Outside the castle.
He was a young man with curly brown hair and a thick neck.
His cloak and hood were fashioned from the finest Flemish wool, pleated generously. Yet, the garment didn’t look bulky wrapped around his somewhat portly frame. His expression held none of the tranquility of a man content with a simple life, just as his clothes betrayed no disdain for worldly extravagance.
His features could be considered handsome, but a glint of hedonism always lurked in the corners of his eyes, betraying a carefully concealed lust for wine and women. In other respects, his duties and status had taught him to control his expression at all times.
He could put on a stern, sanctimonious face in an instant, even though his natural expression was cheerful and his temperament inclined toward pleasure-seeking.
Clearly, neither the strict rules of the monastery nor the grand edicts of the Pope and the Holy See could restrain this nobleman. The turned-up sleeves of his robe revealed expensive fur, the clasp on his cloak’s collar was made of gold, and the craftsmanship of his clothes was exquisite.
However, for this time of year, the outfit was somewhat out of season—not in appearance, but in practicality. It was now April, and the weather was beginning to warm. The clothes were tolerable in the morning or late at night, but as soon as the sun came out and its rays hit him, an unbearable heat would begin to build.
And now, as it approached noon, the sun was at its most intense. The young man, Elijah, was already starting to sweat on his forehead as he sat on horseback.
Elijah had anticipated this might happen before he left today. But this was his finest outfit, and fine clothes were always heavy. Dressing in less would fail to display his nobility and thus would diminish his presence.
But from the looks of it, he had utterly failed to achieve his initial goal.
Elijah sat on his mount, clutching the reins with both hands, looking somewhat at a loss. This wasn’t entirely because of the heat.
The scene before him was not quite what he had envisioned when he set out this morning.
Today, he had specifically gone to his cousin and borrowed forty knights and forty archers to make a show of force.
But as soon as he arrived at Fougeres Castle, he was met with a dense crowd of people. ’Where did so many knights and archers come from?’
’Did that Old Baron of Fougeres Castle get word of my arrival in advance and summon all his feudal knights?’
Incidentally, Elijah’s cousin, Hugo, was the eldest son of the Duke of Milan. He had just been installed as the Count of Mann by the Mann People and Prince Rufus.
A few days ago, the Duke of Milan had reached an agreement with Duke Giscard of Southern Italy. The two families would form an alliance and were considering a marriage union. If all went well, his cousin Hugo would secure an excellent match.
And he, Elijah, as another grandson of the old Count of Mann, also deserved a good wife.
Eleanor, the heiress of Manne Loire Castle, was an excellent marriage prospect.
Not only did she possess vast lands in Mann, but she was also a renowned beauty of Mann. She would be a perfect match for him.
The only drawback was that this beauty was already married.
However, that wasn’t a problem. Her so-called husband had left for the Holy War in Iberia six years ago and hadn’t been heard from since. He had probably long since died under the blade of some heretic.
Worst case, he could just bribe the Holy See.
Just yesterday, Elijah had told his cousin Hugo about this. Hugo had offered his full support, and even Prince Rufus had expressed his delight at the prospect of attending their wedding.
So today, Elijah had come to formally propose—no, he had come to announce a foregone conclusion.
This was also why he had stubbornly insisted on wearing his most expensive set of clothes.
The cloak he wore was even a gift from Prince Rufus.
’But given the current situation, it’s clear that all my preparations for today have been in vain.’
"Sir Elijah, go back. Your little show is over. Our Baron returned today!"
"That’s right, go back."
"Don’t forget what the Bible says: ’Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife.’"
"..."
Ordinarily, Elijah would have already taught these guards a lesson. But right now, his own men were on the verge of being surrounded.
"Don’t try to fool me with such a cheap trick. I advise you to be sensible. Land without an heir is destined to be reclaimed. Prince Rufus and my cousin, the current Count Hugo of Mann, have already agreed to grant this land to me.
Opposing me is pointless. If you know what’s good for you, I, in my tolerance and mercy, might overlook this transgression. This would be a good thing for your Lady Eleanor as well.
Deceiving her with lies and letting her drown in fantasy is the greatest harm you can do to her. How many years of her youth does she have left? She should have a good husband, and even a good son, not wait in this castle until she dies of old age for a husband who was called by the Lord in Iberia long ago.
And you, the knights and attendants of Fougeres Castle, selfishly want to continue this unrestrained and decadent life without military duties, a life of nothing but eating and sleeping, while imprisoning the kind Eleanor here.
You are the true villains, the culprits behind Eleanor’s tragedy."
Elijah raised his riding crop, pointing it at the guards on the castle walls.
"Alright, Sir Elijah, I know this might be a little hard for you to accept, but the Baron really has returned."