Chapter 360: An Audience with the King (1/2)

Nearly thirty minutes had passed since Berengar and Eckhard began to drink beer within the castle's Dining Hall in Prague. Berengar had spent this time informing the man of Austria's changes over the last few years. Since Eckhard had been deployed to Bohemia to act as a military advisor to the Hussites, there had been substantial advancements among all facets of life within the Fatherland.

Eckhard himself was shocked by the new fashion trends and military equipment that the men who had followed Berengar to Bohemia were equipped with. It had only been roughly five years since he had first met Berengar, and yet during that timeframe, the young man had risen from the position of a lowly baron's son to the King of Austria and Bohemia.

He also had advanced Austria's technological levels to a degree nobody would ever have believed. The fatherland was at the pinnacle of a pre-industrial society and just beginning to advance into the age of industry. Ultimately Eckhard sighed heavily before revealing his biggest regret of staying in Bohemia all this time.

”It is a damn shame that I missed your wedding. It is a sight I have always wanted to see.”

Berengar chuckled when he heard this and patted the grizzled veteran on the back before revealing his plans for the future.

”Don't be so down; you will still be able to witness at least two more Royal Weddings.”

Eckhard was confused when he heard these words; as such, he began to ask for clarification on the issue.

”What do you mean? Is Adela not in good health? Do you plan to divorce her? You're going to need to explain this to me!”

Seeing how flustered Eckhard had become only further encouraged Berengar to laugh at his state; after a few moments of fun, Berengar fully revealed what he intended to do in terms of marriage.

”Nothing of the sort, my dear friend; I intend to legalize Polygamy. A man can have up to five wives in the Kingdom of Austria. That will be the law of the land shortly!”

Eckhard was shocked when he heard this; he had no idea that Berengar had strayed so far from the path of traditionalism and instead asked the first question on his mind.

”Are you serious? You're willing to enact Polygamy so that you can marry that mistress of yours and legitimize your bastard?”

Berengar chuckled in response to this; he took a sip of his beer before answering Eckhard's question.

”Not just that, I also have an engagement to the Princess of the Byzantine Empire; a lot has happened since you left, my friend. What can I say? I can't turn away a pretty girl in need!”

Eckhard immediately began to rest his forehead in the palm of his hand as he heard this. He could not believe Berengar was willing to drastically overhaul the social fabric of Austria to accommodate his lust.

Before he could vocalize his disagreement with Berengar's decision, their chat was interrupted by the sight of a stunning and mature beauty who was in her forties. This woman was the former Queen of Bohemia.

She had a petite and slim figure with a relatively small bust. Despite that fact, her proportions were perfect, and she appeared to have aged like fine wine. She did not look a day over thirty. She had long blonde hair and shining blue eyes.

She was dressed in a burgundy dress with gold trimming in the typical style among the higher nobility within the Kingdom of Bohemia during this time. She exuded an aura of regal authority despite the death of her husband and the fact that she was standing before a usurper.

However, it was not this stunning woman that Berengar was attracted to; it was instead the doll-like girl standing hiding behind her. Berengar only got a glimpse of the girl, but it was enough to capture his attention.

The girl behind the Queen was at the cusp of adolescence. However, the part that drew Berengar's gaze was that this girl was had heterochromia. Having two different eye colors was a rarity among humans, and Berengar was intrigued by this development. Though the girl was young, she was as cute as a doll.

The girl had pale skin, with long and wavy blonde hair. Her eyebrows and lashes matched her hair color perfectly. As for her eyes, one was a solid sapphire, while the other was the color of a flawless emerald. Berengar was sure that in a few years' time when this girl physically matured she would undoubtedly be a knockout.

When the sun hit the girl's hair just right, Berengar could swear that there was a slightly pinkish hue to it. This girl had a slender and petite build, much like her mother, despite this, he found it to be fitting, as it matched her cute appearance. She was dressed in a white and pink dress fitting for a girl of her position.