Vol 7 Chapter 7: Queen Maria

The Castle of São Jorge is located at the entrance of the River Tero to the southeast of Lisbon City. From the southeast corner of the castle showing an irregular rectangular shape, you can see the River Tero originating from the Pyrenees flowing into the Atlantic Ocean. grand occasion.
As early as hundreds of years ago, when the Moors had not defeated it, the Visigoths who once established the country built the castle. Because of this, the Saint-Jorge Castle was built according to the construction style of the time. It looks like a huge labyrinth piled up with huge stones. Countless intermittent walls and narrow alleyways create the dazzling internal structure of the castle.
There has always been a legend that when the Moors arrived, a small Gothic force that did not have time to escape was reluctant to succumb to the pagans, so they hid in the castle of Saint-Jorge, relying on the complex maze-like terrain in the castle Hidden with the Moors.
And this game has been playing for a long time, and even after a few decades, it is said that there are Moors who have seen those Goths in some secret roads or alleys of the castle, or It is ghost.
It ’s just that after all, it ’s a legend that the castle of São Jorge has been built by Goths, Moors, and the Portuguese kingdom that came and went after the rulers over the centuries, except for the outer walls made of gray giant stones. In addition to maintaining the unique Gothic style, the architecture of the castle has undergone tremendous changes, especially the new palace built on the original foundation. Although the appearance still maintains a lot of Gothic style, but there are many inside. The traces left by the past era make this castle a rather peculiar scenery with different characteristics of East and West. Here you can fully experience what is called the collision and integration of civilizations.
Queen Maria did n’t really like the castle of Saint-Jorge. She thought the place was
too pagan
, although Castile was also inevitable because of the inevitable Moorish occupation for centuries. There are traces of the East, but Queen Isabella has spared no effort to correct this historical error from the beginning of the throne, so she is a big encouragement in the country to "de-paganism", from food and clothing to culture and art, Castilla is in This deep wash is constantly being carried out, and Portugal is obviously much more slack than this, so that in the eyes of Maria, the Portuguese do not seem to be pious at all.
After she became queen, because she was not interested in living in this castle, Mary rarely came to Saint-Jorge Castle. On the contrary, she was located in the new palace in the west of the city, which became her long-stay place.
But this time for the "Count of Agri", Maria offered to hold a grand banquet in the castle of Saint-Jorge.
Of course, because considering that the other party is an anonymous private visit, the banquet cannot be held in the name of receiving the count.
However, it is not difficult to say the reason. Just 2 days ago, the second fleet sent to the East by Manuel had just sent people to send back their first reply, according to the letter. They have already passed through Ceuta, an important port in Portugal in Africa, and then they will sail southward to the east along the route opened by Dagama.
This is more or less good news, so Maria suggested to hold a banquet in this name. At the same time, they invited a lot of businessmen and foreign guests who came to Lisbon to do business. Of course, there was the "Count Agrie".
When Alexander and James Columbus came to the castle, the banquet had already begun. As an ordinary foreign aristocrat who came to do business, he certainly would not receive any special treatment, so when the two entered the palace with obvious Gothic characteristics What I saw was a group of people who were either talking freely or talking about the table and the delicious contests on the table.
The ceremonial officer standing at the door looked at the two of Alexander. Although he didn't move, he made a look at a court attendant next to him, and the attendant immediately walked forward and whispered Alexander's identity.
"Count Agrig, um, just report it." Alexander said with a smile, seeing the entourage turned to report to the master of ceremonies, he signaled to James next to them to go inside.
When they walked down the stone steps two levels to the depressed hall, they heard the ceremonial officer at the door behind him announce with a special loud voice: "Count Agrie, come ~"
The original hustle and bustle in the palace was a little quieter, people looked at the door, and then they quickly cared about their interests, except for a few young women who were very handsome to this man although they were not very gorgeous. The count showed curiosity, and most people didn't care much about this new young guest.
Mary was sitting on her throne, she was not interested in the dishes on the table in front of her, and she was too lazy to take care of those nobles who always seemed to be looking for opportunities and hers, but her eyes were only when Alexander appeared Suddenly lit up, watching Alexander, accompanied by James, walk through the hall to a stop under a stone pillar, Maria began to wonder how it was not obvious and could quickly join the visiting "Qincha" Talk.
Just didn't wait for Maria to come up with a reason for the past, and Manuel I, who was sitting on the side, could not bear it anymore.
