Drawing Cards in the Middle Ages to Rise in Ranks-Chapter 507 - 286: The King’s Admonition

In His Majesty the King’s tent.

The chessboard had transformed from a grid of black and white squares into warriors, shooters, siege engines...

Losa calculated the points and realized that even if he used the last "Sunny Day" card in his hand, he could not turn the tide of the game, so he decisively conceded by discarding the card.

"I lost."

He slumped in his chair, unceremoniously grabbed a wooden cup from the side, and drank the tea inside in one gulp.

From chess to Gwent Card, he lost terribly in both, just like when playing chess or cards with Prajna, utterly crushed. It seems Baldwin IV showed some mercy this time.

"Your Majesty, your wisdom in strategic placement is truly unmatched by me. No wonder the central army under your command remains as steady as a mountain despite changing situations. Next time you invite me, let’s play dice instead."

Unless cheating, dice rely purely on luck. He felt only by playing such games did he have a chance of winning against Baldwin IV.

"One does not need to excel in everything. You are recognized as the best cavalry commander by everyone right now, and even Saladin and his generals can hardly dispute this. That’s enough."

Baldwin IV smiled and shook his head: "If you had a broken body like mine, confined all day in a dark palace, unable to leave the innermost small room, seeing only a few rays of sunlight through the windows, plus piles of books and this chessboard, surely you could also achieve something in this field."

Losa sighed: "You’re good at defeating enemies with wisdom, while I can only fight on the battlefield. It’s clear who is superior. I may be the best cavalry commander, but you are certainly the best King the finest cavalry commander can pledge loyalty to."

Baldwin IV helplessly pulled at the corner of his mouth: "Losa, if you keep speaking like this, I might start believing it."

"It’s as if Jerusalem isn’t being fragmented under my rule..."

Baldwin IV’s voice carried some melancholy: "At sixteen, I led troops to defeat the mighty Saladin, terrifying the nobles and royalty alike. That year, I was full of vigor, believing I was favored by the Heavenly Father, destined to establish an earthly heaven with unparalleled achievements. But later, I fell ill, and the royal physician told me I probably wouldn’t live past twenty." 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

"Back then, everyone in the court and the marketplace believed I had committed unforgivable sins, that I was abandoned by God, destined to fall into the Fire Prison and suffer eternally."

Losa listened intently, becoming serious.

Baldwin looked outside the tent, his voice calm and gentle as if the spirited young king died then, replaced by this person, steady as if never having intense emotions.

"I once asked Bishop William, who said there are two kinds of kings — one is decent, and the other is excellent. Decent means you tried hard but lack the Heavenly Lord’s favor. Excellent means you are born with a special favor from the Heavenly Lord, possessing grace and divine favor that others do not."

Losa asked: "Did he consider you a decent king?"

Baldwin nodded, then shook his head: "He said he once thought I was an excellent king."

Losa fell silent for a moment. The meaning was not about ’talent outweighs effort.’ What Baldwin IV likely meant was: Divine favor is a double-bladed sword, capable of elevating or destroying you in an instant.

But my liege, you must not know that in the future, Jan Hus will usher the grand era of religious reform. When Martin Luther drafts his ninety-five theses, the flames of reform will spread throughout Europe.

Old Henry the Eighth, due to the Pope’s refusal to annul his marriage, decisively established a new Christian branch in the United Kingdom, the Anglican Church, with himself as its supreme leader.

If Baldwin IV lived during that era, perhaps he could have grabbed Bishop William by the collar, demanding he declare that he was cursed by a vile pagan Demon, and anyone opposing him would be the Demon’s minion!

"Your Majesty, I will surely remember what you’ve said."

Losa nodded solemnly.

The Church... or rather, the power of faith, is indeed terrifying. This is the power sustaining countless Crusader Soldiers to die far from home. It is a sharp sword that he must wield, ensuring the blade always points toward the enemy.

Baldwin IV spoke again, full of grave advice:

"As a ruler, there may be many things that don’t please you. You are now a mighty noble with influential power, and your lands are managed methodically by your Steward of the Holy Vault. You rise rapidly, ten steps at a time, and may even have hopes to ascend to the King of Egypt — but you must always remember, hidden arrows often come from behind, or from gaps in the steps beneath."

The King’s gaze was somewhat complex.

Perhaps recalling the assassination attempt against the Crown Prince, possibly from the Anjou Family, Princess Isabella, or Empress Maria; or perhaps recalling the kingdom’s chaos, fragmented under his rule, when he, considered the most sacred King of Jerusalem, lost his sanctity, sitting in that chair, feeling no moment without lurking danger.

The King’s words were subtle, seemingly warning Losa to be wary of being sidelined by his subordinates.

Losa had to admit he did have a tendency to let others handle matters.

Though legal theory is deeply engrained, Kurs almost certainly would not replace him according to this world’s terms. Still, Baldwin IV likely refers to not only Kurs but also the forthcoming old noble alliance, possibly intricately connected, joining him for a new Crusade.

If Losa were just an ordinary person, it might be highly likely that after capturing Cairo or in the subsequent election after conquering Egypt, they would choose another for the King of Egypt, sidelining him.

Losa paused for a moment and firmly said: "Kurs’s loyalty is unequivocal. I never doubt him, just as you need never doubt my loyalty. Whenever and wherever, I will stand by your side without hesitation, just as I know — whenever and wherever, you will stand by my side without hesitation."

Baldwin IV opened his mouth, hesitated to speak.

After a while, he merely chuckled and shook his head: "Don’t speak so definitively. I am, after all, a king. How can I always stand by your side in everything?"

Losa smiled and said: "Your Majesty, being your friend has always been the most fortunate thing for me in this world. I believe if one day you are destined to choose between standing with me or others, you would choose me."

His face was filled with sincerity.

This sincerity even made Baldwin IV feel its weight, somewhat troubled, he held his forehead: "Then I really must consider whether I should be friends with you."

They looked at each other for a moment, then couldn’t help but burst into laughter, drawing the gaze of Sir Belian, who served as the King’s Personal Guard outside the tent.

"Don’t eavesdrop or spy. This is the kingdom’s secret."

Losa chided half-jokingly.

Belian hastily defended: "My lord, I swear to you, I didn’t deliberately listen to half a word of what you said, I just..."

"Then go further away. Not everyone who has drunk Dragon Blood Potion can resist eavesdropping like you."

The King watched Belian run away, somewhat helplessly: "You’re a Marquis, a leader figure of the Crusaders, how can you joke with young people like this?"

"Your Majesty!"

Losa stood up, leaning over the table, seriously signaled between himself and His Majesty the King: "You and I, we are still young people, alright!"

He stretched lazily: "Young people should make young people’s jokes, not like those old fossils who only know how to visit prostitutes every day."