kingdom of nations

Chapter 251 The Second Visit to the Eagle's Nest (Two chapters combined)

This was the first time William Marshall had ever seen Princess Isabella of Alassa.

Isabella was born before Amalric I's expedition to Egypt, and is now just over four years old, but she has already developed distinct personality traits—in this respect, she is very much like her brother Baldwin, with clear likes and dislikes and decisiveness that can be somewhat cruel.

Because her father, Amalric I, died shortly after her birth, her brother Baldwin had no immediate plans to marry, and Princess Hibil was banished to Nal'azar for offending her brother.

Therefore, the only and only mistress of the castle became Queen Mary. She was no longer just a wife or stepmother, but also bore the heavy responsibility of being the supporter of the king and the Crusaders. She not only had to keep the castle in order and orderly, but also take care of guests, look after children, and, with the assistance of the castle steward, meet with merchants, negotiate deals, and hire priests and servants.

As the Queen Mother of Arazarus, she also frequently summoned the wives of ministers and generals to use casual conversation and observation to judge whether their husbands and brothers had any ulterior motives, and to appease or deceive them.

As for the ladies-in-waiting sent to her and Isabella, she had to ensure that these young girls had a good home (at this age, girls are easily tempted by musicians or knights) while also making sure that the marriage would not infringe upon King Arazarus's interests and authority.

Her free time thus became as scarce as gold in the sand, and the time she could spend with her daughter was even less, especially after Isabella was finally freed from the cradle and could run around happily on her two little feet.

At this point, the importance of wet nurses and maids becomes apparent. The problem is that, no matter how well they take care of people who are not related by blood, there will always be some oversights. Some of these oversights are occasional and unintentional, while others are intentional, driven by jealousy and hatred.

They probably didn't expect that Princess Isabella wouldn't cry and throw a tantrum like ordinary children when she felt unwell—this would actually give them time to clean up the mess they made due to their negligence.

She not only remembered all the mistakes they had made, but she could also identify each person and call them by name. When she was alone with the Queen Mother Maria or the King, she would clearly lay out their crimes.

While these accusations might be significant to a child, they seem trivial to an adult. Like a wet nurse accidentally dropping him/her, a maid secretly eating her cake, or someone promising to do something but only going through the motions.

“Yes, I’m listening.” The little princess angrily accused, “I jumped off the bed as soon as she left and leaned against the door to listen. There were no footsteps in the hallway at all. She didn’t go to get me the milk as I asked. She just stood outside the door for a while, then opened the door and came in to tell me that there was no milk in the kitchen. She’s being lazy.”

The childish complaints made people laugh, but they had no way to deal with the maid—they couldn't just whip or banish her for being lazy occasionally. They could only move her away from the little princess, but the little princess was already satisfied.

When Baldwin asked the question jokingly, the little princess said, "She didn't do anything wicked, she was just being lazy. We can easily send a lazy servant away, but there's no need to beat her or kill her for it."

Baldwin laughed out loud.

When he brought up this matter, William Marshall felt that Princess Isabella was much better than Princess Hibil. He had only been in Arathal for a short time, but this princess had mentioned more than once that her unborn child would become the new king of Arathal, even though Baldwin had come of age and was now in power, simply because he had not yet brought up marriage.

The young king's silence at this moment became the best explanation.

It's a pity that this little princess was born too late; otherwise, her child might have been more suited to this sacred city.

When William Marshall first met Princess Hibil, he was puzzled by the unfortunate Earl Étienne's choice. He couldn't understand why someone as not very devout as himself would yearn to fight for God, especially since the marriage came with the crown of a regent.

Princess Hibil was a woman in the prime of her youth, exceptionally beautiful, and of noble birth. Count Étienne not only refused, but he also displayed unusual trepidation—he practically fled Sainte-Croix Castle.

But after meeting the princess once or twice and hearing some of the rumors about her—rumors that could be verified—William Marshall realized that if he were in her shoes, he would have done the same, and perhaps even run faster.

