Ch.106End of War (2)

“Your Majesty, are you truly certain about this?”

A meeting was convened with senior officials including Armand Leclerc and Luca to discuss future plans. Naturally, the proposal recently sent to Cardinal Andrea of the Holy See dominated the conversation.

“What does it matter? We’ll be strangers soon enough. Isn’t that right, Bishop Armand?”

“…Yes, Your Majesty. As you say, the Canaan Church can no longer return to what it once was.”

Due to the many merchants coming from the Empire, the situation of the imperial civil war is well known not only to me but to the people of Lotharing. This is especially true considering how many territories in Lotharing were formerly imperial lands.

In any case, news of the Empire’s situation has been steadily relayed to Lotharing, firmly planting one fact in the minds of the Lotharing people:

The Canaan Church will never regain its former influence.

“Indeed, the Holy See will soon face complete defeat in the Empire, and the backlash is already happening. Haven’t all countries that participated in the Crusade fallen into chaos? Now, negotiations with the Holy See should focus not on currying favor, but on what we can extract from them. Of course, building up justification would be beneficial too.”

While the Holy See’s influence remains strong among Canaan believers, so they can’t be treated too carelessly, the Holy See itself can no longer act recklessly toward secular states based solely on the faith of Canaan believers.

Fundamentally, in states with underdeveloped social systems—those maintaining medieval feudal structures—authority, power, and duty rest with the ruling class, primarily the monarch. This means the state is the monarch’s personal property, and the monarch’s faith becomes the state’s faith.

Of course, even a monarch cannot simply change the faith as they please, given the many groups within a state, but now the situation has completely reversed.

‘Everyone, not just me, has always known that the current church is incompetent.’

Despite still having faith in the Canaan deity, the number of nobles truly loyal to the Holy See has greatly diminished after dealing with the church’s foolishness.

A large number of nobles in the Empire have converted to avoid attacks from the anti-crusade faction, and most of these are likely nobles who don’t want to abandon their faith but don’t want to listen to the Holy See. There were many conversions even among nobles far from the battlefields.

The result is clear: the Holy See can no longer dictate to monarchs as they once did.

What if the Holy See still tries to interfere in a monarch’s rule without justification?

“You’re giving me attitude now? I’m upset… I think I’ll just believe in the Reformed faith… All of you, get out of my territory… Excommunication? So what?” That’s roughly how it would go.

“Even if the Holy See wants to reject my proposal to turn Canaan churches into elementary schools and mediate negotiations with the Empire, they simply cannot. It perfectly preserves the Canaan Church’s influence throughout Lotharing while solving their immediate problems like the failed crusade.”

“…And the Holy See will no longer be able to say anything against Your Majesty,” Armand replied with a sour expression.

“Anything”… indeed.

This means that despite the acts I’ve committed being unquestionable mortal sins according to Canaan doctrine, the Holy See can no longer say anything about these sins.

Considering various political positions, this is clearly beneficial for the Holy See, but from a faith perspective, it’s the worst outcome. Faith has surrendered to politics.

“Indeed, with the Holy See covering all costs for building elementary schools in the provinces and being unable to properly express any complaints toward me, isn’t this a splendid development?”

Currently, Lotharing has countless churches.

Though many are now corrupt, these churches were originally established to project administrative power into rural areas and provide psychological stability and control over the people. If the churches could be used for their original purpose, nothing could be better.

We can dispatch priests trained at the Dijon Theological College to churches everywhere, and through them teach many things to the provincial people. They can teach letters and the common language through translated scriptures, loyalty to the king, and countless other things. In terms of Joseon Dynasty, they would be something like nationalized Seowon academies.

Normally, dispatching priests to local churches would be solely the Holy See’s domain, but what I proposed to the Holy See wasn’t additional church construction but the establishment of theological schools. Since who gets dispatched to these schools is entirely my authority, the Holy See won’t be able to respond effectively even if they realize this later.

In any case, people raised in such schools will prioritize the Lotharing king’s commands over the Holy See’s, eventually creating a new church that is Canaan in name only but uniquely Lotharing’s.

