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Chapter 43: Lunch with Oberto

The group was led through the city and to the mansion of Oberto Doria, where they would be welcomed in with all the pomp and glory of a rich Genoese oligarch. Conradin\'s thoughts were on what the Genoese could be planning by inviting him to lunch. Did they have some sort of ulterior motive or secondary objective that they were hoping to achieve? Or perhaps he genuinely wanted to have some small talk with him. Either way, it was likely to be an important meeting, and Conradin was ready to engage in some political intrigue if he needed to.

A silence fell upon the group as they stopped walking, and it took Conradin a moment to realize why before embarrassingly following suit. They had reached the mansion of Oberto Doria and were now standing in the courtyard before the imposing building. It was a majestic spectacle, and even Conradin could not help but marvel at the opulence and grandeur presented before him. The group was silent for a moment, taking in the sight of the building and the rich atmosphere. Then, they finally stepped forward together towards the mansion, ready to go inside for their meeting with the Genoese oligarch.

Since Conradin was king and Oberto Doria was only a senator in the Genoese Republic, a certain amount of protocol had to be followed. It was customary for the owner of the mansion to welcome his important guests outside of his building to show that he was not above the king in any way. This was the proper way for a high-status individual to be engaged, and no one would dare suggest otherwise; otherwise, it would be a sign of disrespect.

And sure enough, Conradin saw that Oberto was outside his home, welcoming the group inside. Even though Oberto Doria was no king, he was still a powerful senator and therefore had a certain level of opulence in his dress and the look of his attire. He was dressed in elegant and fashionable clothing; he wore a red silk dress with a small golden cross outside of it.

Silence fell over the group as they witnessed Doria descend from the stairs and bow to the king in front of him. It was clear that Doria was a man of great wealth and status, as evidenced by his dress and the way he carried himself. His bow was a show of respect to the king, and the small talk he offered was meant as a form of humility and respect before a monarch like Conradin.

\'\'I\'m honored that you chose to grace this lowly one with your visit, and I hope the food in my home will be deserving of your tongue.\'\' Oberto said while bowing to Conradin

\'\'I am privileged to be invited by a seasoned man of state like yourself, sir Oberto. Please indicate the way\'\' Conradin said while gesturing for him to stop bowing.

Hearing Conradin\'s word, Oberto obeyed and elegantly walked ahead of the group, leading them towards the banquet room.

The banquet room was a spectacle to behold, filled with intricate and beautiful decorations and artwork depicting moments from ancient myths and stories . The luxurious decoration and artwork gave a sense of grandeur and majesty to the room as if it were a place of power itself. Walking through the room, Conradin saw many different depictions of great events from antiquity and myth, each more impressive than the last. It was obvious that the Genoese had taken great care in their creations, and the details showed why Italy was known around the world for the excellence of her artwork and craftsmanship. With the tail of his eyes, Conradin recognized the fall of Troy along with the fratricide that bore the great city of Rome.

Conradin\'s seat was located near the owner of the house, followed by his companions. Once seated, Conradin noticed that no lady was near Oberto, and as such, he presumed that he was not married. Nonetheless, he threw these thoughts to the back of his mind once he realized that the food presented to the group was an elaborate and lavish affair, full of the finest meats and fruits. The dishes themselves were elaborate and beautiful works of art, showing how much care and attention the Genoese staff put into their work. Even though the companions were surely hungry, it was clear that the dishes were not just meant to be consumed but to be appreciated as well. The companions dug into the food with enthusiasm but kept in mind that this was more than just a meal; it was an experience that they could truly enjoy and cherish for the memories. After minutes since the start of the meal, Oberto spoke the first words since the food was placed on the table.

\'\'I beg your kindness to let yourself go, as we hope that today is the start of a fortuitous relationship between ourselves, especially since we will be campaigning together soon."

Conradin was surprised by the news and inquired of Oberto to give him more information on what he meant.

\'\'Can you please elaborate on what you just said? \'\'Conradin enquired

Since I have been chosen to lead the Genoese forces on land in your upcoming campaign, your Highness, today\'s meeting is naturally like a celebration for me.

\'\'Let us toast to our good fortune to be accompanied by you\'\'Conradin remarked, lifting his cup of wine high and pouring it down his throat. Everyone at the table then did the same. The group then started having light chats while savoring the delicious food and wine being served.

Conradin actually had no idea of the political maneuvering going on when he was celebrating Oberto\'s achievement. The two most powerful families, the Fieschi and Grimaldi, were under the table negotiating on who to appoint for the newly opened position, while the minor positions were divided between themselves. Since they could not decide together on who to appoint as head, they compromised by naming one of the members of the minor family, Oberto Doria. The choice was good for both sides since Oberto would be too little influential to pull the strings, and almost all of the officers were loyal to the two families. Even though Conradin was unaware of the political play occurring behind the scenes, Oberto Doria was a skilled and shrewd politician. He was well aware of the machinations of the powerful families of the Genoese oligarchy, and he knew that his own position was not as powerful as it seemed. As a result, he would seek any way to gain more power and influence, such as getting on the good side of a powerful leader like Conradin. His efforts at this lunch served to further these political aspirations, as he tried to appear as a humble and respectful statesman to curry favor with the king. After all, even though he was named the head of the Genoese auxiliary forces, the officers were all from the Grimaldi and Fieschi families, so if they wanted, they could ignore my orders, and he would not be able to do much, or else he would make enemies out of two of the most powerful families in Genoa.

The lunch passed in a relaxed and joyful mood as the group enjoyed the fine food and drink being served. They spent the time eating, talking, and laughing together, and Oberto Doria made sure to give plenty of attention to King Conradin and his companions. It seemed that his efforts to gain influence with the king were having some success, as he continued to impress the monarch with his humility and respect. By the end of the lunch, they had truly had a great time and felt more relaxed and closer than ever to each other. The time together had been well spent. It had been a great event to spend together and to get to know each other, and it would undoubtedly help to build the trust and cohesion that would be necessary to withstand the upcoming campaign.

It was, however, time to bid goodbye, and the group left the Mansion of Oberto after having a good day with him.As the group departed, they said their farewells to Oberto and they expressed their gratitude for his hospitality. They were certain that this meeting had been a success and that their mission had been made all the more important by the personal relationships that have been forged during this time.

Conradin knew that this was a successful day since he had managed to get the goodwill of the head of the Genoese support forces. He was not sure what the future held for the campaign or the movement just yet, but he was sure that this had been an important day in moving his goals forward. As he left, he found himself smiling in anticipation and excitement.

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