kingdom of nations

Chapter 237 Gift (Part )

"lady."

A gentle call came from behind Portia, who was standing by the window, and then a pair of hands draped a fluffy, warm squirrel fur cloak, almost without any blemishes, over her: "Cyprus is already a bit cold in January, and being exposed to the sea breeze for a long time is not good for your health."

“Thank you,” Portia replied casually. She reached for her cloak, turned around, and when her eyes met those sharp yet calm black eyes, the maid who had draped the cloak over her and offered advice instinctively curtsied and lowered her head to avoid the gaze.

The maid standing nearby quickly stood up to explain, "She was just worried about your health, Madam, and didn't mean to overstep her bounds."

“I know,” Portia said lightly. She knew why the two maids were so nervous. When she first arrived at the Rose Court, she was accompanied by only two maids, but since her marriage to Cesare was settled, Venice had sent several more maids to serve her.

Of course, Portia could tell at a glance what these people were thinking. Just like the predicament she had faced before, an unloved daughter in the family, or a daughter from a collateral branch with thin blood, could be used as a bargaining chip by the family. If she could not become the wife of a prominent figure, then becoming his mistress could also allow the family to establish some connection with him.

Whether these girls were willing or forced, they had little choice—although most of them would have agreed after meeting César—and it wasn't just Venetians, Cypriots, Franks, or even Byzantines who sent her maids.

These girls, ostensibly maids but actually potential lovers, did make her feel a little nervous. Portia was passionate and bold, but some of the girls openly expressed their affection for César, and besides, at this moment, in the men's eyes, they clearly fit the standard of a lover better.

However, she didn't worry for long. Cesar wasn't the kind of person who waited until things got out of control before trying to fix them. He had already told her about the arrangements for the girls.

After this expedition, he will find an opportunity to find them a suitable marriage and marry them off.

If some people say that verbal promises are not trustworthy, what ultimately convinced Portia was Cesar's behavior—when he entered the room, he would ask the maids to leave and be alone with her, and the only people who served him were his servants and male servants.

In addition, she knew that Cesar's work was very demanding. He did not want to leave most of his work to the priests or Isaacs like those knights or lords. Before the Venetians arrived, he had to handle all the government affairs himself, and his desk was always piled high with documents that needed to be reviewed.

Even so, he still had to find time to teach people.

He had previously recruited a group of promising young family members from Venice, but instead of immediately giving them official positions and sending them out to do things, he first gave them lessons—discussing what he wanted them to do and what he didn't want them to do.

Portia couldn't help but smile at the thought; her brothers were among them. Although her brothers had disappointed their grandfather Dandolo, it would raise suspicions that either the Dandolo family was unhappy with the marriage, or that the lord of Cyprus was unhappy with it, if no one from the Dandolo family was involved at this time.

If that's the case, why create unnecessary complications?
The brothers were noticeably more composed than they had been in Venice, perhaps because Dandolo had warned them about their relationship beforehand. They had tried to win over their sister, whom they had previously ignored and scorned, hoping she would speak well of them to her husband. They had to attend classes and take exams; those who failed would not only fail to receive the official position offered by Cesare but might also be sent back to Venice—a truly humiliating prospect.

However, Portia was not biased in this regard. Unlike other men, her husband César almost never hid anything from her, whether it was inside or outside the governor's palace. He explained to Portia in detail the several things he needed to do next.

As a Count of Edessa who had long since lost his original territory and castle, and had spent several years wandering as a slave, what did Cesar lack most now? Of course, it was the basics, the things that David and Abi should have, whether as knights or officials.

It could be said that if it weren't for this marriage, and he were still by Baldwin's side, he might have gradually cultivated his own power with the help of Baldwin's trust and favor. But just like that, suddenly—even exceeding the expectations of Baldwin and Patriarch Heraclius—he gained such an important and vast territory.

This is certainly a good thing, but it means that he has to build a political framework from scratch and quickly establish it. Officials are much rarer than knights; they are not something that can be found everywhere.

They needed to be proficient in reading, writing, and accounting, especially in Cyprus, and also familiar with the various languages, currencies, and units of measurement. Furthermore, they needed to be well-informed, as not only could Cyprus be threatened, but trade and currency exchange would also be affected by the war.

For example, the fall of the County of Edessa meant that the coins minted by the Count of Edessa would immediately become invalid, and merchants would no longer accept these coins. Even if they did, they would treat them as damaged or worthless coins.

However, at this time, the right to mint currency, or rather the right to mint coins, was in the hands of various lords and even high-ranking priests. A count was qualified to mint his own currency, not to mention the numerous large and small countries in the Mediterranean region.

Although he knew that bringing a large number of Venetians into his court might create a worrying situation in the future, it was a necessary measure. However, Cesar was not unprepared; he had already told Portia that in addition to Venetians, some Cypriots and Franks would also be brought in, and even Byzantines were possible.

Portia looked at the maid. The maid was none other than one sent by the Georgius family—one of the earliest Cypriot nobles to pledge allegiance to Cesar. She softly comforted the girl, as Cesar had told her that she could accept the overtures of the Cypriot nobles when the time was right.

She would also accept their requests if they recommended their own fathers and brothers to her.

Recently, some Cypriot maids have indeed been trying to see if they can change the lord's mind through her. These maids and the people behind them do not know that Cesar intends to bring Cypriots into her court. They only think that he is bewitched by Portia, which is why he is so generous in granting those Venetians various privileges.

