214 208 Bait

The banquet went as I expected... a lot of food, a lot of alcohol and a lot of Poles which meant that there would be little food and even less alcohol left after the banquet. In addition to guests from Transylvania, I also invited several dozen people from the local nobility and officials, I even sent an invitation to the King, although only as a courtesy, but he excused himself by having problems with health. It might be a lie or it might be true, but his absence was a blessing.

I had the opportunity to take a closer look at my guests during, both father and son behaved culturally but restrainedly. They hardly consumed alcohol, a goblet or two of mead... as if they didn't want to or were afraid to reveal their cards prematurely.

I could understand it, although in Poland it is believed that a person who does not drink cannot be trusted... alcohol makes a person talkative and effusive, and since you are not drinking, you are hiding something... and Prince Rakoczy and his son are definitely hiding something. That's why I decided to make the first move.

"Dear Prince, maybe we will go to the garden where nobody will disturb us, fewer people, fewer ears and a more relaxed atmosphere." (MC)

It was no secret that we were talking about the wedding, but everything else... we'd better not have witnesses. Rakoczy said nothing but nodded his head and followed me towards the garden... a few minutes later we were both sitting in the gazebo, even though the day was cold, it didn't bother us.

"Prince Jazłowiecki, I understand that since you invited me here, you want to talk about something important ..." (Prince Jerzy Rakoczy I)

"Yes, my adopted daughter Katarzyna turns eighteen this year, your son is twenty-two or twenty-three?" (MC)

"Jerzy will turn twenty-two this year..." (Prince Jerzy Rakoczy I)

"Exactly, so it's high time we finalized our talks regarding their wedding. Let's talk openly, what do you expect to get and what do you offer in return?" (MC)

"I don't understand, is it about the dowry?" (Prince Jerzy Rakoczy I)

He was not a good actor, he understood the question perfectly well, but still preferred to play stupid.

"If you only care about money, I must have made a mistake in your assessment of dear Prince, I thought you had greater ambitions." (MC)

To catch a large fish you have to bait properly... or use electricity or dynamite, it works even better.

"Prince, and you don't think it's too early for such talks. We don't know each other enough to trust each other." (Prince Jerzy Rakoczy I)

He didn't trust me, I didn't trust him... on such solid foundations we could build an alliance.

"We will be a family, and who can be trusted if not the family... When your son marries Katarzyna, I will help him unite Wallachia, Transylvania and Hungary into one kingdom, then I will even help him become the king of Poland, of course he will also have to seek votes nobility." (MC)

My words surprised Rakoczy a lot, he did not expect such an offer. You could see an interest on his face, aroused by what I said, well, not every day someone appears who offers you to fulfill your hidden ambitions... I know a few women who, for a few thalers, will fulfill every fantasy, but that's not the same as ambition... but before he could respond, I presented my conditions to him.

"In return, I want Transylvania to help me regain Bohemia, this is my wife's legacy and after recent events, as the eldest daughter, she has the right to the throne. My second condition, if your son becomes King of Poland, I will become Grand Marshal of the Crown and Grand Hetman of the Crown." (MC)

My conditions were not excessive, but they were also large enough not to arouse suspicions. Always watch out for people who promise a lot, and do not want anything in return... especially as a Pole and a history lover, I was sensitive to it... This was the case during WWII, the French and the English as allies promised to fight to the last soldier for Poland... of course, the last Polish soldier. Nobody gave us as much as they promised.

"Do you want to be Marshal and Hetman, even though you will be the King of Bohemia? I do not understand..." (Prince Jerzy Rakoczy I)

"No, I will not be king and I will not sit on the throne... I will only be the husband of the queen. Even in the event of her death, God forbid, I can only be regent until our son is old enough to take the throne. That's why I want to be Marshal and Hetman." (MC)

It was true, I had not lied to Rakoczy. It was Elizabeth who had claims to the throne, or our children, I could be like the first lady, smile, wave my hand to the crowds and do nothing.

"Before I hear your answer, think over my proposal... and if you are worried about the Habsburgs or the Ottomans, the former have many more problems now, and the latter... Wallachia and Transylvania are supposed to be neutral under the peace agreement, but there is nothing there, that they cannot be united. If the Turks want to intervene, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth will do the same." (MC)

Without waiting for the Transylvanian prince, I got up and went to the palace... as Caesar said, "Iacta alea est".

In the middle I saw that Jan was dancing with some young noblewoman I didn't know, a red lamp lit up in my head immediately... I understand youth, hormones, but Jan is and will be one of the richest magnates in the country, I couldn't let his dick spoil my plans. When the music stopped playing, I waved Jan over.

"Cousin, you were supposed to be watching young Rakoczy, and not staring at the tits of some noblewoman like a calf on an udder." (MC)