Matilda spent the morning handling official business. The halls and courtyards of Canossa were a flurry of activity, with messengers, petitioners, Copyists, and servants bustling about.
Because of the Emperor's arrival, she had instructed the northern Tuscan cities to keep a close watch on his movements. On top of that, there were also many petitions from various villages that required her attention.
These measures were normally unnecessary, as she usually did not stay in one place for too long—not even Canossa Castle, her family's ancient domain.
Like most Lords, she spent most of her time traveling between various cities and villages, inspecting the state of the Tuscan Duchy, listening to her subjects' lawsuits and requests, and making just—or at least seemingly just—rulings.
Only by seeing her often could her subjects remember that she was their ruler and that they were constantly under her protection.