They didn't even dare to openly mention the introduction to Portia, fearing that Portia, as a noblewoman of Venice, would unhesitatingly side with her people.

But no matter how much they try to endure it, they can't hold out for more than a few days.

Portia walked back to her small hall, where the fireplace was blazing. The noble ladies who had come to visit her were chatting in twos and threes, and as soon as they saw her enter, they immediately stood up and bowed to her.

This feeling was delightful and comforting. After all, if Portia were still a girl from the Dandolo family, she would be the one bowing to these noble ladies, or she might not have had the opportunity to speak with them face to face.

But because of the foolishness of some and the keenness of others, their positions were completely reversed overnight.

These ladies who come to visit her don't come empty-handed.

They brought her all sorts of gifts, from silk and fur to pearls, and even some precious spices and herbs. Portia hesitated before making some ambiguous promises: "...I cannot guarantee...my husband may already have made arrangements..."

"I don't think so."

A noblewoman nodded slightly to her companion and said with a smile, "Who doesn't know that our lord and you are in love, like two flowers blooming side by side, or two birds nestled together? Every time, he rushes back to be with you after hunting or finishing his official duties."

At this point, the lady had some regrets. There were also girls in her family who had become Portia's handmaids, and they saw that the girl was more docile, charming, and beautiful than Portia.

Her gaze lingered briefly on Portia's thick, dark eyebrows, forcibly brushing the thought aside so as not to reveal it on her face. "You'll surely be welcoming a new life soon. At that time, he will definitely love you even more, respect you, and be willing to listen to you."

The words sounded like a blessing or a good omen, but Portia's expression had already cooled.

It's January now, and she married César in September, which means it's only been a little over three months, but people are already starting to weigh her belly, as if she'd been neglecting her duty if she didn't immediately have a child with César.

She knew that some people were deliberately provoking her, and César had comforted her, saying that he wasn't in such a hurry. They were only seventeen years old, and a woman in good health and a cheerful disposition could have children even when she was over forty.

Portia also tried to convince herself, but it was impossible not to rush.

Cesar was not only the lord of Cyprus, but also a minister and knight of the King of Arrassal. He had obligations to his king, and in June they would embark on a difficult expedition.

She already knew—King Baldwin IV of Arrassa was preparing to seize Damascus. During the Second Crusade, King Louis VII of the Franks and Holy Roman Emperor Conrad III had tried to conquer this wealthy and important city, but were forced to retreat in defeat due to the strong defense of the city's inhabitants.

This time… although the men all said it was a rare opportunity—Syria was still in the midst of war. The governor of Damascus seemed to be caught up in a power struggle with those ambitious figures. But on the battlefield, anything could happen, and no one could guarantee they would return unscathed.

If it were just an injury, that would be one thing, but if Cesar were to perish on the battlefield in Damascus, and she were unable to leave him with a child, she simply couldn't imagine how she would face herself then.

César may only feel a sense of responsibility towards her, but she has already fallen in love with him, and not just because of his appearance—there are plenty of handsome young nobles in Venice, but she has never been attracted to them, or rather, their frivolity and arrogance had already destroyed all her longing for love before she could even feel anything for them.

He kept all the promises he made to her before the marriage, and she lived a more relaxed and carefree life than she had in Venice.

He even prepared a room for her filled with all sorts of law and history books—can you imagine?

The other lady noticed Portia's displeasure. She quickly said, "We know our lord is a just man, and all we ask is for him to give us a chance. Our children can also receive his instruction and pass his... examinations, and we have absolutely no complaints about that."

Portia forced himself to calm down and nodded slightly to the lady. “I trust you—I will recommend you to my husband if your husbands, brothers and sons are willing to work for him and follow his will.”

Upon receiving this statement, the ladies clapped their hands with delight and vowed that their husbands, sons, and brothers would unconditionally obey every word the lord spoke.

At that moment, a lady suddenly stood up. Portia didn't recognize her face: "I've also brought you a gift."

"what gift?"

Portia said gently, “Bring it up. Whatever it is, I will like it. It is your kind gesture.”

As the lady stood up and walked toward her, Portia noticed that the other ladies all had somewhat uncertain expressions. "Perhaps it's my fault," she asked, "but I don't recall anyone introducing you to me."

Could it be because this lady's family was involved in the previous rebellion?
If that's the case, Portia should be more cautious.

But the lady did not answer her. Instead, she opened the box containing the gift. When the box was opened, everyone present couldn't help but exclaim, "Oh!" This gift was far more valuable than anything anyone else had brought.

It was a genuine pure gold crown, or rather, a floral crown, because where there should have been a cross, there were blooming roses instead, with petals as red as blood-red gemstones and stamens as golden pearls.

This gift would not be impolite even if presented to the Queen of the Byzantine Empire.

Moreover, everyone in Cyprus knows that because Cesare and Portia were initially assigned to live in the Rose Court and the ceremony was held there, and because they continued to live there, Portia's favorite flower had changed from the daffodil to the rose.

While the roses were still in full bloom, she would have her maids weave a crown of roses for her to wear on her head. When the roses withered, she would have her maids embroider roses all over her robes. One can even find traces of roses on the cloaks and breasts of Cypriot lords, perhaps in the corners of embroidery or on brooches pinned to their breasts.

This was practically their token of love.

The gift she gave was both thoughtful and expensive, and even Portia instinctively straightened her back. "It's a valuable gift," she said. "What do you want?"

The lady curtsied to her. “My husband is a businessman, madam. He wants to act as your husband’s agent in the rock sugar business.”

(End of this chapter)