"Our sire, the king Philip the Fair is dead." "The day is November 29th, 1314" "Since yesterday, a solar eclipse has been shrouding the kingdom in darkness" "It was snowing all over, and when the light finally comes back," "France is alone." "After 29 years of a rule without weakness, the Iron King has just died, struck in the brain." "His death comes less than six months... after the death of the Keeper of the Seals, Guillaume de Nogaret." "And less than 7 months, after the death of the Pope Clement the 5th" "This way, the curse sent by the Grand Master of the Templars from his stake seems confirmed." "Pope Clement" "Knight Guillaume de Nogaret" "King Philip" "Before a year has gone, I summon you to be judged before God." "Cursed!" "You will all be cursed!" "To the 13th generation!" "The King is no more" "Two of his youngest sons are here" "Philip, Count of Poitiers and Charles of France" "And here is his successor, his eldest, Louis of Navarre" "He's been praying for two days by the embalmed corpse of his father" "In a way, he lives, he breathes, he eats in the dead king's place." "This way he assures that the royal essence is one and continuous" "Louis has frail shoulders and a hollow torso." "He's preparing himself to be king, to become Louis X," "The Stubborn" "The Quarreler." "Three empty seats:" "An empty seat for Marguerite, the spouse of Louis of Navarre." "An empty seat for Jeanne, spouse of lord Philip." "And an empty seat for Blanche, the spouse of Charles." "Convicted of adultery, the first two are being held at the fortress of Château Gaillard" "The third one convicted for her complicity is crying in her cell in the dungeon of Dourdan" "The dead, the convicted and the condemned to death excepted" "Everyone else is here" "Lord Charles of Valois" "Brother to the late King" "Enguerrand of Marigny his coadjutor" "Mahaut of Artois" "Robert of Artois, the aunt and the nephew, the sworn enemies" "Bouville the loyal servant" "Tolomei the banker" "This couple is Guccio, Tolomei's nephew and Marie of Cressay" "Some new faces among them, a cardinal a queen from Hungary a jailkeeper, a linenkeeper, they will take their place in the story at their own time." "As always, here and there, some common men and women:" "France." "You have to be strong to be king, used to say King Philip" "Louis was experiencing it firsthand." "When he looked up, Louis thought he was hearing... the voice of the late King as he did during council meetings." "Be quiet" "You've seen him become king" "What has he done?" "What has he said?" "He took his charge at once." "Our lord" "The king Philip the Fair is dead" "He's dead." "He's finally dead." "A mirror." "The first thing I want is a mirror." "Do you think, we can be pretty again." "We will be free." "We are free." "I am Queen of France." "My lady." "The king is dead, the king is dead!" "Sir Bersumée, do you know who are watching from now on?" "I know it, my lady" "Since the rider Galais has brought the news." "and since then I haven't stopped thinking about it." "I've been held here for seven months." "I have no furniture, no clothes and no linen." "I eat the same gruel as your archers and I have only one hour of fire a day." "Those were the orders of the Lord of Nogaret." "The Lord of Nogaret is dead." "Lord Marigny is still alive." "He rules the jails and everything else in this kingdom." "I obey his orders in everything." " Hasn't he brought you new orders?" " None, my lady." "Sir Bersumée!" "I am only here because of the hate of the late King for me." "The hate of a king is a terrible thing." "Nothing is worse but the hate of a queen." "I am count Robert of Artois." "I am count Robert of Artois." "Robert, my cousin" "Yes, your cousin and your servant" "Behold what they've done to us, my cousin." "Not even a seat to offer to a lord of your rank." " Captain." " Sir?" "Is there no fire here?" " No, sir." " Then make some." "And where are the furnitures?" "I had orders." "Then you have new ones." "A bed, chairs and a torch." "And quick." "And something to eat." "Please." "What do you mean "Something to eat"?" "But of course." "Patés, roasts, fresh fruits, winter pears and confitures." "And wine, a lot of wine." " But My lord." " Is he deaf or what?" "My lord." " Marguerite." "Your hair." " What about my hair?" "Are they full again?" "What else do I have to show you, cousin." "I did not want to offend you, cousin." "I only wanted to know if your hair had grown again." "So that you could show yourself to the world." "What did you come here again to say?" "I came to deliver you a message." " From whom?" "From Louis, your husband, and our new king." "And from our good cousin, Lord Valois." "But I have orders to speak to you alone." "Of course, I will take leave" " But first, one word, cousin." " Yes?" "Charles, my husband, what does he think of me?" "Since Pontoise, he's never been happy like he used to." "I think he misses you, despite of what you did to him." "Do you think he forgives me?" "It all depends on your cousin." "Even with light I don't enjoy this place." "And it's freezing" "I did not choose it" "Is the fire coming?" "Nothing is more abrupt, cousin." "when you went to sleep as a prince than to wake up a king." "Louis task is difficult and his shoulders are frail" "I would not surprise you if I said Enguerrand, and Charles of Valois are running the affairs." "Not together." "One against the other" "Do you know which side I favor?" "Enguerrand rules with the shopkeepers." "Valois with the barons." "Louis hates me still?" "Well, he might well do." "Since he's become king, the horns you've given him have become troublesome for putting his crown on." "What does he want?" "He wants the cancelation of your marriage." "The cancelation." "Let him ask for it" "And if he asks, he won't get it." "Because adultery is no ground for a cancelation according to cannon law" "It's absurd but that's how it is." "If only you had a hundred lovers." "Don't give me any regrets, cousin." "So Lord Valois has come up with an idea to get you out of this mess." "Louis or me?" "Both." "If you agree to say that your daughter Jeanne is not Louis' and say that you have never consumed your marriage with your spouse" "In a way, if you've never been married, ...then cancelation goes without saying." "And what do I get in exchange for my cooperation?" "There are confortable convents in your Burgundy" "You'll be brought to one of those" "Till the cancelation is declared" " And then?" " Then you'll live wherever and with whoever you want" "It's quite the lie you're asking from me." "Cousin" "Lying?" "For a woman?" "Are you sure that is what Louis wants?" "His father was hardly cold that he said it to me." "Maybe seven months of prison have made me hate lying." "I will leave you with your conscience then." "And I will sleep for an hour." "See you at dinner, cousin." " Is Lady Eudeline still the linenkeeper?" " I believe so." "Make sure." "And if she is, bring her to me at once." "My lord Louis." "I mean "Sire"." "I knew we shouldn't have given you new linens." "You don't sleep well in those." "I brought you linens often washed." "I did not make you come for the linens." " Where is your daughter now?" " My mother is raising her." "Why haven't you kept her here?" "She looked to much like her father." " Is this true?" " Oh, yes" " I know this one is mine, at least." " Yes, my lord, she's really yours." "And with every passing day, it