Medieval Gacha Lord-Chapter 66: Taking Office

Chapter 66: Taking Office

Watching Lothar depart, as-Salih, this wandering prince with a strong claim to Syria and Aleppo, remarked with some emotion, "Abdullah, you were right. He truly is a special person—he even just saluted me with our etiquette. This is entirely different from those barbarous, rude, and ill-mannered Frankish nobles I’ve encountered before."

Abdullah deeply agreed. "When I first met him, he was just a knight. Now he has been promoted to Baron and has gained King Baldwin’s high regard. In my opinion, it won’t be long before he becomes a major figure in the Holy City."

"It seems befriending him is very necessary." Just then, an attendant entered the room with quick, small steps and whispered something in as-Salih’s ear for a moment.

"What?" As-Salih’s expression changed slightly, a complex look on his face. "I understand. Abdullah, I just received news. King Baldwin has appointed him Grand Master of the Royal Knights. He ’is’ already a major figure in this city."

A look of astonishment crossed Abdullah’s face. "This is truly unbelievable."

"It seems King Baldwin regards Lothar even more highly than we imagined." As-Salih mused, "Abdullah, we should be more generous to our friends. Besides sending him ten warhorses, let’s add five maidservants."

"Maidservants?" Abdullah hesitated.

As-Salih immediately saw his concern and said seriously, "Real maidservants, not those specially trained ones who can kill their master in bed at any moment."

Only then did Abdullah accept the order with pleasure.

As-Salih couldn’t help but smile. "Abdullah, you are a good judge of friends, and so is Lothar."

***

Leaving the inn, Fringilla grumbled under her breath with some dissatisfaction, "Why didn’t you want the maidservants? I heard the ones trained by these Zoroastrian nobles are very skilled at serving people. Even if you don’t use them yourself, you could give them to me. Back in the Blood Court, I needed at least three maidservants to attend my bath and dressing, three to do my hair and makeup, and three to look after my daily life..."

Lothar said with a dark expression, "Don’t be ridiculous. Your palace in the Blood Court was as cold and gloomy as a large coffin. What living person would serve you there?"

Fringilla covered her small mouth, embarrassed at having her bluff called. "You even know that?"

"I know you better than you imagine." Lothar sighed. "But rest assured, whether it’s maidservants or a luxurious palace, you will definitely have them in the future. For now, though, we save where we can."

"You’re just making grand promises again!"

"I’m serious this time," Lothar said with some helplessness.

For a noble, maidservants were indeed a necessity. Even if he didn’t use them himself, in the social interactions between nobles, receiving and sending guests, there would always be a use for them. Surely he couldn’t host a banquet and have clumsy sergeants serve the guests?

It just wasn’t the time for enjoyment yet, and he had no intention of spending his limited funds on hiring maidservants. Everything for the foreseeable future had to make way for military expansion.

The ten warhorses promised by as-Salih would be sent to Constance Manor later. Lothar didn’t plan to send them back to Jorgklusburg but intended to keep them directly as spare mounts for the Winged Hussars. Jorgklusburg had enough military horses for training; some were seized from the desert bandits, and others were bought from the horse market in the Oultrejordain fief.

His request to as-Salih for Abdullah, though mostly to test the relationship between the two, was actually because he truly coveted Abdullah and his Kurdish cavalry. That was an exceptionally elite cavalry unit, skilled with both bow and horse, no less capable than the Ayyubid Kingdom’s elite Mamluks.

In an equal numbers engagement, even his Winged Hussars, if they could win, would only achieve a costly victory. But unfortunately, those two were currently in what might be called the honeymoon period of their lord-vassal relationship; it was difficult for a "third wheel" like himself to interfere.

***

Constance Manor. Having been away for only two weeks, the manor was already thick with dust. The thirteen Winged Hussars and nine Axe Guards, including Ryan, had already begun cleaning. They would have to live here for a quite some time.

Lothar, with Banu’s help removing his armor, stood on the balcony of the manor’s main building, looking at the busy people below, a frown on his face. The complex situation in the Holy Land and Baldwin IV’s high expectations and regard for him all placed immense pressure on him.

None of the prominent figures of this era were easy to deal with. Even those Crusader nobles who seemed foolish and only knew how to vie for fame and profit actually all had their own little schemes.

If he didn’t have his "cheat," and hadn’t inherited the original owner’s identity and abilities, he, a mere commoner transmigrator, would have been rightfully unhorsed and killed by some knightly lord in a single round if he had crossed into this world.

He had never felt he truly possessed talent comparable to Saladin’s, and the forces under his command, facing the impending war, were but a drop in the bucket.

However, if he could completely bring the Royal Knights under his control and utilize them properly, this force could perhaps slightly influence the direction of a war.

"Lothar." A cool female voice sounded from behind him. Banu came to his side. This woman, not much shorter than him, reached out and smoothed his furrowed brow. The cool touch made Lothar feel the sweltering heat on his body dissipate completely.

"Did you know," she said, "some people can advance fearlessly when they have nothing, but when they possess more, they instead become overly cautious and worried."

Lothar immediately realized she was talking about him. He gave a wry smile. "Indeed, it’s very foolish. But I always feel I’m now shouldering many people’s expectations. If I mess things up, I’ll disappoint them."

He pointed to the busy people below. "And their loyalty, and their very lives and fortunes. If I make a wrong decision, they will all lose their lives."

Banu’s eyes lowered slightly. She said in a low voice, "The game of power is not child’s play. Not only will they die, but you will too. You cannot lack this awareness."

Lothar paused, then smiled. "Yes. Once you’re at the gambling table, there’s no room for looking back." Lothar gathered his emotions. "I was overthinking. This afternoon, I need to go to the palace. Will you and Fringilla accompany me, or stay at home?"

"I, of course, will accompany you. But that little vampire, I think she would prefer to stay in the manor and do whatever she pleases."

"You big dummy, what nonsense are you spouting!" Fringilla’s sharp cry sounded. "I want to go with Milord too!"

A smile appeared on Lothar’s face. "Alright, then come with me, as long as you don’t find it boring."

***

The Jerusalem Royal Palace was a palace with distinct Eastern characteristics, yet also very Western. Zoroastrian civilization, Jewish civilization, Imperial—or rather, Greek civilization, and Frankish civilization, were perfectly blended together.

Lothar walked in the palace garden, with Banu and the others following behind him. In the center of a path paved with grey stone bricks was a gushing fountain. The spring water flowed around the garden in a gentle stream. ƒree𝑤ebnσvel-com

Lothar washed his hands in the fountain and, feeling the cool sweetness of the water, simply cupped his hands and washed his face. "Phew, that’s really refreshing."

’The work environment is good; the coming days shouldn’t be too hard to bear.’

Royal Knight sergeants, wearing red and white surcoats and kettle helms or spangenhelms, were deployed in various corners.

"Grand Master!" The sergeants they encountered on the way all saluted.

"Take me to your headquarters. Have the Inspector and the Treasurer come see me," Lothar ordered.

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