Even considering it purely from a benefit perspective, curing Baldwin IV’s leprosy would be more advantageous for myself.
If we wait for a dical attendant who may not be available anyti soon, Baldwin IV might not last until then.
Losa made up his mind.
At this mont, 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 sll the stench of those wolf pups?"
"Sir, you didn’t summon a wolf pup, did you?"
Losa was surprised, "You can sll 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 beco 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 anyti 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 rely 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 , those werewolves, reeking of foulness, wild and primitive, hardly suit your status and temperant."
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 with Prajna, I must et 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, ant that the only royal mbers actually living long-term in the palace were Princess Sibilla and her son.
Moreover, these two spent most of their ti 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 inford 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 ti to fight the heretic’s army."
"Not bad, Losa, one hundred armored cavalry isn’t much but by no ans too few, properly utilized, they can also achieve decisive outcos."
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 assu, rely demonized among the populace; otherwise, this court would have emptied of healthy individuals long ago.
"Your Majesty, soone 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 astonishnt.
"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 , 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 astonishnt for a long while before saying, "The price? I know, potions made by witches always co with a price."
Losa whispered, "The price is you will beco a werewolf."
"Curing leprosy at the cost of becoming a werewolf..."
Baldwin IV sighed deeply, "Losa, the Church says leprosy is a curse, a punishnt 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 ailnts."
"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 beco increasingly distorted, unbearable to behold.
Now, I just wish to die in a human form."
Baldwin IV’s deanor was calm as if recounting soone else’s burdens.
"I have mostly arranged my affairs after my death. My nephew will succeed , with Queen Sibilla as regent, but his consort will be Belian."
"Do not consider irreplaceable."
"During the Mongisa battle, I thought I was the chosen King, yet the Spring Valley battle awoke from this illusion."
Baldwin IV smiled, "Losa, I am not as talented as you believe, give a healthy body, and my achievents 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 ti,
Losa felt sowhat anxious, "Your Majesty, I just wish to persuade you one last ti."
Baldwin IV shook his head, pointing to his own head, "Losa, you can’t even imagine how it would be for a werewolf to beco the King of Jerusalem, it would be so reprehensible."
"If the ti cos, and I give you an order to eat a child, would you still be able to maintain your sworn loyalty to ?"
"Even so, you don’t understand."
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