kingdom of nations

Chapter 151 Blackmail
Kamal's hasty visit was within Cesar's expectations, given that Apole was in danger of falling into irreparable chaos at any moment.

But to his surprise, Kamal hesitated for only a moment before taking a step forward and firmly placing his knees on the ground, followed by his forehead and hands. He knelt before Cesar as if he were a sultan. When Cesar instinctively took a step back, Kamal reached out and grabbed the corner of the young knight's robe, placing it to his lips.

For a moment, everyone present thought he had gone mad—he had mistaken a Christian knight for the Sultan or his successor.

“You must think I’ve gone mad.” Kamal could guess what they were thinking. He raised his head, his face ashen and his lips purple, but his words remained firm and clear: “My lord,” he said hoarsely, “I have bad news for you.”

"Your father, Josephine III, and your mother, the venerable Armenian princess, are both dead."

Although they had already guessed that Josephine III and his wife were likely doomed, César and those around him still felt a chill in their hearts when they heard the news.

"How did they die?"

“They died of poisoning,” Kamal said quickly. “They were originally handed over to Sultan Nur ad-Din to his second son and his mother, and were imprisoned and cared for in a fortress about a day’s journey from Apol. Although they did not receive the same treatment as the Sultan’s son, they were still well-fed and clothed. Joseph III had no illness except for occasional coughs, while his wife was weak and unable to move due to depression.”

But just before we entered Apollo, someone took them away from the fortress. By the time we found them, they had been dead for several days.

“Several days,” Geoffroy couldn’t help but exclaim, “that means you’re only now deciding to tell us this!”

“Because I was also under close surveillance before today,” Kamal argued. “And this happened before we returned to Apol—if I could, I certainly would have sacrificed my honor and my life, or anyone who understood the stakes would have done everything in their power to stop it—although we didn’t sign our names on the parchment, the Saracens valued verbal agreements as much as they do—especially since this agreement was made on behalf of the Sultan’s three sons.”

"Then do you know who killed them? Was it your enemy, or our enemy?" Geoffroy stepped forward and asked aggressively.

"I don't know. All I know is that the person who did this is both your enemy and our enemy."

“I don’t think so,” Geoffroy replied coldly. “Perhaps you should know what kind of gift we received today.”

"I already know."

As one of Sultan Nur ad-Din's most trusted ministers, and only a step away from becoming Grand Vizier, Kamal naturally had countless spies in the court. He certainly knew the foolish things the second prince had done.

This idiot, all show and no substance, didn't even know that the vast majority of these young knights had taken vows of chastity; they could not marry or approach women, especially since these women were all heretics.

He bribed the emirs and the Fatahs in the same way he bribed them, without any distinction, which was practically an open display of contempt and perfunctory attitude towards them. It is entirely understandable that the Christian knights regarded this as a provocation or an insult.

“I…” Cesar remained silent for a long time before asking, “Then where are my father and his wife now?”

"Now that I'm here—I must apologize to you…Sir, my abilities are limited…"

“No,” Cesar said, “you were just waiting for the Sultan to be buried, waiting for the situation in Apollo to change, but now it seems that this change is not what you wanted.” He said this incisively, which made Kamal’s face turn red with shame.

A dazzling light shone in those emerald eyes; it could be a sudden downpour of grief, or a storm of rage.

Camar could understand that César and his sister had been separated from Joseph III when they were still infants. In the following decades, they were betrayed, captured, and forced to wander for an unknown period of time.

Cesar was the son of a nobleman, but he almost became a eunuch in the harem of the Sultan or the Caliph. Even though he was fortunate enough to be saved and forgiven by Amalric I before he was castrated, he was still attacked and despised in the following years because of his unclear identity.

Perhaps it was because he had suffered so much torment that Lady Luck finally took pity on him, allowing his sister Natia to leave Apol and the Sultan's harem by chance, and be sent to Arrasar as a gift.

The girl remarkably remembered everything her foster parents had entrusted to her. With a secret stash of 200,000 gold coins, a document written by the Archbishop of Edessa, and the signatures of a dozen distinguished witnesses, she proved her and her brother's identities. She was the daughter of Josephine III, and Cesar was the sole heir to the County of Edessa. His bloodline was noble and devout, and he was closely connected with King Arrassal. In short, he had risen from a lowly slave to a true nobleman.

What were his feelings along the way? No son would not yearn for his father and long to see him again, especially since Joseph III had done everything he could. He had entered Apollo at the age of five. If he were a coward, he might have been content to live such a life full of humiliation and unease... but he never disgraced his bloodline.

Did he not know that sending his two children out of Apol would incur the wrath and suspicion of Sultan Nur ad-Din? He couldn't guarantee whether Nur ad-Din would continue to keep him alive as a hostage or decide to send him to meet his maker. For this favor alone, the young man before him would certainly not be indifferent to the death of his father whom he had never met.

Fortunately, the second prince and his mother did something to make amends – they asked Christian priests to perform the Last Sacraments for them and to collect their remains. The Saracens and Christians shared the same view on cremation – one saw it as “hellfire” and the other as “a hell on fire.”

