Chapter 275: Conspiring against the Conspirators (1/2)

After eating breakfast with the Sultan of Granada, Berengar took his morning bath. Though the bathhouse in the Castle of Granada was better than most, it still failed to compare to the elaborate design that Berengar had made for himself.

However, it was enough to get the job done, and after finishing his bath, Berengar got dressed in his extravagant attire before regrouping with Adela. The young woman looked visibly stressed as if she had been contemplating what actions to take during the entirety of her sleep.

Nevertheless, Berengar grabbed ahold of his little fiancee and shoved her into his arms as he stroked her silky golden hair. The girl had just left her quarters before running into Berengar, and as such, she was curious about the intelligence Berengar could collect in the previous night.

As such, she looked around cautiously to make sure nobody else was nearby before asking the question in her mind in a calm voice.

”What did you find out?”

Berengar nuzzled his cheek against her to put on a show of affection. If anyone were secretly watching their moves, they would think the two were embracing each other like a couple usually did. After getting close to her ears, he whispered to his little fiancee.

”It is worse than we thought, Yusuf the younger brother of Hasan, and at least three of his ministers are involved in a plot to assassinate the Sultan and pin the blame onto us. They intend to create a theocratic Caliphate here in Grenada.”

Though Adela was shocked to hear this, she played the part of a fiancee who was being doted on by her future husband, and as such, she did not make any facial expressions to indicate her true feelings.

”When do they plan to do it?”

Berengar danced around with Adela slightly as he kissed her forehead before speaking further about the plans.

”Tonight at Dinner, they intend to poison Hasan's drink. The cupbearer is part of the conspiracy. I have already dispatched my agents to gather more intelligence; we can not allow this to unfold.”

After saying this, Berengar broke away from the long hug and held onto Adela's hand tightly while acting as if they were not just conspiring.

”Well, my love, I think it is time for you to get some breakfast. I have already eaten with the Sultan, but I will accompany you anyway.”

With this, Adela nodded and followed Berengar to the Dining Hall, where the rest of Hasan's dynasty were busy eating breakfast. As for Berengar, he silently observed the discussions that were taking place at the table.

After a while, the meal was over, and Adela and Berengar were free to return to their business. Berengar searched for the Sultan and eventually found him in his study once more. As such, Berengar decided to investigate whether Hasan knew he was being conspired against. Thus, he shut the door behind him as he began to question the young Sultan in a not too obvious way.

Berengar had brought his translator with him, though the topic they would be discussing was confidential, the man who Berengar used as a translator was from his own court, and was someone Berengar could trust with critical information. As such he began to speak with Hasan while his words were translated into Arabic.

”Pardon me if it is not my place, but I get the feeling that some of your ministers are not exactly welcome to the idea of me staying here...”

When Hasan heard this, he began to frown, not over Berengar's choice of words, but because Berengar was correct when he said that; as such, he sighed heavily before resting his face in his hands. It was only after a few moments that Hasan began to speak.

”My brother is a deeply religious person and is foolish enough to believe that the Imams should run the state. I do not know where he got such beliefs.

What I know is that he is deeply disturbed by our family's more secular nature as rulers. Thus, he has been conspiring with my more fanatical advisors for some time. I fear eventually they will make an attempt on my life.

I am sorry to trouble you with such things. I suppose you also must have a hard time at home; after all, you are one of the figureheads of the German Reformation, and there must be diehard Catholics who surround and scheme against you...”

Berengar sat in front of the man and took out a flask from his pocket and took a sip from it. The Sultan eyed the flask thoughtfully as Berengar did so; seeing the hopeful expression on the man's face, Berengar plugged the flask and tossed it over to him before explaining its contents.

”It is a fortified wine; we make it in Southern Tyrol. It has become one of my favorite drinks.”

The man quickly took off the flask's cap before smelling it; after doing so, he had a taste; when he did so, his eyes began to shine with excitement before he took another swig. After drinking his fill, he handed the flask back to Berengar, which was half empty, and Berengar merely chuckled in response.

”You like it, huh?”

To this, the Sultan nodded his head before sighing heavily.