At this time, men rarely paid attention to women; their respect was more of a way to demonstrate their bravery, tolerance, and piety. Even so, William Marshall could see at a glance that Princess Hibil was not nearly as humble and submissive as she appeared. If that were all, it wouldn't have been so bad; with the four Christian kingdoms of Edessa (though no longer existing), Tripoli, Antioch, and Arrassa on the front lines against the infidels, a strong-willed wife wasn't necessarily a bad thing.

The key issue is that she lacks long-term vision and sufficient rationality, and her will is not firm enough, yet she has an extraordinary desire for power.

If this woman were just a princess among the many small countries of Europe, it wouldn't matter much; whether in a monastery or a small territory, she would hardly cause any trouble. But the problem is that she is the princess of Alassa Road—Count Étienne made a decisive move by marrying this princess. It can't even be said that he received a reward; it can only be said that he paid a price.

"William?"

Cesar's call pulled William Marshall from his reverie.

He accepted the cup from César; the weather was fine, with a warm breeze and bright sunshine. Queen Mary then had the steward erect a canopy in the courtyard, where Princess Isabella, Baldwin, César, and the distinguished guest William Marshall, who had traveled from afar, became her invited guests.

They enjoyed their lunch together, surrounded by grass, trees, and birds. In the time of Amalric I, Holy Cross Castle served two meals a day, but since Princess Maria married into the family, she brought with her the three-meal system that was already very popular in the Byzantine Empire.

Her power was certainly much greater than César's, and what used to be a snack became a formal meal. However, because the old habits were still deeply ingrained, the most formal banquets were still held in the evening.

For William Marshall, while a lavish and extravagant banquet might make him feel valued, nothing was as comfortable and relaxing as this leisurely atmosphere, like that of a Roman, where he could casually enjoy the delicacies from a silver platter while leaning back on soft, thick cushions and pillows.

Although it was just a casual lunch, Maria prepared a very lavish meal, because there were young people who had grown from children, and William Marshall, in his prime, who never seemed to get enough to eat. The dishes she arranged, though simple, were very generous in portion: succulent stewed chicken, roasted piglet, roast beef, braised pork, and saffron stewed lamb, all served in large platters. The white bread—which had been carefully selected to be off-white or pale yellow—was not served as a main course, but as dessert.

William Marshall soaked them in honey until the honey completely filled the holes before taking them out. After chewing and swallowing them, he enjoyed a delicious meal of nuts and olives preserved with rock sugar.

He had seen rock candy in the English court, and it had become a new fashion to take out a piece of rock candy from his small leather pouch and chew it from time to time. Rock candy was also the first choice when noble ladies thanked their knights, and the knights would even compete with each other to see how much rock candy they had received from the noble ladies—these precious foods might have been taken from their husbands' sugar jars.

Today, the tall, wide-rimmed tray has become an indispensable vessel at every banquet. Its main function is to hold rock sugar, which, like crystal, glitters under the light of torches and candles.

Furthermore, adding rock sugar to alcohol has become a common practice. However, what he was drinking here was not ordinary alcohol, but coffee and tea.

William Marshall had heard of coffee, but tea was a completely foreign concept to him.

“You can try both,” Baldwin recommended, watching as William Marshall first tried the unsweetened tea and coffee, then frowned at the bitter taste, grabbed a handful of rock sugar and put it in, and tried it again a few minutes later, only then did his frown disappear and he drank some coffee.

For him, since rock sugar was added, it shouldn't be wasted. However, it was clear that he preferred tea over coffee. He even made a comparison: "The coffee was stronger and cleaner than I've tasted before, but I could still taste the smell of it being burned by charcoal. Was the cook not careful enough and burned it?"

He then raised the cup of tea, "This one doesn't have that, and I don't know if it's just my imagination, but I feel that this one tastes more comforting."

It's quite remarkable that a knight, rather than a poet, could describe something new in this way. And the reason William Marshall said coffee had a different flavor was because Cesar taught Baldwin how to make coffee.

