CHAPTER 74: CHAPTER 65: THE KING’S DIGNITY

Even considering it purely from a benefit perspective, curing Baldwin IV’s leprosy would be more advantageous for myself.

If we wait for a medical attendant who may not be available anytime soon, Baldwin IV might not last until then.

Losa made up his mind.

At this moment, the door was pushed open.

Furin walked in hurriedly.

She had just been outside, engrossed in watching the new recruits train.

The new recruits were using wooden swords and shields, creating a lively scene, much more interesting than the dull and tedious queue training.

Furin walked in, sniffed, and looked suspicious, "I seem to smell the stench of those wolf pups?"

"Sir, you didn’t summon a wolf pup, did you?"

Losa was surprised, "You can smell it?"

"Yes, though it’s very faint."

Furin twitched her nose, sniffing all the way to Losa, staring at the crystal bottle containing the werewolf’s bloodline: "Is it the stuff in this bottle?"

Furin was curious, then suddenly fearful, "Sir, if you want an extraordinary bloodline, I can give you an initial embrace, but don’t be foolish and become a werewolf!"

Furin looked mournful, as if Losa was about to fall into unfathomable evil, and she was the priest painstakingly advising him.

"How would it be foolish... there’s nothing actually wrong with being a werewolf."

Seeing Furin’s unusual expression, Losa had to comfort her, "Rest assured, nothing of that sort, I don’t plan to give up on my human body anytime soon."

The wolfman race of Two Sicilies is the blood royal court’s mortal enemy.

If the blood royal court and Prajna’s ’Hell’ faction were merely hostile, then the blood royal court and the wolfman race of Two Sicilies were arch-enemies!

Like the mutual hostilities between Germany and France.

Furin heaved a sigh of relief, "That’s good, sir, you must believe me, those werewolves, reeking of foulness, wild and primitive, hardly suit your status and temperament."

Losa looked at Furin, who was rarely flattering him, and ruffled her smooth white hair, "Since I promised you, I won’t go back on my word, no need to say such nonsense."

"Furin, accompany me with Prajna, I must meet His Majesty the King."

...

Losa walked in the slightly serene afternoon palace.

The Empress Dowagers and Princesses, who resided for years in the palaces of their titular estates, meant that the only royal members actually living long-term in the palace were Princess Sibilla and her son.

Moreover, these two spent most of their time in their own territories.

He walked unimpeded.

No one stepped forward to question him.

As the Grand Master of the Royal Knight Order, he was responsible for all the palace’s defenses.

In other words, apart from Baldwin IV, he was officially the most prominent figure in this palace.

If he intended to harm the King, his chances of success would be significant.

The position of Grand Master of the Royal Knight Order was tantamount to being Baldwin IV’s absolute confidant.

Arriving outside the inner court’s door, Losa informed the attendant, and was soon accompanied into Baldwin IV’s bedchamber.

Under the candelabra, Baldwin IV, who unusually wore a veil instead of a mask, was holding a book and casually said to Losa, "Baron, have you cleared up the Knight Order’s affairs?"

His hair had all fallen out, and his scalp was covered in large folds and scars, looking rather alarming.

Losa tried to avert his gaze, speaking softly, "Yes, the Royal Knight Order can currently muster one hundred armored cavalry and three hundred soldiers. Once the knights from each feudal domain return, we can leave Jerusalem at any time to fight the heretic’s army."

"Not bad, Losa, one hundred armored cavalry isn’t much but by no means too few, properly utilized, they can also achieve decisive outcomes."

Baldwin IV’s voice carried a hint of reminiscence, "Back in the Mongisa battle, the armored cavalry I led numbered only five hundred."

He gazed at the two ladies behind Losa, "These ladies are your witch followers, correct? Please be seated, distinguished Casters."

Losa gestured for Prajna and Furin to find a chair to sit down.

Leprosy’s contagiousness isn’t as strong as people assume, merely demonized among the populace; otherwise, this court would have emptied of healthy individuals long ago.

"Your Majesty, someone desires to see you, claiming he is the son of King Nuruddin, the master of Aleppo and Syria—Salah."

"Salah, actually coming out of Aleppo? How surprising."

Baldwin IV’s tone, rarely showing a trace of astonishment.

"No problem, I will receive him tomorrow and give him the proper courtesies."

Losa looked at Baldwin IV, hesitated, and asked, "Your Majesty, I wish to know, how is your condition progressing?"

Baldwin IV laboriously lifted one hand, pulling back the silk sleeve, revealing his arm wrapped in bandages.

He calmly stated, "The doctor looked at me, the condition is worsening quickly, it seems I don’t have long to live."

Indeed...

Losa placed a crystal bottle on the table, speaking softly, "Sir, this is a potion my witches have prepared for you, with a high probability of curing leprosy."

Baldwin IV looked at Losa in astonishment for a long while before saying, "The price? I know, potions made by witches always come with a price."

Losa whispered, "The price is you will become a werewolf."

"Curing leprosy at the cost of becoming a werewolf..."

Baldwin IV sighed deeply, "Losa, the Church says leprosy is a curse, a punishment for those deeply sinful individuals."

"I don’t buy into that, or rather, I don’t greatly believe in the Church."

"To them, I may not be a devout believer, only I know that I am, because the Church does not represent the will of the Heavenly Father."

"Losa, I appreciate your goodwill."

Baldwin IV’s smile remained gentle, "I once sought a witch to try to cure my ailments."

"She couldn’t actually do it, I just refused."

"Her way was: to use the blood of a hundred children to sacrifice to a malevolent being, in exchange for my transformative reawakening."

"Admittedly, I was indeed tempted by this; it was a grave mistake."

Losa urgently argued, "How can you confuse the two? Brewing such a magic potion doesn’t require taking lives."

Baldwin IV smiled:

"Losa, for the Kingdom, I have borne enough, I have lost my hair and beard, my body has become increasingly distorted, unbearable to behold.

Now, I just wish to die in a human form."

Baldwin IV’s demeanor was calm as if recounting someone else’s burdens.

"I have mostly arranged my affairs after my death. My nephew will succeed me, with Queen Sibilla as regent, but his consort will be Belian."

"Do not consider me irreplaceable."

"During the Mongisa battle, I thought I was the chosen King, yet the Spring Valley battle awoke me from this illusion."

Baldwin IV smiled, "Losa, I am not as talented as you believe, give me a healthy body, and my achievements would still be limited."

"Look at the brighter side, at least leprosy, while taking away my senses, also erased my pain."

Losa fell into silence.

He knew the kind of suffering a leprosy patient must endure.

Muscles twisting, limbs atrophy, even the five senses continuously fading.

It’s not just the physical pain, but the spiritual agony of witnessing one’s body decay over time,

Losa felt somewhat anxious, "Your Majesty, I just wish to persuade you one last time."

Baldwin IV shook his head, pointing to his own head, "Losa, you can’t even imagine how it would be for a werewolf to become the King of Jerusalem, it would be so reprehensible."

"If the time comes, and I give you an order to eat a child, would you still be able to maintain your sworn loyalty to me?"

"Even so, you don’t understand."