Progress

Within Amboise Castle, near Tours in the Kingdom of France's Loire Valley, Charles VII, gravely ill, had been moved and was being carefully attended to by servants.

More than half a year had passed, yet his condition showed no improvement; instead, the King suffered greatly, on the verge of death.

This castle, not far from Paris, was sufficient to isolate Charles VII from the tumultuous political vortex of the capital.

No one forced Charles VII to move to this castle; he requested it himself.

This place held special significance for the House of Valois.

During the Hundred Years' War, when England and Burgundy conspired to attack France, Paris had almost no protection and could easily be captured by the enemy.

Thus, starting nearly a hundred years ago, the Kings of France chose to relocate their court to Amboise Castle.

Charles VII was even forced to flee with his court to Bourges, further south, and was consequently insulted by the English, who gave him the nickname "King of Bourges."

It was not until he achieved complete victory in the Hundred Years' War that the King of France's court was able to return to Paris.

Only this time, Charles VII had again fled from Paris.

In the cool, comfortable room, Charles VII lay weakly on the bed, tormented by constant pain, making even this resolute King wish for release for a moment.

With the coronation bells of Reims Cathedral in 1429 still echoing in his ears, Charles VII began to yearn for the past, recalling his legendary life.

Thirty-one years had passed in a blink, and the weak Dauphin, who had been helped to the throne by Joan of Arc, now lay on the bed like decaying wood, old and riddled with illness.

The castle bells chimed twelve times, and in the dark, damp basement, the smell of mold mixed with spices, a scent that was utterly dizzying.

A mysterious visitor, dressed in a black robe and completely concealed, stood silently by the table, the candlelight casting a long, slender shadow on the wall, like a venomous snake baring its terrifying fangs.

Royal apothecary Guillaume was nervously concocting a mysterious potion.

His hands trembled slightly, and his forehead was covered in sweat.

As a highly paid senior apothecary to the King, Guillaume was well aware of the terrible effects of this slow-acting poison.

His silver spoon stirred a dark red vortex in the crucible.

"Your Highness, this medicine is prepared with aconite from the East and other ingredients. When it takes effect, it will feel like a chill entering the bones, and no one will suspect anything," Guillaume said, his voice full of hesitation, as he strictly followed the recipe on the scroll. "Just a few drops mixed into his daily medicine, and within two weeks, he will die without anyone knowing. It's just..."

"Just what?"

The mysterious black-robed figure, or rather, Louis, the Dauphin, ran his fingertip over the glass vial, the deadly poison within emitting a captivating dark purple glow.

The look in his eyes when he turned his head sent a shiver down Guillaume's spine.

"Are you truly resolved? His Majesty the King... is your father, after all."

Guillaume tried to appeal to Louis's filial affection, not out of loyalty to Charles VII, but because plotting against the King was too risky.

Even if the one pulling him into it was the Dauphin, who was soon to inherit the throne.

Louis let out a cold laugh and said to his wavering follower, "I know what I'm doing better than you, better than anyone. You just need to follow my orders obediently.

If you speak out of turn again, don't blame me for being impolite!"

These cold words made Guillaume nod repeatedly and continue to focus on his work.

After repeatedly admonishing Guillaume and ensuring he would carry out his orders, Louis left the castle under the cover of night.

Some royal guards whom he had bribed allowed the elusive Dauphin to enter and exit the King's residence undetected.

Louis sat in the carriage returning to Paris, contemplating the events about to unfold within Amboise Castle, his stern expression finally showing some fluctuation—only when alone would he reveal such complex emotions.

This exceptionally intelligent Dauphin of France was placed in a nearly isolated environment during his early childhood, and he spent his entire childhood in such surroundings.

Because of this experience, Louis developed a taciturn, suspicious, and gloomy personality from a young age.

Before he came of age, Charles VII intentionally cultivated him, granting Louis some authority.

Unexpectedly, Louis's craving for power and ambition for the throne were uncontrollable.

At just 17 years old, Louis, with the support of many French nobles, launched his first rebellion against Charles VII. This rebellion was quickly suppressed, but Louis was spared punishment because he was Charles VII's only son.

His lenient father not only forgave him but also gave him a large Dauphiné and continued to let him serve as a military commander.

However, a terrible desire drove Louis to continue his animosity towards his father—he desperately wished to ascend to the throne of France immediately.

After the first rebellion, Louis's life was not smooth; he suffered repeated setbacks in battles against England and Switzerland, which made him even more desperate for power.

Charles VII, meanwhile, continued to show him tolerance and encouragement, trying to be a good father.

All of this changed completely in 1446.

In that year, Charles VII's second son, Charles, now the Duke of Berry, was born.

Louis, feeling his position threatened, attempted to incite a second rebellion against Charles VII in the same year, intending to force Charles VII to relinquish the throne, but ultimately failed.

Charles VII softened once again; he ordered Louis to return to his Dauphiné and not to leave without permission.

Louis used this opportunity to reorganize the administration and judicial system of the Dauphiné, making it almost a state within France, independent of France.

During this time, he also orchestrated multiple court intrigues; some suspected that his father Charles VII's most beloved mistress was also eliminated through his schemes.

Charles VII saw all of this but did not take any measures.

It was not until Louis, against his father's wishes, secretly allied with the Duke of Savoy and married the Duke of Savoy's daughter, that this matter led to a complete rupture between father and son.

After the third rebellion was suppressed, Louis quickly fled to Savoy for refuge.

Later, Charles VII fell ill and never recovered, and Savoy was divided among three parties. Louis directly abandoned his wife, who had lost her usefulness, and returned to France alone.

With the strong support of his uncle, the Duke of Anjou, Louis gradually gained some power in Paris.

The royal physicians of France used various methods, including some medieval folk remedies, such as toad therapy, but none ultimately alleviated Charles VII's condition.

During a brief moment of lucidity, Charles VII announced that he was granting his younger son, Charles, the title of Duke of Normandy—this was the fundamental reason Louis orchestrated the current conspiracy.

"Forgive me, dear father, I originally wanted you to peacefully spend your last moments," Louis muttered to himself, a sinister expression on his face, "but blame yourself for being so muddled in your old age, to actually want to support that brat.

Weakness and tolerance cannot rule this country; only an absolutely strong monarch can make France more powerful!

Neither a weak you nor that useless brother can do it; only I can!"

Louis's expression gradually returned to calm, and the carriage had already left Amboise Castle, drawing closer to Paris.

He knew it was time to prepare for his next plan.