Avignon, Holy See of Avignon.
"Your Majesty, I have word from Palermo!"
"What is it? It must be something if you should be ordered to travel to France."
"The King of Naples is dead."
"Charles of Durazzo has died? Spectacular."
"Along with his wife, who died before him.."
"Wait... Two deaths? Was it a coup?"
"She died before he did, or so I understand.. She died in childbirth early enough for him to remarry. He died shortly afterwards."
"Oh well, I guess that serves a purpose. Did the child live?"
"She gave birth to two daughters, both survived and are kept in Hungary."
"Queen Maria of Hungary and her mother abhor the Durazzos. I am certain that neither of these girls will see Napoli soon."
"Well, Sire, there's not really anyone in Napoli for them to go to. Prince Ladislas has been yet another casualty, and Princess Joanna is in England."
"My word! This truly must be the work of God."
"Go.Return to Palermo. Tell them that I shall return to lead the armies as soon as the Pontiff and I finish our business here."
He summoned another man who had accompanied him to Avignon from Sicily.
"You, go to my brother Wilhelm in Meissen. Tell him that the last action of Charles of Durazzo was to promise the hand of his daughter, the heiress of Naples to him in marriage, and tell him that Charles' promise will be kept. He is to come to Sicily and be formally installed as Duke of Noto."
"Yes, My King."
Later, when Friedrich met with Clement again...
"Your Holiness, Charles is dead. His wife is dead. His only son is dead. Naples is in anarchy and they have no crowned monarch. He promised his daughter to my brother, and she is the only one who lives. This must be divine intervention! What shall we do? I know you support the Duc d'Anjou, and that is your choice, but as for when to strike, the time seems to be now, Your Holiness, does it not?"
"Your Majesty, I have word from Palermo!"
"What is it? It must be something if you should be ordered to travel to France."
"The King of Naples is dead."
"Charles of Durazzo has died? Spectacular."
"Along with his wife, who died before him.."
"Wait... Two deaths? Was it a coup?"
"She died before he did, or so I understand.. She died in childbirth early enough for him to remarry. He died shortly afterwards."
"Oh well, I guess that serves a purpose. Did the child live?"
"She gave birth to two daughters, both survived and are kept in Hungary."
"Queen Maria of Hungary and her mother abhor the Durazzos. I am certain that neither of these girls will see Napoli soon."
"Well, Sire, there's not really anyone in Napoli for them to go to. Prince Ladislas has been yet another casualty, and Princess Joanna is in England."
"My word! This truly must be the work of God."
"Go.Return to Palermo. Tell them that I shall return to lead the armies as soon as the Pontiff and I finish our business here."
He summoned another man who had accompanied him to Avignon from Sicily.
"You, go to my brother Wilhelm in Meissen. Tell him that the last action of Charles of Durazzo was to promise the hand of his daughter, the heiress of Naples to him in marriage, and tell him that Charles' promise will be kept. He is to come to Sicily and be formally installed as Duke of Noto."
"Yes, My King."
Later, when Friedrich met with Clement again...
"Your Holiness, Charles is dead. His wife is dead. His only son is dead. Naples is in anarchy and they have no crowned monarch. He promised his daughter to my brother, and she is the only one who lives. This must be divine intervention! What shall we do? I know you support the Duc d'Anjou, and that is your choice, but as for when to strike, the time seems to be now, Your Holiness, does it not?"