Coffee was popular among Saracens and Christians in the Mediterranean region, but they had not yet realized that the most effective part of coffee was the kernel. Initially, they chewed and ate the fruit like berries. Then, in the tenth century, the Saracens began to crush, boil, grind, and drink it. It tasted like muddy slurry, and its effects were nowhere near those of real coffee beans—kernels.

It was quite simple to do this. Cesar gave the preparation method to Baldwin, who then sent people to try it out. They removed the skin and pulp by boiling or sun-drying, leaving only the coffee kernels. They then slowly roasted them until they released their aroma. After that, they collected the seeds, ground them in a millstone, and used these unique powders to steep and brew a beverage that was purer and more durable than ever before.

Coffee can invigorate the mind and relieve fatigue, but when it comes to alleviating the discomfort caused by heavy oils, it is no match for tea. William Marshall, who was born into a distinguished family, could certainly tell which was the better product with just one taste.

However, it is clear that, given the current situation, tea may have to wait many more years, while the reprocessing of coffee can be implemented.

Baldwin and Cesar exchanged a smile. Baldwin's rejection of the tax farming system did not encounter much opposition in the court because the main sources of tax revenue for Arrassal and even Tripoli and Antioch came from the triple taxation of pagans, the offerings and donations of believers, the commercial taxes of merchants, the poll tax of the city's residents, and some temporary miscellaneous taxes. There was no need for the Isaacs to travel through the countryside, acting as a figurehead to collect taxes for the king.

The Crusaders had never really trusted these Saracen dogs—they had even mercilessly slaughtered all the Isaacs during their first invasion of Arazari, and their attitude towards them remained cold. But after refusing the Isaacs' offer of a large donation, some were bound to voice their discontent, since the deficit created by the expedition couldn't be filled overnight, not to mention that some always wanted more.

Meanwhile, coffee was already being planted and harvested. With a change in processing methods, it could be pushed out faster and generate more revenue. At least people wouldn't be fixated on the issue of Isaac anymore.

Just as Cesar refused the Isaacs in Cyprus and returned their gifts, many people found it incomprehensible. To them, the Isaacs were like stray dogs on the roadside. When a stray dog ​​wags its tail, rolls around, and exposes its belly, you can touch its head or kick its belly as you please.

Why bother reasoning with these heretics who will never be incorporated into Christian society?

But William Marshall could sense that, after these events became known, the knights around him treated Cesar and the King of Arrassalu with even greater caution. They were all saying that he was not someone who could be swayed by a golden crown.

He believed that the merchants' inherent, unique sense of smell was even more acute than that of the knights. To put it bluntly, this was also a way to increase one's own value. If a king showed that he was not easily swayed by petty gains, he would be more cautious if someone asked him for privileges, pardons, or aid.

You can't deny that when a king is judged to be "cheap," this sentiment will quickly spread to all levels of society. In the long run, the changes that occurred in this young king, or rather, the influence he received from his closest friends, were positive.

William's thinking was not without reason. Despite Henry II's earnest attempts to persuade him to stay, he resolutely left London and traveled a great distance for another reason: England was beginning to descend into chaos.

Eleanor of Aquitaine gave Henry II five sons and two daughters. Her pregnancy became a weapon for Henry II to ridicule his old rival, Louis VII. Not to mention, the loss of Aquitaine was like a thorn in the heart of Louis VII and the Frankish kings who followed him.

But Henry II's youthful pride turned into fear in his old age.

He and Eleanor may have had a sweet and tender time together. But Eleanor was not a flawless woman. As the Duchess of Aquitaine, she never harbored fantasies about any man, nor did she ever abide by any social or religious constraints imposed upon her.

Her ruthlessness and decisiveness in abandoning Louis VII and marrying Henry II is commendable.

But as their sons grew up, and Henry II grew tired of Eleanor's rigidity, madness, and lust for power, a war broke out between the couple.

