After a brief moment of being stunned for less than half a minute, Manuel quickly reacted and, with the help of the servants led by the two chief maids, Laila and Amber, who arrived shortly after, sent her to the palace's infirmary. He then immediately sent for the most renowned physicians in Mangup.
After herbal conditioning by the orthodox clergy who possessed some medical knowledge, Barbara's health improved. However, the specific "cause of illness" remained unknown. Therefore, under the strong recommendation of a local Venetian merchant, a middle-aged Latin physician was summoned by Manuel to diagnose and treat her.
After a preliminary examination, the Latin physician eagerly reported his solution to Manuel, "Your Highness Catherine is currently in danger, but fortunately, with the Mother above, I have an excellent remedy." At this, the Latin physician skillfully pulled out a set of bloodletting tools. "The problem with Your Highness now is obstructed blood and bad blood clots caused by Satan's mischief. As long as I let out some of her bad blood…"
Before he could finish, Manuel, whose expression had turned extremely grim, ruthlessly ordered his attendants to throw him out the window and revoked his medical license in Bosporus.
"Anyone who mentions 'bloodletting therapy' in front of me again will be thrown out!" Manuel immediately issued this order after throwing the man out the window.
Finally, an old Arab doctor recommended by Suleiman solved the problem. After treating Barbara with herbs and prescribing medicine, the old doctor bowed respectfully to Manuel and congratulated him, "Your Highness's health is not seriously affected; she is merely a little undernourished. Your Majesty can rest assured. Also, congratulations, Your Majesty, Your Highness is with child."
"Huh?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. All of Your Highness's reactions are signs of pregnancy. In my humble opinion, she should be kept away from labor and allowed to rest peacefully…" The old doctor prattled on, offering a torrent of medical advice, while Manuel, while diligently remembering it all, just numbly nodded. This was the first time in his two lives that he felt the sensation of becoming a father.
"Am I really going to be a father? Will my first child be a boy or a girl? What should his/her name be? No, wait, what if the midwife comes to report good news or a difficult birth during labor? No, no, these are not the questions I should be thinking about now. By the way, I'm only 20, and Barbara is only 19. Will having a child so young be a burden? Hmm, if my child is born successfully, what kind of education should he/she receive? Should it be centered on diplomacy, military, or administration? Will I not have time to accompany him/her and let his/her personality develop…"
Manuel's mind raced with imagination, as if these were problems he had to face right now. It wasn't until Barbara, after recovering some strength, smiled at him and indicated she wanted to speak with him alone, that Manuel calmed down and dismissed everyone around them.
After a moment of silence, Barbara was the first to speak, breaking the quiet between them, "To be honest, I'm a little nervous."
He nodded blankly, "Me too."
Seeing Manuel's dazed look, she couldn't help but laugh, and much of the tension in her heart dissipated, "I'm the one who's pregnant, but why do I feel like you're more, well, scared than I am?"
Manuel first nodded, then shook his head, stammering in reply, "Honestly, I, I don't know."
"I'm afraid I'll be in Asia Minor for a long time, and I'm worried I won't have time to be with you and our child, turning her or him into…" Although Manuel wanted to say it, he still didn't utter "turning into someone like me."
Barbara listened to what he said and gestured for him to come closer. When he was near, she gently embraced him, "It's okay, aren't I here? Don't worry, no matter what, whether by the Black Sea, in Asia Minor, or Thrace, or anywhere else, I will always stand by you, my Little husband. As for our child, it's fine, with the Mother above, I will try my best to teach them, to make him/her an amazing person like you."
Manuel heard this and wanted to say something, but in the end, he settled down peacefully, enjoying this rare moment of tenderness.
After spending a considerable amount of time with his beloved wife, Manuel emerged from the infirmary, regaining his previous sharpness. He immediately summoned his two ministers of foreign affairs, "It won't be long until we officially send out diplomatic envoys. Alright, call Serenus and Mana here; I have important matters to discuss with them."
After thorough preparations, finally, on a morning at the end of September, the two delegations Manuel sent to Lithuania and the Golden Horde were in place: the delegation sent to Lithuania, led by Georgia Mana, would travel to Kiev and Vilnius to meet with King Švitrigaila of Lithuania; the delegation sent to the Golden Horde, led by Justinian Seresnus, would travel to Sarai to meet with the current Golden Horde Khan, Muhammad Khan.
However, these were only the overt objectives. Before the official diplomatic mission, Manuel had specifically convened a brief secret meeting, giving them both a series of instructions and entrusting them with several secret tasks. Mana's side was fine, but Seresnus was entrusted with many more responsibilities.
"As the Foreign Minister of Bosporus, I appreciate your efforts." As Manuel patted his shoulder reassuringly, Seresnus involuntarily swallowed.
Meanwhile, an exquisitely decorated merchant ship was approaching Kalamita Port in Mangup. A distinguished guest from Tuscany on board was gazing at the port where the merchant ship was about to arrive.
Watching the gradually clearer figures and the coming and going sailboats, the young Latin nobleman, dressed in a pure red silk mantle, couldn't help but exclaim, "Although it's far from comparable to Italy, it's quite unexpected to find such a bustling place on the northern shore of the Black Sea."
"So, Your Excellency, how about we return to Florence?" A servant standing by his side was still earnestly advising him.
"No! To make me an ascetic Cardinal, to remain unmarried my entire life, and I can't even have legitimate heirs? Just because I'm from a private birth? My biological father is truly too much." The Latin youth gritted his teeth fiercely, "Our family clearly rose to prominence through banking and trade back then, but now that we're nobles, they're putting on airs!"
"This is, after all, His Lordship's painstaking effort…"
"I don't need it!" Like anyone in their rebellious phase, he unhesitatingly chose a path completely contrary to his father's arrangements.