Baron Lothar

The holy city of Jerusalem had been left behind for half a month, and the air of approaching war had grown ever more palpable.

Knights Templar sergeants, carrying teardrop shields and Kite Shields and clad in white surcoats emblazoned with red crosses, marched through the streets in groups.

Those who had once idled about and caused the most trouble in Jerusalem were now being detained by the order's sergeants, ready to be pressed into service as levied peasant soldiers.

The hastily expanded smithies had spilled out onto the streets. The roar of blazing furnaces and the clang of hammers striking iron ingots rang without end.

Knights of the Teutonic Knights had also made a rare appearance within the holy city. Wearing black surcoats with white crosses, they surrounded a noble leader as they headed toward the royal palace.

"Brother, do you know who the Grand Commander of the Teutonic Knights is now?"

Lothar asked.

"Brother" was short for "Christian brothers." Any Christian believer could address another this way to show closeness.

Of course, that was only if their statuses were comparable.

If a commoner called a knight "brother," getting beaten for it would be perfectly normal.

"The Teutonic Knights?"

The Royal Knight looked surprised. "Oh, I understand. You mean those Germanic Knights living in Acre? They don't have a Grand Commander yet. Daily affairs are currently managed by a council similar to those from the Ancient Empire, though they've recently been busy preparing for an election."

Lothar's expression shifted slightly.

So the Teutonic Knights did not even have a Grand Commander at this point?

His thoughts began to stir. If he achieved enough, then with his status as a Germanic noble, might he also have a chance to compete for the position of Grand Commander?

No, that did not fit his plans.

What he wanted was to become a secular lord, not a church knight. The latter was too heavily constrained by the Church—like a castle in the air, powerful yet insubstantial.

Hans, on the other hand, could give it a try.

But he was too young and too inexperienced. It would be difficult for him to distinguish himself in the short term.

"Has anything changed in Jerusalem recently?"

Lothar asked, "I heard that Balian, Baron Godfrey's heir, is supposedly going to duel Guy of Lusignan. What is this about?"

A troubled look appeared on the Royal Knight's face. "It's rather complicated. Supposedly, Guy personally saw Lord Balian enter Princess Sibylla's room. So he challenged Lord Balian. By the rules, the loser may no longer pursue Princess Sibylla."

Lothar frowned.

Could it have something to do with the veil I had Hans give him?

The two entered the royal palace one after the other.

Lothar waited in the room for a short while before maidservants clad in sheer gauze filed in.

Their graceful figures were faintly visible beneath the thin fabric. Without giving Lothar any chance to object, their soft little hands stripped away his clothes.

"Lord Lothar, please come with us to bathe."

Fifteen minutes later, Lothar, refreshed from head to toe and wearing a silk shirt, entered Baldwin IV's hall.

Candles as thick as arms burned throughout the hall, while sunlight streaming through the narrow windows made the smoke seem hazy.

Baldwin IV still sat before his desk, holding a quill pen and writing something.

It was as though he had not moved at all since Lothar's last departure.

The candlelight flickered.

Without raising his head, Baldwin IV said, "You killed Kawkab?"

Lothar nodded. "Yes, Your Majesty."

A trace of satisfaction showed in Baldwin IV's eyes. He set down his pen and gestured for Lothar to sit.

Smiling, he said, "I knew I had not misjudged you. You penetrated deep into enemy territory, launched a surprise attack on a regional governor's castle, and successfully captured it. Like your father, you are an exceptional commander."

Lothar said modestly, "It was thanks to the Heavenly Father's protection, and to the cavalry under Baron Godfrey being sufficiently elite."

"No need for modesty. You were the core of this operation."

Baldwin IV braced himself against the desk and struggled to straighten his body. Smiling, he said, "If this fails to create conflict between the Sasanian King and Saladin, then the fault lies in my planning. You have already done all you could."

"How should I reward your merits, Lothar?"

Lothar shook his head. "Whatever Your Majesty grants this subject, this subject will accept it and be grateful for Your Majesty's magnanimity and generosity."

Baldwin IV sighed softly, his laugh carrying a trace of chill. "Heh. You have risked life and death for the kingdom's future, yet the kingdom's nobles are still endlessly fighting among themselves for power and profit."

He suddenly slammed his hand against the desk.

"How can one govern a nation properly in the company of such vermin?"

Lothar remained silent, merely lowering his head slightly.

Once the game of power began, there was no room for it to end. The Baronial faction, the Queen's faction—whichever side took power, the other would suffer a devastating blow.

No one was willing to yield.

And the struggle would never cease.

Baldwin IV vented his anger and gradually calmed down. "Knight Lothar, who do you think I should marry Sibylla to?"

"Everything is for you to decide."

Lothar still did not speak rashly. Whether in the East or the West, monarchs were sensitive and suspicious when it came to matters of succession.

"Lothar, are you truly loyal to me?"

Lothar hurriedly replied, "Of course. I swore an oath in the name of the Heavenly Father."

