Chapter 141 Heart of the Storm (Twenty-Seven)
◎Imprisonment◎
Raphael pushed the king on the chessboard, then held the king and knocked over the bishop, castle and queen one by one. The expensive chess pieces carved from black and white crystals were lying all over the chessboard. He threw the king down out of boredom, and the heavy crystal hit the chessboard, making a crisp sound.
Raphael was the only one in the entire chess and card room. Ferrante did not allow anyone to approach the main building, and he was the one who rushed back from outside during meal times. Raphael noticed that his clothes were often stained with blood, which made Raphael feel very anxious and irritable.
This can't go on any longer. This silly little lunatic Ferrante is really going to kill himself.
Raphael stood up, opened the curtain a little, and looked carefully at the path leading to the atrium.
The Holy Ravens are a new group he extracted and reconstructed based on the prototype of the Inquisition. They serve the Pope and lurk in the dark. They basically do not-so-honest work such as intelligence and lurking. They are also responsible for the internal and external communications of the Papal States. Because their position is crucial, Raphael has attached particular importance to the issue of their ownership from the moment they were born.
The fact that he let Ferrante take charge of the Sacred Raven on his behalf did not mean that he really entrusted all the Sacred Ravens to Ferrante. A few years ago, when Julius misunderstood the relationship between him and Ferrante, he bluntly expressed his distrust of Ferrante. This was not only out of personal emotion. To some extent, his words did touch the most secret corner of Raphael's heart.
Like Julius, he distrusts everyone and is even more suspicious. He gives Ferrante his trust, but that does not mean handing over all power to Ferrante.
Necessary insurance is necessary - this is Raphael's consistent principle of doing things. It has nothing to do with whether he trusts Ferrante or not. It is just a way of doing things. It is like he can entrust his life to Ferrante, but he will never loosen the ropes that restrict Ferrante.
The Holy Raven is so important that Raphael will not completely ignore it. He uses many methods to ensure that every Holy Raven is loyal to him. They obey Ferrante's orders because the Pope has given Ferrante the power to lead them.
Many Holy Crows may not understand what is happening at all, and think that everything Ferrante is doing now is at his instruction, but Raphael is sure that as long as he appears, the Holy Crows will definitely make loyalty to him their first goal.
The only question then is how to leave this gorgeous cage.
Raphael sighed. He had never thought that after so many years of leaving the downtown area, there would be a day when he would need to use those skills that he was about to forget.
The closed oak door opened, and Ferrante walked over while unbuttoning his cloak. Ever since he was exposed by Raphael that day, he no longer tried to hide anything. This desperate attitude made Raphael even angrier.
He had been angered by Ferrante many times in the past few days. When Ferrante came in today, Rafael didn't give him a good look. He sat in front of the chessboard without even raising his eyes.
Ferrante walked meekly to Raphael and glanced at the chessboard. He sensed the Pope's unspoken dissatisfaction from the mess of chess pieces, and he wisely skipped the topic: "...A new batch of spices has arrived from Assyria, and the kitchen has made the cheese lamb chops you like very much. Let's go downstairs to eat, okay? Or do you want to eat here?"
Raphael lazily raised his eyelids, glanced at him, raised his left hand that had been resting on his abdomen, and knocked on the table, as if giving some silent hint.
As he moved, there was a rustling sound like a pleasant bell, and the sleeves slid down a little. A golden ring was tied on the pale wrist, with a silver chain hanging at the end. The chain meandered down and disappeared into the corner of the carpet. ☉
Ferrante obediently took off a bunch of keys from his waist, picked one of them, and unlocked the lock on Raphael's wrist: "Rafa is too smart. If not, I can't keep you. Forgive me. After all, when the Lord created idiots, he didn't forbid them to use tools."
He held his wrist that was clasped by the golden ring, raised his face and smiled at Raphael, with a deliberate and flattering look.
Raphael glanced at him, turned his wrists twice, sneered, casually glanced at the keys on his waist, and walked out of the chess and card room first.
Ferrante followed quickly, moving the key bunch to another place and stuffing it into the cowhide bag on the other side.
Lunch was just as Ferrante said, all of which were Raphael's favorite foods, but Raphael seemed uninterested. He cut two pieces of lamb chops, tasted some milk pudding, put down his cutlery, tore off his napkin and threw it on the table, then walked away.
