Chapter 46

On the spiral staircase, Cesar met Princess Sibylla.

Although Cesar woke up and Baldwin woke up, it took them several days to meet.

When Baldwin was brought back to the Holy Cross Castle, everyone witnessed such a solemn miracle. While he was still sleeping, people kept asking to visit or even serve him—of course, such a request could not be allowed, not only because Baldwin was still very weak, but also because he still had symptoms of leprosy.

Although it could now be said that this was God's test rather than punishment, after careful consideration, Amalric I still put Baldwin's health first, ignoring those anxious letters and pleas, and only waited until Baldwin passed the danger period before some people deeply trusted by Amalric I stepped into his room.

Among these people were Count Raymond of Tripoli and his son David, Duke Bohemond of Antioch and his son Abigail, and several other vassals and their heirs. These boys could no longer come back to be attendants, but their fathers would probably return to Prince Baldwin's side in these few months—he was going to restart classes.

As mentioned earlier, the prince's courses were originally very full, and the people who taught him, besides his father Amalric I, were his ministers and generals, such as Raymond, who originally taught riding and spears, Bohemond taught falconry and archery, and elegant courses like grammar and astronomy were undertaken by that dead former Patriarch, and others were responsible for the rest.

After Baldwin was confirmed to have leprosy, the former Patriarch ran faster than seeing the Saracens. Raymond and Bohemond also stepped down. If Baldwin was no longer the King's heir, a monk was not qualified to let a count or duke teach.

The page that made people worry could finally be turned over. Leprosy was still a hidden danger, but no one would doubt whether Baldwin could become a valiant commander. Saint George's spear had already revealed his future fate—as for not being able to have children and dying before thirty, it didn't matter. Anyway, kings without heirs were everywhere, and there were many who didn't live to thirty.

With the visits of these important figures, Prince Baldwin's room suddenly became narrow. Considering that Cesar also received "blessing" like himself, compared to the longing for his little friend, Baldwin would rather let him stay in the room than be with him, bowing when seeing people, and serving him and guests.

Finally, Baldwin confirmed that there would be no visitors today, and immediately called a servant to find Cesar.

It was just that Cesar didn't expect that he took out a box of saffron and a box of honey mulberries sent by Dean John (he knew Baldwin wouldn't lack this, but sharing between friends is always gratifying) and put them in his arms, walked up the spiral staircase, and ran into Princess Sibylla head-on.

Princess Sibylla was once hailed as a jewel among flowers, and she was still the same, but this jewel seemed to have been polished, becoming sharper and brighter. Even in the dim spiral staircase, she seemed to be glowing. The previous frustration didn't seem to have much impact on her.

Cesar felt comforted. In the farce triggered by Count Etienne's arrival, the two kings were the initiators, and Princess Sibylla was an out-and-out victim.

From his standpoint, whether it was simple sympathy for the victim, or Baldwin's only sister, or Damara's master, he could not be indifferent, or watch coldly or even gloat like others.

Sibylla was also looking at Cesar. She once wanted this child. He was so handsome that he should accompany her side, like a brooch, bracelet, and ring. But after she knew he was Baldwin's new attendant, she immediately put down this idea.

It was not out of love or pity for her brother, but because she had long known that the only person who could occupy an important position in their father Amalric I's heart was Baldwin, and now she had to add guilt. Not to mention a smart and handsome attendant, even if it were a stone, Amalric I would not allow her to compete with Baldwin.

It is hard to say, when Amalric I became wary of Cesar, she went to Baldwin and told him that she could design a clever accident to eliminate this suspicion and doubt, how much was for Baldwin, and how much came from that long-brewing malice.

Crushing a rose, cutting a piece of brocade, smashing a gem, the more perfect and flawless it is, the more painful it is to destroy!

When they held the "selection ceremony," Sibylla didn't return to her room to rest, but knelt in the chapel, praying silently. Others saw it and were moved by her piety and friendship, but no one knew how turbulent her heart was.

