148 Audience

Knocking to the bedroom woke me up from my blissful sleep, I reluctantly opened my eyes, lifted Galina's hand from my chest, put her on a pillow... I had been in Warsaw for a few days, but most of the time I did not leave the house or even the bed... unfortunately now I was forced to leave my warm lair. I made my way slowly to the door.

"What? Don't you know it's only noon?" (MC)

"I'm sorry Lord, royal messenger has arrived, you must report to the palace as soon as possible." (Wroński)

"I understand, but it is not that important ... you have been serving me for several years now and you have to learn to distinguish between important and trivial things... let the servants prepare a bath for me and serve me breakfast, but no rush, they can do it in two hours." (MC)

I closed the door and went back to bed... We are in Poland, what the king wants or wishes is our least concern.

"Something happened?" (Sveta)

"Nothing important, keep sleeping." (MC)

A few hours later, full of food, well-rested and refreshed, I went to the Royal Palace... after wasting an hour waiting, one of the courtiers took me to a room where the King, Hetman Potocki and several ministers I knew were holding a meeting... there were also several faces which I did not know. Although I had been in the capital for several days, I did not have the full picture of the situation and did not know the latest news from court life... All eyes were on me.

"Wilkomir... your face." (Tomasz Zamoyski)

"I know, I didn't have time to shave, I was in a hurry to arrive at the palace as early as possible." (MC)

Most of the gathered saw me for the first time since returning to Poland, the only one who was not surprised was Hetman Potocki, he had time to get used to my new appearance.

"Dear Hetman do you know why we called you before us?" (King Władysław)

"To congratulate me on participating in a victorious war and reward me for my hardships? Your Majesty does not have to do this." (MC)

"This was not the purpose of this call, but congratulations Hetman Jazłowiecki, and we will think about your reward... We got a report from Olsztyn that some of your soldiers whom you sent to Gdańsk encountered a unit of Prussian soldiers on their way and attacked them." (King Władysław)

I pretended to be surprised.

"They attacked them?! For no reason?! I find it hard to believe... I know my people, they are docile as lambs... they wouldn't hurt flies, let alone a man." (MC)

"From the report we received, it appears that your people came across drunken Prussian soldiers who attacked, robbed and killed the inhabitants of settlements and villages on our side of the border. Apart from the words of your soldiers, there are also testimonies of other witnesses. The place of the attack has also been checked... the sight was said to be gruesome." (King Władysław)

The operation turned out to be a success, at least this part of the operation, now I only have to deepen aversion to the Hohenzollerns, but the Grand Chancellor of the Crown, Jakub Zadzik, will help me with this.

"If this is true, Your Majesty, I must generously reward my people for their heroic attitude... one hundred or two ducats each. They stood up for the weaker and the oppressed." (MC)

And I was right...

"I have always said that the problem of Prussia must be finally solved. They do not respect the old laws, neither humility in them nor respect for the crown... A child's disobedience must be punished, not indulged." (Jakub Zadzik)

"Chancellor, do you think I am too lenient with them? You are a bishop yourself, what about forgiving your neighbor?" (King Władysław)

"For forgiveness there must be and repentance, Your Majesty. When the Swedes attacked us, Prussia remained neutral. They fight the Polish trade and break the privileges of our merchants, and now their soldiers are destroying our villages and murdering our people." (Jakub Zadzik)

"So what do you advise, Chancellor?" (King Władysław)

You could feel the discontent in the King's voice... well, no one likes being reminded of his failures, maybe he'll sprinkle some salt on the wound.

"The chancellor is right, we must send the emissaries to Konigsberg (Królewca) and force Prince Jerzy Wihelm to come to Warsaw, get down on his knees and beg for forgiveness. If he refuses, deliver him tied like a dog and throw him in front of the royal majesty... and then annex Prussia." (MC)

My solution was very radical, but it also had many supporters, there were some problems of a political nature, but everything can be dealt with.

"Are you still thirsty for blood? Prince Jerzy is the elector, and Brandenburg is now back on the emperor's side. Do you want to fight the emperor?" (Masovian Voivode, Stanisław Warszycki)

Of course, my plan had not only supporters, but also opponents, but in the case of Warszczycki it was predictable, if I said that I am a supporter of air and oxygen, he would probably hold his breath. Such people cannot be taken seriously.

"No, but I would drink a beer, I would not despise wine either... I do not like blood, because I usually lose a lot of mine too. Emperor, King, Tsar or Sultan, it doesn't matter... if someone spits in your face, you don't pretend it's raining... and secondly, dear Voivode, the emperor is currently fighting the Turks and Protestants, he needs help himself, he has no strength to help others. We will not attack the empire either, but only Prussia which is not in the empire." (MC)

"Nobody will attack anyone..." (King Władysław)

However, there was a wail in the King's voice. Władysław probably believed that forcing Prussia to obey or annexing their lands, it would help him to attack Sweden and obtain their crown.

"Your Majesty, you mentioned a reward for me... I don't want any, I just want you to lend me your architect, Augustine Locci." (MC)