A Crusader with System in the Middle Ages

He could take good care of himself, but that was all.

He wanted Cecilia to not always be so weary, and for Philip to not always be locked in a battle of wits with Lait.

But the most he could do was bring Cecilia some food. He couldn’t give her too much, as it would get her into trouble. As for Lait at the Monastery, the old Abbot liked having two competing factions.

So he had to leave the Monastery. He had to achieve something for himself.

Fortunately, he had succeeded. He now had everything. He was a Count, and he could now solve these problems with ease.

Eric and Cecilia stayed on the ship until noon. He then took her to King’s Bridge Monastery and met Philip, who had become the Vice Abbot.

After Philip took office, he cut the Monastery’s unnecessary expenses. The buildings and Holy Images were further renovated, giving the place a completely different feel.

Eric also met the architect Tom and his young daughter, Martha. They had found work at the Monastery.

Eric gave him the ancient books he had acquired from the Greeks in Tuscan, including Aristotle’s *Organon* and *Metaphysics*, the *Psalms*, Boethius’s *The Consolation of Philosophy*, and Lucretius’s *On the Nature of Things*...

When Eric’s Knights arrived, Philip finally realized that the Lord who had acquired Aogu Village and its surrounding lands was Eric. This gave him quite a scare.

He had recently heard that a new noble named Eric had risen in the Kingdom, an unknown who had effortlessly become a Count.

Although he had hoped it was the same Eric, the possibility seemed too low. In the end, he had assumed it was just some Danish man from the north.

Eric commissioned Tom to build him a country villa and a castle in Aogu Village. He also had Philip draft an agreement to ensure that Cecilia would be the beneficiary of this land.

Eric stayed in Aogu Village for a month, during which he taught Sinward a lesson. Eric had him hung from the rafters for a day and a night.

This was because he had claimed he could get Eric the most beautiful slave boy for the least amount of money.

Eric was considering whether he should hire someone to whip the bastard daily.

Aside from that, Eric spent all his time with Cecilia.

.....

A month later, Eric returned to Mann.

At Fougeres Castle, he awaited the birth of his and Eleanor’s child.

March, Palm Sunday.

A cold spring drizzle slanted against the chapel’s louvered windows at Fougeres Castle.

As per tradition, the Old Baron had confined Eric to the chapel for the past few days.

Eric hadn’t thought much of it at first, but as the day drew nearer, he couldn’t help but grow anxious.

Eleanor had chosen the master chamber in the castle’s main keep as her birthing room, so every time Eric went to check on her progress, he had to cross the castle courtyard.

The rain was coming down hard. By the time he reached the front building, he couldn’t help but sneeze.

He quickly climbed to the second floor. There was a small chapel there, but he didn’t stop, heading straight for Eleanor’s room.

He had to knock several times before the door opened a crack.

The midwife was a middle-aged woman brought by Miss Annie, the daughter of the Count of Nantes. She watched him warily.

Incidentally, Annie was inside as well, keeping Eleanor company. Eric felt that Annie was getting her revenge for the time he had locked her out.

"The baby will come in its own time, Baron. Everything is proceeding normally, truly. And it should be soon now. Lady Eleanor’s water has broken," the midwife had explained the significance of this to Eric earlier. "You’d best return to the great hall. Someone will be sent to inform you as soon as the child is born, I swear."

"I’d rather wait here." Eric waved his hand, a hint of his old impatience showing.

The midwife seemed used to such scenes and closed the door with a smile.

.....

Inside the room.

As the pain subsided, Eleanor looked at Annie, who picked up a soft cloth and began to wipe the sweat from Eleanor’s face. "Your husband is in the chapel," she said. "I think he’s having a harder time than you are, Eleanor! I bet he feels the same way I did when he locked me out."

During the lulls between contractions, Eleanor had been sipping wine laced with feverfew.

Eleanor laughed at Annie’s joke.

"It’s true, Miss Annie," the midwife chimed in. "Every time he knocks, I worry he’s going to burst right in!"

"My father actually did that once," Annie said. "When my mother was giving birth to my brother, Raoul, she was in labor for a full day and night. Her strength was beginning to fail, and her spirits were sinking. When one of Mother’s maids told my father she had started to bleed, he forced his way into the birthing room and didn’t leave until Raoul was born safely."

The midwife listened, dumbfounded.

Eleanor laughed, then suddenly gasped. The other women gathered helplessly around her, waiting for the pain to pass.

"Soon, my lady," the midwife soothed. "Soon. Here, take this." She handed a small, silver-colored stone to Eleanor. "The Eagle Stone has wondrous powers, my lady. Hold it tight when the pain comes."

In the corner of the room was a shaft leading to a well in the basement.

A young maidservant operated a pulley, drawing up another bucket of water from the well.

Annie stayed by Eleanor’s side, offering small comforts and whispering words of encouragement and affection.