Moulon nodded. "Other than signing formal decrees, diplomatic documents, and declarations of war, His Majesty the King need not do anything." Visconti snapped, "And you call that having no power? Those are the most important affairs of the state!"
Moulon gestured for him to calm down. "The King merely signs them. All content is drafted by Parliament.
"Before the King is crowned, your Parliament must begin operating. If even that cannot control all domestic affairs, then I can only express my deepest regret.
"You should know that even the Royal Guards' wages are paid by Parliament.
"Oh, you need not even use the title 'King.' You could use 'Governor,' like Savoy, or 'Hereditary Ruler,' like the Netherlands." After two or three years of chaos in Savoy's political scene, all factions had finally compromised on a Governor—Marquis Barolo—as Savoy's nominal ruler.
This marquis owned a beautiful Barolo Castle and legendary vineyards, and his greatest talent was philanthropy. Strictly speaking, his only advantage was probably that he had married the great-granddaughter of Colbert, Louis XIV's Minister of Finance.
The revolutionary leaders all fell into thought.
Though they had just put on a posture of fighting to the bitter end, they all knew perfectly well that ammunition, food, and medicine in the City of Rome were nearly exhausted. Should foreign nations send troops to intervene, they would most likely be unable to win.
If they could exchange a King without real power for diplomatic recognition from other nations, it was not entirely unacceptable.
At most, they would have to spend several hundred thousand Scudo each year to maintain his extravagant lifestyle.
Moulon swept his gaze over their faces, his tone turning more solemn. "In fact, a King also has a very important role to play in the governance of your country."
Angelucci sneered.