Manuel I has always been concerned about the development of Castile's maritime career, perhaps because of the keenness of competitors, or because the early efforts of Prince Enrique's maritime exploration affected the later Portuguese monarch We, Manuel I, in addition to being interested in developing overseas colonies, although he never commanded a ship, but in terms of knowledge of HNA, he is also a good nautical theorist.
Regarding Columbus' achievements, Manuel I was excited because of the opening of the new course, and was annoyed because it did not belong to him. Now he suddenly heard that someone related to Columbus who discovered the new route was in Lisbon, and he immediately There was huge interest.
So after hearing that the two had already arrived, Manuel I only hesitated a little and then stood up suddenly, and walked directly towards the two with the slightest curious gaze of the people.
He was not very interested in Alexandria and Manuel. He had heard of the duke and knew that he had defeated Bayesert II in Bucharest. This may indeed be a great achievement, if at other times The king would want to hear about the heroic deeds of the duke, but now he is more interested in the fat man beside the duke who looks like a man at sea.
Maria originally wanted to stop her husband. After all, this was a little reckless, maybe it would make things worse, but seeing Manuel rushing away, Maria had to stop, she knew that if she did It will attract more attention, so she also stands up and walks casually seemingly casually, while quietly paying attention to the movements of Manuel.
"What are you talking about," the self-confessed smile on the king's face seemed to inadvertently walk to the side of Alexander who was chatting with a few nobles under the pillar. He first greeted the recognized nobles before he said Looking at Alexandria with the eyes he just saw, "This is ... looking at some eyes, who can introduce me?"
"Joel Modillo, Earl of Agri, pays tribute to you, Your Majesty." Alexander bowed to salute.
"Oh, it really is you, I have heard about you," Manuel nodded. "I heard you came from Rome, are you count?"
"Your Majesty, but my land is in Naples."
"Wait a minute, Modillo?" Manuel looked at Alexander thoughtfully. "I remember a Count of Naples many years ago whose surname was Modillo. He used to come to Lisbon, but he didn't spend time. I went to Castile not long, so you and him? "
"Count Modillo is my uncle, my mother is Countess George Anne of Cosenza." Alexander salutes Manuel again.
"That's the case, I didn't expect it," Manuel showed some surprise, but just after a while he turned to look at James next to him, and said deliberately in a mocking tone in his mouth. "So This one does n’t happen to be someone who I know.

The king's playful words that weren't humorous immediately aroused a good laugh around him. People were slowly coming around at this time, and they seemed to watch the king chatting with others with interest.
"Your Majesty, I'm just a businessman, I think I won't be fortunate enough to let you hear about me," James also has a kind of awkward stooping salute, and at the same time reported his name "James Columbia, willing to Your service is Your Majesty. "
"What, Columbus?" Manuel used a slightly exaggerated unexpected expression. "This must be God's arrangement. This is too coincident. I just heard of this surname. To be precise, I also know a surname. Columbus. Yes, I do n’t think he happened to be someone of you? "
"Your Majesty, if you are talking about Christopher, that's a coincidence," James said with a helpless expression. "He is my brother, although I don't want to hear his name."
"That's really a coincidence. I know this person." Manuel's words immediately aroused an exaggerated exclamation around him, and people immediately regarded the king as having encountered so many coincidences as a banquet. On the most interesting topic on the subject, if it were n’t for betting these days, someone would have happened to suggest Manuel to buy a few lottery tickets.
Maria stood impatiently and watched her husband ’s exaggerated performance not far away. She ignored the husband who immediately found a chance to start tying with James East, but stared at Alexander with a good eye, even Alexander thought She wouldn't be able to pretend to pay attention to her.
So with the attention of people, Alexander walked to Maria and stopped a few steps away from her to salute: "Your Majesty, I am very honored to receive your invitation. To be honest, I did not expect to receive The invitation card even thought it was a prank.
"Count, don't you think my status in Lisbon is so unbearable, you can let others use my name to prank?" Maria frowned.
"Of course not. I just thought it was impossible for you to invite me to a person whose status is not enough to attend such a banquet. After all, I just helped my uncle to take care of some business, even he didn't care much about me. "
The words that Alexander said sincerely made Mary feel a little confused for a time. For a while, she was a bit doubtful whether Tiego was wrong. This person is really just a little nobleman with no background.
Although I have such doubts in my heart, I think that no matter how this person has ever seen Juana, it is just this that made Maria feel that she should be paid attention to this person. As for his origin, I believe it can be touched soon. Clear.
Thinking so, Maria casually turned around and walked back to her seat. Manuel, after deliberately pulled into the sea, found that this brother of Columbus seemed to be quite good at sailing. Immediately after the master, he greeted James at the table very close to him and sat down to continue talking, but tossed Alexander aside.
