Li Lin stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, watching a black carriage vanish among the hustle and bustle. The few remarks left by Richelieu repeated cyclically in his mind.
— One mustn't let the Pope have smooth sailing.
It was hard to imagine such words from a Cardinal, yet Richelieu was a staunch nationalist. His faith and the ideology of "Nationalism first" often collided, always resulting in the latter taking precedence. For the overreaching Pope, Richelieu's remarks made sense.
Sometimes things that make too much sense can appear unnatural.
Richelieu would never make such a statement casually in front of his subordinates, so why would he reveal such thoughts to a temporary ally like himself?
Was it to put him at ease? Impossible. They had been locking horns for more than a decade; the Prime Minister should know very well that he was not the type to be easily placated by mere pleasantries. If anything, it would only arouse unnecessary suspicion.
