kingdom of nations

Chapter 209 The Promise (Part 1)

Kostas was a young nobleman on the island of Cyprus. When he failed to meet the eldest prince at the appointed time and place, he knew something was wrong.

He had previously advised the eldest prince that if they wanted to stop the marriage, their inside agents could use poison and daggers to end Princess Anna's life. However, to his dismay, the eldest prince was determined to do as he pleased. He even said that those born in the Purple Chamber should die at the hands of those born in the Purple Chamber.

This statement has indeed garnered much approval, completely disregarding the fact that many emperors and members of the royal family died by the swords of generals or the nooses of eunuchs.

But as always, the Cypriots—Kostas was referring to his father and a portion of the Cypriot nobility—were as if bewitched, convinced that the eldest prince, Alexius, was a completely different man from Manuel I.

Indeed, the eldest prince had always been polite, kind, and even generous in his presence. He promised Kostas's father that once he became the Byzantine monarch, he would continue to direct military forces towards Cyprus, and the people of Cyprus would no longer have to suffer under the harassment and attacks of the Saracens.

He also promised to grant Cyprus more freedom in the future, or even make it an autonomous region. This sounded truly touching, but Kostas, who could only observe from the sidelines, found it hard to believe Alexius. His intuition told him that the eldest prince was not as upright and reliable as he pretended to be. Did he really just want to prevent Princess Anna from dying such a humiliating death?

No.

Kostas saw the cruelty and tyranny in those gleaming eyes. Not to mention, he had once overheard Alexius inadvertently describing his sister as a Crusader prostitute after drinking. He had seen people like Alexius who feared the strong and dared not confront them, but instead took their anger out on the weak, because the weak could not withstand their violence.

Alexius insisted on doing it himself, and Kostas believed that he was only doing it to satisfy his own wicked desires. Indeed, because of this evil thought, he brought about a bitter consequence that no one wanted to see.

Looking at the still silent cathedral, Costas tried to persuade his father and the others that it was not too late to stop at this point—but his persuasion not only failed to convince his father, but also earned him a barrage of angry words.

"Don't you know how greedy those despicable Franks are?"

When they arrived from the Franks, they were nothing but beggars and refugees. They plundered every place they saw, whether villages or cities, and even Constantinople was ravaged by them.

They are not even comparable to the Saracens; they are merely a bunch of barbarians devoid of any morality or character. If they were to gain control of Cyprus, we would be nothing more than cattle and horses domesticated by a herd of wild beasts!

Kostas knew why his father was so stubborn. The Byzantines had always looked down on the uncouth Franks, who were the culprits who had destroyed the Western Roman Empire. Even though they called themselves the heirs of Roman civilization, don't be ridiculous. They destroyed temples, burned libraries, and slaughtered learned scholars...

Did they really inherit anything? Don't be ridiculous, they didn't even inherit the recipes.

"Then what about the eldest prince?" Kostas asked. Since he hadn't come out at the agreed time, it meant that he might have been captured by the crusaders.

Kostas's father paused for a moment. "They dare not do anything to the eldest prince. He is, after all, the eldest son of Manuel I. Even though he is no longer a legitimate son, his title is still the noblest Alexius. Moreover, he has many supporters in Constantinople. The Crusaders will certainly take this into consideration. They may demand a ransom or negotiate with us, but it doesn't matter. We have ten thousand men."

Kostas was speechless, not because he didn't want to refute his father, but because he knew that saying more would be futile.

He looked around. Ten thousand people did sound terrifying, but unfortunately, very few of them were actually Cypriots. There might only be a few dozen or a hundred family members. The rest were all mercenaries who came for money, but would not risk their lives for money in a crisis.

Even though the Crusaders numbered less than five hundred, most of them were blessed by God, including knights who had received divine favor, as well as priests or monks who had been ordained.

Moreover, because of the eldest prince's foolishness, they did not lure the Crusaders out of the cathedral. The cathedral was built in the ninth century, and like all churches of that period, in order to resist internal and external invasions and plunder, each church was built like a castle, with thick walls, arrow towers, and crenellations for shooting and throwing...

The towering bell tower standing to one side of the main entrance allows those standing atop it to easily overlook the entire cathedral.

As far as he knew, there was once a castle that was besieged by thousands of soldiers, while only a few dozen guards remained inside. But even with such a huge disparity in numbers, the defending side still emerged victorious.

The cathedral still had enough food and water. As far as he knew, the priests also had horses and armor, and possibly weapons. These crusaders wouldn't need to hold out for long; Cyprus wasn't far from the Principality of Antioch or the County of Tripoli, and their reinforcements would arrive in two or three days. What would they do then?
Although they also believed in God, to the Crusaders, the believers of the orthodox church were heretics more detestable than pagans, and they could turn this place into another Alassane.

“They still haven’t announced it…” Costas’s father stared intently at the windows of the cathedral facing the square. “The fact that the witnesses haven’t come out means that the Crown Prince has indeed succeeded, and they have failed to complete the ceremony.”

