A Crusader with System in the Middle Ages

”Perhaps.”

”It sounds like you’ve met her?”

”Yes, but it wasn’t exactly pleasant.” Eric recounted his meeting with Matilda to Gregory.

However, although they were discussing Matilda, she wasn’t the focus. The topic was merely raised to liven the atmosphere, allowing the two men to understand each other better and eventually lead to more critical questions.

Such as the matter of Henry IV.

”Matilda needs a warrior husband by her side to protect a woman’s extraordinary claim to her father’s lands,” Gregory said slowly, his fingers moving over his rosary.

”I hear she’s doing quite well on her own,” Eric said.

”That’s only on the surface. The moment she shows any sign of weakness, her disadvantages will immediately become apparent. No one wants to be ruled by a woman. And while whether this is Christ’s will remains a matter for examination and debate, on a practical level, the most reliable way to secure her position is through marriage.

Whether she likes it or not, she will always need an heir. Otherwise, Tuscan will be absorbed into the Imperial Territory.”

”Perhaps it can be resolved through a donation. Donating the lands to the holy Church. Though such a vast territory is rare, it’s not unprecedented. Three hundred years ago, there was the king of the Franks, father of Charlemagne, Pepin the Short.”

As Eric’s words fell, Gregory turned to face him.

Gregory didn’t believe for a second that Eric would renounce Tuscan and offer the vast territory to the Church simply because Matilda disliked him.

Eric was testing him.

”Though this may not be a righteous matter, Rome needs a protector, and that cannot be a woman. Rome needs a Sword of Saint Peter, like her father, Marquis Boniface, and her stepfather, Gottfried.” Gregory laid his cards on the table.

Marriage has its price.

As he spoke, Gregory handed the letter on the desk to Eric.

”This is...” Eric took the letter, his eyes scanning it.

Soon, his brow furrowed.

Because the sender’s name was his father, Giscard.

It stated that due to a surprise attack by the Greeks, he was unable to aid the Holy See, and he also raised a grand banner to justify an attack on Greece.

If what Giscard said was true.

’Does that mean Michael VII has been sent to a monastery by Nikephoros?’

’That seems a bit fast.’

’But if that’s the case, why didn’t Giscard mention it in his letter?’

’If he had, his counterattack would have been far more justifiable.’

”When a child marries, it’s only right to inform his father, isn’t it?” Gregory said, watching Eric as if to gauge his reaction.

”That assumes the father acts like one. I have never received anything from him. He has always been selfish, with eyes only for himself.” Eric handed the letter back to Gregory. ”Ultimately, the only one who gave me love was God. I am grateful for that experience.”

”God loves all people equally. Even those trapped in dire straits.” Gregory smiled as he took the letter from Eric.

He was satisfied with Eric’s answer.

”Normandy is ready and always eager to be the Sword of Saint Peter. Even without Giscard, it is powerful enough.”

”The princes of the Empire are already putting pressure on the Emperor who forsook God. That sinner has no choice; he will arrive at Canossa next month. It’s just that he...”

”Normandy will make him submit.”

Eric had brought eight hundred Norman Knights, plus the one hundred Knights from Belem previously.

Although the quality of Tuscan’s Knights was a concern, her army was mainly composed of armed citizen infantry, and the quality of her crossbowmen and archers was good.

It was enough to deal with an Emperor deserted by all his followers.

”However, there is another problem we must consider.”

”What is it?” Gregory asked, looking at Eric.

”The most fearsome thing isn’t war. What if the Emperor, forced by the situation, genuinely repents? Or rather, what if he puts on an impeccable display of contrition? The Holy See would likely be unable to refuse his plea.”

”That...” Gregory had indeed not considered this.

”Your Holiness, are you aware of the recent situation in the Eastern Empire?” Eric suddenly switched to a completely unrelated topic.

Gregory gave Eric a slightly surprised look and said slowly, ”I know a little. Their Emperor, Michael, is a devout man. Like me, he has tried to heal the absurd schism in the Church from twenty years ago.

He’s just had the misfortune of dealing with a battered and broken empire, and the heretics’ offensive has caused him endless suffering.” He sighed and continued, ”Speaking of heretics, did you know? The Eastern Empire has lost nearly half its territory in just a few years. In its weakness, it can no longer protect the Christians of the East!

Much of the overseas Christian World is being destroyed by fanatical heretics. They are slaughtered like cattle every day, and the Christian race is being annihilated.

Since I assumed the Holy See, I have received several pieces of bleak news from the East in Rome almost every month. Christians are persecuted in Jerusalem nearly every day, and those detestable heretics are forcing Christians to convert.

They are begging for help, lest ’Christianity be destroyed in our time’—and I will absolutely not allow that to happen!

To that end, I have written ceaselessly to the lords of the West, urging them to support the teetering Empire. The Duke of Aquitaine, the Count of Flanders, the Duke of Burgundy, and the city-states of Italy have all responded to my call.