She sometimes cursed the two, asking God not to bless them; sometimes she asked God to bless only one of them. Thinking of Baldwin staring at the attendant's back, showing jealousy, or Cesar finally falling into an ordinary handyman because he failed to receive the blessing, she wanted to laugh.

Did she want him to come to her side?

No, she wanted to order Abigail to call an Isaac slave merchant to let the slave return to his fate.

But the one who finally fell into pain was only Sibylla herself.

God is merciful, how merciful!

After Count Etienne left the Holy Cross Castle, although nominally, he was going to return to France to seek the permission of King Louis VII to come and marry Princess Sibylla, everyone knew this was just an excuse.

Sure enough, not long after, King Louis VII's reply came. In the letter, he said full of apologies that he could not agree to this marriage. The specific reason was not said, but those who heard this news couldn't help but understand, and would exchange a subtle look.

This situation even appeared among the maids beside her. She knew they were laughing at her behind her back, and not every maid could be as innocent as Damara... She hated them, and they might not necessarily like her.

Count Etienne's arrival and departure were like breaking something perfect. Besides the maids, the noble heirs surrounding her also began to look at her with clearer eyes. She was still worth chasing, but besides her beauty, her value had been falling—Prince Baldwin received the blessing, perhaps he could have heirs, perhaps his life could be extended to forty, fifty years?

Especially now, the marriage contract between Amalric I and the grandniece of the Byzantine Emperor Manuel I had been set. Princess Maria Comnena would come to Al-Azar on the memorial day of Saint Agnes (January 21), and marry the King on the feast day of Saint Peter (June 29).

In this era, the princess to be married generally comes to the country of her future husband very early. This is to be able to understand this strange place that needs her to pay for the whole second half of her life as soon as possible, and also to reverse the "identity cognition" of the previous ten or twenty years—that is to say, to let her change from a princess of one country to a queen of another country.

Princess Maria arrived in Al-Azar at the end of January and married at the end of June. The people were already mocking the King for being "impatient," and those ministers with keen sense of smell had guessed that the King wanted to get a healthy heir as soon as possible. After all, on the battlefield, swords and spears have no eyes, and the crown cannot let the King avoid arrows or spears.

And after the King's new wife became pregnant, Sibylla's inheritance right would be further diluted. If it were a boy, then even if Prince Baldwin had no heirs, after he died, his brother could still inherit the throne of Al-Azar.

And in contrast, the little slave she once regarded as a "thing" had jumped out of the original class because he received the prince's trust and God's blessing, and stepped on a bright road.

He stood there, and she could see his future directly: servant, attendant, squire, knight, minister or general. God's treatment of him even exceeded Baldwin's. Baldwin might die in his prime, but he could still continue to live. He would become the confidant of the new king.

He was so smart, so beautiful, so pious, he would live a long life and be full of glory... perhaps he could also fight for a territory for himself, become a count, duke, king...

And her? A man's wife.

How unfair.

"Are you going to find Baldwin?" Sibylla said, her blue eyes bottomless: "Go, he is waiting for you."

——————

As soon as Baldwin saw Cesar, he greeted him, and the two hugged tightly.

"I almost can't believe it," Baldwin said excitedly: "Of course, I saw it, the light overflowing from you, so dazzling, but I fainted afterward. After I woke up, I was worried to death, afraid that it was a hallucination caused by my eagerness. Fortunately, they told me it was true. I saw Saint George, and you saw Saint Jerome."

Speaking of this, the prince paused, showing doubt: "Did Saint Jerome make shields?" But he quickly put this matter down. There were knights who saw the Virgin before, and they were still galloping on the battlefield, invincible.

He took his friend's arm and sat down at the small round table, just like every time before. They ate a full meal first, and after they were satisfied, they called the servant to take away the leftovers. Then Baldwin drove others away, pulled Cesar to sit on the carpet, and began to appreciate and divide the gifts he received together.

Cesar took out the saffron and honey mulberries. The two children sat cross-legged like this, eating sweet candied fruit while opening the boxes.