The Crusaders have reinforcements, so why shouldn't we? I've sent men to seek the help of the successor governor of the Gibraltar region; he promised us he would support the First Prince. Now is the time to use him, once we've driven these wretched Franks out…”

"King Manuel I is about to send troops..."

Costas's words darkened his father's face. After a moment, he gritted his teeth and said, "It was bound to happen sooner or later, wasn't it?"

No, that's not it. Kostas thought to himself. He couldn't possibly betray them; everyone knew that Manuel I would surely eradicate their families. But he had no interest in the Crown Prince's cause either. He had already seen through him; he was not a wise ruler worthy of the Cypriots' trust, but rather a cunning and deceitful man.

He originally intended to stall for time and let things drag on for as long as possible, since no one knew what might happen next. Perhaps the Crown Prince would die before Manuel I. But now it was too late to say anything.

The mercenaries were in complete disarray, rushing noisily toward the cathedral.

They had no siege equipment, but they did have two ballistae and a catapult. However, these two weapons were too weak. Although they could dent the main entrance of the cathedral, they could not completely destroy it. It remained as sturdy and unbreakable as ever.

Just then, someone brought in a box, claiming it could destroy the door in one go.

“What is this?” Costas asked.

“Greek fire!” the man replied, a smug look on his face. “We spent ten thousand gold coins to get our hands on it.”

Kostas looked puzzled. Greek fire was a weapon of immense destructive power, both at sea and on land, and Manuel I had long ago ordered the strictest secrecy regarding its manufacture and use, especially from the generals within the empire and from enemies outside.

The other party noticed his doubt and quickly added, "It was the eldest prince who managed to get it."

"Have you tried?" Costas asked instinctively, earning a stern glance from his father. He knew he had spoken out of turn and could only silently back away, while the Cypriot merchant showed a contemptuous expression, as if to say, "Look, here's a coward."

Together with the artisans who were supposedly skilled in using Greek fire, he took the contents of the box out and clumsily assembled it, completely oblivious to the uneasy looks in their eyes. After assembling it, he bravely stood beside the device and, following the instructions, ignited the liquid that was spraying from the nozzle. He hoped that the Greek fire would, as in the legends, shoot onto the sturdy city gate and then burn fiercely.

The wooden parts would naturally be quickly reduced to ashes, and the metal fittings would twist and deform under the high temperature. All they would have to do was strike the cathedral with the makeshift battering ram, and it would be wide open. But contrary to his expectations, an explosion occurred as soon as he lit the fire.

As the light first appeared, the merchant sensed a crisis, but it was too late. The flames did not shoot forward, but burst in all directions. The leather bag used to store the deadly liquid exploded instantly, and countless flames fell on him and those around him. They let out extremely shrill screams. Everyone around was caught off guard, and some even ran to the water's edge, trying to extinguish the flames with water.

"Don't use water!" Kostas shouted, tearing off his cloak and lunging at the nearest person. Others followed suit, but the flames were difficult to extinguish. Even when put out, the instantaneous heat caused flesh to fester. Monks rushed to treat them, but several seriously injured people had already died. One of them was the one who had followed the Crown Prince's instructions and exchanged ten thousand gold coins for the box of Greek fire. Kostas also suffered several minor burns, enduring the pain as he looked at his father.

Clearly, this box of Greek fire is not genuine; it was a forgery created by the Crown Prince to boost their confidence or to extract money from them.

He saw regret on his father's face, but they had no other way out. Costas watched in despair as his father moved his lips, as if to give the order to continue the attack on the cathedral. He could only gasp and look toward that dark window.

"Wait, Father, wait!"

Suddenly, the window facing the square lit up, and two Templar Knights dressed in white robes with red crosses emerged, holding torches high. They seemed unconcerned that the people outside were using them as targets. "Are they wearing silver-plated scale armor?" a Cypriot asked in surprise.

Yes, the two Templar Knights seemed to be surrounded by a layer of bright white light. It was not fixed, but flickered like ripples on a lake. They subconsciously looked up at the sky, but there was no moon or stars. Where did this light come from?

Suddenly, Kostas remembered a legend, a colossal lie that Cypriots believed to be fabricated to boast about themselves.

They say that Baldwin IV, the young king of Arathi Basin, possesses a spear bestowed upon him by Saint George, which is invincible on the battlefield; no armor or shield can withstand its power. Meanwhile, his loyal squire and kinsman, Cesare, Earl of Edessa, a Knight of Bethlehem, possesses the most robust armor in the world.

This armor not only protects him personally, but also provides others with a shield against evil and violence.

They even say that when Amalric I was campaigning in Egypt and when the current King Baldwin IV led his troops to attack Nur ad-Din's army, the divine grace that the knight prayed for covered hundreds of knights, allowing them to run freely on the battlefield without being harmed.

This sounds utterly unbelievable, and nobody wants to believe it, not even Kostas.

But now he saw with his own eyes that someone was shooting arrows at the two torch-bearing knights, but the arrows had no effect whatsoever. They were like children's toys made of twigs, falling to the ground before they even touched the armor.

