A Crusader with System in the Middle Ages

But she didn’t feel particularly sad.

His hand was cold, even colder than hers, but she still broke out in a sweat.

Then, under Gregory’s guidance, Matilda and Eric walked through an aisle formed by friends and onlookers, entered the chapel, and knelt humbly and devoutly before the Holy Image.

Gregory said, ”May the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob sow in the souls of these two young people a life that will see them grow old together. May God bless you and make you understand how to respect each other in spirit and in body.”

Then, Eric and Matilda rose again and approached the altar side by side, with Matilda standing to Eric’s right. Next was the Mass.

After the Mass, Eric and Matilda held candles and performed the offering ceremony, making a donation to the Church.

Then, they knelt once more to receive blessings and solemn prayers.

At that moment, four young Knights held up a large purple canopy, covering the heads of the newlywed couple. This was part of a very ancient ritual, symbolizing that the beautiful love bestowed by God should be discreetly hidden.

At this time, the choir began to sing hymns.

Eric embraced Matilda, kissing her on each cheek before pressing his dry lips to hers.

Eric’s sudden movement caught her off guard. Her pupils constricted; her mind had been drifting since the wedding began.

Now, Eric had pulled her back to the present.

When the wedding ceremony ended, Eric carried Matilda out of the Church and placed her in a carriage.

The Norman Knights and the Marchioness’s own Knights and servants began distributing food and money to the poor gathered outside the Church. They had been waiting a long time for this moment, especially since the Marchioness was known for her generosity. Some had even traveled all the way from Umbria.

After that came the wedding feast.

The people returned from the Church to the castle for the celebration. Canossa Castle had been decorated to look brand new, with tapestries of various colors and patterns hanging on the walls, and rose petals and wildflowers scattered on the floors. Weather permitting, tents were also pitched on the lawns outside, with heavy tables and chairs set up beneath them.

Before the guests arrived, the soldiers, Attendants, and servants inside the castle had already set the tables. The tables were covered with tablecloths, then with smaller napkins for the guests, upon which the cutlery—knives and spoons—was placed.

At each place setting, there was a Metal or wooden goblet or a bowl. Also on the tables were brass wide-mouthed water jugs, large wine pitchers, salt cellars, and condiment dishes. The jugs were designed in the shapes of lions, birds, people, or monsters.

Servants brought out the day’s food from the kitchen: a whole roasted Wild Boar; goose stuffed with apples and spices; a venison stew that had simmered for hours with red wine and herbs; and roasted quail marinated in spices, served with a honey and mustard sauce.

The tables were also laden with a variety of breads, including soft white loaves and round rye loaves, as well as jellies candied with rose petals, and tarts filled with cream and berries.

Side dishes included a fresh wild green salad with walnuts and raisins; stewed carrots and onions with butter and herbs; and a platter of roasted beets and beans.

As for drinks, there was spiced red wine, sweet cider, and ale brewed with honey and herbs, as well as sangria...

Men and women were seated alternately to enjoy the banquet, a practice that encouraged the Knights to be more mindful of their behavior, as they tended to be more restrained in the presence of ladies.

Matilda stubbornly made her rounds all afternoon, socializing despite the inconvenience of her gown. She insisted on it, stopping to speak with people here and there, making it clear that she was still the Marchioness of Tuscan, still the master of Tuscan, and that this would never change.

After nightfall, it was time for the final part of the wedding ceremony.

Though she was not entirely willing, she entered the bridal chamber at the top of the tower. Countless candles and lamps lit the room, casting a soft amber glow and deep brown shadows that flickered about. She had escaped, however briefly.

Soon, the maids and a Bishop would arrive to prepare her for her wedding night.

Someone had hung the Shield of her father, Marquis Boniface, on the wall—a reminder of her lineage and a symbol of her father’s blessing.

She remembered picking it up as a child, running behind her father and pretending to be his Attendant, trying hard not to let the tip of the Shield drag on the ground. The memory made her father roar with laughter, and recalling it now, she couldn’t help but choke back a sob.

The bed had been made with fresh linen sheets, soft woolen blankets, and a silk coverlet embroidered with eagles. The red woolen bed curtains hung in deep, heavy folds, casting ponderous shadows.

The bed’s history could be traced back beyond her parents and grandparents, even to the son of Charlemagne,

A Bishop stood beside Eric, holding a Silver Pot filled with Holy Water, while another Bishop prepared a vial of oil.

The scent of incense permeated everything, especially the bed, whose decorations matched the vestments of a Pope, shimmering in white and gold.

Candles and lamps were lit in every corner and crevice, emitting the sweet fragrance of beeswax and scented oil, filling the room with warmth. Beads of sweat, like rock crystals, glistened on Eugene’s forehead.

Pale pink rose petals were scattered over the sheets, and green garlands adorned the posts of the canopy bed. A small table beside the bed held wine and light refreshments. The room was filled with light from the lit candles and oil-burning lamps.