The Venetian left with a contract signed several terms.

Under these treaties, Montina and Venice were to cease any hostility and mistrust, and in return, Venice was to provide Montina with a sum sufficient to sustain the army's operations.

At the same time, there were other treaties between Montina and the Venetians, including relations between the two parties, as well as regarding the ownership and interests of the maritime colonies.

The envoy was content to leave, for the treaty not only provided Venice with certain guarantees for the settlement of the threat from the east, but also made a certain commitment to the distribution of the Hungarian deposits, that is, if Alexander received a little benefit from the distribution of the Hungarian deposits, there was also a share of Venice.

At the same time, the terms of the 400,000 poods sugar tax also made the Venetian feel that the agreement was still worth it.

And for Alexander's generous promise, the Venetians also offered a lot of things.

In addition to the considerable expenses incurred for the expedition to Hungary, which was enough to relieve Alexander, who was now somewhat strapped for almost all his money in a promising business, the non-aggression pact with the Venetians also made Alexander secretly relax a lot.

No one knows better than him how important this seemingly unreliable non-aggression is.

The French are coming, and with old Rovere still unable to get rid of the identity of the leading party for a while, the contradiction with the Venetians is bound to occur.

In any way, Montina bore the brunt of this conflict, but only Alexander knew that old Rovere might have an ambiguous attitude for a long time to come, and then with the appearance of the French, in a few years, old Rovere would finally take off his disguise and completely stand on the opposite side of the French.

But until then he had been a true leader, so he would fight the Venetians, who were enemies of France, and Alexander did not want Montina to fall victim to old Rovere.

This is also the reason why he insisted that Barentia be the regent of Montina, so that it would not be so easy for either the Pope or the old Rovere to use Montina as a stepping stone.

"If the Pope compels it, you can rely on your father to keep our territory, and if your father hits the idea of here, I think you know what to do."

Alexander rested his chin on Barondi's smooth shoulders, which were lying limply on the hide, and felt the warmth of Barondi's body beneath him, and he lowered his head and kissed her neck.

"You're going to use me to guard against my father?" Barondi said a little breathlessly, the pleasure that had just ended made her whole body weak, and she didn't even want to move a finger, "You know I won't oppose my father." ”

"I just hope you can protect our home, at least when I get back, there's a place to rest."

"How long are you going to go?" Barendi asked the question again.

"I hope to be back as soon as possible, preferably before the arrival of the French." Alexander could only comfort Barendi, who might have been in Bucharest by an accident that made him unsure that he would be able to return so quickly.

"I hope I haven't let you down, and Montina will still be a place to rest when you return." Barendi sighed softly after speaking, her chin rested on her crossed arms placed on the animal skin, looking at the flames dancing in the hearth not far ahead, the golden fire reflected in her light eyes, and couldn't help flashing, "I think I'm depraved, and I will actually oppose my father for you." ”

"No, this is normal, after all, you will be a Gombray and not a Rovire in the future, so your choice is completely normal and reasonable," looking at Barendi's side face, Alexander was a little surprised to notice, under the reflection of the firelight, this ordinary face with slightly wet hair sticking to his cheeks looked a little more charming at this time, which made his body that he had just moved actually move again" Speaking of rest, I have already rested just now, and now we can continue our negotiations, right?" ”

"What? Don't, ah......"

Barondi's panicked shout rang out, and with this brief cry, the animal skin blanket spread on the ground instantly rose and fell.

January 13, 1499, was not a very friendly day for those who were going to travel.

It has been snowing heavily since the night before, and there is no intention of stopping until the day is completely bright.

The road in front of the Château de Montina was completely out of sight, and the eye came into view of a white world made of heaven and earth.

Such weather is obviously not suitable for marching, and even if you don't have a reliable guide, you will get lost in this white world.

Stress Mountain got up early, and when he called the window, the cold wind blew in his chest, and he couldn't help but shiver, and then he put it on with the help of Barondi.

"Why do you have to leave today?" Barendi asked a little hard, the change from a girl to a woman made her gradually reveal the unique charm of a woman, even if she was still not beautiful, but her appearance was different from the indifferent before.

"If I don't leave today, I will continue to covet the days with you, and then tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, and then I will be so obsessed with your body that I can't take a step, and eventually become a depressed person."

Alexander asked Barendi to turn around, then helped her carefully tie the ribbon behind her skirt.

"Now listen, cover your body with clothes, such a treasure that only I have the right to see, hear?"

"Alexandre Juliant Gombry, you are such a pleasing fellow," said Barendi, turning a little annoyed, "I can guess that you must have said the same thing to Lucrezia Borgia, otherwise she would not have willingly borne you a daughter." ”

"So are you ready to have a son for me?" Alexander did not deny that there are some things that must be admitted if they have been done, otherwise they will only get worse and worse.

