Count Leopold is a young man with short curly hair and a red beard, with pale skin, looking no older than thirty.
Today, he wore a crimson overcoat, cinched with a golden belt, with his servants holding the red cloak behind him, trailing closely as they followed him to the throne.
He stood in front of the seat, placing his hand on the sword scabbard set with gold and ivory at his waist, enhancing his noble aura remarkably.
Losa sighed inwardly: Although both hold the title of Count, if Count Werner stands with Count Leopold.
Even adorned with treasures he brought back from the Holy Land, he'd still resemble a country bumpkin.
This era isn't more developed heading westward.
On the contrary, whether the Eastern Empire or the Ayyubid Empire of Egypt, both are regarded as fertile lands.
Count Leopold of Vienna, which controls the overland trade hub between Western Europe and the Eastern Empire, demonstrates significant power.
Following closely behind Count Leopold on stage wasn't the Countess.
But rather a mysterious woman wearing a shoulder-length brown hood and a luxurious crimson gown, only revealing a white chin.
Someone whispered below the stage: "It's said this lady is a witch consultant hired by the Count, reportedly seen in the Emperor His Majesty's bedchamber."
Someone showed displeasure: "Such a loose woman could blatantly sit above us in a higher seat of honor?"
"Lower your voice, this is a witch!"
"I heard the emperor's most trusted palace count offended a witch and was instantly transformed into a mouse by the evil woman's spell, and only when the emperor intervened did she change the count back."
Whispers surrounded the ears.
Despite appreciating Count Leopold for convening this event, people still resented his favoring of the witch.
Prajna suddenly spoke, "Her presence feels familiar."
"Familiar?"
Losa was startled.
As if sensing something, the woman on stage looked over after sitting down.
Losa quickly lowered his head, suddenly having a suspicion: "Are you talking about the giant python we saw last night?"
"Yes."
Prajna nodded slightly: "She's recognized me too, but likely sees me as a fellow witch; as long as we don't interfere with each other."
"Alright."
Losa nodded, but still felt uneasy inside.
Facing off underneath the eyes of a lioness that could kill you at any moment, even knowing that the lioness wouldn't pounce and eat him, still made him uneasy.
Count Leopold raised his hand with a gesture to quiet the crowd.
Then, he traced a cross in the air in front of him and solemnly intoned, "Praise Heavenly Father, dear knights, nobles, and freemen!"
"For all eternity, Amen!"
The people chanted devoutly.
Count Leopold spoke in a low voice, "I thank you brave souls, for honoring my invitation to be here. The evil heresies from the East have threatened the safety of the Holy Land. As knights of the Heavenly Father, we must emulate our ancestors, raising the Crusader Banner anew and advancing on an Eastern expedition."
"But I have reasons preventing me from going on expedition myself at the moment. I wish to sponsor more loyal warriors to the Heavenly Father. Regardless of victory or defeat in this tournament, anyone willing to join the Eastern expedition will receive a hundred dinars for travel expenses."
"Now, please show us your valor, knights. Besides sponsoring the Crusaders, I also intend to select a personal knight, who will be granted the mountain town of Vienna Forest as his fief and other important responsibilities."
The knights erupted in excitement, and not just them; even some of the barons present were tempted.
Vienna Forest Mountain is a mountainous town. While not nearly as prosperous as Vienna itself, it's still a town equivalent to a golden goose.
"Praise Heavenly Father, praise the great and generous Prince Leopold."
Losa marveled: "What generosity, giving away an entire city as a prize in a knights' tournament. It's estimated only an Austrian Border Count continually expanding territories could afford such largesse."
"In the entire Great Germania, aside from him, even the Emperor of the Hohenstaufen Family couldn't offer a city as the prize for a knights' tournament, could they?"
The tournament continued match by match.
Each participant drew lots to battle an opponent, the victor advancing to the next round while the defeated were eliminated.
Losa observed the matches from the stands, a thought inevitably rising: Is this all?
The knights' skills were mixed, but so far, Losa hadn't felt pressured by any opponent.
He was baffled, was he too strong, or were these knights too weak?
A herald-like servant announced loudly, "The next duel is between Losa von Habsburg of Algo and Averardo Medici of Tuscany."
Medici?
Isn't this the illustrious family that ruled Florence for centuries later?
Losa's heart skipped, he immediately stood, signaling Laine to help with his equipment, and prepared his mount for entry.
Losa entered noticeably early.
He waited long, as his opponent finally arrived leisurely.
Wearing a blue overcoat with white fleur-de-lis, riding a majestic horse, he frequently waved to the audience in the stands, greeted with loud cheers.