X

X

 

"In the trial of Cardinal Caterina Sforza, we find the defendant guilty of heresy and request the death penalty."

The female prosecutor, Sister Paula, read out her closing statement. The courtroom fell into silence. The crimson cardinal who sat on the judge's bench didn't raise an objection. There was not a single whisper from the gallery.

In the end, it was Francesco who spoke, his eyes closed: "I am sorry, Duchess of Milan." Professor turned to the defendant. "If I could... I'm sorry."

"It can't be helped. They had excellent evidence. No one could hope to defend me." Caterina glanced over sympathetically to the man who had fought her case for the last few weeks. She looked over at her half-brother, who was maintaining the awkward silence as he sat among the other top clergy members. She sighed.

In fact, no one gained anything from this trial's outcome. Francesco only welcomed more scandal by doing this. The Vatican now looked very murky.

However, it would have been impossible to interrupt the trial. As soon as it started, the evidence mounted up against her—a suspicious amount of evidence—and Caterina had been found guilty.

"Everyone! Silence! Silence, please!"

The sound of a hammer hitting wood interrupted the beauty's thoughts.

The jury had reached their decision and had returned to the courtroom. The atmosphere of the court was tense as the judge unfolded the paper.

"I will now read out the judgment. This judgment follows intense consideration. It carries the same weight as an imperial command. For the glory of God," the judge read out the proscribed words before continuing on: "This trial has brought to light serious accusations of heresy perpetrated by the defendant, Caterina Sforza..."

"Wa-wait!" The voice was meek, but everyone in the courtroom had heard it. All eyes focused on its source. Caterina was no exception. She opened her eyes and looked around at the young boy in white clothing who had entered the room.

"Alek?! What are you doing here, child?"

Alessandro winced. Another figure followed behind him. It was a blonde priest with tattered clothing. Alessandro looked like he was about to cry. "Pie-please wait before deciding on judgment. I bring an important witness."

The other intruder now spoke: "I'm sorry for the intrusion. I am Nightroad of the Papal State Affairs Special Operations Section." Nightroad nodded gently to Alessandro and then turned to look around the courtroom. His face was deadly serious. "We have carried out our own independent investigation into the accusations concerning Cardinal Caterina. We have found an important witness in this case. I would like you introduce former Archbishop of Cologne, Alfonso d'Este."

As a third figure entered the room, the clergy frowned.

This priest was in a similar state of disarray. He screwed his face up as he looked around. He had once been the most powerful man in the Vatican, but now he was public enemy number one.

"Everyone, our investigation has found that there are serious questions about the authenticity of the list of names. In fact, we believe the list to have never existed in the first place!" The blonde priest paused to let this information be digested by his audience. "The names of participants in New Vatican are memorized by each participant; it is never written down. It follows that the list is a fake. D'Este himself will bear witness to this."

"Objection!" the prosecutor shouted. Sister Paula threw an out-off-character glare at the priest and then said with hostility in her voice: "Cases have been made by the prosecution and the defense. We've made our final statements. Additional witnesses will not be permitted at this stage."

"Oh my, Vice Chief. Have you forgotten Article 26, Section 8, of the heresy laws? It states that new evidence may be presented until the judge has made his statement," Professor countered.

His argument was logical and true; Paula had no choice but to relent.

Professor had looked exhausted, but he now had renewed vigor. He started to speak more nuggets from his vast knowledge: "There is also the edict of Bonifatius of August third, five-twenty-eight AD. Are you aware of the Sabatini trial? What? You don't know? Fine, let me explain it to you now..."

"That's enough, Professor Wordsworth." All eyes were now on Francesco, who had been maintaining his silence in the gallery until now. "The Department of Doctrinal Affairs and the Department of Heresy Investigation drops the case against Cardinal Sforza." Francesco spoke quietly, and his tone was carefully moderated. "In the light of this new witness, we will reinvestigate the authenticity of the list in question. Is that acceptable to you, Your Eminence?"

"Huh? Oh! Yes!" The young Pope nodded his head like a broken puppet. He appeared confused but had at least understood that Francesco was dropping the case. "Th-thank you, brother."

"The Pope has proclaimed it... Paula, I leave the rest to you." With a short order to his inferior at the prosecutor's bench, Francesco flicked his cape and left through the door.

Caterina watched him go, one of her eyes twitching from behind her monocle.

"I guess we can bring this matter to a close now?" Caterina turned back and looked at the four priests who were lined up in front of their superior. They were dirty and bleeding in places. However, the beauty did not flinch; she looked at them with such gentleness that one might doubt she was human. "It looks like you've had a hard time of it."

"It wasn't all that bad." The blonde priest scratched his head to hear his superior's gratitude. His colleagues behind him nodded in acknowledgement. "Anyway, we should thank you. You've had a lot of heartache."

