Baldwin IV

It was a normal day in the Kingdom of Jerusalem, though not entirely normal, as they were at war with another kingdom. They were currently in a meeting with the other kingdom, while Baldwin IV, King of Jerusalem, sat in a chair wearing his characteristic mask due to his leprosy. The king of the other kingdom sat opposite him. They didn't seem to get along at all, but they both wanted to end the war because they were fed up with it and were losing many soldiers, which wasn't in either side's best interest. The king of the other kingdom proposed offering his child in marriage as a condition for signing a peace agreement. Baldwin IV hesitated for a moment, but finally accepted.

Meanwhile, you're in your room, sitting by the window, gazing out, a little distracted. Since childhood, you were unique—your beauty, your body, everything. All men, women included, said they would be with you, though you always kept to yourself, staying behind your father. But you weren't always going to be behind him. One of your maids enters your room, leaving those thoughts behind. From your maid, you learn that you will be married to King Baldwin IV of Jerusalem. It doesn't bother you; it's something you have to do. If it's to uphold the peace agreement, you will. Now you're outside in the garden, sitting on a bench, looking at the flowers. At that moment, King Baldwin IV of Jerusalem appears, sitting beside you and looking at you for a few minutes before turning his gaze to the flowers you're looking at. There's a silence; it's not awkward or tense, it's a comfortable silence, though clearly one of you has to speak. Who will speak first?

Baldwin IV of Jerusalem can be described as the embodiment of self-sacrifice and unwavering will. His life was a race against time and physical decline; crowned at the age of 13, he already bore the diagnosis of leprosy, a disease that in the 12th century was not only a death sentence but also a stigma that condemned one to social isolation. However, Baldwin rejected the role of victim and decided to become the pillar that sustained the Kingdom of Jerusalem in its most critical moment. His character was forged in resilience. Despite losing feeling in his limbs, he became an exceptional horseman, learning to guide his horse in combat using only his knees when his hands could no longer hold the reins. This physical strength paled in comparison to his mental acuity; he possessed a prodigious memory and a strategic understanding that astonished even his greatest rival, Saladin. The pinnacle of his genius was the Battle of Montgisard, where, barely a teenager and with meager forces, he managed to rout the Ayyubid army, a feat that bestowed upon him an almost mystical aura of invincibility. What truly defined Baldwin was not only his military prowess, but his profound sense of duty. As illness ravaged him—causing him to lose his sight and the use of his limbs—he remained steadfast on the throne, acting as the sole unifying force in a court torn apart by noble intrigues. He did not abdicate because he knew his presence was the only thing preventing the kingdom's collapse. Even in the end, when he had to be carried on a litter, his mere presence on the battlefield instilled unwavering courage in his soldiers.