With no diplomatic resistance left, the verbal condemnations from countries like England, the Netherlands, and Denmark, which had little influence in the region, were ineffective, and the Papal States no longer had any concerns about annexing Venice.
Donato had long lost the right to speak to Augustus as an equal, but even so, Augustus, with great solemnity, sent Giovanni to Venice again to welcome him to Rome, preparing a grand entry ceremony for him and allowing the public to line the streets to watch.
Regarding Donato's previous collusion with the Ottoman Empire, the Papal States' unified narrative became: after investigation, it was discovered that Donato had been misled by treacherous individuals and gradually sidelined, no longer able to decide anything for the Venice Republic; his efforts to send a fleet to the Papal States were to create an opportunity to seek help, and now he had been rescued by the Papal States and brought back into the light.
What the Papal States seemed to be doing redundantly was actually all to help Donato re-establish his legitimacy as the representative of the Venice Republic. Only a treaty signed by a legitimate Doge of Venice would be valid.
During the entry ceremony, the soldiers and civilians on both sides cheered in unison, making it exceptionally lively, a scene comparable to the welcome for the returning army a few days prior; those unaware might have thought it was some very popular dignitary from the Papal States returning.
But Donato knew very well that the Romans were certainly not welcoming him, but rather the unprecedented victory of the Papal States this time, and also the unprecedented defeat of the Venice Republic in nearly a thousand years under his leadership. Being so warmly welcomed by the country that had destroyed his own filled Donato with an unprecedented sense of humiliation.
After the grand entry ceremony, Donato was led to a spacious and bright conference room in the Papal Palace. Here, Donato saw no familiar faces; only Romeo sat opposite him, with a few fully armed guards standing by.
"Your Excellency, Governor, are you satisfied with the entry ceremony? Please sign. Once you sign this, you will no longer be a Doge of Venice who can only serve for a few years, but a Duke of Venice whose title can be inherited! Please accept my early congratulations, Your Excellency, Duke!" Romeo greeted him with a smile and handed over a document directly.
Donato casually flipped through the document, roughly scanning it. It was much as he expected, giving him a nominal title and bringing Venice under the actual rule of the Papal States. He just hadn't expected the Papal States to gain so much international support while completely annexing Venice. However, Donato was now too powerless to care about these matters.
He merely said faintly, "What if I don't sign?"
"Don't sign? Why wouldn't you sign?" Romeo was a little surprised. He had thought that since Donato was willing to come, his ideological work should have been completed long ago, saving him trouble, but he hadn't expected such a foolish question.
"Your Excellency, Duke. You know, signing is good for everyone, especially for you. If you truly have some inconvenience and find it difficult to sign, we can also help you with a fingerprint. But I think His Holiness the Pope would still prefer to see your personal signature."
Donato nodded, no longer hesitating, and picked up the pen to hastily write his name, then leaned back in the chair with a vacant stare.
Looking at Donato's strange appearance, Romeo was also puzzled, but seeing the document with Donato's personal signature, and confirming it was correct, he politely extended his hand.
"I look forward to our next cooperation, Duke Donato!" Romeo said this, but he knew very well in his heart that there would be no next time. If nothing unexpected happened, Donato would live a simple and happy life in Rome, free from worries and worldly strife, so how could he have any further cooperation with him?
"Don't call me Duke!" Donato did not extend his hand, leaving Romeo's hand awkwardly suspended in the air, and he turned and left after coldly dropping the remark.
Romeo was too lazy to bother with a disabled man throwing a tantrum. He picked up the document with Donato's signature and hurried to another conference room, where all the other high-ranking officials of the Papal States were waiting for his good news.
Just as the people of the Papal States rejoiced that the Venice War had finally concluded and began discussing which tasks could be started, a rapid knocking sound suddenly echoed.
"What is it? Come in!"
"Your Holiness, Donato hanged himself in his new home!"
Augustus was first stunned, then furious: "Damn it! No, he shouldn't be dead! I didn't tell him to die! Which of you did it? Enzo? Was it you?"
"Your Holiness, I am wrongly accused." Enzo was also very wronged to be inexplicably implicated. He had already handed over the strongest part of his assassins, so why was he still suspected? "I swear in the name of God, I really didn't do anything!"
"If he wanted to die, he should have died long ago. Why live to be captured for so long, and then travel all the way to Rome to die here?" Augustus still stared at Enzo. Among all the ministers, Enzo was the only one he needed to be wary of.
"I don't know that either! Since the war started, my people have never had any contact with Donato throughout. It's always been..." Enzo looked innocent, hesitating to speak.
Before Augustus could ask, Giovanni also explained, "Your Holiness, Donato was fine when he set off, and he ate a lot on the ship at noon."
"Your Holiness, when I just met him, Donato's state was indeed not quite right. First he didn't want to sign, then he signed very readily, and finally he told me not to call him Duke. I didn't think much of it at the time, but now that I think about it..."
"So it really was an assassination? Did any of you provoke him?"
Augustus's words were like a stone sinking into the sea, receiving no response.
After a moment of thought, Augustus waved his hand: "Never mind! He's dead, so it's meaningless to pursue whose responsibility it was. Let's think about how to handle the aftermath."
"Donato died as soon as he entered Rome; I'm afraid everyone will think we were responsible," Liam said with a worried frown.
"I don't think so," Enzo said, appearing more optimistic. "We welcomed Donato into Rome with a grand entry ceremony, clearly to show Venice's submission. If we were to kill Donato at this point, wouldn't that be shooting ourselves in the foot? It's simply too illogical."
"But, if others believe we intentionally did something illogical to make others think it's illogical, thereby believing us to doubt us, wouldn't that also make sense?" Romeo analyzed very seriously.
"Enough, stop with the tongue twisters. Just tell me what to do now!" Augustus was a bit annoyed, a rare moment when he couldn't make up his mind. Now, he feared it would be impossible to clear his name.
Romeo stroked his white beard and replied, "Given the situation, whitewashing is meaningless. I believe we should directly announce the truth to the public. The immediate priority is to protect his family, then let his son succeed as Duke of Venice, and hold a grand funeral for him. Whether others believe it or not ultimately depends on whether they want to or not."
There seemed to be no better solution, so Augustus could only helplessly spread his hands: "Then so be it."