Chapter 967 - 190: The Betrothal
Europe, Algo’s Eagle Castle.
The wedding of Otto and the Duke of Lorraine’s second daughter was in its final stages of preparation, and the Eagle Castle welcomed a wave of large-scale renovations.
Craftsmen from Milan, Prague, and Aachen gathered together to repair the castle, and at the same time, they built a giant tournament arena at the foot of the hill that could accommodate thousands of spectators.
Count Werner initially had no intention of making a grand spectacle, but with the news of Losa’s coronation as king overseas, the Habsburg Family had become a new noble family in Europe. Previously, those distant relatives, vassal colleagues, and even the Hohenstaufen Royal Family, who might not have bothered to visit even if they received an invitation, would at least not visit in person, and now they would attend. The wedding had to be upgraded in scale.
For this reason, Werner had almost emptied his own wallet, including the wealth Losa had previously sent back with a caravan.
"That vain old fool Gottfried, always bragging about his royal connections, yet cries poverty at the slightest request for funds."
Werner was somewhat annoyed. If it weren’t for the big mouth of the Duke of Lorraine, this wedding wouldn’t have attracted so much attention.
Otto sat to the side, casually responding to his father’s ramblings. He knew that his father was feeling "pain and joy" at this moment, and whoever advised him to have a simpler wedding would be the first to face his anger.
At that moment, a Knight excitedly walked into the Lord’s Hall and presented a letter: "Master, Young Master, it’s a letter from His Majesty Losa."
This was the latest news, specially delivered, after a merchant ship from Cyprus had reached Lower Burgundy, that is, Provence.
Due to the constraints of communication methods, in Europe, Losa’s coronation as King of Egypt and his prevention of a tragic conflict among Christians were still the most talked-about stories of the time.
And this was actually news from two months ago.
Upon reading the message on the letter, Otto was stunned, wide-mouthed for a long time, only to finally put down the letter in his father’s urging gaze, lost in thought: "Losa became Emperor!"
Werner froze for a moment: "Didn’t Losa stay in Constantinople?"
Recently, in almost every tavern in Europe, there were rumors of his younger son’s romantic escapades with the Empress of the Eastern Empire. Many believed that Losa would merge his Crusader Kingdom under the Eastern Empire’s rule and co-govern the ancient empire with the Empress as Basileus.
He had somewhat predicted Losa’s ascension to Emperor.
"He didn’t... sigh, it’s too complicated to explain in a few words. See for yourself!"
Otto handed the letter over, his face still in shock. He thought that when he went to the Holy Land, seeing Losa rise swiftly was already impressive. Who would have thought that in just over six months, without even getting married yet, Losa became Emperor!
"Father, are we part of the Royal Family now?"
He couldn’t help but swallow hard.
If recognized as members of the Royal Family, even as landless branch descendants, it would be enough to earn respect from other nobles, let alone having only one brother like Losa, which was far more valuable than any collateral line.
Thinking of this, Otto couldn’t sit still. He stood up, eager, and said, "Father, why don’t we go overseas to join Losa!"
Otto had also visited the Holy Land, and although he returned with disdain for the local nobles as corrupt and fallen, lacking the valor of their ancestors, deep down, he yearned greatly.
To him, oh no, to the vast majority of European nobles, venturing overseas to become a City Lord was far better than staying in Europe as a rural Count.
Werner finally finished reading the letter and couldn’t help but reprimand his excited eldest son: "You’re about to settle down, yet you’re still so impulsive."
Otto was bursting with pride: "Now that we’re already part of the Royal Family, do I still have to marry the Duke of Lower Lorraine’s daughter? Didn’t you also think Gottfried wasn’t a reliable in-law?"
Otherwise, what’s the point of Losa becoming Emperor?
Werner snorted lightly: "Without the coronation from the Holy Throne, that’s just usurping the title of Emperor."
Otto couldn’t help but argue: "Having repeatedly defeated Saladin, lifting the siege of the Holy City, recapturing Egypt, and Damascus, Losa now holds three crowns and has obtained legal authority over half of the empire from the Eastern Empire. How is he usurping anything?"
"Besides, if Losa really flew his Demon Dragon to Pope City, does the Holy Throne dare to leave him standing in the cold?"
The humiliation at Canossa had pushed the Pope’s authority to its peak, but the subsequent retaliation from Henry IV openly demonstrated the concept of "imperial power above all."
Moreover, in Otto’s view, Henry IV of the Salian Family was not qualified to be compared with Losa at all.
Werner hesitated for a moment. As one of the old-fashioned nobles who grew up under the authority of the Emperor and the Holy Throne, his greatest vision in life was to expand the Habsburg family territory from Algo to Schirgao and to bring Zurich under his rule, which he saw as a mere dream.
