The scorching sun baked the earth.
From above, the long and narrow marching line resembled a lance, piercing through the entirety of Jerusalem.
In the stands, the servants of the nobles already carried golden trays with silver cups, offering their masters cold, refreshing wine.
Some of the nobles’ cups were even set with large rubies, to display their lavish wealth.
The noblewomen ostentatiously discussed their newly acquired jewelry, casting disdainful glances at the Saracen or Persian female slaves with graceful figures.
Attendants trained in Eastern-style courts were far more adept at serving than those from Western courts. This text is hosted at n̷o̷v̷e̷l̷f̷i̷r̷e̷.net
But what made a noblewoman noble was the dowry she could bring to her husband and her support in politics, rather than her beauty.
Without a noble status, no matter how beautiful, one was merely a plaything.
And Princess Sibylla was naturally Jerusalem’s most beautiful gem.
Perhaps the dowry of a crown made her like a treasure emitting an alluring aura, attracting countless noble offspring to court her diligently.
But Princess Sibylla seemed rather disinterested, politely responding while observing Losa, who stood in front of the cathedral wearing a cloak with a black eagle emblem.
Not only Princess Sibylla.
Many noblewomen, like her, focused on Losa, who was burdened with countless enchanting mysterious legends.
In the knight tournament, he killed a werewolf as a mere mortal.
Soon after arriving in Jerusalem, he gained the favor of the reclusive His Majesty the King, rapidly advancing from knight ennoblement to Baron, and then being appointed Grand Master of the Royal Knight Order.
Subsequently, he forcibly ousted the greatly influential former Commander, Count Philip, from the Knight Order.
Additionally, many nobles talked eagerly about the wealth he robbed from desert bandits, measured by carriages, and the fine equipment of the cavalry under his command.
Baron Losa had long been associated with positive terms like handsome, wealthy, brave, and wise.
Belian stood in the crowd, somewhat envious of the majestic Losa.
The scene at Jaffa Port when they met not long ago was still vivid in his mind.
In a blink of an eye, this peer had transformed into Jerusalem’s preeminent new noble.
"Isn’t this what I want?"
Count Reynard, with his head full of red hair, looked provocatively at Losa, standing in front of the cathedral sweating profusely, raised his goblet, and drank it all in one go.
"Ah—"
He let out a comfortable yet odd cry from his mouth, then took another goblet from the tray, pouring it into the dirt at Losa’s feet.
His face was full of arrogance, thinking, this is the luxury of the King of the Dead Sea, the master of Kaler Castle.
While you, a nouveau riche, can’t even get a cold drink in this heat.
Losa smiled at him, a smile containing pity, and said quietly to the Standard Bearer beside him, Hans von Sego, who held the knight title, "Poor Count Reynard, once imprisoned by Nuruddin of Syria (Salah’s father) in a high tower. It’s said to have been eighteen whole years, he might have gone mad, otherwise, why pour sweet wine on the ground?"
Hans timely showed a look of pity as well: "May the Heavenly Father bless him to recover from madness soon."
Count Reynard’s face turned livid.
He muttered quietly, "It was fifteen years, not eighteen. This foolish lad is as disagreeable as his father."
Recalling his past life as a prisoner, his joy over the departure of his greatest political enemy, Count Raymond, also began to wane.
Losa said to the Winged Cavalry behind him, "Let’s go, we need to follow the marching troops and escort them out of the city. If the heat becomes unbearable, hold out a bit longer; I’ve already ordered the Clothing Officer to create cloaks for sun protection, which will be distributed in two days."
The Winged Cavalry did not originally need cloaks, and half-body plate armor didn’t rust like chain armor. However, the high temperatures of the Holy Land during the day made a cloak necessary for sun protection.
Ulm respectfully said, "My lord, this is nothing. Noble as your status is, you too endure the heat."
They had already completed the task of guarding the King and numerous clergy and began to proceed alongside the marching troops.
The Winged Cavalry tightly grasped their ceremonial Armed Swords. Their upright figures and shining armor attracted many glances from the girls watching on both sides.
Some proud knights, filled with jealousy and envy, mocked, "Look, this is the cavalry organized by that country baron. They’re adorned with feathers and look just like the royal garden’s peacocks trying hard to win a mate’s favor."
Someone mumbled, "I know that Milan-style bright armor, under the sun’s baking, is like the iron plate used by the Turkic savages for roasting meat, completely impractical."
As the first Winged Cavalry under Losa, Ulm couldn’t help but speak loudly to his comrades, "Look at their envious expressions, they wish they could stick their eyes to our armor."
