A flash of excitement immediately lit Amedeo III's eyes, and he even licked his lips unconsciously.
Before the rise of the Carolingian Dynasty, the Papal States had practically not existed. The Holy See had relied on land Pepin the Short and Charlemagne of the Carolingian Dynasty seized from the Italian States to establish the Papal States.
Thus, every Italian coveted the lands occupied by the Papal States.
This was also why the Roman Curia had always held little sway over the Italian States around it, yet could influence distant countries such as Spain and Austria.
No wonder Amedeo III was so excited—after all, the Papal States covered more than twice the area of Sardinia.
If Sardinia could bite off a piece of the Papal States, it would be stuffed to bursting.
More importantly, Sardinia did not currently share a border with the Papal States.
That meant that if Sardinia wanted to reach the Papal States, it first had to occupy part of Parma or Venice.
And the French Minister of Foreign Affairs's words indicated that France would turn a blind eye to such actions!
Sardinia's military strength was not worth mentioning before France and Austria, but across the entire Italian Peninsula, only Two Sicilies could contend with it.
Even Venice was far from Sardinia's match, let alone small states like Parma.
Amedeo III was a highly ambitious King. Or rather, ever since his ancestor, the Duke of Savoy, his family had always been ambitious. Historically, it was King of Sardinia Carlo Alberto who, more than half a century later, ultimately unified the Italian Peninsula through all manner of political speculation.
Now that there was a fine opportunity to extend his hand into Italy's heartland, how could Amedeo III possibly remain unmoved?
By comparison, that little patch of land called Savoy