Chapter 33: Templar Jofrua's Invitation and Gift (Part I)

Count Etienne suffered such a crime, the only benefit was that he could spend several holidays after this in Holy Cross Castle. His clerics and knights also had ample time to purchase the goods they wanted—Amalric I really gave all the rewards promised to the Count, and tried his best to make up for some losses they suffered when they were hit by the disaster, such as horses and horse gear, clothes, swords, and armor, so that everyone was satisfied enough.

It was just that since that day, Count Etienne had not seen Cesar again. People said that this was indeed the Count's whim. Some people thought he must have received a separate reward from the Count, so those squires and pages who had always been very cold to Cesar suddenly became enthusiastic.

They either complained to Cesar, saying that they had accidentally lost\damaged\soiled some extraordinary holy relic and needed compensation, otherwise they would be whipped and driven out of the castle; or they mysteriously told Cesar that a beautiful prostitute had come from somewhere, with superb techniques, a plump figure, and a high price, but if she saw a cute child like Cesar, perhaps she wouldn't charge a penny.

Or they first flattered Cesar's luck, complained about how bad their luck was at the gambling table recently—they asked Cesar to give their dice a blessing, and then asked Cesar to throw two hands for them. They swore that if Cesar won, all the money would belong to Cesar, and if he lost, the debt would be borne by them.

If Cesar still ignored them, these people would deliberately look for Cesar's mistakes in his actions—theoretically, Cesar rarely left the left tower, and they almost couldn't find any mistakes of his, but as long as they had the heart, there was always a way—once they "found" it, they would pretend to say to Cesar that as long as a little money, they could keep their mouths shut.

If it weren't for the soul in this body already being an adult, he would have stepped into one of these traps no matter what.

Baldwin knew that Count Etienne did give Cesar a reward. He didn't ask too much, but he was also worried that Cesar would be cheated of his money, so from the first Sunday of Advent (the Sunday closest to December 1st), he kept Cesar tightly by his side, and no one dared to play tricks in front of the prince.

But some people were people Baldwin couldn't refuse.

The day before the commemoration of Saint John of Kanty (December 23rd), Templar Jofrua Fuller called a squire to give Cesar a letter early in the morning, asking him to meet. It was about the time of Sext (about two to three in the afternoon) when he would wait at the drawbridge.

For such a lord, no matter because of his previous care or today's favor, Cesar couldn't not go. Baldwin was worried: "If it were a Templar fifty years ago, I wouldn't stop you. Not only wouldn't I stop you, but I would also encourage you. At that time, the Templars, just as they swore, were believers, pilgrims, and knights. They were always ready to shed blood for serving God. They were chaste, humble, and obedient. I am sure that every Templar at that time is now sitting beside the saints.

But as a philosopher said, once a tree becomes tall, there will inevitably be dead branches and fallen leaves.

Because the initial Templars did fulfill their oaths, people saw it, loved them, respected them, and trusted them. They regarded them as God's knights. For the Order, just like treating any church and monastery, they paid taxes to the Order, made offerings, donated cloth, grain, money, and even land to support the Order's eastward expansion.

In just a few decades, the industry of the Templar Order had spread throughout the Holy Land and half of Europe, and they had also changed.

Although they still claimed to be knights, they lent money just like an Isaac currency merchant; built ships just like a Genoese shipowner; collected land taxes and road tolls just like a French lord.

They also took a cut in slaughterhouses and textile workshops, and there were also fees for using mills and ovens. They leased vineyards and sold fishing rights on rivers, and their land produced wheat and vegetables day and night, enough to feed everyone in the Holy Land.

For such a huge organization, it is impossible not to degenerate—I have heard some legends very unfavorable to them, and my father is the same. He once issued a warning to the Templar Order, but the result was as it is now. The Templar Order hates my father, thinking he intends to seize their assets and power.

I have also heard of Jofrua's name. He might not be the worst one, but if," he held Cesar's hand and said cautiously: "If he makes a request to you, asking you to abandon me and go to the Templar Order—please believe me, it's not that I don't want you to have a good future, but the Templar Order is definitely not one of them."

He said earnestly: "If you want to leave me, you can tell me. Even if you can't go to Tripoli or Antioch, I can send you to Lower Lorraine (the original guardian of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem was the Duke of Lower Lorraine, Count of Boulogne, i. e., Godfrey of Bouillon), or any place you want to go."

"Are you willing, let me leave?" Cesar held Baldwin's hand back. Baldwin always wore gloves. Unless Cesar asked, he would take them off. The symptoms of leprosy had begun to show signs. His fingers had begun to swell and turn red. Cesar would feel better after bathing and massaging him, but they both knew that Baldwin's condition was constantly worsening, and it was no wonder that Amalric I didn't even want to wait for Baldwin's birthday (February 2nd) and was going to hold the "selection ceremony" in the first month of the new year.

No leper had held a "selection ceremony" before. After all, this could be considered a sacrament, but most people held extravagant hopes such as: if Baldwin was chosen, he would be cured—at least it could slow down the condition.

"I have also thought about this question repeatedly, especially when I recklessly agreed to your request, letting you go out, replace me, and search for Count Etienne for Abigail's sins..."

Baldwin showed a thoughtful expression: "Look, I once wanted to abandon everything in the secular world and escape into a monastery, but my father promised me that I was still his heir, still the Prince of Jerusalem, and he brought you to my side. Cesar, I saw you at that time, and only felt that someone with your appearance really shouldn't serve beside a leper, but I thought about it later, and this might not be a bad thing."

He stood up, "I was willing to keep you at that time, thinking I only kept a small bird with beautiful but fragile feathers. If not, you would inevitably be destroyed by rain and wind, and die early.