becomes clearer." "Do you remember the gallery?" "How did I show it you?" "Very honestly, sir." "You ordered me to teach you love." "How old were you?" "I was almost 20." "And me 15." "It was the first time." "Did I hurt you?" " Did it feel good?" " Not at first." "But later, yes." "And your husband, who found you pregnant when he came back from Italy?" "And threatened to break your bones, what is he doing now?" "He died, sire, a couple of months after the birth of the child." " How old is she?" " 9." "I'll give her the rank of princess, when she's of age to be married." "May I take my leave?" "No, lie down right here." "Here, my lord?" "Yes, it's my late father's bed." "Lie down here." "What are you waiting for?" "Remove your clothes." "It's only natural on the day of your father's death." "It can happen to anybody." "No, it's the fault of that filthy bitch." "That whore." "I wanted her death after her treason." "But my father refused." "I did not get revenge and now I feel I am the one to be dead." "In the gallery as well, the first time, you could not do it." "This bed has woe all over it." "I'll never be able to sleep in it." "It is a good bed, sire." "A king's bed." "You only need a queen in it." "Do you really believe it?" "You need a queen, sire." "You'll see how strong you'll feel afterward." "Ah." "Your turn to sleep my good Lormais." "Sir chaplain." "As her confessor, you know Lady Marguerite well, don't you?" "What is the weakness in her nature?" "The flesh." "What a new finding, indeed." "What else?" "Give me a sentiment which I can use in the kingdom's interest." "He did not want to hear certains things." "I do not see anything to bend her resolve." "But what I said:" "This princess will is as strong as a sword." "Jail hasn't dulled it at all." "She hasn't changed." "Her soul is in her pants." "Has she even smiled here?" "Her soul..." "Not that I know of, my lord." "Versumet may have removed his chainmail some times." "No, my lord." "I give you my word." "I find you a little pessimist, sir chaplain." " Not the slightest trousers." " No." " Only a gown." " Yours." "It's been known to happen, during the Crusades, soutanes were pulled up, and not only to thrust with the sword." "As for me, I have no problem with that." "On the contrary." "Her cousin." "Maybe ladies can confort each other." "What a nice sight." "Oh, my lord." "Are you asking for a confession secret?" "My dear brother" "If we gave you servants in prison, it isn't to keep secrets, ...but to repeat them." "I have the right." "Now, I'm listening." " In the interest of the kingdom." " Nothing, nothing at all." "Neither Lady Marguerite, nor Lady Blanche, ...declared any guilt to me." "Six months." "Not innocent then, but prudent." "Well, we'll do with what we have then." "Do you know how to read?" "Then you'll prepare for me a parchment, feathers and everything you need to write a letter." "I will accompany my lord at the princesses side." "No." "You stay here ready to write as soon as I call you." "Ladies." "No manners between us." "We're family." "Let's eat." "Blanche and I we'll sit here." "Marguerite here." "Long live the Queen." "Now, cousin." "Have you thought about it?" "Yes, ...and I think I'll have to refuse." "Come now." "You're not serious." "Yes, and I said no." "Marguerite." "I am your friend." "Some things are better taken care of on the spot." "Louis is patient at heart." "The more he waits, the more he hates you." "Right now, he's willing to give up anything to get what he wants" "Agree to sign this declaration." "After that, it'll be quick." "We don't need the Holy See." "The bishopry court will be enough." "In three months, you are free." "If I don't sign?" "Then we'll look." "And we'll find." "You can always find something to cancel the marriage of a king." "As soon as we have a pope." "There is still no pope then." "That's your luck" "But it won't last" "These fools of cardinals will eventually reach an agreement, after they've sold their vote time and time again to the highest bidder when he has a pope" "Louis won't need you anymore." "But without one, ...he can't touch me." "Don't be stubborn." "Robert?" "I've never seen you do anything for free." "What's your angle here?" "I love the way you bare everyone's soul." "Let's talk frankly." "I want to please Louis." "It's at the beginning that you get the biggest favors." "After that it's too late." "Power makes you greedy." "Why do you care to say that your daughter is not Louis'." "Since you've never loved her." "It's true I don't love her." "That proves she's Louis." "We're stupid to play cat and mouse like this." "We love each other Marguerite, for a long time..." "I kidnap you tonight..." "I hide you in some comfy inn close to the court..." "I watch over you." "It's true that you are a strong one" "Why didn't you take me as lover," "Instead of this young idiot?" "How happy would be, we'd be ruling the country." "Poor Louis." "It's not too late Marguerite." "Then it is done." "I bring the chaplain who's waiting downstairs, we expedite this letter and I take you away." "Bastard, he's waiting downstairs?" "Really?" "And the prize will be the right for you to unclothe me?" "Cousin." "You've behaved with me like whores do with men." "But you forget that women are better at this game." "And you are only a student." "You're wrong Marguerite." "You're completely wrong." "I'll give myself to you, for nothing." "But I'll never sign." "I will never say that my daughter is not his." "Because if he dies, which I wish with all my soul." "She will be Queen of France." "And I'll be Queen-Mother." "You're gambling a lot." "The odds aren't great." "But it's all I have." "As you wish." "Cousin." "You're an idiot, brother." "Why haven't you discovered the weakness of you prisonners?" "My horses." " My lord, the orders." " What orders?" "Obey those you were given." "Lord Marigny will tell it to you." "You, in Sienne with my parents." "You, in London with our cousin Albisi." "You, in Bruges, you know where." "Roads are still safe, the new reign has hardly begun." "Let's go, let's go." "When the government is poor, it often finds new concerns about religion and morality." "And when the powerful fight each other, it's the small people who pay." "Lombards are perfect for this." "There could be... pressures, threats, extortions, ...even torture and torments." "But I have weapons." "The discharge signed by the archbishop." "Yes, the proof that Jean de Marigny, ...the brother of our honest Treasury and Buildings Intendant, has dabbled with the Templars treasure for his own gain." "That's for the bourgeois but what about the barons?" "Artois?" "The red-clad Count?" "He is the sworn man of Charles of Valois." "They go together like peas in a pod." "I got his debts." "I also have evidences of his trial against his aunt Mahaut." "And documents like these can damn a man or save him." "Then you'll jump on the first horse and leave at once, to put all of this in a safe place." "But where will I put them, uncle?" "Not too close, not too far, in one of our trading posts." "A Neaufles, and you'll take the opportunity to collect the debt on those castellans of Cressay." "Uncle, I have an idea." "Our trading post in Neaufles can also receive a visit from the seargents." "It's better to leave those documents... in the home of someone who can't be suspected." "At the Cressay castellans, no doubt." "I think that their daughter