Drawing Cards in the Middle Ages to Rise in Ranks-Chapter 537 - 316: Father and Brother

Outside the Jura Mountain in Burgundy, Algo County.

The Eagle Castle stands on the mountainside, overlooking the fields and rivers at the mountain’s foot.

The Earl’s eldest son, wearing a deer leather coat, reached out to open the window. The crisp autumn wind from the Alps immediately rushed in as if it had been waiting, chilling him to the core.

In the distance, towering mountains loomed.

Algo County is located at the junction of the Jura Mountain to the northwest and the Alps to the southeast.

To the south lies Lombardy, a fertile land coveted by emperors through the ages, and to the west, beyond the Jura Mountain, is Lower Burgundy (namely, Provence), while to the north is the Hohenstaufen Family’s imperial center, the Duchy of Swabia.

Thus, most of the time, Count Werner is actually serving in the Emperor’s court, and he is the true master of this Eagle Castle. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

The sound of hoofbeats echoed along the mountain path.

A Knight on a black steed waved a letter in his hand, shouting, "Open the gates! I have important news from Lyon to report to the Count!"

"Important news?"

Otto quickly descended the stairs to the hall.

Here, Count Werner was already receiving the messenger.

He stood aside for a moment, waiting for Count Werner to finish reading the letter. As he was about to reach for it, the old Count placed his hand firmly on top of it.

Otto’s expression changed slightly, and he whispered, "Is this news from the Holy Land?"

In this era, the transmission of information was noticeably delayed, and many remote territories in Europe were unaware that the Crusaders had already defeated Saladin’s army in the Battle of Galilee.

However, from time to time, high-priority rumors reached the King’s court, but these certainly would not spread to the remote Algo countryside surrounded by mountains.

"No."

Werner shook his head. "The news came from Lyon. A Merchant Fleet from the East has arrived, laden with spices, silk, and luxurious Eastern plate armor."

Otto asked, somewhat confused, "What does this have to do with us?"

He paused in disbelief, "Did you agree for me to lead a military force to the Holy Land to assist Losa?"

Ever since learning of Saladin’s army mobilization and the imminent war in the Holy Land, Otto had wanted to lead Algo’s armies to support Losa, but Count Werner never granted permission.

Lyon isn’t far from Eagle Castle, but it’s not too close either. Traveling westward through Geneva, exiting the Jura Valley, it wouldn’t take long to reach Lyon. If he set off now, he could just catch the Merchant Fleet before it departed, heading to the Holy Land.

The returning merchant ships clearly wouldn’t miss the chance to make money by taking on passengers.

Werner shook his head. "That Fleet bears the emblem of the black Double-headed Eagle."

"Greek fleet?"

The old Count nodded, then shook his head. "Half and half; they come from Limassol in Cyprus, belonging to your brother Losa."

Otto’s mouth dropped open.

He had thought Losa was wealthy, but he hadn’t imagined he could be this rich.

The valuable goods from the entire fleet could probably be exchanged for tens of thousands of Suludes Gold Coins?

"You once wanted me to give you a village as a fief, but I couldn’t grant it."

Count Werner said sternly, "Two castles, more than twenty villages, a quarry, and a copper mine—this is already a decent dowry for a Duke’s unremarkable second daughter."

"But now, it seems to hold little value for you."

"Indeed, in Jerusalem, once-worthless commoners might suddenly transform into rulers of a city; yes, it’s very tempting. But have you thought about where everyone else has gone?"

"Or do you believe because you grew up with Losa and are not inferior to him in any way, you can replicate the miracle on him?"

The further Count Werner spoke, the more severe his tone became.

"I never thought that way, Father."

Otto lowered his head. "I just feel that the Holy Land is in danger, and Losa now desperately needs our help."

Werner shook his head, "There’s even less reason for you to go to the Holy Land because I’ve just received a congratulatory letter from His Majesty the Emperor. The Crusaders in the Holy Land have already successfully repelled the invading heretic armies, and your brother Marquis Losa is preparing to advance south to seize Egypt."

Otto’s heart was suddenly filled with an incredible feeling.

"Losa, as Commander?"

Count Werner, with a serious face, finally showed a hint of an appreciative smile.

