Grace

In Aquileia, Laszlo saw a scene of utter devastation.

This small town, originally with just over a thousand people, had suffered attacks and plunder by the Imperial Army during the Italian War.

Many historical relics were destroyed, and ancient ruins left from the Roman era were further damaged; only the magnificent and grand cathedral built by the church in Aquileia was spared.

Fortunately, the town's residents did not suffer too much slaughter, and with their efforts over more than a year, Aquileia had gradually begun to recover.

Laszlo and Leonor visited some of the ancient and interesting sights within the city together.

For example, the famous fountain with 99 spouts, each spout shaped like a grotesque mask.

After the Imperial Army left, the town's artisans repaired this iconic landmark.

Laszlo and Leonor were very fond of such interesting architectural designs, so they decided that upon their return, they would also build a similar, or even more beautiful, fountain in Vienna.

Subsequently, the Emperor and Empress jointly visited the Aquileia Cathedral.

This magnificent building, having withstood the test of time, had reliefs on its walls that alternated between light and shadow under the sunlight, narrating stories of the past.

Accompanied by the accompanying bishops, the two entered the Aquileia Cathedral.

Inside the church, light filtering through the stained glass created colorful patterns on the floor, and the pervasive scent of incense filled one with reverence.

On both sides of the nave, massive stone pillars rose from the ground, supporting the church's dome like giants, their shafts carved with exquisite patterns.

The Bishop of Aquileia, who managed the city, had been waiting for a long time; he was dressed in splendid vestments and led the two towards the altar.

Laszlo and Leonor, with solemn expressions, slowly knelt and prayed devoutly for those who died in the war.

Leonor bowed her head slightly, hands clasped, her long eyelashes casting faint shadows on her cheeks, her eyes full of compassion.

Laszlo, on the other hand, straightened his back, his deep gaze fixed on the cross on the altar, softly reciting the prayers he remembered, considering it an apology to the innocents who died in the war, and to ease his dwindling conscience.

After the prayer, Laszlo and Leonor, accompanied by the bishop, strolled along the church's corridor.

The murals depicting biblical stories on the walls caught their attention; Laszlo paused before a mural depicting a war scene, gazing at it for a long time, lost in thought.

Stepping out of the church, the square was already densely packed with people.

Their clothes were tattered, and their eyes revealed fatigue and unease; upon seeing the Emperor and Empress appear, a slight commotion rippled through the crowd.

Laszlo walked to the podium in front of the square; his figure appeared particularly tall under the sunlight.

Leonor stood beside him, smiling, and nodded slightly to the people.

The square instantly fell silent, and everyone's gaze was focused on the Emperor.

Laszlo cleared his throat and, using the Northern Italy dialect he had recently learned, his resonant voice echoed across the square: "People of Aquileia!

The shadow of war has dispersed, but the wounds it left are still etched in each of our hearts.

I have seen your suffering, and felt your sorrow.

Today, I stand here to promise you that I will use my strength to revitalize this land and allow you to live peaceful lives."

The people listened quietly, a glimmer of expectation in their eyes.

"You have endured too much hardship; the war has made you lose your loved ones and homes, and the heavy burden has made it difficult for you to breathe," Laszlo's voice deepened slightly, "I now announce a 50% reduction in direct taxes for Aquileia, for a period of two years! This will allow you to recuperate and rebuild your homes."

As soon as his words fell, a burst of enthusiastic cheers erupted in the square.

The people excitedly embraced each other, their eyes sparkling with tears of joy.

People expressed blessings and gratitude to the Emperor one after another; if not for the human wall formed by the Imperial Guards blocking the crowd, a large group of people would surely have rushed to the Emperor to express their gratitude.

Ever since their peaceful lives were shattered by war, the pressure of survival had made almost every resident in the town suffer greatly.

Now, finally, there was some rare good news.

The Emperor's grace finally allowed them to breathe a sigh of relief; as for how the hardships of life came about, don't ask.

Leonor smiled, gazing at her husband's back, proud of Laszlo's benevolence and generosity.

The Bishop of Aquileia then approached the Emperor, respectfully praising him: "Your Majesty, your benevolence is truly like the warm sun in winter; I believe the people of Aquileia will never forget your grace."

Laszlo smiled somewhat awkwardly, and could only gently say: "Caring for the people is my duty as the lord of this land and as the Emperor."

More than a year ago, it was he who sent troops to plunder this town, and after the war, it was also incorporated into the royal territory, managed by the bishop as a semi-autonomous city, subject to the Venetia state government in Udine.

Seeing the town's dire situation today, Laszlo temporarily decided to reduce its taxes.

The war damage here was relatively severe among Northern Italy cities; many cities did not suffer looting by the Imperial Army after paying ransoms, thus only losing some property.

However, for towns like Aquileia that resisted and were forcibly breached, their fate was not so good.

At this time, Laszlo's tax reduction could not only win over the people but also promote the town's recovery and development.

In its current half-dead state, it could neither generate much tax revenue nor ensure the loyalty of the people.

This was also the meaning of the tour; if he had stayed in Vienna, Laszlo would not have considered the plight of these Italians thousands of miles away.

To enable them to create more value in the future, appropriate tax reductions were necessary, and he also planned to promote this policy.

In areas severely affected by war, such as Cividale and Treviso, cities that were almost destroyed, a period of tax reduction would be implemented.

Especially Treviso, as the Venetians' most important and strongest mainland city, it was both a fortress and a granary.

Now this city had yet to recover from the shadow of war, and Laszlo decided to provide some assistance.

The Emperor's decision was quickly drafted into an edict and sent to the state government in Udine, which would then notify the cities receiving the grace.

The size of Aquileia was truly too small; even the Emperor's entourage was larger than the town's population.

Therefore, the entourage only stayed in Aquileia for one day, and then continued along the coastal road deeper into Italy.

In the afterglow of the sunset, the carriage carrying Laszlo and Leonor slowly drove out of Aquileia's city gate.

The wheels rolled over the cobblestone road, emitting a dull sound.

Upon learning that the Emperor and Empress were about to depart, the people of Aquileia flocked to the streets, and for a time, the city gate was completely surrounded.

The Imperial Guards tried their best to separate the crowd, creating a path for the Emperor's carriage.

In the crowd, an old man with white hair rushed forward, struggling to push through but still unable to break free from the Imperial Guards' obstruction.

Laszlo did indeed want to appear more approachable, but he was more concerned about his life; who knew if there would be disgruntled assassins mixed in the crowd?

So, he inwardly told the Imperial Guards to remove the obstruction and waved to the people outside through the carriage window.

The old man, with trembling hands, pulled out a handkerchief from his In arms; the handkerchief was embroidered with the emblem symbolizing Aquileia, and he waved it, shouting: "Your Majesty, this is a small token of our appreciation from Aquileia, thank you for your great kindness."

Laszlo ordered the carriage to stop, had someone retrieve the handkerchief, and shouted to the old man: "Old man, and people of Aquileia, live in peace. I will protect all loyal subjects!"

Hearing the Emperor's words, much of the resentment many people held towards the Empire dissipated.

The carriage gradually moved further away, and Laszlo and Leonor continued to wave occasionally, bidding farewell to the enthusiastic people.