Burning them alive was seen as a punishment or a curse, but they couldn't simply abandon the unfortunate couple... So they resorted to the previously mentioned method—if the journey was too long to return the bodies to their burial place, they would try to keep only the bones. However, the mother and son were more likely planning to use them as a bargaining chip if negotiations broke down. But having failed to protect the living Joseph III, they couldn't protect the dead either. Kamal used several eunuchs and maids he had bribed to switch their remains.

He admitted that this was a despicable act, but he had no other choice—he simply ordered the servants following behind him to place a cedar chest with brass corners in front of Cesare.

The remains were contained in two large reliquary boxes, which were probably made to store sacred objects such as arms. They were gilded, with a shell carving of cherubim guarding the Ark of the Covenant on the top, and surrounded by exquisite pure silver decorations. There was not much to criticize about using them to hold the remains of two noble people.

Cesar lowered his head and stared at the two reliquary boxes. His fingers gently brushed across the smooth surface, and he could almost feel a slight heat, but that must have been an illusion.

Camar entered the room with great eagerness, but remained silent while Cesar was lost in thought and mourning. He could, of course, keep this powerful weapon to himself and threaten these Christians into doing things for him, but wouldn't that prove that the Saracens were more despicable than the Christians?
Even the young and impetuous King Arrasal did not demand ransom for Sultan Nur ad-Din's body. Did he really want to rely on a child's love for his parents to achieve his own wishes?
He couldn't do it.

“What do you want?” Cesar asked.

"The eldest prince has made his move," Kamal said. Unfortunately, the second prince was no pushover either; he immediately began to fight his brother. Their supporters launched a frenzied search and slaughter. Perhaps before dawn breaks again, a victor will be decided in Apollo Castle.

Not to mention, they also have a younger brother, who, although still a child, is fostered by the most prestigious and powerful woman in the harem—the First Lady.

"I hope you can save some people."

If it were just Kamal alone, his chances of escaping would be quite high. But the problem is, there is a group of ministers here. These ministers may not all be scholars, but they are all certainly admirable in character and knowledge. In the past, these people have been the pillars and steeds valued by Sultan Nur ad-Din.

When Nur ad-Din was alive, they were respected, and even princes had to give way to them. But in this chaos, they were likely to become the first victims—they had previously refused the princes' offers of service, just like Kamal, which left them without anyone's protection during the riots—any soldier could cut off their heads.

"You want us to take them with us?"

"This isn't entirely without benefit for you," Kamal quickly explained. "Among them are scholars, and others who, though not scholars, are still respected and loved. If you encounter other emirs or Fatah soldiers along the way, they might let you go for this reason."

I will tell them that I have hired you.

“It might also attract more pursuers.” Geoffroy interrupted him mercilessly. “The eldest prince’s men have ill intentions towards you. The second prince’s men also seem unwilling to let you go. The moment you refused their invitation, you became their enemy. No, worse than an enemy, you are traitors.”

No matter what talents and knowledge those people possess, if they cannot be used for their own purposes, they will only be bad things that will bring trouble in the future.

"Whether they win or not, there will be people chasing you until they kill you."

When Froe's gaze fell on the reliquary, he said, "You have brought bad news, and it was caused by you Saracens. You will not be hated by us, but you will not be grateful to us either. You broke the previous agreement first, and I don't see any benefit in the suggestions you are making now."
What you're saying is just a possibility; if we leave immediately, it's unlikely anyone will notice the whereabouts of a group of Christian knights.

But what if there's another group of people already on the death list...?

Goffroy glanced outside and they could already hear the faint sounds of fighting and see the flickering, uncertain firelight. A thought suddenly arose in his mind, and he abruptly turned to Camar: "You've already done it! Haven't you!"

Kamal has brought here those ministers who are unwilling to submit to the Sultan's son, and he may even have arranged for them to bring here the rebellious Saracens if the Christians refuse his request. The Christians here may be killed or taken prisoner.

If the new Sultan is established in a peaceful environment, he may still keep the oath made on his behalf by Kamal, treating them as benefactors and guests, and allowing them to return safely to Arrasa Road.

But now the eldest and second princes have clearly broken off relations completely, and everyone knows that the new Sultan will inevitably harm his own blood relatives, possibly more than one. Given this, how can one expect him to show the expected mercy and tolerance towards a group of infidels and enemies?
The room was silent except for the heavy, drawn-out breathing of the people. Cesar picked up the reliquary and looked at the indignant knights: "Let's move out."

To Jean-François's surprise, and to the knights' dismay, César ordered them to go to the female slaves' quarters to make some necessary preparations.

Although the female slaves sent by the second prince were all arranged by the eunuchs to be in other places, they were not far from where the knights were. They were separated from the courtyard by only a low wall. There were female slaves dancing and singing there before.

They were quite pleased when the knights swarmed in—Christian knights were a good alternative to serving a frail old sultan or a capricious new sultan—but they showed no interest in them, arriving and departing in a flash.

They only took the gold they were wearing.

(End of this chapter)