The end of the feast of Genoa was a grand affair, as many dignitaries and their companions filled the room. Everyone was dressed in their finest clothes and jewelry, and the air was filled with conversation and laughter. As the guests dined on delicious food and wine, music and performances were taking place, entertaining the guests and creating a festive atmosphere. The atmosphere was lighthearted and joyful, as everyone enjoyed themselves and appreciated the fine cuisine and entertainment on offer. The feast was truly a spectacle to behold, and it left a lasting impression on all those who were present. The guests ate and drank well and were provided with the finest wine and entertainment that money could buy, and everyone was enjoying themselves immensely and having an excellent time. The atmosphere was one of joyous celebration and good spirits, and even people who were normally serious and formal made an effort to relax and enjoy themselves.
Conradin awoke with a pounding head and a sore stomach. The previous night's celebration had been a good one, and he had maybe enjoyed the wine too much. That's why he now lies in bed in his room, not feeling very well. The memories of the previous night's entertainment slowly came back to him, and he remembered the laughs and the music. It had been a joyous time, but it was over now.
Conradin rolled over in bed, his head pounding and his belly full from the previous night's revelry. The night had been a good one, filled with laughter, music, and good food. He had enjoyed himself, but he now felt the consequences of his overindulgence and realized that he'd had a little too much wine. He was feeling slightly nauseous and regretful that he had not stopped himself from letting his hedonistic side get the best of him, but he also knew that he was human and that he would not be perfect in his self-control at all times.
'It is true that everything must come to an end, even the most joyous occasions and festivities. Life and the world are filled with transient moments of beauty and pleasure, but they cannot last forever. It is the transient nature of life that gives these moments their value and importance, as we know that we do not have forever to enjoy them. Still, this is no reason for sadness. We should take joy in these moments while we can and cherish the memories they leave behind.' At least this was what Conradin thought when he woke up in bed. It turned out that in the late stages of the feast, he blacked out from the alcohol he tried to limit his intake of. Nonetheless, apart from being philophical, the morning awakening was a sobering wake-up call for Conradin, who now had to face the reality of the situation head-on. He would need to move quickly and decisively if he was to have any hope of restoring his family's prestige and legacy. He was terribly outnumbered, and it is time he thought seriously about what to do about it.
He got dressed quickly and left the room in a fray. Once outside, he called the servant who was out of his room and told him to wake his companions and meet him in his room. The servant quickly agreed and went to wake the other members of the party, who would no doubt attend to Conradin's call and go to his room immediately. The servant was quickly able to rouse the other members of the party, and they quickly gathered in Conradin's room when invited, looking tired and slightly disheveled from the night before. They were not quite as sober or well-rested as they might have liked to be, but they were all here and ready to attend to whatever issue or problem their leader had for them in his room.
''Well, can we know what all of this is about?'' asked Frederick while touching his forehead, probably feeling the same aftermath that Conradin had this morning.
''We have to formulate a plan, said Conradin while exchanging looks with the group. "From my estimation, the total army that will be formed up is of 12,000 men; we don't know how many men Charles will have, but it will seriously be bigger than our number maybe even double, so I am open to suggestions."
The group knew the seriousness of the situation and the need for a plan, and they were looking to Conradin to lead the way and inspire confidence and commitment within the group. He would need to show his abilities as a leader and military strategist if they wanted to win this war.
Conradin's words shocked his companions, causing an uneasy atmosphere to fill the room. The reality was setting in that their forces were outnumbered and that a plan needed to be devised to ensure the success of their campaign and the survival of their movement. Conradin was looking to his companions to offer suggestions on how to proceed, as he was aware that he needed to inspire confidence and determination within their group. It was a daunting task for Conradin's group, but they did not have any choice but to jump over these obstacles together. They would need to come up with a plan and execute it quickly if they wanted to have a shot at victory.
''Mh, I know that this may not be the most appropriate time, but soon my eldest son Enrico will come to join us." Galvano chirped in anxiously, worrying that maybe this was not the best time to inform Conradin about that.
''Well, he is welcome here; after all, I need a good officer and commander. Is he skilled? Conradin asked curiously.
''Well, I can say that he can surely accomplish the task given to him." Galvano said he was trying to put a good opinion of his son in Conradin's head.
"Well, we could certainly use any help we can get, so he is of course welcome. He sounds like a capable and accomplished officer and commander, so I am sure that he will prove to be a great asset to our cause. I look forward to meeting him and seeing what he can bring to the table." Conradin nodded, obviously happy with Galvano's opinion and assessment of his son. He had no doubt that they would need the help and support of every capable and able-bodied person they could get, so he was glad that there were more people who were eager to join the cause. ''Please inform him that he is welcome in our group, and please tell him to join us as soon as he is able to. Now let's continue to talk about the previous topic''. Conradin rapidly said he was trying to make the group focus on the important task.
The group continued discussing for a long time; however, their discussion was interrupted by a knock. After they let the man in, they learned that Oberto Doria had sent his butler to invite the group to his mansion for lunch. Conradin accepted the invitation on behalf of the group, as he knew it was important not to squander any goodwill or friendship from potential allies, and he was intrigued by this unexpected invitation. It was clear that Oberto was trying to court their friendship, and he was interested to see what the purpose of this lunch was. Perhaps they would learn more about his motives and plans at this lunch.
The group was glad that they had been able to at least formulate a basic plan, and they knew that it would give them something to work off of once they started making moves. Although it was not a particularly detailed or specific plan, it was better than nothing and would hopefully give them a good footing from which to start making a more concrete and detailed plan for the battle. They were optimistic but cautious in their hopes, and they felt that it was good to have some sort of strategy in place to give them an advantage in the coming battle.
They were thankful for the invitation and the opportunity to dine with such an influential person, and they were ready to take advantage of it and use their time wisely. They hoped that this would be a significant opportunity to gain someone as powerful as Oberto Doria to their side and their cause, and they would stop at nothing to ensure its success.