Chapter 56
David Leigh, who had long served the Pope in secret and walked a tightrope, was suddenly overheard his carefully hidden secret being so casually revealed. His knees buckled, and he almost knelt down on the spot to beg the Queen of Scots for mercy.
Which king could tolerate his trusted secretary being a spy sent by Rome?
Such betrayal, if discovered, would be considered lucky if the person were immediately dragged to the guillotine and executed.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty... please forgive me, I can explain..."
Thinking of the Queen of Scots's ruthless methods towards her enemies, the dark-skinned Piedmontese youth turned pale with fright, cold sweat poured down his forehead, and he began to involuntarily beg for mercy.
“Alright, no need to beg for mercy. I’ve known who you truly serve since the day you arrived in Scotland. David, now stand up and answer my question. From now on, whether you continue to enjoy wealth and luxury as the Queen’s secretary, or are dragged into the dungeon to await your death, depends entirely on your performance,” Mary said calmly.
The Queen of Scots, standing by the window, turned her head to the side. The orange-red light of the setting sun shone on the tips of her hair and the lines of her face. Her figure was slender and graceful, so beautiful that it inspired poets to admire her. She was as elegant and beautiful as a portrait of the Virgin Mary in Raphael's paintings.
David Leejo knelt on the ground, but felt no strange thoughts whatsoever. He only felt that the queen had transformed into the barefoot Lamia at this moment, and could bring disaster at any moment.
He wasn't sure if the Queen of Scots, who was always deep-thinking and unflappable, was truly willing to forgive his betrayal, or if she planned to settle accounts with him after returning to Scotland.
The Queen of Scots had her maid bring a stool for her secretary to sit down and answer, but David Lichow, who had this idea in mind, did not dare to sit down at all. He remained standing with his back bent, like a truly lowly and humble male servant.
“I am not worthy to sit before you, Your Majesty,” David Lich said, cold sweat beading on his forehead.
"..." Mary paused for a moment, looked her secretary up and down, and let him stand there.
Forcing him to sit down will only make him more fearful and apprehensive.
She still remembered how uninhibited David Leejo was in her past life; their relationship was more like that of friends than monarch and servant. In this life, she deliberately kept her distance from him, but as a superior, she maintained a gentle and tolerant attitude. She never expected David Leejo to be so afraid of her now.
Although she did threaten to drag David into the dungeon to die if he didn't do his job properly, it was just a habitual threat.
In her past life, David Leejo was stabbed more than fifty times and suffered endless torment before dying, all because of her. For that reason alone, she would never kill David Leejo in this life.
Perhaps this is the difference between a puppet queen and a queen who holds absolute power and is all-powerful. Even if the former cries and screams, desperately ordering others to stop the violence, no noble will listen. But now, even if she doesn't say a word, her subjects will carefully try to guess what the queen is thinking...
With this thought in mind, the Queen of Scots raised her hand, indicating that David Leech could speak.
Eager to prove himself and gain the Queen's forgiveness, David Lichow spoke freely and without reservation, revealing all the information he knew. He also commented on the current leading candidates for pope, suggesting who was most likely to win the papacy.
For example, Antonio Giseleuri, a cardinal who was also the chief justice of the Roman Catholic Church, held a very high position and great power.
For example, Giuliano, another candidate nominated by the Medici family, also became quite popular due to his financial appeal.
For example, Cardinal Marcellus Jr. of the Santa Croce region inherited his family's political capital and had the support of many allies.
Finally, David Leejo cautiously offered his opinion.
“Perhaps… Your Majesty, you don’t need to wait until the new pope is elected. You could send these cardinals a sum of money while the position of pope is still undecided, to help them win votes from others. I have connections in this area that can be of service to you, ensuring that your goodwill and identity are fully conveyed to the cardinals,” David Lich said.
It's easy to add flowers to brocade, but difficult to provide charcoal in the snow.
It's much easier to curry favor with a cardinal now than to ask the pope for help later. This is a universal truth.
The Queen of Scots' eyes lit up. Following her secretary's advice, she ordered a large sum of money to be sent to the pope candidates. However, instead of distributing the money in different ways, she placed all the money on Antonio Giseleuri, as if she had already decided that he would become the next pope.
This left Albert, Seton, and others puzzled, wondering where the Queen's confidence came from.
Faced with the doubts, the Queen of Scots, sitting in her high-backed chair, chuckled softly and said meaningfully, "Just take this as a revelation from God in a dream... I can guarantee that this saint will not only become the next pope, but also Elizabeth's greatest religious enemy."
Mary assured her with such confidence.
...
The words came true.
More than twenty days later, white smoke finally began to rise from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, the bronze doors of the electoral hall reopened, and thousands of small slips of paper bearing the name of the new pope were distributed by priests to the people of Rome, letting everyone know who the new Holy Father was. Along with various news about the new Holy Father, it was sent to all parts of Europe by fast horses.
—Antonio Gisleuri.
Now people should call him Pius V.
This seemed to be an elderly man with saintly words and deeds, unlike the previous popes who were nepotistic, accepted bribes, and were dissolute. At the papacy, this man made a decision that shocked everyone.
He donated all the expensive gifts from the royal families of Italy, Germany, Spain, Scotland, and other European countries to charity to help the sick and poor, or those destitute farmers!
When the Pope announced his decision, thunderous cheers echoed throughout almost the entire city of Rome!
Those monks who had previously served under this pope also said that Pius V was different from previous popes. From his youth, Pius V had always strictly adhered to the requirements of asceticism and had helped and cared for the elderly, the weak, and the widowed without ever being lazy or impatient.
...
These actions were utterly incomprehensible to the native Italians.
"Is His Holiness the Pope possessed by a demon?" David Leejo asked privately, his face full of disbelief, a question that could be described as extremely disrespectful.
Albert sat to the side, not refuting David Leechow's words, but after a long period of contemplation, he nodded with the same serious expression.
“That is certainly possible,” Albert said.
Mary "..."
Mary almost lost her composure and couldn't maintain her serious expression.
Just how corrupt has the Vatican become to elicit such sentiments from you?
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