The witch thought I am a Demon God
Chapter 910 - 470: Enthronement of the Iron Crown King and the Princess of the Oriental Empire_2

Chapter 910: Chapter 470: Enthronement of the Iron Crown King and the Princess of the Oriental Empire_2

"However, Mr. Ivita’s father, indeed, because of waging wars over the years, was thus..."

"What does that have to do with Mr. Ivita?"

Pope Innocent II blinked, looking at Antioch beside Ivita, as if to confirm, "Have you picked up the wrong person?"

He hadn’t expected that Ivita would use the question meant to trouble him as a stepping stone, allowing Ivita to shine.

Innocent II found it amusing in his heart; it seemed he was dealing with another troublesome monarch.

Merchants negotiate business with people; he haggled over every penny with kings.

Pope Innocent II said to Ivita very directly, "So, Lord Ivita, you just need to successfully restore your kingdom to become the leader of the next Holy War?"

Ivita’s gaze flickered, revealing a thoughtful expression.

This was a very direct trade, and he had not expected this Pope to be such a straightforward person.

It made sense.

He managed countless affairs daily, and there were many princes and princesses to attend to. Where would he have the chance to beat around the bush? Speaking directly was a strategic advantage for him.

Pope Innocent II had no need to mince words for anyone.

Ivita was also candid. "Just an Alsace Kingdom cannot possibly fight against the leaders of the Heretic States. We are like sand scattered all over: numerous small nations, some contributing a few hundred soldiers, others another few hundred, and on the face of it, the numbers when added together might look comparable to the armies of the Selzhu - Rome Empire, or at least not too embarrassingly small."

"But as soon as war breaks out, because the commanders do not have a single leader to follow, they will each fight their individual battles, a mess easily broken through."

"Therefore, even as the King of Alsace, no one has that capability, to lead the nations in war against the heretics."

At the banquet, someone curiously asked, "Lord Ivita, what you say is true, and this is also the problem we have always faced. But we have won in the past. In our first Holy War against the heretics, why were we able to win so decisively, even managed to recapture the Sacred City where the God of All Things once incarnated, only to lose or at most draw or suffer minor defeats in every Holy War thereafter?"

Some people glared at him angrily. Although he was speaking the truth, bringing up this issue in the Sacred City was bound to offend people.

Ivita was blunt. "Sir, I have read about this part of history. Please pay attention to a point where you are mistaken. The one and only Holy War that we won happened to coincide with the time when the universal empire of the heretics was split into pieces."

"At that time, they were even more divided than us."

"But ever since then, the situation has changed."

"The heretics have become more united than us."

That person smiled at Ivita, thanked him, and then retreated into the crowd.

Ivita said to Pope Innocent II, "But I am still willing, after restoring my rightful throne, to do my best to protect the sacred territories of the faith."

"Only, there is actually someone who’s more suitable for this undertaking. Shouldn’t the Imperial Emperor take up the responsibility to unite the nations and resist the heretics?"

After saying this, the surrounding voices hushed.

Innocent II also showed dissatisfaction in his eyes, not with Ivita, but with that unspoken person Ivita had alluded to.

Indeed, The Emperor should have taken responsibility to protect the faith, the territory, and those brother nations of the same belief. But Oyo III stood by when the heretics attacked the Raven Kingdom and the Wallachia Duchy, leading the Vampire clan to completely side with the heretics.

No matter if The Emperor was simply cowardly or genuinely lacked the power to assist the Raven Kingdom, he had already brought disgrace upon himself in the eyes of nations.

Pope Innocent II said to Ivita, "I understand what you mean."

"Your ambition is not small."

Ivita said in a low voice, "Your Holiness, but I am sufficiently devout. If I am granted those positions, I will do what is expected of them. It’s not to showcase my piety to The Church but because those are things they are supposed to do. Some people just take their positions for granted."

Innocent II nodded and said, "Ivita, regarding the Alsace Kingdom using the Black Death to attack you, the Church has reached a verdict."