“Armand, what’s the matter? The faith of the Kingdom of Lotharing rests on your shoulders, so stand tall.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I was just… a bit confused.”

“That’s understandable. I believe it was fate that you, a native of Dijon, became the bishop of the Dijon diocese. Please do your best.”

“…I understand, Your Majesty.”

And Armand will design this new church unique to Lotharing.

As a clergyman of this era, he still seems reluctant to completely turn against the Holy See, but from what I’ve observed, his patriotism has always been stronger than his faith, so he’ll make the right choice before long. He’s also been somewhat influenced by Jeanne.

“Your Majesty, the Emperor of the Empire has sent a positive response. Here is a personal letter from the Emperor to Your Majesty.”

“Is that so? Excellent.”

Just then, a messenger carefully entered through the door, bringing a response to the letter I had sent to the Empire.

The Emperor must be eager to end this war as quickly as possible, but with everyone around him directly involved in the civil war, it must have been extremely difficult to decide whom to entrust with mediation. Despite my suggestion to meet and discuss detailed conditions, he accepted immediately.

Skimming through the letter, it mentions something about being neighbors, giving me the Lotharing throne, giving me land, and asking for leniency in mediation due to the terrible state of his country from the civil war… Hmm, what is he talking about?

He didn’t give me the throne; I took it rightfully. I paid a fair price for the land, and the civil war is their problem. Besides, if I favor one side, the other will cause trouble.

Still, since we share a border, having good relations can’t hurt, so I’ll accept a reasonable payment for mediation, nothing excessive.

……….

“…Pleased to meet you. I am Ferdinand of Meissen, entrusted with negotiation authority by His Majesty Friedrich.”

“…Pleased to meet you. I am Andrea, representing His Holiness Leo.”

The atmosphere at the negotiation venue in Dijon could hardly be described as pleasant, even as a formality. Before speaking, both parties closed their mouths and scanned each other up and down, clearly showing no respect for the other side. Such obvious scanning would be noticed by the other party, suggesting deliberate insult.

‘At least both sides are showing restraint.’

The Empire sent the Elector of Meissen, a very moderate Reformed Christian who still maintains loyalty to the devoutly Canaan Emperor, while the Holy See sent Andrea, a cardinal with stronger political than religious inclinations. Both sides seem quite eager to end this war.

If either side had sent a hardliner, things would have quickly gone awry, but this bodes well for smooth proceedings.

After brief greetings, the order of statements was determined by a coin toss, with the Empire going first.

“Ahem, first, His Imperial Majesty demands compensation for damages caused by the false crusade, a public apology from the Pope, and guarantees for the beliefs of his vassals. Additionally, regarding punishment of the secular electors who rebelled—”

Huh? That’s rather aggressive.

The Holy See accepted my mediation to minimize damage to their prestige, but if they accept all these excessive demands from the Empire, there would be no reason for them to accept my mediation.

While most demands aren’t problematic, a public apology from the Pope and guarantees for vassals’ beliefs are too much. A public apology would drive the Holy See’s already fallen prestige even lower, and guaranteeing vassals’ beliefs would mean prohibiting any measures—whether harsh or conciliatory—to bring heretics back into the Holy See’s fold.

The Holy See’s envoys listening to the Elector of Meissen are visibly deteriorating by the minute. Andrea, the delegation leader, is doing his best to restrain them, but it looks precarious.

“—These are His Imperial Majesty’s positions. Of course, through negotiation and detailed coordination of our views, we can achieve mutually satisfactory results in various aspects.”

‘I see, they’re starting with extreme demands.’

I wasn’t sure if they were serious about all those demands, but the word “coordination” suggests they’re making big demands initially, then planning to appear compromising while getting what they really want.

The other clergy still don’t understand the situation and look angry, but their representative Andrea has caught the underlying meaning and is sighing with relief.

It’s fortunate he’s the representative. If one of those other clergy had been in charge… ugh, the thought is terrifying.

“…I’ve heard you clearly. Now let me present the Holy See’s proposal.”