Mountain after mountain, or should I say Bohemond after Godfrey.

"An attack on Amalfi in Sicily?"

"Yes, wasn't Amalfi supposed to rebel around this time, with Bohemond of Sicily having to suppress it?"

"...? Did you have a dream or something?"

Cosimo tilted his head with a completely puzzled expression.

The resistance of the Republic of Amalfi against the Norman invaders.

In the original history, this was the main reason why Bohemond arrived in Constantinople only in April 1097, later than the other Crusade leaders.

Originally, Bohemond would have been busy at this time suppressing the rebellious Amalfi alongside his uncle, Count Roger I of Sicily.

"Currently, Amalfi is busy preparing for the Crusade. Far from rebelling, they're maintaining friendly relations with the House of Hauteville in Sicily."

"What are you talking about? Friendly relations?"

"...? I don't understand what Your Highness is saying."

Cosimo crossed his arms and continued.

"You've been providing full support to Amalfi, haven't you? Thanks to that, their declining commerce has revived."

"What does that have to do with the House of Hauteville?"

"It means their power has grown too strong for the House of Hauteville to simply crush them. While Amalfi is still technically subordinate to Sicily, they essentially enjoy an independent status."

"...Wow."

Is that how it works?

I certainly did support them quite heavily to counter Venice, almost as much as Genoa, but...

"Anyway, Amalfi is responsible for Duke Bohemond's military supplies. His swift preparations were largely possible thanks to their help."

Cosimo then grumbled, "If Your Highness hadn't saved Amalfi, we Genoese would have handled that role."

After a moment of silence, Cosimo, who had been quietly observing my expression, spoke again.

"So where did you hear the rumor about Amalfi rebelling?"

"...I just had a feeling it might happen."

"A feeling... That's an unusual word coming from the always logical Princess."

Cosimo stared at me for a moment before shrugging his shoulders.

"Anyway, Amalfi is operating normally, the Pisans are eagerly looking to expand their influence, and the Venetians are still doing enviably well. Is there anything else you'd like to know?"

"Since we're on the topic, tell me about Matilda."

Matilda, Duchess of Tuscany. A medieval heroine who, despite being a woman, controlled almost all of northern Italy... but my real interest was in that schemer Conrad under her command.

With Bohemond already showing strange behavior, if that guy also caught me off guard, I felt like I might get a migraine.

"Are you curious about Duchess Matilda's personal situation, or about the status of the Republic of Pisa under her patronage?"

"The former."

"In that case, Lady Matilda is currently touring the cities under her influence, encouraging her people to join the Crusade."

"Is she putting Conrad forward?"

"She doesn't seem to be particularly showcasing him... but as I mentioned before, rumors that he represents the Duchess are still rampant."

"From the way you're talking, I guess there's no new information."

Seeing my disappointed expression, he added:

"She must be preparing thoroughly. It's her final move, after all. ...Rumors are growing that the Kaiser will strip her of her title as German King."

German King. The title signifying the heir to the Holy Roman Empire.

"Keep a close eye on them. I think I'll go crazy if Conrad starts acting strange after Bohemond."

"How much are you thinking of paying for this request?"

"How about we settle for your neck remaining attached to your body?"

"Haha... Your jokes are particularly chilling today. Duke Bohemond must be really bothering you."

"It's not so much worry as... finding him rather annoying."

Godfrey did act like a fanboy, but the Bohemond from the original history was the worst of the worst, the scum of the earth.

I raised my head with a deep sigh.

"Anyway, be sure to let me know if anything changes."

Whatever his true feelings might be, Cosimo nodded politely as always in response to my words.

※※

"We've already reached Constantinople."

"Indeed. I didn't expect the Emperor to welcome us so warmly."

Bohemond was now passing through cities that he had occupied as an invader just 15 years ago, escorted by Eastern Roman troops.

Lost in rising memories, Bohemond turned to his younger cousins beside him and muttered:

"Time is truly frightening when you think about it. To think that the Emperor's lightning-like temperament has softened this much."

"Was the Roman Emperor that sharp?"

"Of course. In the Mediterranean, only the Emperor's army could stop our Norman forces."

While it was actually plague rather than the Roman army that truly stopped the forces led by Bohemond and his father Robert, Bohemond still respected Emperor Alexios as a commander.

"Anyway, stay sharp. The Roman Emperor is as skilled in rhetoric as he is in tactics."

He had already heard the news that Godfrey had raised an army but retreated after negotiations with the Emperor.

He couldn't know exactly what had transpired, but he was certain that the experienced Emperor had outmaneuvered the naive Godfrey with his rhetoric.

"As if that would happen. Just make sure you don't get wrapped around the Roman Princess's finger, brother."

Tancred, Baldwin's nephew, said with a playful smile.

Baldwin stared at him for a moment before breaking into laughter himself and shaking his head.

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

He couldn't deny that the rumors about "a muscular princess with a neutral charm and robust physique" had piqued his interest.

But that was merely curiosity, not blind obsession. He was confident that his heart wouldn't be easily swayed no matter who appeared.

"Hmm?"

At that moment, John, the Eastern Roman general who had been leading the procession at the front, rode toward Bohemond.

"Has new information arrived from the capital?"

Tancred, having noticed him too, asked with curiosity.

Baldwin silently shrugged his shoulders. After a moment, John approached them and spoke:

"His Majesty has sent a welcoming party for the Duke."

"A welcoming party?"

"Yes, I'm told that Her Highness the Princess, whom you mentioned wanting to meet, is coming personally to greet you."

"...!"

The Princess herself is coming! This was certainly unexpected. Baldwin, uncharacteristically, widened his eyes and flinched.

"How far is she coming?"

Baldwin asked, with a slightly trembling voice.

John looked at him strangely, then glanced back and answered:

"The advance party of the delegation has already arrived. Her Highness will be here within ten minutes."

Then he turned back to Bohemond and said:

"While Her Highness is still young, she holds important responsibilities in the Empire. It might be unnecessary to say, but I hope you will maintain at least basic courtesy."

As someone who had fought against the Norman army alongside the Emperor 15 years ago, John still showed signs of not fully trusting Bohemond.

But Bohemond nodded, unconcerned by his sharp tone.

"Of course. I will receive her with the respect befitting the Emperor."

Tancred burst into laughter at his excited voice, but Bohemond paid no attention.

Soon after John left saying, "Then I'll escort Her Highness here," Tancred immediately spoke up:

"What perfect timing."

"It just happened to work out. I need to prepare a new horse."

Ignoring his nephew's incredulous gaze, Bohemond quickly summoned his adjutant to prepare a white horse.

Mounted on the white horse, Bohemond turned to Tancred with a satisfied expression.

"How do I look? Anything else I need?"

"No, it suits you perfectly."

Tancred answered halfheartedly. He knew there was no stopping his brother in this state.

Coming all this way just to think about seducing the Princess... Tancred was newly convinced that Viking blood truly ran in his family's veins.

"Didn't you say you'd treat her with the respect due to the Emperor? Put aside such strange thoughts."

At this point, even Bohemond seemed a bit embarrassed, though his expression remained cheerful.

And finally, in the distance, a group of people began to approach slowly. It was clearly the Princess's entourage. The Princess herself wasn't yet visible among the burly guards.

'A six-foot, short-haired, muscular woman! A six-foot, short-haired, muscular woman!'

But that didn't matter. Bohemond's heart began to beat faster with anticipation for his first meeting with his ideal type.

And finally, when the group came within twenty paces, the guards at the front parted to the sides, revealing the elegant figure of the Princess in all her noble appearance.

"Hello, Duke. What lovely weather we're having."

"...?"

Bohemond was confused.