Roger and his party arrived in Messina on the evening of the third day of departure. They settled in an inn owned by a coachman's friend, and then the baron escorted Roger back to the castle.

Roger saw his mother Adelaide again, and the obvious haggardness made him feel distressed. Then he saw his father who was lying in bed. Old Roger seemed to be a different person, and Roger was almost unrecognizable. The old man on the bed

Skinny and bones, his former majesty is nowhere to be seen, his eyes are in chaos, and there is no response even if he calls his name.

The mother asked Roger to wait aside. She said: "He will wake up occasionally. If he does, go and get to know him."

So Roger sat obediently on the edge of the bed, holding his father's hand like a dead branch, and his mind went back to a year ago...

"Adelaide, my days are numbered."

"My dear, don't talk nonsense, you will definitely live a long life."

"Haha, I'm almost 70, and I've reached the age where I have to sprinkle water in the four corners of my bedroom before going to bed...I want to make a will."

"Why are you in such a hurry? You don't have any problems now, why not wait until you die..."

"No, I can't guarantee that I will still be clear-headed on my deathbed. I managed to withstand the influence of the Crusades and stabilized Sicily despite the pressure of the Arabs. Now all trade between Christians and Arabs is gone.

There are many jealous people in Palermo and Messina, and I don’t want to end up like my brother Robert. In the end, someone else intervened, causing the two sons and brothers to turn against each other, and the territory was a mess. I called the bishop and witnesses.

come tomorrow."

"Can you tell me your plan?"

"Of course, there is nothing hard to say. I plan to let Simon inherit my title. If I leave early and he is not yet an adult, you will be in charge until he comes of age."

"What about Roger?"

"He is the second heir. Similarly, if Simon has no heirs when he is called, Roger will succeed him. If he is not yet of age at that time, you will rule."

"Why don't you let Roger inherit your title directly? It's not that I'm biased, but Simon's health has always been poor. Wouldn't it be better to give him the title of baron, a piece of rich land, and live in peace?"

"No, I managed to rely on Urban's favor and was granted the title of papal legate by him. I was able to control the church in Sicily, replace all the disobedient bishops and priests, and then use the church to control my arrogant people.

Relatives who do not discipline me are suppressed. I have set the rules and no one can violate them. Similarly, I cannot violate them either. The eldest son must inherit them."

"Then what will Roger do after Simon takes over? Give him a barony."

"The title is OK, but the territory is not. Simon has no choice. Roger must be trained. A good lord must be educated as a knight. I plan to send him to be a page boy under the Duke of Normandy when he is 7 years old."

"No, I don't agree. A child goes to work as a page boy so far away. I, I don't agree."

"Foolish woman, a woman's kindness."

"If you must send it that far, then send it to Antioch. There is a powerful count there. Oh no, he is the Prince of Antioch now, or your nephew..."

"Don't mention that name in front of me."

"I just want to remind you that the Duke of Normandy and your nephew were not happy when they captured Antioch. In the eyes of others, you are all Ottervilles. Are you really planning to send an Otterville to Normandy?"

Where is the Duke?"

"What you said makes sense. I'll think about it again."

Roger, who was eavesdropping, noticed that theoretically he should be the attendant of Borsa the Coward, his father's nominal prince of Apulia and Calabria, but neither his father nor his mother seemed to have forgotten it.

This choice.

The next day, the Bishop of Messina came to the castle with Maio and some other prominent figures in the family. Count Roger and Adelaide took Simon and Little Roger to receive them in the hall.

Bishop Messina suddenly shouted loudly: "The Lord says you are guilty, repent..."

"Are you possessed?" the count said to the Bishop of Messina, who was wearing a holy sash. "How about I change the bishop?"

"No, no, distinguished papal envoy, Lord Roger, this is just, just, to make the dying people fall into deep regret, which will help the atonement of these souls. This has been done before." Bishop Messina wiped

Answered sweatingly.

"Do you think I am going to die now?" the Count asked angrily, "or should you give me a piece of Eucharistic wafer and put some oil on it?"

"Ah, no, no, I'm not, I am, um, this, this, I brought the Eucharist bread and oil."

"Stop talking nonsense, I just asked everyone to make a will."

When the count saw that everyone was present, he explained his thoughts, but did not mention little Roger's arrangements. Then everyone made it clear and swore an oath in the name of God.

…

"Roger."

A weak call came from his father's mouth. The sound was so soft that it could not disturb the mouse under the bed, but Roger could hear it. Ever since he entered this room, his little ears have always been on the bedside. He was busy.

Pulling his thoughts back from his memory, he gently threw himself in front of his father.

"Dad, I'm here."

But old Roger's eyes had turned to chaos, and there was only the sound of breathing mixed with thick phlegm in his throat. It seemed to be just Roger's illusion just now, but he knew that it was not. He regretted that he had acted too slowly, and tears burst out of his eyes.

, flowed down, dried up, came out again, flowed down again, dried up again, and then waited for a long time, but nothing changed. Roger just kept waiting in front of his father. The court physician came in and out, and his mother came in and out.

Roger was unmoved. He just waited in front of his father, but nothing changed, never again.

The Bishop of Messina came. As he walked through the door, he encouraged everyone to pray to God. He walked straight to the bed with a stern look on his face, but facing the stone count, he opened his mouth several times but said nothing. Finally,

He omitted the process of repentance, and in a humble tone, he forgave all the count's sins on behalf of the Lord.

The bishop no longer hesitated. He placed a piece of Eucharistic bread with a crucifix on it at the head of the bed. The people around the bed clasped their hands together to pray for the count. The bishop applied oil to the count and put a piece of oil on it.

A feather was placed under the count's nose, and finally he announced that the count had gone to heaven under the protection of angels. Then the servant came and washed the body from head to toe, dressed him up as a knight, and the shaver came in to shave him. The servant

Stuff the deceased's seven orifices with cotton and put him in a praying position.

No one cried loudly in front of the coffin. Adelaide had a tear hanging from the corner of her eye. Roger also suppressed the real pain in his heart, and his face seemed to be wearing a mask, which looked both painful and solemn.

.The bells in the city were ringing, and the bishop sprinkled holy water on the coffin three times, and then sang "Psalms" with the participants. After that, the count's coffin was carried to the church, with Simon and Roger holding the coffin.

Adelaide followed the funeral procession.

The early morning sun gilded them, and the people of Messina quietly took to the streets to bid farewell to their "great count". After arriving at the church, there was a series of ceremonies, everything was so perfect, as if it had been rehearsed.

After the drama, Roger was at the mercy of others, like a walking corpse. After that, the funeral procession took the count to its final destination-the cemetery next to the Messina Cathedral. The Mass for the Dead will continue for a while, and Roger estimates that it will
Chapter completed!