"Think about it," Barondi said with a rare hint of mischievousness, her fingers on the placket button on her chest, consciously or unconsciously, and then looked at Alexander with encouraging eyes, "If you're ready, then so am I." ”

Alexander showed a wry smile, he didn't expect Barendi to have such a side, maybe it was the snow outside, and the gentleness in the room stimulated him, at this moment he really had the hope of coveting the woman in front of him and no longer coming out of this world of his own.

"It's snowing!"

Standing in the courtyard of the castle, Alexander looked up at the sky where snowflakes were falling, bent down to pick up the snow on the ground and threw it above his head.

Snowflakes fell, stuck in his hair, covered his shoulders, and even fell into the gaps in his collar.

A burst of cold irritated his somewhat dazed mind, Alexander took a deep breath and exhaled a column of air.

"Get on the horse!"

Alexander gave orders to the hunters who were waiting nearby.

The short red cloak stood out against the snow, and even when there was no sunlight, it was still reflected in the reflective cuirass, like a large flickering mirror.

Alexander, who jumped on Pagasus' back, looked back to see Barondi standing in front of the snow-covered steps with her female officers and Ulliu, as well as Bishop Montina and a group of officials.

"Believe me, watch out for the road to the east when the first summer cicadas start chirping, I'll come back from there."

Alexander let out a low shout to Barondi, then turned his horse's head and led the way towards the castle gates.

In the heavy snow, the hunters set off silently, and farther away, the soldiers of Montina's army, who had already prepared, set off with some helplessness.

Even the veterans could not have imagined that the Earl would choose to set off on such a snowy day, and looking at the soldiers who had only taken a few steps and began to breathe, some people could not help but wonder how many of them would be able to complete the journey except the veterans when it came to the next camp.

Gompati rode his horse and looked at the slow line in front of him, and couldn't help but shake his head slightly.

He knew that Alexander had a good intention in choosing this day to set out, but looking at this army, Gompati felt that if they could return from this trip, there would really be nothing that this army could not do.

"Gompati tell me, what would you do if you were given a hundred cannons now?" Alexander, who was walking in front, suddenly turned around and asked.

"My lord, this is impossible," Gompati urged his horse to take a few quick steps forward against the wind and snow, "no one can take out so many cannons at once, so the question is pointless, and too many cannons are not beneficial." ”

"Why?" Alexander asked with interest.

"My lord, cannons are used to destroy the enemy and the enemy's artillery, sometimes 10 cannons and 20 cannons serve exactly the same role, if there are too many of them, it doesn't make any sense except to get in the way."

"Utility overflow," Alexander said a word that Gompati didn't understand, and while a smile appeared on his face, Alexander clamped the horse's belly under his feet, and when Pagasus was running on his feet, Alexander suddenly shouted to Gompati in the wind and snow, "Gompati, live well, don't die easily, if you are lucky, maybe you will become a marshal in the future." ”

The wind and snow were still blowing, and the team split through the oncoming storm and snow, and made a difficult advance towards the white distance ahead.

Behind them, the wind and snow covered them like a thick curtain of snow, until their figures faded away, and at last there was no trace of them.

Barondi stood on the castle's tower bridge and watched the last figure disappear into the snow in the distance, and then carefully walked down the snow-covered steps with the help of the maid beside her.

"My niece, you are now the regent of Montina." Tony della Rovere walked over to Barendi with his arms outstretched, and as he hugged her, the bishop said in a voice that only two people could hear, "It's not the same as before, I have to admit that you have a way, your fiancé trusts you completely." ”

"Of course uncle," Barendi said as she left the bishop's arms, looking at her uncle with a faint eye, "I am his fiancée, or rather, he will trust me. ”

After saying that, Barendi ignored Bishop Tony, who seemed a little overwhelmed by her attitude, and turned to Uliu, who was standing not far away, and said, "Go and gather everyone, I mean all the officials come to the main hall after lunch, and I want to meet them officially." ”

"Madame, didn't you summon them in the vault?" Uliu was a little surprised.

"No, not anymore," Barondi looked up at the faintly visible window high up in the castle, "and the vault will only be used as Alexander's personal room until the Count returns." ”

"Yes." Thinking about the things that happened in the past few days when the old man and Barendi had closed the door in the vault day and night, Uliu bowed and nodded in understanding.

"Do you want to establish your authority? It's completely unnecessary, and don't forget that this used to be the domain of our Rovelle family, and you don't even need anyone's authorization to be the hostess of course. ”

Bishop Tony came over again, he felt that he was probably a little overly concerned just now, and Barondi's temperament was notoriously cold, so she shouldn't have any dissatisfaction with herself, just her personality.