The war between the king and queen was never a trivial matter like slapping each other.

Unlike queens who had no land or army, Eleanor was able to command her three grown sons against Henry II.

Although after several years of fighting, it was discovered that neither side could gain the upper hand—Henry II had already made peace with his sons.

Now, his second son, Henry the Younger—whose eldest son died at the age of three and is now considered the eldest—has become His Highness the Crown Prince of England, while Aquitaine has been handed over to Richard by Eleanor.

What kind of person was Richard? Although William swore an oath to Henry II, he should have been closer to the young Henry. Unfortunately, in his knightly career, he was most grateful to his mistress Eleanor, and Eleanor's favorite son was Richard. Richard was both his teacher and friend, and William also liked the boy's frank and good-natured nature.

Moreover, if we look at Richard not as a prince but as a knight, he is almost without flaws. Just as William was almost undefeated in tournaments, Richard was also a general who was often blessed by the goddess of victory on the battlefield. Young Henry, Jeffrey, and John, one older brother and two younger brothers, were almost overshadowed by Richard's brilliance, which caused the relationships between everyone in the family to become tense and repressive.

More than Henry II's frequent use of William to intimidate and provoke his second son Richard, what William Marshall found most unbearable was Richard's repeated concessions on his behalf, which deeply saddened him. He had to admit that his request to participate in this expedition was primarily an attempt to escape from that stagnant, swamp-like predicament.

Henry II wanted him to stay, but William managed to persuade him.

Henry II's relationship with the Church was not harmonious. He wanted to divorce Eleanor and applied to the Church for a divorce, but was refused by Alexander III. This was not only because his attitude was too tough—even the Pope's envoy was reprimanded for it—but also because Henry II had once sent four knights to kill the Archbishop of Canterbury, who firmly stood on the side of the Church rather than the King.

This happened in the first year that César arrived at Sainte-Croix. Alexander III was so angry that he wanted to expel him from the church. Henry II had no choice but to confess naked to the pope and promise to participate in the subsequent expedition in order to atone for his sins to God.

But he has stayed in Frankfurt and England for the past few years and hasn't moved.

Although this expedition was not initiated by the Church, it was still aimed at fighting the Saracens and reclaiming the land God had given them. Even though Damascus was not as sacred as Arazars, its wealth, beauty, and antiquity would surely satisfy the Church. Only after William said this did Henry II reluctantly give up.

The most noteworthy thing about this trip was that Richard actually remembered to bring a gift for young Isabella as well.

God knows, he hadn't cared much about his two older sisters before—he didn't like them.

The gift was a toy bow and arrow that could be shot—William guessed it might have been a gift given to young Richard before, and he even took it to ask Queen Eleanor, lest he inadvertently give away something meaningful.

Fortunately, Queen Eleanor told him that it was just a gift from a merchant to Richard, and that it was just a drop in the ocean among many gifts, and that Richard had never shown it so that it would be remembered by people.

Even so, William still had Baldwin deliver the gift, mainly because Richard and Isabella's identities were too sensitive.

Don't even mention the seventeen-year age difference between Richard and Isabella. In terms of social status, they are a perfect match. Moreover, given Richard's piety towards God and his love of battle, it's hard to say whether the people of Arazarus might have fantasized about asking him to be Princess Isabella's husband.

Regardless of other factors, William Marshall's biggest worry was that Richard might actually abandon Aquitaine and England and rush over.

“Cesare, Cesar…” Don’t doubt it, this isn’t Princess Isabella calling someone else; she’s calling Cesar. Although she’s a bright child and can already speak quite fluently, Cesar’s name is indeed a bit difficult to pronounce. It’s really hard for a child who hasn’t yet mastered using her tongue to pronounce these few syllables clearly and coherently.

So when she called César, it sounded like she was calling some kind of small animal. Whenever this happened, the Queen Mother and the King couldn't help but laugh, and the servants and maids behind them were all smiling. César could only helplessly take the toy that the little princess had tapped on his knee. It was the toy bow and arrow that Richard had asked William to bring to the little princess.