"We will issue an excommunication against Henry VII."

"Although they sought to quell the matter with the offer of a Commander of the Imperial Guard, they were mistaken. Using the Black Death has crossed a line."

Innocent II continued, "However, this is not related to Louis XIII; he is the legitimate king who inherited his father’s throne."

Ivita reminded the aging Pope, "Jalen’s father was an illegitimate king, and the legitimacy of Jalen himself is nothing but a mirage, something you should also be aware of."

Innocent II nodded. "You do have a point. Then the Church recognizes you as the legitimate King of Alsace, and you must adhere to your oath of today."

"Furthermore, I wish to crown you as the King of the Iron Crown, completing the coronation of the Iron Crown."

Ivita’s breath momentarily stopped, overcome with elation. Most people at the banquet hadn’t reacted, still complaining why the Pope didn’t just drive Jalen out of the Church.

Of course, the Church couldn’t afford to sever ties with a king outright.

The Church’s recognition of me as the legitimate King of Alsace was enough. If I am recognized by the Church as the King of Alsace, what does that make Jalen?

How would the Alsace lords view this slightly complex relationship?

And with the Church’s recognition, I could, through the Universal Law of the Church, indirectly grasp some of the rights to the Fire Dragon Law of Alsace.

This was also a crucial point.

The title of King of the Iron Crown, on the other hand, was a different matter; it involved a deal with the Pope that could not be made public.

The Iron Crown is now a sovereign’s coronet for dukes.

The rights it exercises could only pertain to the Lombardy Duchy.

Yet, originally being one of the four crowns worn by the Emperor of the Holy Empire, a complete Iron Crown granted by the Church could immediately bestow nominal dominion over the Boot Peninsula, symbolizing the inheritance of an ancient civilization.

This crown was meant to be conferred upon the Imperial Crown Prince of the Holy Empire, a position that the Emperor should pass on to his heir while still alive. But due to the tumultuous succession last time, the Emperor’s crown was lost, and Oyo III’s eldest son had not received it, as he did not possess the crown himself.

Now, the Pope granting me this crown was tantamount to awkwardly elevating my place in the line of succession to the Empire.

After all, on the premise that I agreed to lead the next Crusade, I had subtly brought up the incompetence and unworthiness of the Imperial Emperor and mentioned my own desire for the Empire.

I had only intended it as a trial.

Yet Ivita had not expected that Innocent II would readily agree.

Wait, Ivita suddenly realized, the Pope was merely handing out a conveniently given favor and wide-ranging investment. Among the Pope’s adopted children was my own cousin Germanicus.

And judging by the banquet, there was also an adopted son of Oyo III’s second son, who might have a chance to inherit the throne.

Now, the Pope had given me another investment, essentially attempting to control all potential heirs to the next Emperor.

In this way, no matter who ascended to the throne in the future, Innocent II could wield influence.

Ivita sat down at the dining table, surrounded by the Pope’s adopted heirs to the throne, both sons and daughters. A woman named Enola, clad in silk and finery and with makeup on her face, tried to strike up a conversation with Ivita several times, her demeanor somewhat ingratiating.

Ivita understood her purpose; she was another princess who sought to marry him, seemingly desiring a political alliance with him.

Her own country, part of the Oriental Empire, had been destroyed by heretics. Her mother had taken her across the seas to find refuge with the Pope. But she was not young anymore and needed to secure a future for herself, preferably through a husband who might hope to restore her country.

Therefore, upon seeing Ivita, she had been subtly trying to get close, only to be diplomatically rejected by Ivita several times, as he did not wish to be entangled with a woman so suddenly.

But Enola knew her opportunities were scarce; she leaned close to Ivita’s ear and whispered, "You have gained the right to inherit an empire, but do you not wish to acquire, through me, a priority right to inherit another, the Oriental Empire? I carry the legitimate law and doctrine of the Oriental Empire and the Eastern Orthodox Church."