But now, I have seen that the one staying by my side is not a lark, but a fledgling goshawk. Although its wings are not yet full, it will always soar in the blue sky one day. Since that is the case, if I still keep you by my side, that is not love for you, but selfishness."

He showed a bitter smile: "Especially when I found that I always thought I was steady and wise, but in fact, I was still a child, just for a little illusory honor, I sent you out. Although Jofrua's letter didn't say much, I could see at a glance that you suffered a lot of bitterness, suffered a lot of crimes, and even almost died.

Such things, if they happen again, I won't be able to forgive myself."

Cesar sighed in his heart. Count Etienne said he was willing to plead with Amalric I for him and redeem him. He did have a moment of heartbeat, but he was not afraid of the leprosy on Baldwin. He had been with Baldwin for several months and could basically determine that he was not a susceptible population.

Not to mention that Baldwin was always very careful. Even if he said it, Baldwin still often wore veils and gloves in the room, and he never let Cesar do things that might come into contact with body fluids or secretions—since hanging a batch of servants, the newly replaced servants were much more respectful and gentle.

It may also be because until today, no servant has been infected with leprosy, anyway, they obviously served Baldwin more carefully.

But he still refused.

Count Etienne's outburst of questions was still lingering in his ears, but Cesar didn't feel that he was so worthy of praise. Although he was grateful to Amalric I, it was far less than his gratitude to Baldwin, because the favor he received from Amalric I was partly calculated and fought for, and partly out of Amalric I's selfishness.

He just didn't expect to meet such a child like Baldwin here.

In this era, in this region, there are crises everywhere, surrounded by wolves. Although it is called the Holy Land, it is a bloody meat grinder.

He hadn't experienced war, but he had seen too much life and death. He knew that in front of the god of death, few people could maintain their past cultivation and demeanor, not to mention that leprosy, although it wouldn't kill people immediately, could last for several years, more than ten years of pain and a future without hope, which could make people mentally collapse and unable to control.

When Amalric I said he wanted him to serve Baldwin, he was ready to face a crazy, irritable, hysterical, and aggressive young beast because of his fear of the future.

In fact, he was ready at that time. If this were really the case, he wouldn't be stupid enough to continue staying beside this prince as a flesh target.

It wasn't difficult for him to do this. Although he was facing Amalric I, he wasn't a real child.

But such Baldwin made him unable to say the word "give up." He was only nine years old, not an adult in any world, and encountered a great change, but he could still maintain a clean and noble heart.

He saw a peer who was more beautiful and healthier than him, never felt jealous, nor did he tease or torture him because of the disparity in status; he kept Cesar by his side as a weakling, but when he found that he could have a better future, even if he only had such a friend beside him now, he was still willing to lift him up and let him fly high, instead of locking him in a cage.

"I have already rejected Count Etienne." Cesar said, "I will also reject Jofrua."

Baldwin's eyes under the veil widened. He guessed that Jofrua might fancy Cesar, but he didn't expect Count Etienne to have such thoughts. This made him a little sour.

"Count Etienne is not good either," he evaluated sharply: "His territory is small and barren, and he is a widower. If you go to his castle, there will be no hostess to look after you."

"I have already rejected."

"A wise move," Baldwin said sullenly: "In short, these two guys are not suitable, a pair of idiots."

"If they heard this, they would have to duel with you," Cesar said happily: "They are not bad people, at least Count Etienne is not."

He only told Baldwin about the gold coins, but he didn't mention those permits at all. It wasn't that he intended to hide it—mainly because this matter was the same as his behavior of requesting Templar maps through the Gerard family—the things Count Etienne provided for him were almost saying that Amalric I or Baldwin couldn't provide him with the necessary protection.

Count Etienne had suffered enough because of the marriage refusal. While he was still in Holy Cross Castle, don't have any more accidents.

So Cesar asked for leave from Baldwin solemnly and obtained permission from the castle steward. When he walked out of the bridgehead passage, Baldwin was watching him on the bridgehead.

Cesar looked up at him, remembering that when he said goodbye, Baldwin was still nagging him. Although the one he was going to meet was a Templar—Templars swore to remain chaste. This chastity meant that it was best not to see women, let alone touch them, which was why the Pope allowed them to build private chapels (avoiding women).

Those who were married if they wanted to join the Templar Order also had to separate from their wives and could only become sergeants wearing brown or black robes.

Templars also couldn't hunt, keep dogs and falcons, and the only thing they could hunt was the lions of the Holy Land, and they were even forbidden to be with hunters.

They couldn't enjoy various entertainments, such as chess, gambling, clowns, and minstrels. They ate collectively—every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, the Order provided enough meat—unless fasting, they could drink alcohol, but they were absolutely not allowed to get drunk.

So Baldwin's biggest worries basically wouldn't happen. If it were another adult knight, he would have to be careful that the guy would take Cesar to prostitutes and gambling tables, or go hunting (hunting at this time was very dangerous), or get him drunk and unconscious.

Baldwin saw Jofrua. He didn't enter the castle, dressed majestically. To tell the truth, if Baldwin chose, he would rather follow a brave knight than a patient burdened with sins, but he was willing to believe Cesar.

He watched Cesar ride his pony Kastor and follow the Templar's big horse across the drawbridge.

And not long after they crossed the drawbridge, a thin black shadow followed. Baldwin was about to call someone, but saw him bow to him from afar, and then waved the spear in his hand, flying away before the guards became vigilant.

The prince then remembered that when Cesar was doing the penance of "cleansing the Holy Sepulchre," a wandering knight did follow him and act as his bodyguard.

(End of chapter)