won't refuse, if things haven't changed between us." "You're full of promise, my son." "A good banker must know how to use love to make money." "The reign was beginning poorly." "The early winter was disastrous." "Hunger was in the air." "Death would be walking the streets." " Look at our king." "He's looking sour." " He's looking like a cuckold." "What is this?" "Those Lombards, sire." "This animal brings bad luck." "Take it away." "Remember, my father received it from the banker Tolomei, the day we burned the Templars." "Here, Lady Jeanne." "Go greet your father the King." "I do not wish to see this bastard girl." "Are you really sure she is, sire?" "The doubt is enough." "Louis must have really good reasons to say what he says." "Did you hear that word they threw at me when we were leaving Saint-Denis?" "Which one?" "Oh, yes, "cuckold"." "It was probably just a mark of recognition, my nephew." "The one who said it was certainly more of one." "But he doesn't even have the fortune to be king." "I don't want to hear that word again." "I don't want to see it in the eyes of the people who look at me." "Robert." "So?" "She will not yield, my cousin" "And do you know what she hopes?" "That you die before her." "Uncle, I thought it was all taken care of." "The cancelation is not for tomorrow." "You're condemning me to a lonely bed." "I promised you the cancelation, cousin." "There are no known examples that a king could not obtain one." "Let's rather talk about picking a queen." "A beautiful queen who will giv you a guaranteed progeny." "But in Louis situation, he's not free yet." "And if he doesn't want to take a queen unworthy of a throne?" "The crown of France." "I will name you at once ten princesses in Europe." "Just name one rather." "Let's say..." "I just had an idea." "My niece," "Clemence of Hungary." "She's from our blood, from the Anjou line." "Her brother, Charles Robert, rules over Hungary, ...and her uncle is king of Naples." " How old is she?" " 22." "Come now." "It won't be your first marriage." "And aren't you weaned from those girls that still play with dolls when you bring them to the altar and become deceiving and adulterous as they grow older?" "Her face?" "Her body?" "My nephew." "She is the most beautiful woman in all of Naples." "Indeed, she's known to be fully grown." " Is she dark haired like the Burgundy woman?" " She's blond haired." "and comes from a good French family." "She's almost already in your bed." "But if she is as you describ her, Charles, there is little chance that her devout family agrees to the marriage before the cancelation." "I am too close an ally of her parents from Naples." "I will take care of it." "You will send an envoy immediatly then." "How hasty you are, Louis." "It is a kingdom affair." "It must be debated during a Council meeting." "Then I will ask Marigny to call a meeting for tomorrow morning." "Why Marigny?" "We must not lose any time." "I can call a meeting myself, with your permission." "My nephew, I'll call a council more worthy of you." "Then do as you wish." "My cousin, you've been a damn good salesman for your niece Clemence." "But tell me:" "Marguerite?" "She will consent sooner or later." "Otherwise we will find a way to persuade her." "Is sir Praile ill?" "What about sir Dubois and sir Du Bourdonnais?" "Are they otherwise busy?" "I'm not seeing any of them." "It was not my duty to gather the Council this time." "Lord Marigny." "The King invites whoever he wants and however he wants." "It's his right as a ruler." "The king." "Forgive my lateness." "Sit down, councilmen." "Brother, my first decision is for you." "I intend, as soon as the mourning time is over, to give you the peerage for your countship of Poitiers, so that you can be among the Peers of France, and help me bear the weight of the Crown." "For you, Charles," "I have decided to give you the countship of La Marche, with the revenues of all its dependencies." "Sire, what subject should we discuss now?" "Some should be dealt with quickly." "Tax collection." "The state of the Treasury." "The food shortage striking the country." "Lord Marigny" "We haven't been summoned for those matters, ...and there will be time for them later." "His main concern as a good king, ...is that of his progeny and the throne succession." "That's right." "That's exactly right, my friends." "The king believes that he must already try to find a new spouse." "And his attention has turned toward Clemence of Hungary." "Lord Marigny, what do you think of this project?" "The Lady of Hungary certainly has many qualities to be a queen, since the king is considering her, but except that she is the niece of Lord Valois, which is probably enough for us to like her," "...we cannot get from such a treaty or anything concerning the expansion of the kingdom, ...which always was the goal of King Philip." "and no help in the event of a war either." "In other words, I'm certain that your father would have opposed this union." "My brother Philip was a great king to be sure." "But nobody here knows his thoughts, nor can they use them freely." "And you least of all, Lord Marigny, who wasn't of such great advice, ...in the disastrous Burgundy alliances" "Disastrous indeed." "My lord..." "Do I need to remind you that you did not oppose them?" "when they were signed" "Those disastrous alliances have brought the kingdom more territories than any war we won." "Moreover if we can wish for the king all the spouses of the earth" "First you must rid him of the one he has." "Bouville, your advice?" "Sire..." "The family you're considering is one, ...where the traditions of chivalry are beautifully kept." "We would be honored to serve a queen who..." "You are to be the envoy sent to the lady Clemence." "And on the way back, since we need a pope loyal to us," "You will go through Avignon to stir up this little conclave." "They say cardinals are for hire." "So you will be provided the funds by Lord Marigny." "But this gold, sire, where do we find it?" "In the Treasury of course." "The Treasury is in bad shape." "Bad shape?" "Sire..." "Why don't you ask Lord Marigny for instance what he did with money he got from the Flemish, ...in exchange of the shameful retreat of our knights?" "This gold wasn't transferred to the Treasury." "Sire, I've just been accused in front of you of embezzlement and trafficking with the enemies of the kingdom." "It is more than a man of honour should suffer in his life." "I am only grateful to your father for my wealth whose right arm I was in all things for sixteen years." "Nobody is trying to defend me in this arranged council." "What an infamy." "Even you, sire, are silent." "I beg you to create a commission to audit my finances." "The finances who are my responsibility before you." "And only before you." "It will be done." " Until then, you will not be in charge of our Treasury." " I will not, sire." "You are wrong, brother." "You do not force the hand of such a man, ...and not in this way." "I was accused of dabbling with treaties." "The knave, the villain!" "He spent all his life selling himself, to the highest bidder, pope or emperor." "And the other one, this poor little king with his fly brains, ...who only thinks about a woman's embrace." "He took the Treasury away from me but he forgot the rest." "He forgot that I will not be broken so easily." "Write to the most powerful, most loved and most fearful king Edward of England, duke