"Everyone saw, even the Lord Knights envy our armor. The lord granted us such precious items along with the honor of the Winged Cavalry, and we must also repay the lord’s favor with loyalty!"
"That’s right, we are the valiant Winged Cavalry."
"When the Winged Cavalry arrives, all heretics will be terrified!"
The Winged Cavalry raised their heads high, their unique armor and adornments drawing them closer together, and a thing called "collective honor" began to grow among them.
In front, Count Raymond, clad in a blue cloak and cape, rode forward on horseback, calling out loudly, "Baron Losa."
"Good morning, Lord of Tiberias."
Losa responded respectfully.
He was somewhat surprised that the head of the Noble Faction, who wielded significant influence in the Holy Land, would speak with him.
Count Raymond, in appearance, was not as handsome as Count Reynard. His thin face bore the mottling of time.
His expression was a little complex: "Baron Losa, I once had a close relationship with your father. I was worried you would become a man like him, obsessed with waging unending wars, but fortunately, you did not."
Losa asked in some confusion: "My Lord, I know very little about what my father did here, but if his ideas were so radical, he should have had a good relationship with Count Reynard."
Raymond’s stern face couldn’t help but show a hint of a smile: "Your father once openly declared that Reynard was a brainless, reckless fool."
Losa was stunned.
Was Count Werner really so fierce before?
It hadn’t been many years since Count Werner returned from the Holy Land, but how could it be that his image seemed so different from what people said?
"Well, the things you have done, His Majesty the King has informed me of them, which count as an achievement for you. I am also pleased you realize there is room for compromise and cooperation with the heretics."
"From now on, the safety of His Majesty and Jerusalem is entrusted to you and Godfrey. Be sure to watch out for the foolish acts of that reckless fool Reynard."
Losa nodded and said, "I will, my Lord."
Count Raymond smiled and saluted Losa, then led his attendants away.
Losa pondered, guessing that it was Baldwin IV who informed Regent King Raymond about their treaty with King Salah, which led to such a conversation.
The Crusaders of the northern campaign finally left Jerusalem.
Vast troops raised clouds of yellow dust.
Nobles and knights followed behind the column, bidding farewell to Count Raymond and other nobles heading north.
It wasn’t just the Noble Faction departing.
Like Count Georgelin, who leaned towards the Empress Faction.
He had dedicated his life to restoring Edessa, divided by the Sassanid King and the Ayyubid, and wasn’t going to miss such an opportunity.
It should be noted that there were multiple heirs to the Count of Edessa title, and if he didn’t go, it would be bad if his brothers and sisters seized the chance first.
Count Tirry of Flanders was also prominently included.
He had just arrived in the Holy Land and joined Count Reynard’s side. Most knights and nobles newly arriving in the Holy Land made such a choice.
Their approach was more aggressive, as only through war and expansion of territories could they gain merit and obtain land.
And Regent King Raymond appeared more like the nobles here, jointly elected as the "alliance leader" to counter these latecomers seeking to share in their spoils.
Their style naturally leaned towards maintaining the status quo, even reaching agreements with the heretics, to avoid the fires of war burning their lands.
After all, once the fighting started, trade routes would be cut, losing massive wealth daily, and even victory would only leave them with chaos.
...
After a day of busyness.
The evening in Jerusalem gradually slipped into darkness.
Losa rode swiftly through the city with the Winged Cavalry, shouting orders: "Hans, check over there; Ulm, take someone east... curfew has been declared in the Fire Worship District in the east and the Jewish Quarter in the south; from now on, no one is permitted outside."
After the mass departure of troops, security issues in Jerusalem City became acute again.
Previously, during the time when thugs and hoodlums were conscripted, Jerusalem’s security had notably improved.
But the departure of a large number of Christian soldiers and knights had skewed the city’s population ratio to dangerous levels.
Today, Royal Knights and soldiers returned in formations to various royal estates.
The Royal Knight Order’s power had been replenished, and so Baron Losa was enlisted by Baron Godfrey to lead his cavalry to patrol the city, maintaining order.
In the afternoon, Fire Worshippers gathered under the Dome Altar to listen to a "Sage" preaching, nearly causing an uproar, but now, they all hung desiccated on the gallows.
Add to that, a torn, seemingly dog-gnawed corpse was found in the sewers.
Rumors, like divine revelations and divine punishments, were spreading everywhere.
Losa didn’t believe it, unless someone was fanning the flames.