"Yes, it’s him. He has now been appointed as the Crusade’s Commander-in-Chief by His Majesty the King, leading thirty thousand Crusaders, and bestowed with a series of sacred titles such as Guardian of the Holy Spear, Guardian of the Holy Wood—now, even though he’s still a Vassal Prince, he possesses an aura more majestic than a king."

Who would have thought that this second son, who nearly ended up in a monastery due to a moment’s lapse in his judgment, could achieve such great deeds upon reaching the Holy Land? Every time his father thought of it, it felt like a dream.

If the letter hadn’t come from not only his old friend Baron Goffrey but also the young king he once served, he might still doubt the veracity of the news.

"Father, are you serious?"

"When have I ever lied to you?"

Otto’s expression shifted rapidly, displaying disbelief and envy, as he felt as if he were standing among the clouds, suffused with an ethereal and unreal sensation: "God bless, Losa must indeed have received God’s favor."

Werner nodded: "Such rumors do exist. Many Franks in the Holy Land consider Losa to be the new Holy Son, and thousands of Crusaders have watched him, with their own eyes, wield the Holy Spear to slay the Demon Dragon sent by the heretics."

Otto was so stunned by these consecutive revelations that he couldn’t shut his mouth for a long while.

Was this truly his brother who grew up with him, frequently smacked on the palm for playing too much during Latin language lessons by their tutor?

"Father, is Losa really the Holy Son?"

Count Werner looked at Otto and, without answering his doubt, merely countered: "Do you think your mother resembles the Holy Mother? Or do you consider me the Holy Father?"

He pinched his brow, somewhat troubled: "To be honest, sometimes I also wonder if the universally praised fair and kind Marquis Losa, who commands tens of thousands of troops and is served by many witches, is truly my son?"

"Yes, of course, he is!"

Otto affirmed earnestly: "I just saw him not long ago; compared to when he left, he hasn’t gotten taller nor fatter — when he proudly boasted about owning lands with fertile soil that stretch for miles, I did not think he had turned into someone else."

Werner chuckled: "So, you can rest assured now. Next, you must quickly marry the daughter of the Duke of Lower Lorraine, Magdalena, and then go to His Majesty the Emperor’s court and take up the position of a guard."

Otto’s delight vanished in an instant.

If he were to seek out Losa now and follow him to conquer Egypt, surely he could obtain a wealthy city as a fief, which would be far more comfortable than staying in Germania as a rural lord, wouldn’t it?

"Don’t think about it; Losa does not need a hundred-strong army right now. His adversary, like His Majesty the Emperor, can easily field tens of thousands of troops. So do not consider returning to the East; whether you go or not makes no difference."

He opened his mouth, filled with complex emotions, realizing that the identity of the family heir, which ought to bring him joy, had instead become an invisible shackle.

"Yes, Father."

Werner rose and patted his shoulder: "You aren’t serving His Majesty in the capacity of a knight; because the Zeringen Family maintains close ties with Lion Henry, His Majesty the Emperor has revoked their fief of Bern and bestowed it upon me."

"I now confer it upon you, and you shall serve His Majesty the Emperor as the Baron of Bern."

Otto was silent for a moment, then nodded: "Thank you, Father."

Watching Otto leave.

Count Werner unfolded the letter again, reading it several times before letting out a soft sigh.

He understood the profound implications of Losa being the Crusade Commander; it meant that once Losa conquered Egypt, there was a significant chance of him being elected as the King of Egypt, a crown destined to be weightier than that of Jerusalem.

But the higher one stands, the harder the fall could be.

The intrigues and machinations in the court were all too familiar to him, who had served both Baldwin IV and Emperor Henry.

He pondered for a moment before taking up his pen to write a letter, detailing his perspective on the current situation in the Holy Land and suggestions on how Losa should interact with the ambitious European monarchs should he succeed in conquering Egypt.

However, after writing, he couldn’t help but chuckle wryly, crumpling the letter into a ball and tossing it into the nearby fireplace.

The flames leaped higher.

Amidst the crackling of the firewood, Count Werner’s soft murmuring was audible:

"Where does he need advice from a mediocre rural lord now?"

"Neither His Majesty nor Godfrey can offer more and better advice for him."

He couldn’t help but rub his wrinkled cheeks, smiling as he gazed at the air before him: "Elise, you’ve borne a good son..."