of Aquitaine." "Sire..." "As the death of our sovereign, the widely mourned King Philip, and the greatest the kingdom has ever known" "I turn to you to discuss affairs concerning the good of our two nations." "Fetch my brother, the archbishop." "More than my fortune is at stake." "Ah, my good cousin." "Is the fortune, that has betrayed me for so long, finally smiling on me?" "Have you heard my followers at the court?" "They almost asked that we put back the coat of arms on the windows." "Even the old Lord Joinville, who transported his 91 years all the way here to give me the blessing of Saint-Louis." "All the old chivalry is siding with me." "Say, cousin." "What have you gotten from Saint-Louis?" "Nothing." "My grand-father got a piece of his left finger ...but it passed to my good aunt Mahaut." "I own a bone of his left heel." "And I swear on it, ...that we will go back to that good old feudal society that created this country's greatness." "But first, I must send Bouville to Naples." "Or I won't hear anything else until it's done." "Nothing is more sacred than a king's impatience." "But Naples is far." "Gifts must be brought there." "An envoy is as ruinous as a pretty girl." "Cousin." "How do you think we can afford... an open table for sixty guests all year round." "And with one meal for every service." "And I have eleven children." "That accounts for a great deal of servants." "If us, well-born, ...cannot live above our means, ...be it to spill our blood or to spend someone else money," "Who will?" "My grandfather's foot excepted," "Everything you see here is pawned." "And doubly so." "This banker." " We must speak to him." " Tolomei?" "He's there, waiting for your orders." "My lord, how can I be of assistance?" "You're a banker, you probably know gold." "I hear you, my lord." "But bankers are merely gardeners who must sow gold before they harvest it." "But I want the fruit now." "I'm only asking you an advance on a guaranteed harvest." "I need gold for the Treasury." "And how much do you need?" "10,000 pounds." "Santa Madonna, but where would I find them?" "Sir banker, does what I've been told have any truth to it?" "What, sir?" "That since the death of King Philip, a lot of gold left France for Italy." "Why do you need those 10,000 pounds?" "We need two things:" "To buy a conclave for a pope election" "And obtain the consent of Lady of Hungary for the marriage of Lady Clemence with King Louis" "It's sir Bouvil that we're sending first to Naples, then Avignon." "I need the money for this trip." "All this is well thought and I wish you the best success." "But nothing assures me that you will manage to marry the king, or to get a pope, ...or even that I will see my gold again." "Even if I'm able to provide it." "What I'm proposing is a debt on the Treasury." "What better guarantee could exist for foreign compagnies like yours?" "Unfortunately, my lord," "King Philip has shown us beautifully, ...how the debts of jews and Templars are repaid." "To lend money to the treasury, is a deadly business nowadays." "Do you know this, sir Tolomei?" "It's a relic from my ancestor." "I intend to bring back the customs of King Saint Louis to the kingdom." "All the customs?" "Are we gonna restore the rights for the barons to create their own money?" "Are we gonna restore the right to wage private wars?" "Then King Philip is dead indeed." "Come now, my lord." "I believe I could be useful to you." "I believe I could even get from abroad the money you're asking me." "In Italy more precisely." "Precisely." "Where you envoy is going." "Everything is for the best then." "Only thing, it will be necessary for one of my men to accompagny the delegation." "Why?" "To take the money and to act as accounting, ...you know, Italian bankers are even more wary than ours." "And who can you find who won't be a sore sight for Sir Bouville?" "My nephew." "Guccio." "Perfect." "He's a great lad." "And he has good manners." "He will help our friend Bouville, who probably does not talk the language, ...to travel the roads." "Your nephew will do." "It seems Lord Artois will always get from me everything he desires." "Make haste with the preparations, banker." "The happiness of the kingdom is at stake." "My good cousin." "Who said that Saint-Louis relics weren't capable of any miracle." "I said no pope." "As long as there is no pope, this bloody little king is in my hands." "So no cardinals ready to hear Bouville, on his way from Naples." "No peace in Avignon, on the contrary." "Everybody is fighting there." "Brother, christendom needs a pope." "You can say that to your canon boys, but not to me." "I've seen you drool in your soup, sneeze in your hands." "You know I only wish to serve you." "And I'll do it even better as a cardinal." "But if I sow discord in this conclave prone to fighting, ...then I risk alienating several would-be popes." "Francesco Caettani, for instance." "And if he's elected, he would refuse me the cardinal hat" "If you are to have this hat some day, I will be the one to give it to you." "As I did for your archbishopry." "No calculation, just follow my orders." "Or not only won't you have a hat, but you won't even have your chasuble," "You will wear a gown, like a miserable monk." "...that you would be, if not for me." "Here are my instructions." "You will send two emissaries to Avignon." "That we can completely trust." "You send them to Carpentras, to Orange, wherever the cardinals have gone." "one has to worry the French prelates, by pretending that the new king will allow the return of the Holy See to Rome." "The other must say to the Italians the exact opposite." "I want to delay the election." "Do you understand?" "Sir de Pareilles has arrived." "Let him come." "Go." "Warm yourself." "I should have known." "Now that King Philip is not there to whip them, the dogs are at my throat." "Two missions for you." "There are both related to the inspection of strongholds." "What's the name of the capitain of Château Gaillard?" " Bersumée." "You'll tell this Bersumée that I know, ...that Robert of Artois went to see the Lady of Burgundy." "It violates the orders I gave." "Only the king is allowed and I don't believe he wants to" "So if this Bersumée values his head, let him know this:" "No safe-conduct without my seal is valid." " What should happen to lady Marguerite" " She shall live." "But she must not see anyone." "The second mission will lead you to Villeneuve with three companies of archers, ...to reinforce our garnison in front of Avignon." " To I have to act in secret?" " No, you must be seen at all cost." "You make your archers parade six times, to give the impression that you are 2000." "I want the cardinal to believe it's a parade of war." "Farewell, Pareilles." "I'll have the instructions written." " Someone is here." " Let him come." "My lords, you haven't had the privilege to be invited to the council this morning." "So we will hold a small council between us." "Let's hold this meeting." "As you must know already, ...the king has taken the Treasury from me." "I have asked for a commission, to check my finances." "I want to give them the books as spotless as they should be." "To this end, we'll give the order to every prevost, in every district and in every country, ...to pay all debts of the kingdom at once." "You must pay everything, equipements, constructions." "Everything that was ordered by the Crown, ...without forgetting anything