The servants approached the tables and began serving the meal. The duchess, who never had much to eat, finished her breakfast first. She turned to Afonso with a smile and said, “I asked your teachers how you were doing in your classes. All your teachers praised you highly, your highness. They enthusiastically said you were ahead of your planned training program, and you might finish your studies ahead of your coronation date.”
“Wonderful!” the duke exclaimed. He raised his glass to toast the prince. “All your efforts in your studies, my dear nephew, will bring you great success and be beneficial to our country.”
Turning to the duchess, he continued, “I thank you, my dear, for your curiosity about the prince’s academic progress, which pleases me excessively. It also reassures me since I have been very concerned about my dear nephew’s ability to rule such a complex state as our Portugal. But now I am relieved. I will soon be able to transfer the kingdom to a successful person who can cope with his duties. He will quickly become as great as my beloved brother, Edward, was.”
“I thank you from the bottom of my heart, uncle, for your kind words,” Afonso said politely, wiping his lips with a napkin. However, I still do not feel ready for such duties. I still do not know much and fear I cannot properly manage the country.”
Afonso continued, “I would like to ask you to delay this event until I feel I am ready.”
The duke, shaking his head empathetically, answered: “I perfectly understand, Afonso, but, unfortunately, what you ask is impossible. You have no idea what can happen when people discover that the coronation will be postponed. Many will immediately slander me. They will say I do not want to transfer power to the legitimate heir.
“You are well aware of what happened recently after my brother’s death. Queen Eleanor, your mother, who had received the right of regency, tried to become absolute rule over Portugal. She planned to make our country dependent on Aragon,23 where she was from. She dreamed of making our independent, freedom-loving homeland a vassal state and annexing Portugal to Aragon. If the Cortes24 did not intervene promptly and create a legislative document defining a fair regency, the unrest could have developed into a civil war. I hope you understand what I mean, dear prince, and I am sure you’ll agree that any questionable political decision could lead to significant destructive consequences.