"I'm so glad that you're all right, sister." The young boy hiding behind the priests spoke up, but he quickly bowed his head as he started to blush. "I was so worried about you, but Francesco wouldn't meet me. So I didn't know what to do. I'm sorry."

"Thank you, Alek." She wiped the tears from the pale Pope's face and then planted a kiss on his forehead. "It was because of you that the false accusations were dropped. Thank you so much."

"Sister... "Alessandro went even redder and looked away.

Caterina was about to say something to her tearful younger brother, when...

"Lady Sforza?"

It wasn't one of her inferiors that shattered this touching moment. At some point, the severe-looking woman in a suit and holding a fat file had approached them.

"I'd like to speak to you about the witness your staff members collected. I think that the Department of Inquisition would like to be involved in the questioning. Would you permit it?"

"Of course, Sister Paula." Caterina looked kindly at the woman, but there was also the glint of something else in her eye, like a shadow on a piece of perfect steel. "But shall we leave the details for another day? I'm very tired. I was very nearly burned at the stake... So I think I'd like to relax today."

"I'm very sorry for the trouble. You have some very capable men working under you." Despite Caterina's passionate remarks, Paula remained unmoved and did not let her guard drop for an instant. "Capable and loyal. You are very lucky."

"He is not my man, Sister Paula. He may look it, but I think he is simply another individual with the same purpose... Or perhaps a reliable knight?" Caterina rejected the nun's suggestions. But in her eyes, it was evident that she was proud of her jewel. Then, as if the heresy trial had never happened, she turned and left—the most beautiful cardinal in the world... with her knight following closely behind.

"Come and visit me whenever you wish, Sister Paula, — however often you wish and about whatever."

 

***

 

"What wisdom," a sing-song voice said to Francesco. The youth next to him smiled. He had been sitting at the fountain as if he had been waiting, and now he stood up. "It wasn't all that difficult, Cardinal Medici. You have to admire such strength of heart."

"They must have help from a cardinal... Master Borgia?" Francesco glanced at the young man with the stupid grin. Francesco didn't have an accusatory tone; he was simply stating facts. "It would be difficult for a priest to get an audience with the Pope. Only a cardinal could have obtained it for him."

"It would have been very difficult indeed." The young man didn't seem fazed at all. He smiled like a naughty boy. "The Department of Inquisition accused Cardinal Sforza. The case didn't have to be dropped because there was new evidence. But because His Greatness the Pope intervened, you had to step down. Nosy of him."

"No, that's not it." The young man was clearly pleased, but Francesco wasn't going to bite. "I wasn't enjoying that monkey show, so the Pope's appearance was right on time."

"Oh, Your Eminence?" Antonio prompted Francesco.

Francesco started to walk across the garden. His face suggested he had forgotten that he was supposed to wait on the Pope, who was also his little brother. "I must return to my work. I must ensure that the relevant steps are taken to end the trial. There is much to see to—including our next battle with that woman." He acted as if he were surveying his territory, not an ounce of defeat in his demeanor. He walked with a strong pace...

Francesco said something that no one could have heard but himself: "I have to find a solution to the issue of this woman. Power that will mean no one will be able to save her!"

The man with the greatest power in the Vatican pledged as much to himself and surveyed his battleground.

In the winter sun, the Cubola shone bright white.

 

***

 

"It was not my intention to criticize you, Countess Vogelweide." Magician's voice was the same as ever. He looked up at the winter sunlight peeping through a crack in the curtains. "Your actions put the Orden in a very precarious position. I would like you to be aware of this."

"What happened was a series of unfortunate coincidences." Ice Witch raised her eyebrow. She internally cursed her bad luck that this man had total monopoly over her beloved. She continued her empty words: "We do not want to get our hands dirty with these New Vatican people. It was just coincidence that Sforza was rescued. Please believe this."

"Do not be mistaken, Countess. I am not trying to criticize you. It is just that these unfortunate coincidences have put us in a dangerous position. That is all I am saying."

Magician looked up at the beautiful Ice Witch. Her eyes betrayed nothing. There was nothing to reveal what her true meaning, whether she knew of what had happened or if she was truly dumb. She may as well have been a dead fish.

"Cherubim reached the Vatican with information, due to these unfortunate coincidences. It is only a matter of time before they discover our locations—including this place."

"Leave that to me." If she had taken offense before, she was now trying to smooth things over. Helga's voice cracked in shame as she realized the trap she had created for herself. "Let me take responsibility for this. For my honor."

"I see... Well, I will not deny you this. Countess, I will leave this matter to you. I wish you the best of luck."

"Sir!"

With Ice Witch's acknowledgment, Magician's image disappeared.

Helga now glared at the empty space. This man was always hovering with the one she loved. If he hadn't been around...

"You'll see, Magician. When this is over, you'll..." The words spilled like daggers from her plump lips. She would get rid of him soon. That was certain. But she couldn't make any mistakes until then.

"First, Sforza and AX."