Drawing Cards in the Middle Ages to Rise in Ranks-Chapter 650 - 422: Fragile Alliance

Cherinita sat on the railing by the pond in the garden, her blue-gray tail drooping to the ground, covered in dust.

The Female Knight approached slowly and stood beside her, placing one hand on the railing and patting her shoulder with the other, "Nina, are you okay?"

Jeanne's tone was gentle, not at all like her usual self.

Cherinita lowered her head, her voice weak, "Aren't you mad at me?"

"Mad at you for what?"

"You didn't do anything wrong."

Jeanne gently rubbed Cherinita's soft long hair, deliberately brushing past her slightly droopy ears, "I've wanted to touch them like this for a long time. I didn't expect that sly woman Prajna to beat me to it."

"I haven't done anything wrong?"

Nina questioned, quite confused.

Jeanne chuckled softly and nodded, "If we have to say you did something wrong, the only thing is that you underestimated your own life."

"What do you think of the Commander-in-Chief?"

"Very well."

Cherinita was silent for a moment, then added, "Very well, no one has ever treated me this well before."

"So you want to repay the Commander-in-Chief, right? Even at the cost of your own life, you think about clearing the obstacles on his path, right?"

Cherinita silently nodded.

"You're such a silly girl. The Commander-in-Chief treats you well, not to win your heart, he hopes you can live well, happily and blissfully — he actually wanted to talk to you about these things a long time ago, but you seemed to resist a bit."

"I just..."

"You like the Commander-in-Chief, don't you?"

Cherinita's ears were almost burning, but she didn't deny it.

"But Furin also likes the Commander-in-Chief. As Furin's friend, you don't dare to express your feelings, and instead you try to avoid it everywhere."

Jeanne showed a knowing smile, "Liking the Commander-in-Chief is perfectly normal. I like him, Prajna likes him, and even that bookish little girl also likes him. Truth be told, I've often been with him in the garden, in..."

"He's not as serious as he seems."

Listening to Jeanne's description, Cherinita's face turned beet red.

"I just had a private chat with Prajna, uh — based on her having had a relationship with that person, she told me to rest assured that the Commander-in-Chief will wake up soon."

"So you can rest assured too, don't blame yourself anymore, this is just a trivial matter."

Jeanne made a motion indicating something as small as a sesame seed, "Don't dwell on it, if there's anything you really want to say, why not wait until the Commander-in-Chief wakes up, talk to him directly, and make a promise not to take risks again."

...

In a manor that originally belonged to Lord Saman within Semanud City.

The two Kings who came from Europe were watching the banquet below with relaxed expressions, whispering to each other.

The messenger returning to report whispered something beside King Philip, and the King of Gaul, known as the sly fox, said thoughtfully, "It seems our Duke Losa is indeed unwell."

Richard remained silent beside him.

Both he and Philip knew very well that Losa was absolutely an Extraordinary, and not just any, but a very powerful one. How could such a person fall ill?

Recalling the recent massacre of demons in Rashid and the rumors of the Holy Spear and Blazing Angels descending, the course of events became clear.

Philip sighed a little, "I didn't expect the Saracens to find such a powerful Caster in such a short time."

Finding a Caster wasn't difficult, reaching some agreement with them wasn't difficult either, but persuading them to risk their lives, pushing them onto the battlefield to fight against opposing Casters was the real challenge.

"Are you afraid?"

Richard jeered, "Indeed, leading troops into battle isn't your forte either. When the Duke of Lower Egypt decides to relinquish the position of Grand Marshal, let me take on this great general under Saladin."

He, too, had changed his manner of addressing Losa.

Once Losa was no longer competing with him, even Richard couldn't deny Losa being crowned with the Duke's Crown, which was fitting given his accomplishments.

Philip retorted unyieldingly, "Richard, you have the courage of a lion and are a first-class warrior, but as Commander-in-Chief of the army, it requires more than just individual valor in battle. Though the Crusaders are numerous, they are but a loose pile of sand. Who else but the most noble of Kings under heaven can mediate the disputes and unite them as one?"

Although Philip's tone was strong, he knew competing with Richard for the position of Grand Marshal was a tall order.

His reputation was not bad either, but in an era that disliked intrigue, the nicknames of the sly fox and Lionheart together gave him a disadvantage.

Richard snorted coldly, "Recapturing the Alexandria Bishopric is an achievement not inferior to recapturing the Jerusalem Metropolitan District in the eyes of all Christendom. Under the witness of the Heavenly Lord, Philip, dare you swear that you think yourself more likely than me to defeat the Heretics?"

Philip's eyes widened with anger, "Richard, have you forgotten how you came to wear that Golden Crown? Without my support, you might not have even retained the title of Duke of Aquitaine."

As a second son, Richard was originally only meant to inherit the title of Duke of Aquitaine.

When Richard first rebelled against his father and failed, by the order of succession, the throne should have passed to him after the death of his elder brother along the way.

Yet, Henry II, displeased with Richard's rebellion, planned to leave all territories to his youngest son, John, the notorious "Landless King John," who was then ostensibly the King of Ireland.

This led to Richard's second rebellion against his father.

The reason Richard won in this war had much to do with Philip's help from behind the scenes.

Richard snorted coldly, "Philip, the friendship between you and me all but faded when you clandestinely began your dealings with John."

Philip sneered, "Look, anyone who expects cold-blooded and ungrateful Richard, who repeatedly rebelled against his father, to repay anyone's favors, is utterly foolish. But Richard, although you have obtained the crown of that island, don't forget you are still the Lord of Gaul. Traditionally, should not someone of higher status, like me, naturally assume the role of the supreme military commander?"

Richard had more than half of his territory located in Gaul, though he was the King of Albion, people actually recognized him more as the "Normandy-Albion Monarch," with his primary focus on Gaul.

Just like how the British Queen, though crowned Empress of India, definitely had her power base in England.

Therefore, as a major Feudal Lord in Gaul, theoretically, Richard was still considered a Vassal of the King of Gaul, naturally inferior to him.

Richard frowned, the two looked at each other without any sign of retreat in their eyes.

This was the grand endeavor of recapturing the Alexandria Bishopric; whoever led as Grand Marshal would become the most illustrious and greatest Monarch in all of Christendom, such glory before them, how could they concede even a step?