Exhort your cardinals to call a crusade

If you're going to commit to this, you might as well go all the way. If you can convince the Holy Father to call a crusade, it would be a great aid in your efforts. A formal crusade would provide you with a set of legal and financial protections to help you while you're gone, not to mention a significant loyalty boost from the clergy as long as you're on the warpath. Furthermore, it would help in recruiting, not to mention moving the ambitions of some of your nobles away from your vacant throne. Not a foolproof plan, but definitely better than a private mission to the Near East.

You set up a meeting with Cardinal Oppold, one of the highest-ranked clergymen in your kingdom and the head of your diocese. Your enter his chambers, a luxurious room with a large bed and exquisite furniture. Oppold sits at his desk, sipping wine from a goblet. Oppold is relatively young for his venerable rank, having only recently cracked 50. His hair is dark gray, short at about ear-length in a bowl cut. He is thin and severe-looking. You know your father had many quarrels with him over the topic of funds and tithes, but he is not your enemy, not yet at least. You know he is at least loyal to the church, and he has no reason you know of to oppose the plan. He stands and bows as you enter. "Please, take a seat you excellency" he says, gesturing at the chair in front of him. You sit. "What brings your honored presence before me?", he askswith a creepily fake smile. "Well," you start, "as you may have heard an envoy from Prince Raymond came before my court, and word is that similar envoys have been to other royal and imperial courts. I fear, though they did not state as such, that the Kingdom is **** for aid. That is why I ask you to petition the Holy Father for a crusade." A light seems to shine through Oppold's bleak countenance. You've got his attention. As you talk to him about your planned crusade, the normally stoic man becomes increasingly animated, even letting the occasional smile through. "Yes," he says, "a new crusade is an excellent idea! Anything to preserve God's Kingdoms from the serpents that surround it! I shall write to the Holy Father immediately, and I expect a positive result!" He gets up with great energy and starts rifling through his things. You excuse yourself, pleased with this meeting.

It takes several weeks, but Oppold's letter (and possibly others) made the right impression on His Holiness. A crusade is called, and you begin preparations. The clergy are ecstatic, saying that your education has obviously prepared your well for virtuous leadership. The nobles have more mixed reactions. The more venerable are worried that this may be too early for a young king from a weak dynasty to engage in such danger, but many lesser nobles and unlanded younger sons eagerly join your ranks. You organize a regency council formed mostly around Dietrich and Oppold. Hopefully they can keep a handle on things while you're gone.

About a week before you can set off, a servant tells you that your mother wants to see you. You are ready to do your filial duty before leaving for who knows how long, and so you got to see her. You find your mother holding your baby sister in her arms, her favorite lady-in-waiting Sophie standing behind her.