He had never been so rude before, but Ferrante was almost used to it. Rafael had been losing his temper with him these past few days. Of course, he didn't beat or scold him violently, but he deliberately upset Ferrante over various small things, including ignoring Ferrante's words and kicking Ferrante off the bed in the middle of the night...
Ferrante didn't seem angry at all. Instead, he became more obedient because of Raphael's temper and wanted to obey Raphael in everything.
Except that he always refused Raphael's request to go out.
Not long after Raphael left the table, Ferrante found him in the living room with a plate of hot snacks. The Pope was leaning against the sofa, casually flipping through the book in his hand. He had obviously seen Ferrante out of the corner of his eye, but his hands did not change at all.
Ferrante walked over and put the snack stand in his hand on the table: "You didn't eat much for lunch, have some more snacks. If you don't like it, you can change another chef."
He glanced at Raphael. The Pope lowered his eyes, like a cat whose fur had been stroked and who did not want to move after finding its soft nest. He just responded perfunctorily from his throat, and then asked, "Are you going to stay here this afternoon? Then I'll open the window."
Ferrante opened the window of the living room, and the wind carrying the scent of flowers soon filled the entire room. The black figure came back to block Raphael's sight. Raphael frowned. Ferrante took the chain extending from the corner of the living room in his hand and buckled it on the golden ring on Raphael's left hand.
There was a click and Raphael felt his wrist sink.
He raised his eyes, looked at Ferrante slowly and hard, suddenly closed the book in his hand, and slapped it on Ferrante's chest: "If you have the guts, lock me up until you die."
Ferrante held the book in his arms good-natured way. “No, I’ve already solved most of the problems. The rest will come soon.”
Raphael stared at him coldly: "You know I can't tolerate your behavior."
"Yes, no monarch can tolerate a minister who takes the initiative to launch a purge." Ferrante answered calmly, as if he had already realized this.
Raphael was irritated by his behavior again and pointed at the door: "Get out!"
Ferrante shut up and rolled away obediently, standing behind the door. He touched the keys and found the correct number, so he felt relieved.
Raphael stood by the window, watching the carriage in the courtyard leave the manor. He spread out his left hand, which had been hidden in his sleeve, and the tin mold with the key was right in his hand.
This was a skill he learned from old Aaron when he was a thief in his childhood. The old man had admired Raphael's clean and flexible movements more than once, "If I give you a chance, you can steal the Saint's underwear!"
Raphael sighed as he looked at the tin model. He had never expected that it would still be there after so many years.
Having to pick up this craft again made him feel both amused and helpless.
It took him several days to find an opportunity to make a simple mold of the tin soldier toy in the chess and card room. When he slapped the book on Ferrante's chest just now, he quickly made a rubbing of the key. The next thing was easy. Raphael burned a piece of candle and successfully made a fragile and simple key, opening the lock that had troubled him for several days.
Perhaps it would be simpler to use something like wire, but Ferrante was very vigilant and excluded everything of the kind; even accessories like brooches disappeared from Raphael's sight.
Raphael rubbed his wrists and climbed down the outer wall on the garden side lightly - this was not easy, he really hadn't done such a dangerous sport for many years. Fortunately, there were many reliefs and statues on the outer wall of the castle. As long as he was careful, climbing down three floors was not too difficult.
But even so, when Raphael successfully stood in the garden, he still cursed Ferrante countless times in his heart.
The manor was full of Ferrante's servants, but Raphael knew that the one guarding the door was the Holy Raven. Just because Ferrante didn't want him to go out didn't mean he would relax the external defense of the manor. He trained the Holy Raven himself, and when it came to protection, he trusted them more.
There is no doubt that the Holy Crow will protect the Pope with his life.
Raphael walked out of the garden and ordered the Holy Crow who was on guard duty: "Prepare a carriage for me and go back to the Pope's Palace."
As he expected, the Holy Crows were not at all surprised by his appearance and orders, as if they had no idea of Ferrante's transgression from beginning to end.
So at the gate of the Papal Palace, Ferrante, sword in hand, met Raphael in public.
The Pope stood on the carriage, holding the door with one hand, looking down at Ferrante. The head of the arbitration bureau, whose sword was still dripping with blood, was completely frozen. He looked at Raphael in astonishment, his face pale. Raphael was much calmer than him, and gave him a smile that implied murderous intent: "It's a pleasure to meet you here, Mr. Ferrante."
He glanced at Ferrante's sword and said with a half-smile: "It seems that you have done many things that I didn't expect."
