know is that Kaman must learn from the best teachers, language, arithmetic, etiquette, and even the way of life of a knight..."

Elizabeth approached the king again, and this time Charles did not back away, but silently watched his wife, who, as before, took her husband's hand again and placed it on her stomach.

"Do you think I will let you hand over your kingdom to an illegitimate child?" she asked softly, "I promised you, I will give you a great bloodline, so that both Alpad and Capet can only be other shadow behind.

Your seed will grow into a great tree, and your dynasty will make history.I can promise you nothing else now, because this is all I want and the most important task of my life.

If everything goes according to our wishes, Kaman will become an excellent priest or bishop in the future.But until a knight's sword is forged, fighting with a dagger is not a sign of his weakness. "

Charlie had to bow to his wife's will, and even Demeter Nexel, who was waiting in the corridor, laughed at the ingenious metaphor and persuasive words.

The king also knew that Elizabeth was right, and he slowly removed his hand from her belly and cleared his throat gently.

"Did you bring Branca too?" he inquired.

The queen gracefully extended her right hand to caress the king's bearded face.

"After taking Carmen away, I've made sure that his biological mother will always be well-fed," she laughs, "and she's a wealthy woman who can live a pretty comfortable life.

You don't need to bother to visit her any more, Your Majesty.Everything you need is here now," she said in a more determined tone, slowing down, "in your palace. "

They had been married for two years, and it was only then that Charlie realized what a terrifying power his wife held.

Other men might slap their wives in anger and punish her for being too reckless, but the king is overwhelmed by the power radiated by the queen.

A real queen, Charlie thought proudly, if my enemies were half as good as hers, I'd never be able to conquer them...

Afterwards, the king returned to the corridor again, frowning and asked the chancellor who was walking happily beside him: "Tell me, Demeter, what happened while I was away, and what surprises do you have that you have not told?" I?"

"I want to remind you, Your Majesty..." the man defended himself, "I just wanted to tell you that the queen brought your illegitimate child to the court... but something else happened not long after."

"Anything else?" Charlie stopped and glanced suspiciously at the Chancellor, "What else?"

The old maid was shaking her head at Elisabeth, who was smiling smugly, when Demeter Nexel told the King that three ragged men would appear before him on the last day of All Hallows' Month.

"You will regret it, Elizabeth," she said in Polish, "you are stronger than any woman I have ever met, but you are still young, so there are many things you don't understand..."

"What are you talking about?" said the Queen, looking at her old Nan victoriously. "Everything is going as I want, as I planned."

"Indeed, mistress," agreed the old maid, "everything is going as you wish, but one day you will wish to leave him his mistress."

"Please!" she snorted, "whether he is a king or a beggar, my husband must be loyal to me alone!"

"Of course you think so now," the old woman said with a smile, "but you don't want that when he comes to you in the middle of the night, smelling like wine, trying to unleash all your suppressed emotions and desires on you." Slightly.

And then you'll be crying to bring Blanca back, or anyone who can help you lighten the load!For in every man, whether he be a king or a beggar, lurks a monster, and when it is unleashed, no one can hold it, and he will never be the man you knew him to be..."

"You said it yourself that I am stronger than any woman," Elizabeth calmly reminded her maid, "whatever the monster is, I will tame it and make it serve me."

"I like to discipline him," she added in a low voice, before returning to her indifferent tone, "don't say another word, and watch out I'll whip you! Go and call back the maids , you old troublemaker! Don't forget who you're talking to."

"Your Highness Elizabeth," the old woman lowered her head in shame, "please forgive me..."

The queen simply waved and sat back before her precious altar, listening contentedly to the room once again bursting with life and joy.

The ladies resumed their needlework, the voice of poetry sounded again, little Carmen sat on Elizabeth's lap again, and the older Polish maid sat back in the corner, continuing to watch everything with stern eyes, but This time, she looked at the queen much less than before.

(End of this chapter)