Right, where was I?... Oh yeah, Italy.

Well.

Modena's not quite what I was expecting so far. Normally I'm used to reigning over my subjects with absolute power - unless there was an absolute idiot who ruled alongside me like the last time. but so far things have been so... I don't know... political?

I'm not even the Duke yet. It won't take me long until that's dealt with, but I could really go without having to woo the duke's daughter, having the Duke 'accidently' die and then assume control myself.

I'm normally a sucker for intrigue, but it feels too easy when it's not against my fellow competitors.

That'll happen soon. Not soon enough for my liking.

Those retards will get what's comi- oh, who's this?

.---.---.---.---.---.---.---.---.

-As Mob sat in the shadow of the Torre della Ghirlandia, Baron Matteo marched over, a wry and menacing grin on his face.

"Conte Mobbio! It will not be long now until our fight." He shouted from across the square.

Mob sighed. The duel was some sort of event, he found out, which the Duke had planned for his most esteemed nobles a chance at earning prestige, as well as a shot at courting his daughter. Naturally something Mob was interested in.

"I don't have to fight you Matteo," Mob replied, squirming slightly. "I can choose whoever I want to duel against."

"You would back out of our arrangement? My my, how the people of Modena would laugh that Mobbio would cower at the last minute!"

Mob grimaced. The stipulations of the tradition states that whichever noble bid the most money would earn the right to fight, picking his own armour as well his own choice of opposition. A test of wealth and strength.

However, Mob had made a pact with Matteo that if one of them won the bid they'd choose the other. If Mob won and didn't choose Matteo, he'd be the laughing stock of the duchy.

But there was a problem. Matteo was fucking massive.

"We may not even win the bid. I heard that the young Visconti boy may bid too. I think his name was Luca maybe, or Ludo-"

"You mean Sebastiano Visconti?"

"Yeah, him. Whoa, I was way off"

Matteo laughed heartily. "You're thinking about choosing the boy because you think you can beat him?"

"No, I just think- well, if he wins the bid..."

"He won't" Matteo asserted. He held the pause for a moment before turning around to leave. "The whole of Modena have been waiting for this duel. Make sure it happens."

And with that, Matteo sauntered off. Leaving Mob in quite the predicament.

.---.---.---.---.---.---.---.---.

Continued below...