Chapter 915 - 139: The Crown of Jerusalem
In the westernmost part of the Grand Palace, within Dafna Palace, the candle flames leaped like beans, casting their light on the woman immersed in reading scrolls, as the courtyard’s fountains gurgled, filling the air with intoxicating incense.
"I’m back."
The lady, with a cold expression, silently stared at the newcomer, causing the great His Majesty Basileus to feel a pang of unease.
For a long while.
Only then did she shift her gaze back, her tone indifferent: "Don’t get in bed if you’re not clean."
Losa chuckled awkwardly: "I’ve already been washing for a long time."
After a while of silence, he stealthily climbed into bed.
Out of the blue, he heard Prajna say in a calm voice: "If you like the wilderness, we can try it next time."
"Ah, actually, not really..."
"Forget it, I’m still not as shameless as that woman Jeanne."
Prajna pondered for a moment, gently pushed Losa, and suddenly the two of them tumbled into another world.
They stood atop a towering tower, below them lay the court of Sintra Kingdom from the demon hunter novels, with courtiers and nobles bustling back and forth, as the armies of the Niflgaard Empire loomed, everyone was intensely preparing for war.
Prajna lightly pulled off the bath towel wrapped around Losa, her cold fingers brushed across his back.
"If it’s only in front of these ’people,’ I don’t really mind."
The world in the book would rise or fall at her whim, she could make everyone unable to see them, or even if they did, she paid it no mind.
...
Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, Losa had been staying at Dafna Palace for a week.
The first batch of grain from Egypt was sent to Constantinople, sending a signal to the citizens of Constantinople that order had been restored to normal.
Now, many
"I must thank you again, His Majesty Basileus."
The Empress expressed her gratitude.
Suddenly, there was a commotion outside.
The Chief Steward hurried out of the hall, somewhat embarrassed: "Your Majesty, there are some voices among the citizens lately."
Perhaps it was those unwilling to watch their own power being eroded by royal authority, rumors had been circulating in Constantinople that their Empress had become the concubine of the Egyptian Basileus.
Of course, the malicious mastermind behind these rumors had intentions, but once they fermented, the rumors became unrecognizable.
The citizens of Constantinople actually had a good impression of Losa, who had saved the city from disaster.
On one hand, military discipline of this era was generally poor, and the Crusaders throughout the ages often plundered as they passed through the territory of the Empire,
"Just be direct."
"The citizens demand, Your Majesty, that you hold a royal wedding with His Majesty Basileus, and have him stay in Constantinople to co-govern the Empire with you."
If not for knowing who the mastermind was and that Losa had refused her invitation several times.
Ragaya might have suspected that the source of the rumors was, in fact, Losa himself.
She sighed somewhat plaintively, it seems the people of the Empire knew who could really protect them.
"Your Majesty,"
...
Jerusalem
King Baldwin walked in
Since his leprosy had come under control, he finally managed to break free from that dark and gloomy room and could now stroll inside the court garden, which he rarely visited.
Even now, his health was still far from good, unable to stay active for long, unable to
"Your Majesty."
Still in a simple vestment robe, Urding walked slowly into the garden, nodding slightly.
"You’ve come, walk with me."
"About what His Majesty Losa mentioned before..."
"Oh, you mean the cure for leprosy, yeah, Nishaya told me."
"You don’t seem as excited as I thought you would be."
Urding had been with Baldwin IV for a long time,
At sixteen, he once defeated Saladin, a Monarch that ought to be proud and ambitious, yet because he was afflicted with the dreaded "God’s Wrath," he could only lie bedridden, watching the Kingdom fall into division and internal strife.
"Would it make you feel less accomplished? In that case, I can try to appear more enthusiastic."
Baldwin IV joked, then explained: "I’ve already been excited after you dispelled my illness."
"I heard Losa went to Constantinople again?"
"Yes, at the request of the Eastern Empire Empress."
Since I assumed direct rule, Jerusalem has faced constant threats from the Saracens, but now Egypt has been subdued, Saladin is no longer the major threat to the Holy Land, I think it’s time to lay down this burden.
Urding didn’t expect that the first thing Baldwin IV wished to do after recovering was to abdicate.
"I plan to become a Ranger Knight, the kind described in legendary novels... hahaha, don’t look at me like that, my swordsmanship is actually quite good, I just never had the chance to demonstrate it."
Baldwin IV’s attendant, the one always carrying the Demon-Blocking Golden Sword, was the swordsmanship master left behind for him by Emperor Amalric, who once slew countless demons with that sword.
"I’ve been trapped in this cage for far too long, Urding, and don’t you think Losa would make a better King of Jerusalem than both Sibylla and me?"
Baldwin IV laughed freely: "Looking at Transjordan’s changes over this time, I know that if there’s anyone in this world capable of turning my vision of a Celestial Dynasty into reality, it is him, Losa."
"Jerusalem has stood for almost a century, bearing the most sacred name, yet we all know that aside from the name, it is no different from any other Kingdom."
Urding couldn’t offer any words of opposition, after all, this would indeed be beneficial for Losa.
"No matter what, becoming a Ranger Knight is still too dangerous."
Baldwin IV blinked: "Nishaya told me that I actually have a bit of an extraordinary talent."
Baldwin IV’s attendant, the one always carrying the Demon-Blocking Golden Sword, was the swordsmanship master left behind for him by Emperor Amalric, who once slew countless demons with that sword.
"I’ve been trapped in this cage for far too long, Urding, and don’t you think Losa would make a better King of Jerusalem than both Sibylla and me?"
Baldwin IV laughed freely: "Looking at Transjordan’s changes over this time, I know that if there’s anyone in this world capable of turning my vision of a Celestial Dynasty into reality, it is him, Losa."
"Jerusalem has stood for almost a century, bearing the most sacred name, yet we all know that aside from the name, it is no different from any other Kingdom."
Urding couldn’t offer any words of opposition, after all, this would indeed be beneficial for Losa.
"No matter what, becoming a Ranger Knight is still too dangerous."
Baldwin IV blinked: "Nishaya told me that I actually have a bit of an extraordinary talent."
Baldwin IV’s attendant, the one always carrying the Demon-Blocking Golden Sword, was the swordsmanship master left behind for him by Emperor Amalric, who once slew countless demons with that sword.
"I’ve been trapped in this cage for far too long, Urding, and don’t you think Losa would make a better King of Jerusalem than both Sibylla and me?"
Baldwin IV laughed freely: "Looking at Transjordan’s changes over this time, I know that if there’s anyone in this world capable of turning my vision of a Celestial Dynasty into reality, it is him, Losa."
"Jerusalem has stood for almost a century, bearing the most sacred name, yet we all know that aside from the name, it is no different from any other Kingdom."
Urding couldn’t offer any words of opposition, after all, this would indeed be beneficial for Losa.
"No matter what, becoming a Ranger Knight is still too dangerous."
Baldwin IV blinked: "Nishaya told me that I actually have a bit of an extraordinary talent."