pertaining to the House of Navarre." "Pay everything to the last coin remaining." "Even what does not need to be paid immediatly." "Monseigneur De Valois wants to control the Treasury..." "Let him come." "But he will find it empty." "And for a long time." "Signore Baglioni, ...tell me what you think of this portrait, now that it's ready." "I say that it looks just like you, ...the most beautiful woman I ever laid eyes on." "You're not too honest, signore Baglioni." "I was led to believe that you were very fond of some damsel in France." "And is it not true that there is no prettier face, ...than the one we are in love with?" "Do not jest." "Separation is difficult to endure." "And I believe I did not know how much I cared for her when I was at her side." " Does she love you as well?" " If it wasn't so, I would die." "When I go to France, God willing." "I'd be delighted to know the woman of your heart, whose name I still haven't heared." "My lady, if you wish to know her name," "Her name is Marie," "Marie de Créssais." "She comes from a noble family, and she's 16." "Then be happy, signore Guccio, it's all I hope." "Italy makes you lose weight, sire." "You think?" "I'm wondering if I shouldn't dye my hair." "If your hair were black on both sides, you would be damning yourself." "Damning myself?" "Why is that?" "It's the way you visit cities." "In Sienna, before leaving, you made a point to go to confession" "In Florence, you've made penance." "On your horse while we were riding high." "In Rome..." "It's strange:" "I don't remember that you made penance about anything in Rome." "Well, we we're in a hurry, weren't we?" "Yes, yes." "And in Naples." "In Naples, I never see you or only at dawn when you're coming home." "Today you had a two-coloured sleeveless tunic without a mantle." "In January." "It must be the lightness of the air." "I've never felt so young." "I hope you haven't come to tell me that the portrait is done." "But it is, sir." "Then you're getting ready to leave for France?" "With terrible regret, my lady" "Because all the beauties I've enjoyed here.." "We've already heard all about it." "But your mission is accomplished." "Almost." "Almost?" "I mean that it is done in principle, because my son and I are giving our consent to the project." "But this consent, don't forget, is subject to conditions." "Conditions?" "It will only be final when your master is free from the Lady of Burgundy." "Free quickly and completely." "No misunderstanding, my lord." "We won't agree to a repudiation accepted by bishops under your thumb." "that higher-ups from the clergy would be able to contest afterward." "My lady, as I have the honor to assure you that we will obtain the annulation before soon." "Don't try to convince me of what isn't done." "This annulation is the foremost concern of Lord Valois." "I know my son-in-law." "He's got a way with words." "Let it be said that we're not giving any territory." "France has enough already." "So about this pope" "On the way back, I will be stopping at Avignon" "And we will have a pope" "I guarantee you" "In Avignon, you should see Monseigneur Duèze" "He's loyal to us" "That being said, let's agree on a time table." "Lady Clemence is not lacking pretendants that is certain" "And there are many princes who wish to have her as their spouse" "So everything should be done by summer." "Do you know where we are?" "At the bridge, one lieue to the north of Avignon," "The cardinal Duèze, that we've managed to find, mascarading as emissaries from the king of Naples, has found nothing better not to be recognized than to meet here" "Right in the middle of a blowing mistral." "Excellente initiative" "The cardinal and I would have find it difficult to lie while shouting" "I come to you, monseigneur, on behalf of the the king of Naples, ...but also on behalf of the king of France." "Why did you wish to see me" "Is Marigny still as powerful as they say?" "Or is he only pretending?" "The truth, monseigneur, is that I've come to tell you the wish of King Louis and Lord Valois," " To have a pope as soon as possible" " A pope?" "For nine months the king of France has been preventing me with strength or money from being elected" "Has the opinion of my person somehow changed in Paris since then?" "Is it me that they want as pope?" "We want a pope" "A pope from whom we want a service as soon as he's elected" " Which one?" " You see, monseigneur .." " Does the kind want to remarry with Clemence of Hungary" " Who said that?" " Haven't you spent three long weeks in Naples?" "to bring back 10,000 pounds from the Lombards and a beautiful portrait of Lady Clemence" "An annulation?" "Yes, it's always possible." "There are always reasons." "For instance, the doors of the church were wide open on the wedding day." "Isn't the king a cousin too close to his spouse?" "All that we need to say is that we forgot the dispensation." "Family ties are a good things." "It could be used to cancel the marriage of all the princes of Europe." "If you became pope would the cancelation be possible before summer?" "If you ask me, an annulation is easier than an election, ...but it can only come after." " What about the conclave?" " There is no conclave" "If we were to summon it, what would be the result?" " Nothing." "It's pretty simple:" "Two thirds of the voting members are needed to elect a pope." "But we are 23:" "15 French and 8 Italian." "So we need 16 votes." "But fifteen French and an Italian, wouldn't that do?" "I can guarantee three out of eight Italians." "The five other won't vote for anybody but cardinal Caettani." "But with the French ones, we are far from it." "If they voted together, you would have had a pope for a long time." "How many are certain?" "None." "But six are paid for thanks to the generous King of Naples." " Six and three." " Yes, sire." "It makes nine." "We're seven short." "I am able to provide you with some funds." " How much for each cardinal?" " Those cannot be bought with money" "Are they honest men?" "No, truth be told." " They're afraid of Marigny" " Everything is about Marigny then." " Everything." "My brother" "The royal commission has finished its inquiry" "The coffers are empty but Marigny's finances are spotless." "The finances, the finances..." "We all know they can say anything." "And everyone knows you're on Marigny's side." "I am not on anybody's side, ...but on the side of the kingdom, and of justice." "If you wanted anything but the truth in the report, you should have nominated someone else." "I'm showing you evidence enough to clear Marigny." "I will wait the return of Bouville for my decision." "What has Bouville to do with the decision?" "I want news from Naples and the Conclave." "You're afraid to displease our uncle Charles, by being just toward Marigny." "And only because he promised you a wife." "And you will sacrifice an honest minister." "The only one, to this day, able to run the affairs." "Be careful, brother" "No half measures would be possible after that." "You would have to give back his full power to Marigny." "or to destroy him with fabricated crimes." "And to punish him for his loyalty" "I need a pope" "Our uncle keeps promising one for tomorrow." "He will end up giving you a Caettani, who will go back to Rome as soon as he's elected." "and from there, he'll nominate your bishops and rule your country" "It's better to have no pope than a pope hostile to France" "And Marigny?" "Do