This bow is almost a miniature version of the Welsh longbow (used on a large scale for the first time in the Battle of Cardigan in 1136 to defeat the Norman heavy cavalry). The bow and bowstring are made of the same materials as the longbow, and the arrowhead is blunted, but it still hurts when it hits a person.

Cesar tried to pull it apart, but found it took some effort; the four-year-old princess certainly couldn't do it. He looked at Isabella, who was pushing him.

Clearly, although the little princess had never drawn a bow and arrow herself, she must have seen others do it. She kept pushing Cesar and pointing to the little birds standing not far away, drinking water and pecking at food.

Cesar glanced at the birds and shook his head, saying, "No," before Princess Isabella could show any displeasure.

“Isabella,” he said patiently, not dismissing her just because she was a child, “we’re not hungry now. Are you? If you are, I can shoot them down, but you have to promise to eat them all.”

William waited for the little princess to start crying and screaming, just like the children of high-ranking officials he had seen in the palace. Unexpectedly, Isabella stood there and actually began to think. She reached out and touched her belly, then looked up at the little birds.

She knew that birds weren't tasty unless they were intentionally raised for food; they had little meat, many broken bones, and lacked fat, making them incomparable to pheasants, geese, and swans. She looked up and secretly observed César's expression. He was someone she had always liked, but she also knew that he had always been strict with her.

Don't assume that children are stupid just because they are inexperienced. On the contrary, as young children, they are very sensitive to external feedback. If a method works, they will continue to use it, even to an extreme; if a method doesn't work, they will immediately abandon it. Moreover, they know to use different methods when dealing with different people.

César was the kind of person who wouldn't back down no matter how much she cried, screamed, pounded her little fists on the table and floor, tore her clothes, or rolled around on the ground. If he were just an ordinary servant, Isabella would have even asked her mother to kick him out, but she loved César very much, and she knew that his brother and his mother loved him just as much.

Finally, she gave up on asking Cesar to hunt the birds and watched as Cesar summoned a servant, who quickly brought several wooden blocks. William looked with interest at these wooden blocks, which had been deliberately painted in various colors and had some dents and mottled spots, indicating that they had been used frequently and were probably taken from the little princess's pile of toys. Once everything was brought, they were arranged about twenty paces apart.

César dismissed the people around him with his servants, and only then, under the eager gaze of the little princess, did he draw his bow and arrow, swiftly shooting down a piece of wood. The little princess immediately cried out with joy. She even clapped her hands and jumped around, watching expectantly as César nocked another arrow.

William watched the scene with a smile, but soon his expression turned strange.

Queen Mother Maria and the King could be considered stepmother and stepson, Isabella was the King's half-sister, and César was their cousin and subject. But where did the peaceful, harmonious, intimate, and relaxing atmosphere between them come from?

He saw a loving and harmonious family, and this strange atmosphere even made William feel a little uncomfortable—mainly because he felt out of place, as if he were an outsider who shouldn't be there.

Just as he was about to take his leave, a servant hurried over and whispered something to the king. Upon hearing this, Baldwin's expression changed immediately, and he glanced at the Queen Mother.

The Empress Dowager nodded knowingly—if it were just a trivial matter, no one would disturb their rare moment of leisure.

Baldwin stood up and called out, "Cesar!"

Princess Isabella's face immediately fell. She knew that when her brother called Cesare by his name in that tone, it meant they had to get down to business and couldn't play with her anymore.

Sure enough, Cesar immediately returned the bow and arrows to the princess's maid—he wouldn't allow the princess to handle these dangerous things without supervision.

He followed Baldwin hurriedly back to the main tower, and a moment later, a man was led into the king's reception room. "He" was tall, with a hood covering half his face, and his hair, which peeked out from the shadows, was unusually light-colored.

But "he" is not an old man, as the exposed skin suggests.

"It's you?" Cesar said in surprise.

(End of this chapter)