@Cailin Dockendorf The Pope is a part of Aragorn's royal family as a former grand Duke. He then gave up his titles and joined the priesthood culminating in his ascendancy to Pope. The former 2nd prince, bag of meaty sweaty phallus' he was, betrayed his country and attempted to sell it out to Aragorn, the country of the Pope, and with the Pope's help, set up an arranged marriage with the Princess of Aragorn. Which would have both legitimized both his rebellion and rule (if he succeeded) as well as given the Pope significant political power. The second prince would've basically have been installed as a puppet The Church, but more specifically The Pope, could rule through. It would also give him more power over his home country by way of fear of the Church. This thankfully fell through and so, in all likelihood, the Pope sent his Niece (for all intents and purposes) and her lady in waiting to the Duchy of Arno for a yet to be revealed reason... though likely because Arno is now a preeminent power in the region, and his meddling would be discovered sooner or later. And what better way to smooth things over, than with a political marriage. Then, instead of the Pope being put in a severly disadventagous position, in no small part because he supported the man who committed numerous severe crimes against the new saintess and her now very powerful war hero husband on top of everyone in the Church that supports her, he has made peace with them by tweaking his original plan and just having the Princess and her lady in waiting marry the Duke and Duccesses two most trusted men in Arno, with the added benefit of being able to meddle inside the Duchy to make sure their intentions never turn towards conquest of some or all of Aragorn. Im not 100% that this is what's going to happen, but it would be a very clever, and effective plan if it does happen, since Bianca, and most the rest of our characters, have a bleeding heart for those who suffer. It would ensure that despite this whole debacle, the Pope not only doesn't lose anything, but in fact gains power despite failing miserably.