you think his pope will give me the cancelation?" "He will give you a pope devoted to the interests of the kingdom" "As a Peer, I advice you to sign." "It is an act of justice." "Justice belongs to the king alone!" "No, my lord." "It is the king who belongs to Justice." "What is it?" "I will kill myself." "I will throw myself from the stairs." "You're crazy." "It's all your fault." "We'll never get out of here." "It's your fault." "You did not want to write Robert's letter." "You know the door is closed." "I'll call." "I'll tell them I want to sleep." "They'll take me to my room." " And I'll jump from the stairs." " Wait." "They will come back." "Robert, or someone else." "They cannot do anything without my signature." "The Quareller must be dying of impatience." "I'll promise them the letter but this time," "I will demand to write it in Burgundy, when we are both free." "Look at her" "She still thinks she's the Queen." "Look at the Queen." " Be quiet" " The Queen." "The Queen." "We don't have to become crazy." "I can't take it anymore either." "I am at rope's end." "I will write the letter." "Guard!" "I must write to the king." "What is she saying?" "She's acknowledging and confessing that her daughter Jeanne is not of Louis and also that she has always refused herself to him." "Either she's lying when she confesses to me, ...or she's lying now." "Who did she say must get the letter?" "Lord of Artois, so that he can give it to the king." "And what orders have given you Sir Pareilles?" "To tell Lord Marigny everything." "In your place, capitain," "I will give the letter to the Great Inquisitor, who's also the king's confessor." "She wrote "I confess"." "It is Church business, you see." "You've done well to bring it to me." "You have my compliments." "Please tell Lady Marguerite that her letter will go where it must." "And if she wants to write more, ...they shall go to the same place." "How is Lady Marguerite doing?" "As well as you can do in prison." "But she's resisting better than Lady Blanche, whose sanity seems to be deteriotating." "Watch over their physical health." "Let them be fed and warmed." "My lord, I know those are your orders, but I can't execute them." "Why not?" "I haven't received my men's pay, or anything for the logistics, which are quite expensive in our regions, where the food shortage is happening." "I haven't been in charge of the Treasure lately." "But things are going back to normal." "You will be paid this week" "Thank you, my lord" "How much do we owe you?" " 15 pounds my lord" " Wait in the antichamber, I will give the order to give you 30." "Now, my nephew, did I lie to you?" "Behold this complexion and these honey-colored hairs." "And the nobility of her stance, and her neck." "What a pretty neck" "And I must add, that Lady Clemence is even more pleasing, in the flesh." "She's gorgeous." "She really is gorgeous" "What a grand idea you had, uncle." "I will be highly in your debt." "And you, Sir Bouville..." "I'll give you 200 pounds of revenue from the Treasury on the day of the wedding." "Sire, the honour to serve you is reward enough." "Then we are engaged?" "I just have to be unmarried." "Yes, sire." "And it must be done before summer." "I really hope I won't be waiting so long." "Before summer?" " Who send before summer?" " Queen Mary, sire" "She has other candidates for her daughter." "And despite you being the most glorious and the most desirable" "She's set a time table." "But it was only a word." "To hasten us and give herself some airs, ...but if the annulation were to take some time." " Lady Clemence would be patient." " I do not know my lord." "She demanded that quite seriously and firmly." "Before summer..." "Before summer..." "What about the conclave?" "It's in bad shape, sire." "I was told to discuss at length with monseigneur Duèze, ...who, in case of his election, would give you the annulation." "Duèze?" "Why not?" "He still needs seven votes" "Buy them then." "They belong to..." "They belong to Lord Marigny." "How does he manage that?" "Through fear." "What a lucky man." "So you're telling me that only Marigny can get this done?" "It is my absolute conviction, sire." " Nephew!" " Uncle?" "You aren't going to clear this scoundrel's name?" "Others than you, uncle, have told me that his finances were honest." "Six of the barons belonging to the commission agreed with this." "Out of the eight chosen, only your chancellor shares your opinion." "My nephew, I beseech you to wait." "Marigny is deceiving you, like he deceived your father." "I told you I needed a pope." "But Marigny is opposed to Duèze." "Let him choose another one then." "She's alive." "Please let her be alive." "How long since she ate?" "Four days, a nettle broth." "Damned shortage." "I will save her." "I swear I will." "Here is our hunt from this morning:" "A crow with a broken leg and a field mouse." "An honest broth for the whole family." "There are traps everywhere." "Despite threatening the peasants with the stick if they hunt for themselves." "They'd rather get the stick, eat the game, and live." "What little the peasants leave us, is taken away by the prevost." " Portefruit!" " This thief of a prevost." "He comes..." "He's holding the last decree from Marigny, ...and he demands the last grain of wheat." "The last poultry." "We're eating dogs." "Cats have fled and turn feral." "We're eating grass." "And the cold too, and the frost." "A good shortage, sir provost." "I was just about to start, please take a seat." "With pleasure." "In a country stricken with shortage, sir provost," "You're demanding taxes in nature and claim everything you could eat." "Sir Baglioni..." "It is a very grave question for me and a great concern, I swear." "But I obey the orders from Paris." "I must send every week three carts of food, ...like all the other here, because Lord Marigny fears a riot." "And he wants to keep his hold on the capital." "And if your sergent manage to fill three carts, then they can easily fill four carts, and save one for you." "You see, if you want to keep the order in the kingdom you have to feed those whose charge it is to keep it." "But of course!" "You act the same way with the taille tax that you get as fermage." "You have to pay your troops." "So how do you manage this?" "Do you double the taxes?" "We have to!" "First, to get my charge," "I had to grease the hand of one of Marigny's deputy." "One of his deputy, really?" "I had to do it every Christmas, and the receiver's and the senechal's and in the end .." "In the end, you're not getting much for yourself." "Sir provost..." "I hate to see people unhappy." "Oh, you know, I just have to restrain myself a little." "I wasn't talking about you." "I was talking about my clerks." "Here are twenty pounds." "I will take some salt, some flour, ...beans, some dried meat and some fresh meat." "And you will be doing the same delivery every week." "But don't thank me." "By the way, sir." "What about your finances?" "My finances?" "The finances of the Cressay castelans." "Haven't I given you full satisfaction?" " I even amended the books" " You can still see the corrections sir provost" "Come, mister Baglioni, I will have someone prepare everything you need to take with you." "Oh, it's honey." "Marie, where are the documents I put in your care?" "I need them, my life and the life of many others depend on it" "They're in the chapel." "In my father's sepulchre." "Tell my mother