Looking at James, who had a great conversation with Manuel, I felt that although I was far away, as long as I looked closely, I could notice the eyes from the queen. Alexander slowly drank slowly while drinking wine. Step forward.
Then, he saw Tiego who was standing in front of him.
"Adult," Tiego salutes Alexander naturally. He doesn't care about the suspicion that may be caused by his discovery. He is a businessman, and it is normal for people who have been to the cities on the Mediterranean for many years Things, and after saying hello, his tone slightly lowered, "So Queen ..."
"Obviously the queen does not want to meet me so quickly."
Alexander smiled. He could guess Maria ’s thoughts, but he was not in a hurry. The daughter of Queen Isabella was obviously obsessed with and worshipped by her mother, so she tried to imitate whatever she did. Queen Isabella, but it is clear that her skills have not yet been learned, at least from now on I have not noticed that there is a strong force in Portugal who is secretly opposing her. You can know that the young queen ’s skill It's a bit bad.
"Maybe I can help you ..."
"No," Alexander blocked Tiego's suggestion. "That might make her suspicious. Wait, she might come to you, and then I think she will take the initiative to contact me soon."
Although Tiego was a little puzzled how Alexander could be so confident, but he was still obedient and talked a few words before he left. With his knowledge of the Duke ’s past, he knew that Alexander should be sure, as for Mary When Ya will be hooked, I do n’t know.
The banquet was very enjoyable, and even a few nobles pulled out the guys in the hall because they were too excited. With a jingle fight, they ended up with one of the unlucky ghosts hanging on the thighs when they slipped. The fireplace was pierced and ended.
The man was immediately lifted down, but the blood on the ground did not disappoint the guests. It was only a short time after someone came back to report that the unlucky egg died of excessive bleeding, Manuel I only announced the banquet. End.
James happily returned to Alexandria. On the way back to his residence, he told Manuel that he was very interested in his sailing experience. When he was excited, he even suggested that he could fund him to pass like his brother. Adventures of the Atlantic looking westward for new routes.
"If that's the case, I suggest you prepare now, because if you want to follow the route in your brother's voyage diary, you may have to continue to go south far away before you get the harvest." Alexander said casually, seeing Jie After listening to this, James showed a thoughtful look, and Alexander no longer ignored it, but turned his attention to the street outside the car.
This first meeting with Maria was nothing to be expected of him. Of all the children of Queen Isabella, as far as the belief is firm but suspicious, Mary of Aragon is The one who is most like her mother. Compared with her, her sisters and brothers are far from her in character. Not to mention that the famous and famously infamous Juana is her youngest sister, who later became the Queen of England. Catherine of Gong was not so deliberately imitating their mother.
There are many reasons why Maria did n’t immediately show that she wanted to meet. Alexander believes that one of them should be that he visited Juana before, which caused her doubts, but this is obviously inevitable. If Alexander wants to continue and Juana contacted, it would be impossible not to be discovered by Maria's people after a long time. Instead of trying to remedy that time, it would be better to let her know from the beginning.
As for why he interacted with Juana, Alexander not only had a good reason, but he believed that once Maria heard the wind, she might break the current impasse and come to him actively.
As Alexander guessed, Mary who returned to the new palace immediately sent someone to find Thiego again.
Although it was getting late, the queen's spirit was very good. At the same time, her husband, King Manuel, changed her spirit.
So after seeing the two His Majesty, Thiego was immediately entangled with various problems ~ EbookFREE.me ~ Is that person really the Duke of Roma Tesia? The queen asked directly.
"Can that James Columbus lead a fleet like his brother, I mean a bigger fleet?" The King asked urgently.
"He went to see Juana, what did the woman report to the Vatican?"
"He is with the Duke, has he received the Duke's funding? If so, can you inquire about what conditions the Duke of Rome Tesia promised him?"
A series of questions left Tiegeau almost overwhelmed, but in the end his words caught Maria ’s attention: "It is said that the Duke of Rome Tesia was commissioned by his good friend Cardinal Mahimo to see Princess Juana, I know this is because of the news I heard from Palermo when I was doing business in Sicily. It is said that Cardinal Mahimo once went to Sicily to visit the parish, and then met the Aragon army under General Gonzalo He heard about the current situation of Princess Juana, and the cardinal seemed to be very touched by the piety of the princess, so he requested the Duke to visit Princess Juana when he came to review the sacred place ... "
"What? Sicily, Gonzalo?"
Looking at the momentary look of Maria, Thiago couldn't help but wonder: "The Duke's words will be fulfilled."
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