189 Plans

"Really good job, I wouldn't know the seal is a fake, but I'm not an expert either. You really are a master in your trade, I have to thank Graf for sending you here." (MC)

I saw more than twenty false seals and for my eyes they looked authentic enough... but the most important of them all was the imperial seal.

"Does that mean my debts are canceled and I will regain my workshop?" (Joachim Braun)

"Yes, but you are also forbidden to enter the casino... You can pack your things and tomorrow you will go to Gdańsk with a letter to Graf Ferber." (MC)

I quickly wrote a letter, applied my seal, the goldsmith looked really happy, then I took all the fake seals and left him alone... Of course I couldn't let him live, he didn't seem like a bad person, but he was a gambler. He could run into more debts and either blackmail me or sell this information. As the old saying goes, if you want to keep a secret between three people, two of them must be dead.

Later that night I sneaked into his room and strangled him while he was asleep. He was surprised and tried to fight back, but I was stronger... as always. It's a pity because he really had talent, but I couldn't trust him... then I left the body to be found by the maid... without a coroner and an examination it will look like a normal death. His funeral was quiet and modest, he was buried in the local cemetery.

The next thing I had to do was send Wroński to Rome to recruit mercenaries... it took me two days to write the letter, I stamped it and everything was ready. Almost everything, there were still instructions for Wroński.

"Lord, any specific mercenaries?" (Wroński)

"No, but they have to be Italian and not more than a hundred people. They don't have to be particularly intelligent either, and better yet, be morally flexible. You will leave immediately, we must waste no time." (MC)

Wroński did not really understand why I insist on Italian mercenaries, but he did not question my command either. The reason was prosaically simple, if something went wrong and my plans failed, the Emperor would suspect the Pope first than me, and the more the Pope denied, the more guilty he would be in the eyes of the Emperor.

The second important thing was that they would be responsible for the kidnapping of my wife's family and their deaths... unfortunately there was a little problem... and it was Elisabeth's pregnancy. It is not known how my wife will react to the news of their death. I didn't like children, but I didn't want her to have a miscarriage either, ultimately whether a boy or a girl will be born, it might be useful to me. Therefore, I limited my plans to killing only my wife's brothers and mother. I'll leave her sisters alone... I'm not a monster after all.

I wanted my plan to become reality as soon as possible, time played a very important role here for several reasons. This year, the most important ally of the Habsburgs will have a lot of internal problems, first the Reapers' War will break out in Catalonia... and in December Portugal will gain independence, and the Portuguese throne will be assumed by John the Restorer, which will lead to a war. It will be a big blow to the Kingdom of Spain.

But not only the Spaniards will have problems, in a few days the King of England should convene a Short Parliament to dissolve three weeks later... this will start with an increase in opposition to the King, which will ultimately lead to his downfall and to Oliver Cromwell taking power... and of course the Second Bishops' War, in which the Scots would defeat the English and force Charles I to make concessions... Ehh... Europe is one big political brothel.

"Elisabeth didn't ask you about anything anymore?" (MC)

We both lay in my bed, Galina's head resting on my shoulder, and I was playing with her breast.

"We talked a couple of times but I didn't say anything that wasn't a secret... I'm not stupid." (Galina)

"No, you are not stupid... but you also don't know my secrets... unless Piotr and Katarzyna are my children, but you are right. Speak as little as possible or only about obvious things, Elisabeth is not stupid and maybe drawing some conclusions herself." (MC)

"The Great Hetman Jazłowiecki is afraid of his wife?" (Galina)

"No, but I don't like drama... have you read Hamlet? So many unnecessary and stupid deaths... I wouldn't want it to happen again." (MC)

I squeezed Galina's tits a little tighter, a grimace appeared on her face.

"And second, I still prefer to share my bedroom with you... Elisabeth is just learning this profession. I remember seeing you for the first time, so innocent... you were bruised, hungry and dirty, but saving you was a good decision... and how is your daughter Ksenia, if I remember correctly she will be ten years old this year?" (MC)

"Why are you suddenly asking about my daughter? You're usually not interested in her?" (Galina)

It was true, but to justify myself, I wasn't interested in my children either.

"It is one of the perks of being my lover... this and good sex. Sveta also had children, now they both live well and peacefully. So I'm curious what future you chose for her. Husband, monastery or something completely different?" (MC)

"Ksenia studies well, maybe she will become a governess in the future and she gets along well with Katarzyna, so maybe she will stay with your daughter... I don't know. I didn't think about it." (Galina)

It wasn't stupid, Katarzyna will need someone she knows and can trust in the future. Especially when I find a suitable candidate for her husband.