you need to go there alone to pray for my health." "Thank you, Marie." "I was so afraid to die without seeing you again." "I have something to tell you." "I love you." "I have to go but I will be back, I swear." "I am forever yours." "If God allows me to live." "You must live, for my sake." "For you, I promise." "A man as powerful and as wary as Messire Enguerrand wouldn't risk putting his hands in the king's coffers." "If he embezzled, it must have been way more subtle." "So what do you propose to get rid of him?" "Be careful, banker." "It's a deadly game." "When you cannot kill your enemy head on, you have to shake his hand, and prepare to strike from the side." "And the sides of our foe, lies in the provinces where his people can act far from sight." "You know more than you're willing to say." "I am only saying, that perhaps, in some places, ...only half of what was collected goes to the Treasury." "If what my nephew Guccio coming back from Neaufles is telling me... what is not collected in pounds, is collected in food, that is being sold back at forbidden prices." "Then Marigny is guilty." "Are you sure?" "If not him, then his deputies." "It's the same, he's involved" "I know that a prevaricator, if found out, will make an excellent witness, or even better, a false witness." "What my lord must do first is to have the people on his side" "They're starving" "You can find a scapegoat for all this misery." "The people are a wonderful ally." "You use it at your leisure and you owe it nothing." "Ask the king" "To start an inquiry..." "It will be difficult" "For now, he's very fond of Marigny and his brother, the archbishop from whom he's expecting a pope" "I will take care of the archbishop, my lord." "What weapons do you have against him?" "better than a weapon a muzzle." "The lad is very skilled." "A lot more skilled than us." "More skilled, more skilled." "He only says what we think." "Things only seems more evident once he's said them, that's all." "So, my cousin." "What are you gonna do?" "Follow your banker's advice, my cousin." "Shake Marigny's hand, and obtain the summoning of the provosts from the king." "Sire, thank you." "Here you are gathered, the provosts, the baillifs, the senechals of France." "You are gathered here before the king, helped by his peers, his barons, his dignitaries and officers of the Crown." "This morning, I was happy about this." "I was finally able to display before all, ...the loyalty of my actions." "Yes, I was proud, proud of myself and proud of you." "But what am I hearing?" "My ears can hardly believe it." "How?" "While the famine is striking our country, while the kingdom is crying for food, there are lies and deceptions." "The People are being lied to, and condemned to death and despair." "And who's responsible?" "You, the provosts and the baillifs." "You who should be an example to all." "You that I wanted without faults." "I swear..." "You will give back everything." "Anyone who has lied and allowed the poor to starve will be punished." "That's a beautiful fit." "You have played your part well," "Lord Marigny." "If I didn't know better," "I think I would be in tears right now" "Why are you angry at these scoundrels, ...since you take your cut?" "My lord, if you can find, among that wretched dog pack, among those poor servants of the kingdom," "Even one to claim on his conscience, and to swear on his faith, that he greased my hand in any way, then I want to see him," "I want him to show himself." "Well, go ahead and talk." "Speak what you know." "Our beloved king is here to deliver justice." "Sire, I'm a big culprit." "But I was forced to do it by one of Marigny's clerks, who would demand a quarter of the taille every year." " For him?" " For his master." "The name of the deputy." "I want him here." "Gravier, Martial." "Martial Gravier." "Which district?" "Neaufles-Le-Château." "Martial Gravier has been dead for five years, sire." "No, it is not Gravier." "My mind is playing tricks." "I meant Berthomieu de Bonchartrin." "He is Count of Dreux, not me." "This testimony is nothing but a lie." "It has been told by my enemies to this poor servant, and learned too hastily to be remembered." "We dare to accuse me of stealing." "It's the second time that Lord Valois has indulged himself this." "It's one too many." "I will not accept it." "Sire, this fellow is a bad man." "He is the reason for the extortions people have been complaining about." "I can prove that he is a thief." "And that he betrayed the kingdom." "If you don't arrest him at once," "I swear before God, that I will never appear in the court of your Council ever again." "You've been lying." "Shut your mouth." "You are the one lying." "Uncle, how dare you." "Marigny, get a hold of yourself." " Both of you, go home, and calm your nerves." " My lord." " Go home, I say." "Bouville, take him." "I will have him hanged." "If I have one thing to do, I will have him hanged." " A muzzle?" "Yes, for an archbishop." "Lord Valois needs it at once." "The king has left us till this evening to unmask Marigny" "My lord, you're asking me to give up a tool that could save our lives." "My own and all my friends'." "Beware, banker, if you trick Lord Valois." "If he wins, he brings back the old customs which serves your interest." "And you will get back the 10,000 pounds you lent him." "But you must hurry." "I do not sleep too well these days, my lord." "And I have thought a lot" "First of all about the ordinances of King Saint-Louis" "I remembered that one of them decreed the spoliation of Lombard bankers" "And forbade them to live and trade in Paris." "So I'm very concerned" "What do you fear" "Lord Valois told you" "He supports you, he protects you" "My friends and I would like to have all this in writing." "So we have sent a request to the king" "For him to confirm" "Our custom privileges" "On the day the king approves our charter, we'll give you the documents." " Very fine documents to be sure." " You've played enough, Tolomei." "Your charter will be signed tomorrow." "But I need the muzzle tonight." "Tonight?" "What happened in Vincennes?" "Your provost failed" "He poorly recited his lesson" "If you were a banker, my lord would you still have Valois on your side?" "If Marigny stays, then you are in great danger." " Less than you, my lord" " That is why we must get rid of him" "The Quareller wants a wife for that he needs a pope." "If we can prove that Marigny is preventing it." "He will sacrifice him." "You want to use the brother against the brother?" "It could work." "Then banker..." "The muzzle." "There are risk you have to take." "Assets of the Templars?" "Embezzled by the Archbishop of Sens?" "Marigny's own brother." "I was told that you and your brother... are opposing the election of Cardinal Duèze in Avignon." "Thanks to you, the conclave ressembles a council of ghosts." "You are forgetting, my lord, ...that the conclave belongs to the cardinals, ...and not to your desires." "But if the Christendom can do without a pope," "So can the Archbishopry of Sens do without an archbishop." "Is that a threat?" " Against a minister of God?" " Do you know this, monseigneur?" "It is a discharge for a very important amount of money, that a Lombard named Tolomei has given to a Prince of the Church." "Who embezzled assets from the Templars." "It is signed Jean de Marigny." " It's a forgery." "I was sure of it." "We must punish this counterfeiting banker." "Ask