As for incorporating the entire Swiss Plateau under one’s rule and obtaining an "Duke of Switzerland" title recognized by the Emperor, that was nothing but a delirious fantasy uttered while heavily intoxicated with Belladonna Wine during a severe illness.
The news that Losa had donned three crowns overseas and was establishing an Overseas Empire left him somewhat unable to comprehend the situation.
He stiffened his face and snorted coldly, "Even if that’s the case, what does Losa’s Empire have to do with you?"
"I never harbored the lavish hope of him bestowing me a dukedom. With my competence, surely there’s no issue in managing at least one city!"
Werner retorted unpleasantly, "What about the ancestral land of the family? Are we to forsake it?"
Otto rolled his eyes, thinking to himself, this impoverished backwater, it might as well be lost.
Though he thought this in his heart, he dared not utter it out loud: "Of course, we cannot abandon our ancestral land, but couldn’t you appoint a trusted confidant to manage it temporarily? The total revenue from these territories combined pales in comparison to the tax income from any random city under Losa’s domain."
"Hmph, back when Losa was expanding his domain, you were nowhere in sight. Now that he’s seated on the throne, you’re rushing to him eagerly, have you no shame?"
Otto shrugged indifferently, "What’s there to be ashamed of? We are blood brothers, after all, and he would inevitably need loyal ministers. Am I not more trustworthy than unrelated people?"
Werner sneered, "If you’re thinking of using this as an excuse to escape the marriage, I urge you to dismiss that notion. The engagement is sealed, reviewed by the Church, and recognized by the feudal lord. To change course now is impossible."
Otto couldn’t help but raise his voice in a howl, "Father, I know you feel guilty for having driven Losa away in the past and don’t wish to take advantage of his kindness by seeking comfort overseas. But you shouldn’t push me into a pit of fire. What kind of a person is Gottfried’s daughter? She’s practically a mare mating indiscriminately in a stable, a cuckoo laying eggs in others’ nests. Does the Habsburg family’s prestige really need to be associated with a woman like her?"
"Silence, how dare you insult your future wife in such a manner!"
Werner was furious. If Otto muttered such things privately, it might be all right, but if it got out, it could turn the two families into mortal enemies, lifelong foes.
"But Father, can this marriage now bring even the slightest benefit to the family? Countless people mock you for arranging my engagement so early that the brother of the distinguished King of Egypt is now to marry a harlot."
With tears in his eyes, Otto had never entertained the fantasy that as the son of nobility, he could choose his own spouse. Yet the reputation of this bride-to-be was so notoriously wanton and reckless.
Werner was momentarily lost for words.
As Otto had said, the Habsburg family name no longer needed to be bolstered by a marriage alliance with the Duke of Lower Lorraine. This "marrying up" had utterly shifted to a "marrying down."
Initially, for the sake of practical interests and to establish relations with a powerful ally like the Duke of Lower Lorraine, he’d held his nose at the bride’s scandalous reputation. But what was the point of holding his nose now?
Simply to avoid being seen as a "breach of contract," and to preserve the family’s honor?
In the current status of the Habsburg family, marrying such a woman would truly be a disgrace to the family’s honor.
Werner mulled it over for a long time, attempting to persuade himself.
"Fine, if you wish to go overseas, then do as you please."
Otto, who had been crying with his head down, suddenly widened his eyes in disbelief that his "heartless" father would make such a large concession.
Werner sternly warned, "I say this thrice, you must never again attack your fiancée’s chastity. I will ask the Church to annul this engagement on the grounds of a ’within-seven-generations’ kinship."
The cunning Gottfried must have anticipated our hesitations and therefore made the engagement public knowledge.
"So be it, just return the bride price and compensate them with some money."
In this era, the cost of breaking an engagement was steep. If one party refused to relent and the matter reached the feudal lord or diocesan bishop, it could result in restrictions on inheritance rights, even confiscation of part of the territory as punishment.
However, Werner believed that as a favored minister of the Emperor, such grave outcomes would likely be avoided.
Furthermore, if it came to a lawsuit, Werner would not fear it. It would merely lead to a complete fallout, and the fact that Gottfried’s daughter lacked chastity before marriage and led a chaotic life would become public knowledge.
Otto was overjoyed: "Wonderful, Father, let’s pack our things, and when the time comes, we’ll have Losa grant each of us a city as city lords!"
Werner snorted, "You can go by yourself. Someone must remain at Eagle Castle."
Seeing Otto still attempting to persuade him, he impatiently waved his hand, "Get going, before I change my mind!"