He emphasized the word "unexpectedly".
Along with the news that Pope Sistine I suddenly appeared in front of the Papal Palace, another thing that spread was that Ferrante was relieved of all his duties by Pope Sistine I and imprisoned in the holy tower where the Knights Templar were stationed.
This tower is adjacent to the Papal Palace. It is the place where high-ranking officials of Florence were imprisoned throughout the ages. Several archbishops had lost their lives here in confusion. Ferrante's entry into the holy tower was like a signal. The lucky few who were trembling and struggling to survive jumped up one after another, indignantly accusing Ferrante of his recent actions as a betrayal of the Pope and an unforgivable act of rebellion. He must be sentenced to death so that those poor dead people can rest in the arms of the Holy Lord.
"Even the most evil demons could not do such a terrible thing. In just six days, he killed 127 innocent nobles, including a pope! Such a crime is enough to keep him out of hell. He must be sentenced to death by hanging!"
"Yes! Let everyone see the fate of this usurper!"
They were arguing among themselves, but they quickly reached an unprecedented consensus on the one issue of sentencing Ferrante to death.
Ferrante's move this time really scared them. Including the Portia family, almost 60% of the noble families in Florence had people who died at his hands. They knew very well that those who died had been involved in the previous rebellion in Florence, but no one dared to mention it now - was Ferrante's move instructed by Raphael?
They were very sure before, but as more and more people died, the similarities between the dead surfaced, and they gradually began to doubt their ideas.
Maybe... Sistine I is really such a reckless madman?
However, this madman now sits firmly on the throne of Syracuse and has raised the bloody butcher knife to prove his majesty. Who dares to question him in person?
But they must not let this matter go, otherwise the entire aristocracy would never be able to raise their heads in front of Raphael again.
This is the only thing they cannot tolerate even if they die.
In the game with the king, they cannot lose everything like this. At least Raphael has to pay something. Otherwise, they would rather start a rebellion again. Roman, Assyria and Calais have already surrendered to this pair of brothers and sisters, but what about other countries? That is also a force that cannot be underestimated.
Raphael saw the defiance in their eyes.
Ferrante, that idiot, really pissed them off. Raphael sighed in his heart, cursed Julius twice, and then sat up straight.
He hadn't spoken yet, but the people who had been watching his every move had quickly quieted down, waiting for him to speak.
In a solemn silence, Raphael said, "I will dissolve the Arbitration Bureau."
This was an unprecedented compromise and concession by the Pope. Some nobles were indignant and wanted to speak up: "But Ferrante..."
Raphael glanced at him lightly, choking the man's words in his throat.
"As for Ferrante," Raphael said under everyone's gaze, "I sentence him to life imprisonment. He will never be able to step out of the Santa Tower until the end of his life."
They didn't look too happy with the decision, but Raphael stood up.
The Pope held the scepter, his palm pressed on the orb on top of the scepter, and looked down at their faces with different expressions: "If you have different opinions, you are welcome to discuss with me face to face."
The faint whispers disappeared completely.
After a brief silence, everyone bowed their heads deeply to the Pope: "We obey your will, Your Majesty."
Raphael sat on the highest terrace of the Papal Palace. Not many people came here because the ominous Holy Tower was on the right side of the terrace, blocking most of the view. Craftsmen came and went under the Holy Tower. They were going to seal all the exits of the Holy Tower with cement and bricks, completely turning this tower into a cage to imprison Ferrante - until Ferrante died in it. As for the necessary daily necessities, they could only be delivered through a hanging basket and a small window two feet square.
That window is also the only place in the entire holy tower where one can see the outside world.
Raphael sat on the terrace. The teacup in front of him went from steaming hot to completely cold. The last ray of orange sunset glow fell from the horizon, and the deep blue halo gradually filled the Florentine sky.
He kept staring at the small window, but never saw the familiar figure appear in the window.
The author has something to say:
Ferrante's ending was life imprisonment. Actually, I had originally planned for the death penalty, but Raphael rejected the hanging. In the end, Raphael did it himself and fed Ferrante poison. But after thinking about it, Raphael's life was too lonely, so Ferrante saved his life. Although he was sentenced to life imprisonment and could never be released, he was still alive! ! ! ! Cheers to Ferrante for escaping death! ! ! ! [Don’t say I’m heartless anymore. Look, I’m soft-hearted.]
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