Baldwin IV sighed. "They swore oaths too, Lothar. I know you are different from them. I hope you will speak frankly to me."

Lothar fell silent for a moment before finally speaking.

"Your Majesty, I do not know who would be more suitable, but Guy is clearly unqualified. He is a reckless, self-righteous traditional knight. If Jerusalem is handed to him, the Kingdom will sooner or later be destroyed by his hand."

Though he was speaking of Guy, Lothar was actually referring to the Queen Mother's faction as well.

These people's ideas were far too radical. Their strength was clearly inferior to Saladin's, yet they still insisted on a decisive battle, hoping to expand their territory, reclaim Antioch, and even seize fertile, prosperous Egypt.

It was not necessarily stupidity. The Crusaders' knights were indeed elite, and in the small-scale clashes with the Ayyubids over the past years, they had won more often than they lost.

That had given them blind confidence.

Moreover, the Crusaders' military forces were now expanding at a rapid pace. The funds left behind by the King of Ardabil were swiftly being turned into soldiers.

"Guy."

Baldwin IV let out a long sigh. "I understand what you mean. Handing the Kingdom over to my mother and sister would be legitimate, but foolish."

"But even a King is not omnipotent."

Baldwin IV felt deeply helpless about this. The balance of power within the Kingdom had long since become uneven.

The Royalist Faction was caught between the Baronial faction and the Queen Mother's faction. Its influence had withered, making it difficult for it to speak with its own voice in his stead.

And once the King personally entered the fray and set himself against the Kingdom's powerful nobles, everything would become uncontrollable.

"Actually, I favor you more, Lothar."

"You are young and accomplished. Your talent in military strategy is no less than that of Regent Raymond, and your political acuity is no weaker than Baron Godfrey's."

Lothar decisively shook his head. "But Your Majesty, you must have heard what Baron Godfrey said as well. Two Witches serve under me. I truly cannot marry Princess Sibylla."

"What a pity. Though my sister is somewhat too power-hungry, she is actually a very fine wife."

Baldwin IV fell silent for a moment before saying, "Then there is Balian. But he is still too immature. I do not know when he will grow up, nor do I know when I might suddenly pass away and return to the Heavenly Father's embrace."

Lothar hesitated, but still did not mention that he might have a way to cure leprosy.

There was not even the slightest foundation for it yet.

To summon a high-quality medical retainer, even after obtaining a fief, would still require a long time.

"What do you think of Balian and Guy's duel this afternoon?"

Lothar asked in return, "Does Your Majesty want me to predict who will win?"

"The outcome is beyond doubt. Balian is a young knight and is no match for Guy. What I want you to consider is how we should reject Guy's proposal to Sibylla after this battle."

Lothar was silent for a moment. "It will be difficult. The Queen Mother's faction is too powerful. If Balian loses in a sacred and fair knightly duel, there will be too much resistance to marrying Your Highness Princess to him."

"Then you will duel in his place."

Baldwin IV said gravely, "The glove Guy threw down was never picked up by Balian. He merely agreed verbally to this duel. By the rules, he may find someone to take his place."

Lothar shook his head. "Balian is a knight with great pride. He did not take the glove because he was once a blacksmith and did not understand this rule, not because he intended to deceive anyone from the beginning."

"You mean Balian will not agree?"

Lothar nodded. "That is correct."

"Then let the Heavenly Father decide all of this."

Baldwin IV drew his gleaming sword and once more rested it on Lothar's shoulder. "Knight Lothar, in the name of the bloodline of House of Baldwin and as King of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, I elevate you to Baron of the Kingdom of Jerusalem and grant you the Royal Territories of Yoglusburg as your fief."

Lothar hurriedly knelt, somewhat excited. "Thank you for your generosity, Your Majesty."

Baldwin IV shook his head. "This is not something worth expecting too much from. Yoglusburg is a barren place. It has long been under royal control, yet no one has ever taken an interest in it."

"I am sorry, Lothar. I originally intended to grant you Bethlehem as your fief, but the Kingdom's current situation prevents me from withstanding the pressure of the court officials and granting wealthy, sacred Bethlehem to you."

Lothar shook his head. "It is already enough, Your Majesty. In the days to come, I will earn even more merit."

Many knights could serve their liege for a lifetime and still find it difficult to be elevated to baron.

Though a baron appeared to be a low-ranking lord, in Jerusalem, it meant one had truly entered the halls of power and was qualified to join this game of power.

"Rise, Lothar. Shall we play a game of chess?"

Lothar shook his head. "My apologies, Your Majesty. I do not know how."

Baldwin IV smiled. "It is I who should apologize. Because of this terrible illness, I rarely go out. My only pastime is playing chess."

"It is actually very simple. I will teach you."

Lothar followed Baldwin IV and sat across from him at the chess table.

"The way of ruling as a sovereign and commanding as a general can all be found upon this small chessboard. Kings, queens, bishops, knights, chariots, and royal guards each have their own duties."