Jewelry and spices were the most, they were expensive and small, followed by weapons, and then fabrics—or rather silk, cotton and linen were directly put into the warehouse.

Baldwin told Cesar to wait a moment, and took out an oak box from the triangular cabinet. It was not big, about a foot square, and as high as a palm. Before he opened it, Cesar guessed that this might be the clothes Princess Maria sent to Baldwin.

Sure enough, Baldwin took out a colorful deep purple cloak, the length might only reach Baldwin's knees, but this deep purple fabric inlaid with gold edges could only be worn by emperors or kings if it reached the ankles.

"This is... Byzantine style, or Persian cloak."

The box not only contained a cloak, but also an exquisite belt, which only royal family members were allowed to wear.

Seeing the belt, Cesar also remembered one thing, "By the way," he said: "Dean John also sent me a belt," he showed it to Baldwin.

Baldwin clapped his hands happily: "Great!" He said: "I have already asked the castle steward to find it, but the Byzantine emperor keeps this deep purple silk very tight, even the richest merchants may not be able to get it—Dean John is really a meticulous person."

"Do you want me to go welcome the Byzantine princess with you?"

Baldwin gave Cesar a look of course: "But just wrapping it on the arm is not enough. I have a short cloak here. It looks like silver in the sun and gold in the moonlight. I asked the maid to inlay this purple edge on the lapel, so we look like brothers."

"Baldwin, you have already given me many things."

"The master should originally be responsible for the attendant's food and clothing," Baldwin put his hands behind him, the sun shone on his face. Now if he was only with Cesar, he wouldn't wear a veil and gloves—there were still some red spots on that handsome face, but most of the skin was still smooth: "And the King said that he would launch a war against the Fatimid dynasty within three years. By then, we will be his squires."

"We?"

"Hmm, we are already brothers under God's witness. It makes no sense to ask you to serve me anymore," Baldwin said lightly: "The problem is, when you were my attendant, I could bear some of your expenses, but after you become a squire, you need to equip yourself with many things... This is a large expenditure. Although there are generous masters who prepare these for squires, if you can set them up yourself, your reputation will be better."

"I remember Count Etienne gave you a sum of money," Baldwin straightened up and began to count with his fingers: "And the one hundred gold coins from the Templar Geoffrey," Cesar didn't hide these from him: "Shield, chain mail, iron boots, long sword, dagger, leather outer robe, heraldic surcoat, quilted cotton long lining, gloves, knee pads... horse... horse gear... If you want goods from Tours (a famous armor production place in France), the price might go up a bit."

"Of course," he laughed: "If my father can win a big victory, we can go to the battlefield to strip some things."

"Uh..."

Seeing Cesar's rare embarrassed look—Baldwin knew his little friend was very clean, almost to the point of being called a quirk—he laughed out loud. Cesar knew he was just joking with him.

"However, you really need to change your bad habits," Baldwin said: "Father showed me the armor he wore on the battlefield..."

Someone was knocking on the door.

Baldwin showed an unhappy look, "I said unless it's Father or the teacher, no matter who it is, don't disturb us."

Cesar stood up to open the door. After the door opened, a lord wearing a dark gray velvet sleeveless coat and a gold-buckled belt stood outside the door. The servant beside him was a little uneasy. Cesar nodded to him, and he ran away like flying.

The lord carefully looked at Cesar's face, green eyes, black hair, should be that attendant who was deeply loved by Prince Baldwin. His tone was therefore gentler: "Please convey to His Highness for me," he whispered: "I am Balian of Ibelin, my sister-in-law wants to see Prince Baldwin."

Since coming to the Holy Cross Castle, Cesar hadn't stopped reciting the intricate and headache-inducing noble genealogy. He knew Balian of Ibelin, that was a small territory near the city of Jaffa, but his sister-in-law?

"Let her in," Baldwin's voice came from behind Cesar: "That is the Countess of Jaffa and Ascalon, my...

Mother."

(End of chapter)