for a trial before the king" "Or we will do it ourselves so that everyone can learn the truth." "What do you want from me?" "Leave your brother's side who isn't worth a damn, and reveal to King Louis what you know of his wretched orders about the conclave." "Do you believe that the king will forgive me?" "Your small accusation with the Templars is just about money." "To go against the king by doing your brother's bidding is a grave crime" "As all things pertaining to the state" "You have shown me reason" "I am ready to redeem myself however you want me to" "But first I want that document back" "Here." "We only need that Lord Valois and I to have see it." "Our testimony cannot be contested in the kingdom." "Another one." "I thought you had sworn never to appear before me again." "You gave me 24 hours to unmask Marigny and it is done." "Monseigneur Jean the archbishop will tell you himself the orders he received from his brother." "to preven the conclave from electing a pope." "I do not want to see him" "What good does it do me to know that Marigny is deceiving me" "Marigny you only have this word on your mouth." "If I punish him before summer, will I get a pope?" "And if I gave you a way to avoid the pope ordeal?" "Maybe Marguerite is closer to the grave than we think and people are hiding it from us" "It's been a cold winter" "Prisons aren't kind to women" "We should check ourselves at Château Gaillard" "It is true that" " The emotion of a visit..." " ...could prove deadly." " I don't think the idea is possible" " Why" " Marguerite is not allowed visitors" " Who said that?" "Marigny." "What a shame." "Alright, you will have Marigny." "I will not protect him anymore." "So, cousin." "You do not look very well." "What is your condition?" "Everything, I do not even know if I'm alive." "It's gonna be all over soon, cousin." "Your enemies are dead." " Are you able to write?" " I don't know." "Chaplain." "I will tell you what the letter must contain." "The cancelation has been accepted?" "How could it be, cousin?" "Since you've refused to sign what we asked you" "But I accepted." "I said yes to everything" "Gather your wits, cousin." "It is now that you must accept what I tell you." "Robert, I wrote you a letter to give to Louis, where I said everything you wanted, that my daughter wasn't his." "When did you write it?" "A long time ago." "Weeks." "Months maybe." "I've been waiting for you ever since" "Who did you give it to?" "To Bersumée" "Who did you give it to?" " Forgive me, my lord" " Who did you give to?" " To Lord Marigny I had orders." " Do I look like Marigny?" "When we give you a letter for me." "Do you give it to someone else?" "If your Marigny's man, then you'll join him in his cell in the Louvre." "Did you hear, cousin." "I've never read this letter." "Marigny kept it." "He's our enemy." "This stolen letter is another piece of evidence" "Today he's in prison." "And I've come to read your complaints against him to hasten the king's justice, and your pardon." "I will dictate to you." "Sire, my husband," "I'm dying of grief and sickness," "I beg for your forgiveness, because I only have little time left." "Everything is Marigny's fault." "He wanted my disgrace before you, and before the late king, by accusations whose falseness I declare." "He also reduced me because of his poor treatment to my present misery." "I assure you that I've never ceased to be your devoted spouse according to God's will." "What about the confession you've asked before?" "It is not needed anymore, cousin." "What you're signing here will replace everything." "What about Blanche?" "Have they thought about Blanche?" "Don't worry, cousin" "Blanche will be taken care of." "Farewell, cousin." "I wish you..." "...a good rest." " Robert" " Yes?" "The other time" "When you came." "Do you remember?" "When you wanted to take me." "Did you really desire me?" "With all my soul." "It is done, my lord." "No marks?" "The face won't be blackened." "I broke the bones of the neck." "I put the bed back in place." "She had to die." "But her body was made for loving." "It is good to be alive." "The fog is lifting." "It is going to be a sunny day." "My son, free your conscience." "Repent for the crimes you have been found guilty of." "Father, that I cannot." "I have never wanted to cast a spell on our sire the king, ...or on any royal Prince." "I have never stolen anything in my whole life." "And the Treasury least of all." "All my actions have been ordered and approved by the late king." "For just reasons I have accomplished unjust deeds." "From this, and from this only, father, ...I repent." "Where am I going?" "To Montfaucon." "Sir." "It is all good." "I was the one who rebuilt these gallows." "I will die by my own work." "Don't tie me." "Do you hear those blows in the gallery?" "It's the statue of Marigny that is being destroyed." "I will not see it watch over me with its stone eyes." "I had him hanged." "My people are happy." "Isn't it, Eudeline." "Sure, sir Louis." "Everybody wants to believe that the bad times are over." "It is well." "I want it so." "I promised you a place for your child here." "You will be in the child's prayers to her last days." "It's exactly what I've decided." "That she be praying." "She will take her vows at the Saint-marcel convent, ...where there are only noble women, ...and where she will be better than anywhere else." "Is that really what you want for her?" "To cloister her?" "So what?" "Is it not a good convent?" "It has to be, it wouldn't do if she remained outside." "I find it important for our salvation, that she redeems with a pious life the fault we committed with her birth." "As for you, you will be in charge of the linen at Vincennes." "To prepare things, whenever I come there." "I am at your service." "And I will obey." "I would have seen that." "I would have seen it." "This man wasn't our friend." "The barons are celebrating his fall, but we did our part as well." "The time has come for each of us to reap the benefits." "The kingdom will be ripe for the taking from now on." "You see, my son..." "Philip was a great king even though he inconvenienced our business." "Now, they are going to squander what he's left them." "Yourself, have you any wish?" "Uncle Spinello, I want to head the Neaufles trading post." "This little countryside trading post?" "Which only has three clerks?" " Your dreams are rather small." " But I have a great love." " Marie loves me and she needs me greatly." " A noble girl." "You're looking for trouble." "Living apart would be the death of us." "Then my son marry as you wish." " Thank you, uncle." "Ah, Guccio, how lucky to meet you here." "I was going to send a squire to get you." "I have good news for you, very good news." "I just saw the king, ...and we're going back to Naples." "Where we're escorting the future Queen of France" "All that was left in Château Gaillard was one princess prisonner, mad with grief, crying on the corpse of the unlucky Marguerite." "If on a certain day of March 1314," "Robert of Artois, the scarlet baron, had not schemed against the daughters of Burgundy, nothing would have been the same." "And without Bersumée's narrow-minded zeal," "Enguerrand of Marigny would still be running things, watching firmly over the Iron King's legacy, and the Queen of France would be living in a quiet convent, and not be rotting at Château Gaillard with a broken neck." "Poor Kingdom of France."