"Uncle, what are you talking about?" Barendi looked at Bishop Tony with a strange look, she just looked at it like that, but that look made Bishop feel unspeakably uncomfortable.

"This is Montina, my husband's domain, and his authority is unquestionable," Barondi's gaze glanced at the slightest of the men, "so I will not forgive me for hearing any more doubts about my husband's power." As for your uncle, I think you should go back to the monastery and devote yourself to serving God, and at least you should be worthy of the monthly portions of the saddles. ”

Bishop Tony looked at Barendi in amazement, he was completely choked by the niece's words, and for a moment forgot how to refute it.

"Go about your business, don't forget to see me after lunch, as for your uncle, you don't have to."

Barendi turned and walked towards the castle, leaving Bishop Tony staring at her back with an ugly face.

Ulius bowed respectfully to the ashen bishop, and then chased in the direction of Barendi.

Bishop Tony stood in the snow and stared at the figure in a daze, and after a while he noticed that there was no figure around him, and he thought for a moment with a gloomy face, and then turned and walked in the direction of the monastery, ignoring the servants who were hurrying to lead his horse behind him.

Ulliu followed not far behind Barondi, and he knew that Madame had something else to order.

Sure enough, Barundi, who was walking in front, stopped, turned around, and when she saw Ulliu, she motioned for him to come closer.

"Those peasants, are they still honest?" Barendi asked.

"How can you be honest after being beaten," Uliu was a little surprised by Barondi's thoughts, but he continued, "Fortunately, they didn't make trouble, after all, the lord is still very good to them." ”

"Then they will soon find that the good days are over," said Barendi coldly, "Alexander may be a benevolent lord, but I will not allow them to deceive him, much less allow them to usurp what belongs to the lord at will, so from this day onwards you must make the peasants understand that they must serve the lord by planting the lord's land, or I will drive them out of Montina's land." ”

"As you command, ma'am." Uliu bowed again.

"Tell me, don't you think I'm different from the other women in Alexandria you've served," Barondi looked at Uliu, "You think I'm a mean woman, don't you?" ”

"What the hell, you're my only hostess." The Moors hurried to show their loyalty, although the cold wind and snow were biting outside, but there seemed to be a little sweat on the door of Uliu's head, "You are all doing this for the good of the master, but I know it." ”

"I hope so," Barendi snorted softly, and then she slowly walked to the window and looked at the wind and snow outside, "Alexander will be walking for a long time this time, and my duty is to guard Montina for him, which is a wife's duty, so I want you to help me." ”

Speaking of this, Barentia looked back at Ulliu: "Maybe that stupid woman of the Borgia family will only use you as Alexander's personal servant, but I will not be so stupid, so from now on I want you to obey my orders, and don't forget what you said, I am your only mistress." ”

After reluctantly coming out of Barondi, Ulliu stood in the airy corridor and shook his head, he had to admit that he had underestimated the new countess a little.

Maybe it's just because Alexander is by his side that Barendi will temporarily indulge in the whirlpool of love with him, but as soon as Alexander left the former lady of the Rovere family, he showed unusual methods, which made Ulliu a little worried about the master.

"If the Countess also comes......"

As soon as the thought came to him, Uliuu shook his head, walked back to his room, not too far from the vault, closed the door, and then found a letter from the bottom of an inconspicuous wooden box against the wall.

The letter was left to him by Alexander two days ago, or rather it was a memo with instructions written densely on it, some of which Ullius found somewhat inexplicable.

"From now on, prepare the grain sufficiently, and fill the granaries in the castle."

"If Caesar comes back, keep an eye on that Billy Shelly Alfonso, I think something interesting might happen."

"If there is an anomaly on the border between Montina and Venice, remember the following: if it happens before April, then Montina must be ready to fight, and if it is after April, you must dissuade Barentia from being impulsive, but try to delay and avoid direct conflict with Venice."

"In May, I want you to go on a long trip, remember what you are going to bring, it is all I have prepared for you, your destination is Milan, and you are going to meet these two people......"

Ulliu looked at the memo carefully until he saw the last paragraph.

"Ulliu, if I can't come back at the planned time, I want you to take my word to heart, go to Kosenza and find Josha, and tell her everything I have asked you to do, and then you have two choices, one is to continue to be loyal to her as you are loyal to me, and the other is that you are free to go wherever you want, and I have prepared a sum of money for you to live in peace for the rest of your life, thank you for all these years of service, my friend."

Looking at the memo, Uliu exhaled lightly and carefully put it away and put it back in the box.

Then he looked at the doorway, and suddenly his feet tossed slightly.

"It's time to work on Ulliu, the master is still waiting." The Moorish muttered to himself, then pushed the door open and walked out of the room.