The return of the fallen king

Chapter 49: It will make a fine addition to my collection

<<''War is delightful to those who have had no experience of it.''>>

--Desiderius Erasmus

Nature's sounds were tranquil and silent. The birds were softly singing, and the sound of the sea waves crashing on the beach was relaxing. It is a sound that brings comfort and calm to the mind, it also helps one to appreciate the depth of the natural world's beauty and grandeur. This was the sound that seemed to be creating a symphony over Genoa's magnificent city.

It was one of Italy's most beautiful and prosperous cities, a center of riches and power. Its people were famed for their tenacity and cleverness , and the city was a center of art, architecture, and culture. Such was the cultural value of Genoa's wealthy metropolis.

As on any other day in the city, the people were busy working, buying and selling, and going about their daily business as normal. The city was a hub of activity and commerce, with the market squares filled with vendors selling all sorts of wares and goods and people going about their daily business. It was a lively and vibrant place, with everyone moving about with purpose and direction.

While the people were going on with their normal day, Conradin, after having finished lunch in the mansion of Oberto Doria, who currently hosted him, met two other men that would soon be his new retainers. One was Enrico Lancia, son of his faithful subject of the same surname, while the other did not have much noble blood in him, but his lack of nobility was balanced by his rich upbringing. The man of the arts was Pietro de Pece.

Conradin had just accepted both of them into his court. He hoped that Enrico Lancia would be made of the same meat as his father, for if he was at least half as skilled as him, he was confident that he would be a valuable ally for him, since he was in desperate need of a skilled commander, while for the other one, he accepted him not for military affairs but for his knowledge of art and poetry.

Conradin was a well-educated man and an intellectual, as such he had an appreciation for and interest in literature. He was well-read and could be found in his study reading books or writing poetry in his spare time. He was also an avid fan of the arts; he had in fact sworn that when he became king, he would often sponsor poets and other artists within his realm. Conradin believed that literature and creativity were important for a society to thrive and be able to express itself. He appreciated the work of poets and artists for their ability to stir the human spirit and capture the essence of life in words and symbols. Conradin himself wrote some romantic poetry to a nonexistent woman just for the pleasure of it. He had even published them; however, they did not manage to achieve any success, much to the sadness of Conradin.

Conradin made sure to surround himself with others who had a similar appreciation for the arts. He was also a practical man who knew the value of having skilled generals and commanders at his side in order to protect his realm. He knew that he needed both arts and warfare in order to rule effectively, and he was fortunate to have a wide variety of skilled and capable individuals at his disposal in order to accomplish his goals and ensure the protection and progress of his realm.

"Gentlemen, it is an honor." With a pearly smile on his face, Conradin greeted the two new attendants. "It's great to have such accomplished men by my side, and I look forward to working with you both in the coming years. I am confident that your gifts will be essential to me and the realm, and I hope that you will always find a rewarding place in my court. I am grateful that you volunteered to serve me since I am in desperate need of excellent men in these troubled times. Do you have any special requirements or requests for me, as a way to welcome you ?"

The first to answer was Enrico: ''No, your highness, I just want to serve the legitimate king of Sicily so that you can bring order to the anarchy now present 'nel Regno." In fact Both father and son just wanted to preserve at least a part of their fief, which was usurped by Charles' nobles.

Instead, for the other man, Pietro de Pece, his desires were much more in line with those of Conradin. "As for me, your Majesty," Pietro said while trying to appear humble, '' I have no desire to ask of you; the only thing that I may want to bring to your attention is to have some faith in culture, as your grandfather, Emperor Frederick II, knew the importance of the arts and liked to immerse himself in it."

Conradin was well aware that his grandfather was an inquisitive and educated emperor who was constantly seeking to learn and comprehend the world around him. He knew his grandfather was interested in Christian and Muslim theology and philosophy, and he had grown up hearing stories about his grandfather's trips and studies. He intended to attain the same depth of knowledge and comprehension of the world that his grandfather had, and he had been told numerous stories of the wonders he had heard and seen. He held the highest regard for his grandfather and was pleased to be his ancestor. Conradin learned a great deal from him and shared many of his values.

He understood that he was fortunate to be born into such a lineage. For he dreamed of one day being compared as equal to the greatness of the ''stupor mundi."

"Of course," Conradin replied, "culture is an important aspect of any society. It should be preserved and nurtured, rather than destroyed or forgotten. As a ruler, it is my duty to protect and promote culture, and I recognize the importance of maintaining our heritage and culture for future generations. I am pleased that you brought this to my attention, and I will keep it in mind as I make future decisions for our realm." Conradin said, knowing that he would have done that himself even if Pietro did not ask for it, as he loved to be surrounded by men of culture.

Pietro was pleased with Conradin's answer, and he was reassured that he cared about the preservation of their culture and heritage. He appreciated a ruler who understood the importance of culture and education and was willing to protect and nurture them rather than destroy or neglect them. ''I thank you, your Majesty," Pietro said while bowing again toward the king.

The sun was sinking low, and the twilight would soon begin to creep in and set over the city. Conradin had spent the day meeting with his retainers, discussing the plans for the future of his realms. They talked about politics and governance, how they were to deal with the future internal feuds that would soon be present in the coalition army and the external threats that will do everything in their power to stop them, and much more. As the light faded and the moon rose, they slowly made their way back to the guest house, where they would stay for the night. They walked along the streets of the city, chatting and laughing together as they went, enjoying the last few moments before the quiet of the night would set in. Conradin did not know that in the next few days, an avalanche of things, all in succession, would befall him. The days ahead would be crucial to the future of the realm, and they would shape the history of his future kingdom and the people within it, which would undoubtedly influence his fate either positively or negatively.

A storm was brewing outside Genoa, ready to strike everything in its path. Nobody knew that it was war that was coming.

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