Chapter 80: Alphonso's Plan
Far away in the Iberian Peninsula, Portugal:
In a luxurious palace located in the royal capital of Lisbon, a majestic middle-aged man sat in his study. He was engrossed in reading a letter that his Knight had just delivered to him. This man possessed golden hair that bore a striking resemblance to a lion's mane, and his eyes were of a unique shade of green. He was none other than Alphonso IV De Braganza, the 9th Duke of the renowned Braganza family, a prominent and esteemed noble lineage in Portugal.
"He he"
As he read the letter, Alphonso couldn't help but chuckle at the news it contained, which clearly delighted him. The letter had been delivered by a typical Western knight-like man, and the knight found his master's reaction to be rather absurd, given the gravity of the information.
Alphonso continued to elaborate on his perspective, "Don't you see, this is an opportunity for us, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
The knight, still puzzled, scratched his head in confusion.
The knight was shocked once again by this revelation. It was the first time he had heard of this, and even though he was mainly responsible for collecting information for his Highness, he had never been privy to such high-level discussions between countries. Hesitating, he finally mustered the courage to ask the question that was on his mind.
"Ah..."
However, Alphonso didn't give him a chance to speak as he continued to explain, "Recently, after the Thirty Years' War, the British lost a lot of their resources and interests. After their defeat against the Catholic camp, they shifted their focus towards the Dutch and the Spanish. I've recently had discussions with the British Interregnum government, and they are willing to assist us in gaining our independence. They are also planning to block Dutch trade routes, effectively weakening the Dutch further."
The knight was dumbfounded, not knowing how to respond, standing there like a statue.
"I don't know about you, but I believe a war between the Dutch and the English is inevitable," Alphonso continued. "If you think about it, it has always been inevitable. Both countries have similar strategies, using their formidable naval power to strengthen themselves. With limited resources available, conflicts are bound to arise."
Finally regaining his composure after the earth-shaking news, the knight asked hesitantly, "Is it... is it alright that you're telling me this, Your Highness?"
Alphonso smiled and replied, "It's alright. Everyone will know this news in a few months anyway. One more person knowing won't change anything."
"Setting that matter aside, let's talk about our country. After the Thirty Years' War, Spain suffered greatly despite being in the Catholic camp. It's the right time for us to gain our independence, especially now that the Spanish Habsburg dynasty has weakened, and Philip IV can no longer suppress the discontent among his people due to Spain's declining status. It's the right time for us to break free from Spain."
Alphonso chuckled to himself with amusement as he thought about the possibility of crowning himself not just Alphonso IV Braganza but Alphonso IV Portugal.