The Distinguished Mr. Rose Chapter 128: Chapter 127: A Gentleman's Dream

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Chapter 127: A Gentleman's Dream After Karolus’s bold proclamation, a meeting was held amongst close advisors and friends to discuss whether it was truly possible to join the lands in fellowship. Long had the other nations toiled under Frankish subjugation, and they all held their own grudges and deep-rooted distrust. A new ruler was crowned; his dreams of cooperation were, indeed, admirable. But dreams were called so because they were yet to be realized. Even for Karolus, he had to admit that bringing about such a possibility would be nigh attainable, if not outright foolish. Yet it was the duty of starry-eyed dreamers to persist despite the odds, so long that a sliver of hope still remained. That hope was Francia’s recent partnership with the Arabian Emirate. The people of the sand were, perhaps, the most justified out of them all in their hatred and loathing against the Franks. Not a soul from both north or south was spared of the stories of blood that flowed ceaselessly in the once blue rivers. But nonetheless, the two nations had set aside their differences for the sake of their respective peoples’ future. That Mister Ibn-al-Arabi and Sir Medoro stayed in Francia as ambassadors proved their pledge was strong and not mere hearsay. Thus, as those who were more familiar with the other nations’ sentiments and current standing due to their mercantile dealings, the two Saracens were requested to join the meeting and provide counsel. “Hoho, you are a more ambitious fellow than our first meeting would imply, your Holiness,” Mister Arabi said, bidding Karolus a respective bow. “I cannot say I disagree with your proposal, and no doubt such an alliance would please the Emir. But now is not the right time. The southern kingdoms of Lombard and Moors have only been so docile because of the assurances promised by Ganelon. They wished to keep Francia rulerless, incapable of ever conquering again. Now that a new emperor has been instated, and their previous guarantor imprisoned in the gaol, they will understandably be cautious.” Sir Medoro nodded in agreement. “It is similar in the north. The Lord of the Saxons is a stern man. I once had the pleasure of exchanging greetings with him whilst I still served in the Levantine, but whilst his words were polite I saw in his face the temperament of a beast. He cannot be a simple man as one who succeeded in uniting the warring tribes of the Briton Isles. Keeping Francia weak is only to his benefit. Unless you can garner his respect, I would not expect help from their brigands.” Suffice to say, the Saracens' expectations were grim, and so the court found themselves gradually dimming in mood as time went on. Archbishop Turpin and the priesthood in particular mentioned that getting the Lombards to attend would practically require an intervention from God, for the two nations had bitterly feuded in matters of religion since time immemorial. The Franks believed the Mother’s sacrifice of flesh to have been out of love toward Their children, and so the people should celebrate and enjoy life to the fullest as thanks to God and Their benevolence. The Lombards, however, perceived the event differently. They believe it is because of mankind’s sins that the Mother withered away and eventually perished in body. It is the people’s duty to be forever repentant, to wrack their souls with guilt and apology, in the hopes that they would one day be forgiven and taken back to paradise. The two nations’ doctrines couldn’t be any more different from the other. They were, ideologically, complete opposites. Archbishop Turpin as he so eloquently put it compared the Lombard's nature to be that of frigid ice whilst the Franks boasted loudly and with pride as wildfire. The empire would need an especially enticing reason if they wished to attract the King of Lombard. After the priests gave their speech, Sir Ruggiero stepped forward to give his thoughts on the Moors. He was originally a Crystologist of well renown, one that st