Then more and more Crusader knights, carrying torches or candlesticks, appeared on balconies, crenellations, and windows, their expressions proud and self-assured. The crowd looking up at them stirred a little as they saw a young knight carrying a noblewoman as he emerged.

Cesar carried Anna to the window, from where they could see the army swarming in the square like ants—a mixed bag, but a considerable number.

Anna's previously pounding heart had gradually calmed down. She nestled in a warm embrace, feeling an indescribable sense of comfort. "I feel like a cat," she whispered to her husband. "You know what?"
At the Grand Palace, I envied them greatly. They often slept soundly in the sun, their furry bellies exposed, their bodies relaxed like piled-up silk. I thought then, how wonderful it would be if I could sleep so comfortably. And now I feel that way.

"Then you should go to sleep."

Anna laughed. "No, not now. I'll sleep. I'll fall into a long sleep. In my sleep, I believe I'll no longer have those nightmares of being chased by wild beasts, because you've completely killed them with your love."

"You will go to heaven."

“That depends on whether you’re in heaven,” Anna said, reaching out to gently stroke Cesar’s face. She could feel the lingering warmth on his ears and neck, and her heart was filled with tenderness.

She admitted that she was selfish and that the desire to have a loved one was not a right exclusive to men. As a woman, she also hoped to have a lover when she was about to leave this world, especially since he was so perfect. Even in her fantasies, there had never been such a person. He might not love her or like her, but he would definitely remember her forever in his heart.

“Take me out. Cesar, let the people of Cyprus see me, let the witnesses proclaim that we have completed the final ceremony. You are now the Lord of Cyprus, and if they want to continue to harm you, that is rebellion and treason—it’s all the same.”

Indeed, as Anna said, when Cesar carried her to the window so that everyone could see their faces, the crowd below fell into a deathly silence.

Even the hired soldiers were looking back, hoping to get clear instructions.

If Cesar and Anna did not complete their consummation ceremony, then the marriage was not legally binding. Since it was not legally binding, these crusaders were essentially unwelcome guests in Cyprus—the Cypriots could certainly expel them—they were the true masters of the land.

But if this marriage has already taken place, then the Crusader standing there and Princess Anna, whom he holds in his arms, are the true owners of this island. And now this Crusader has another identity: the son-in-law of Manuel I of the Byzantine Empire, even though he is a follower of the Roman Catholic Church.

Kostas relaxed his shoulders and let out a sigh of relief. "Stop, Father," he said. "We still have room to maneuver."

"The eldest prince..."

"It's no longer a matter of the Byzantine Empire and the Crusaders," Kostas said urgently, gripping his father tightly. "It's a struggle between Manuel I's son and his son-in-law. I don't think I need to remind you what happens to those caught up in this royal conflict."

Apart from those whose authority and army could already threaten the emperor, almost everyone caught in this storm was reduced to ashes.

His words did indeed shake the resolve of his father and others, who hesitated. "But we..."

“Stop talking,” Costas said. “This is, after all, new territory, and a complex one. If we are willing to submit to them, they will need a few helpers to handle their affairs—and if they are really as barbaric and rude as you say, we can certainly make other plans…”

He glanced at her, still gazing at their princess Anna. He couldn't see her expression clearly, but from her posture, he could tell she relied heavily on her husband.

“I’ve heard that… the Knight of Bethlehem isn’t a particularly harsh person. He’s a landless earl, one of the king’s most trusted advisors—and in the Alassane Road, the relationship between the knightly orders, whether the Templars or the Good Samaritans, and the king has always been very tense. Perhaps we can look for an opportunity…”

His words did make some sense, or rather, the fact that the eldest prince never appeared and the newlyweds, whom the witnesses claimed had completed their consummation ceremony, had already proven who the loser of this gamble was.

Anna nestled against César's chest, her breath coming in short gasps, until the crowd surrounding the cathedral began to slowly retreat and disperse.

The Grand Master of the Knights Templar also breathed a sigh of relief. If possible, he would have liked to thoroughly cleanse Cyprus as Walter had suggested. Unfortunately, the Crusaders of today were not the Crusaders of seventy years ago, and besides, they still had to maintain the security of the pilgrimage route. If they were to incite hatred among the Cypriots, it would do the Knights Templar no good.

"Keep on guard!" the Grand Master commanded loudly. Although the Cypriots had left, who knew if wolves were still lurking in the shadows, eyeing this place with predatory intent? He also realized that Princess Anna and the rest of them had been used. Who knew if Manuel I, currently playing the role of the carefree vigilante, might have some hidden agenda…

Until their reinforcements arrive, caution is paramount. In any case, the cathedral has ample supplies. His previous calm stemmed from the fact that the supplies there were enough to sustain them for three months.

Of course, the best outcome would be for the Cypriots to come and repent to their new lord tomorrow or the day after, and hand over the silver keys to the major cities of Cyprus.

However, before that, there was a thorny matter to deal with—the eldest prince, Alexius.

(End of this chapter)