In the Royal Palace of Palermo in early January.

"Mrs. Adelaide, should you discuss it with me before deciding on my fiancée?"

Roger stood in the Earl's study, looking angrily at his mother sitting behind the desk.

"Dear Lord Roger, Count of Sicily, humble Adelaide sincerely begs for your consent."

Adelaide skilfully made comments on the document, teasing her face expressionlessly.

"This document is ready, Roger, come here and sign it."

Roger stubbornly stiffened his neck and remained still.

"Roger, you are already 15 years old. You are old enough to marry and have children. Don't act like a child. Be good and sign your name."

"I'm like a child? Who treats me like a child except you!"

"I'm not doing it for your own good. You know, she's a princess! Her father, Alfonso VI, is the emperor of Iberia!"

"Bullshit emperor, he proclaimed himself, but the Pope didn't agree to it."

"At least Alfonso is the real king, the king of the United Kingdom of Leon and Castile.

"He also ruled over the vast areas of Toledo, Valencia and Almeria."

"Mom, your news is out of date.

"Yusuf ibn Tashfin, a Papal people in North Africa, who called himself the 'Governor of Islam', established the Al-Murabit dynasty.

"He led the Moors, Papals, North Africans and Iberian Arabs to a decisive victory against Alfonso VI at the Battle of Salaca.

"He reunited the Iberian *** countries.

"Valencia is no longer the territory of Alfonso VI.

"Alfonso VI and his only son and heir Sancho were also killed in the battle with the Moors.

"If Yusuf had not died early, Alfonso VI and his kingdom would have been destroyed long ago."

"Roger, Roger, I know everything you said. But after all, Alfonso VI was not destroyed, right?

"The great and brave Alfonso VI was the leader of the Iberian Restoration Movement.

"Countless nobles and knights volunteered for him to fight against the Arabs.

"The daughter of such a heroic figure is your wife, what else are you dissatisfied with?"

"Haha, mom, 'great brave man' and 'heroic figure', these words are really funny coming out of your mouth."

"Why, can't I worship heroes? What woman doesn't worship heroes these days?"

"Come on, mom, I don't know you yet? Tell me, what benefits did he give you?"

"Don't make it sound like I was bribed. I did it all for you."

"What exactly did he promise you?"

"a chance."

"What?"

"A chance to get the crown. A chance to get the crown of the United Kingdom of Leon and Castile."

Adelaide raised her head and looked at Roger dotingly.

She stood up and walked to Roger, hugged him gently and rested her head on Roger's chest.

"I know you want to be a king. I have always remembered your ambition since you were a child.

"I said, I will use the most precious silk to make you a king's robe."

"Well...Mom, I wasn't sensible when I was a child, so I just talked casually."

"No, my son, in my eyes, you are the king. I will definitely make you the king."

Roger thought mockingly to himself, how different this "king" was from the "king" spoken of by the guards in the sulfur mine.

"Mom, the Iberians won't listen to me. They don't know me at all. How can they accept a foreigner as their king?"

"Why not? Is your mother and I a Sicilian? Is your deceased father a Sicilian? We don't rule Sicily the same way!"

"That's different, Mom."

"What's the difference? Listen, Roger.

"Alfonso VI's only son died and he had no heir.

"He has a lot of daughters, and whoever marries his daughter has the right to inherit his throne."

"But you also said that he has many daughters, which means that there are many competitors for this throne, not necessarily me."

"Roger! You are the best. We in Sicily are also the richest. Who can compete with us!"

"It seems to make sense." Roger was moved.

"Go, child, to Iberia, marry the princess, and bring back the crown!"

A feeling of domination arose in Roger's heart.

He thought, who am I, I am the Count of Sicily, I am a time traveler, the key is that my mother is rich!

Crown of the United Kingdom of Leon and Castile, he thought, wait, here I come.

Oh, yes, he thought, there is a princess waiting for me too.

Two days later, Roger rode "Gift", escorted by Danny, to the Agarwood Pier in Palermo.

He looked around but couldn't find the rice bag-carrying master from the dock brotherhood.

There were nine knights in bright armor waiting for him on the dock.

Roger saw that they were the same as Danny, wearing long-sleeved knee-length chain mail with hoods, and an iron helmet with eye protection over the hood.

They carried shields with their respective family crests in their hands, and Norman swords with long iron thorns tied around their waists. All equipment was brand new.

Roger estimated that an ordinary knight would not be able to put together this complete set of equipment in a lifetime, but Adelaide could get ten sets at once.

"Danny, are these the guards you selected?"

"Yes, my lord."

"Is it reliable?"

"Absolutely no problem. They all vowed to repay Madam's generosity even if they risk their lives."

"Have you seen any blood?"

"There are a few who survived the last sulfur mine."

"several?"

"Three."

"How are the other six skilled?"

"They're all good. I took the exam myself."

"Okay, let them get on the boat."

Roger looked at the nine knights leading their horses to the galley ship in the port.

The ship had a mast, a square sail furled, a row of oars on both sides of the ship, and the oar poles were also stowed. There was a tower at the stern, which was slightly higher than the bow.

Roger and Danny then boarded the ship and the ship set sail.

Roger sees his old friend Christoph Dulles.

He saw that under the command of Captain Dulles, several sailors who were still walking nimblely on the rocking deck took up the cables and slowly rowed the ship away from the dock using the long oars on both sides of the ship.

Then the sailors unfurled the sails.

When the wind caught the wind, the sail immediately swelled like the fabric on the wet nurse's chest in Roger's memory.

The whole ship shook violently, like a giant beast waking up. It started moving slowly, and then moved faster and faster.

The waves seemed to be angered by it and rushed up, but were broken into fine foam by it.

Fine foam floated up to the bow of the boat and fell on Roger's face.

Roger looked at the blue sky, the deep sea, and let the salty sea breeze blow his hair away. He felt very happy.

He even composed a tuneless sonnet in which he silently recited:

Under the golden sunshine,

I left Sicily,

Say goodbye to the shackles of maternal love,

Migrate freely like a bird,

to welcome me as I gallop,

Is the vast land of Iberia,

and those we have never met,

The wife holding the crown,

Climb fearlessly high mountains,

Why worry about the strong water when trekking?

Even if the whole world is our enemy,

I also vow to rise,

Even if there are thorns along the way,
Chapter completed!