kingdom of nations

Chapter 208 The Wedding Ceremony (Part 2)

"Did you see that?"

"I saw nothing, Your Majesty."

“You’ve become bolder, Theodora,” Manuel I said with a smile, looking at his favorite concubine. “You never used to speak to me in such an arrogant tone.”

"I'm just being frank, Your Majesty, I really didn't see anything. If you insist on saying so, all I saw was a dark, murky sea. There was no moon or stars today. Or perhaps you'd like to have some fires lit and fishing boats set up to add some color to this dull scene."

"You've never been this arrogant before; in fact, you've been so docile it's almost boring."

"You've been by my side since you were twelve, more than a decade now, and you've held the position of my most favored concubine for over ten. People say your fall from grace is imminent; aren't you afraid?" Before Theodora could answer, he continued, "That's right, you're not afraid, because you no longer fear me. Not because I've lost power, but because you believe I have nothing left to control you."

“You do not love that so-called husband, you have no children with me, and your parents have been strangled by me. Your only attachment is to the child my wife gave you—little Anna. Anna is now married, even though she is not far from us, separated from us only by a narrow strait (at this time they are already in Atalea, a port city in the Byzantine Empire very close to Cyprus).

But she's already someone else's wife, and even if I wanted to punish her, her husband would stop me, whether for Anna's sake or for Cyprus's sake. Manuel I laughed hoarsely. "Look, you've fallen silent, you're not speaking, you've admitted it, haven't you?"
Theodora, you are a bright child. It's a pity you are, after all, a woman, and you don't understand that every decision a man makes must have a profound reason. Haven't you ever wondered when I became so generous? Just like my foolish second wife, Mary, complained to me.

"That's Cyprus, and I have sons, my eldest prince, Alexius, and my youngest son, Alexander. Even though he's only six, I want him to inherit a complete empire." Theodora raised her head, the fear in her eyes pleasing Manuel I. He continued, "Do you remember those Cypriots who came to bribe you, wanting you to speak on their behalf?"

Theodora certainly remembered.

The Cypriots brought boxes upon boxes of pearls and glassware. Their pearls were placed in glass plates heated to a deep red, emerald, and inky black, allowing the round little sprites to roll and leap on the smooth surface. The crisp, melodious sound they produced was unmatched, even by the most skilled musicians plucking their strings.

They knelt at her feet, pleading with her to persuade Manuel I to send more troops and ships to Cyprus and to appoint a wise and capable governor for them.

They said that Cyprus had been without a governor for a full decade. They were now fighting the wicked infidels entirely on their own, but without the Empire's powerful navy, they were truly struggling to survive.

Theodora, of course, gladly accepted their gifts. But as for persuading Manuel I, sorry, she had to break her promise, or rather, she never made any promise at all. In any case, no one dared to peek into Manuel I's bedchamber, and only Manuel I could testify to whether she had said it or not.

Would these people really dare to question Manuel I? During the years she was favored as a concubine, countless such people had appeared, but Theodora paid them no heed.

“Silly girl, haven’t you ever thought about it? Are they doing this on purpose? They know perfectly well that even if they offer you all the pearls, gems, gold, silk, and coral, you won’t say a single word for them, for one year, two years, three years, ten years in a row—you’re laughing at them for doing all this for nothing, but they’re laughing at you for being completely oblivious and acting as their shield.”

Manuel I sighed, “My eldest son Alexius certainly knows me quite well. Of course, he knows you too. He used you to fool me, and I only recently learned that he had cultivated his own power base and army in Cyprus, and that he had even ordered several ships from the Venetians.”

He grew up and gained supporters in the court. Unfortunately, I had previously fallen victim to the enemy's schemes and plots. I cannot say that I suffered a crushing defeat in the war against Sultan Arslan II, but for an emperor, a war without victory is a disgrace.

I think my eldest son will soon use this to challenge me.

He propped his head up with his hand, glanced at the grapes on the table, and Theodora numbly crawled a few steps on his knees, picked up a grape, carefully peeled off its skin, and gently put it into the mouth of Manuel I, who was leaning against the low couch. Manuel I slowly chewed the grape. It was not the grape harvest season, but as long as the eunuchs wanted to, they could always find a way to get these delicacies that ordinary people, and even officials and nobles, could not enjoy.

This is the power that those born into the Purple Chamber possess from birth. "He really chose a good place. Cyprus, once nestled in the embrace of the empire, was safe and sound. Unfortunately, it is now a pearl left out in the open. It still has many ties with the Byzantine Empire, but these ties are like spider silk in the wind, which can be blown away and broken at any time."

But do you know why I'm not worried about the Cypriots doing anything rebellious? Because they're still hoping for a holy emperor.

My son may have taken advantage of this; he may have promised these people that once he became Emperor of the Byzantine Empire, Cyprus could truly become a wealthy and safe place, with the Empire's soldiers and fleet protecting them from the Crusaders and Saracens—a naive idea, I must admit. But I must admit the timing was impeccable.

Although I have not fallen, I am in a period of decline…

"So you married Anna to an unknown Crusader."

"It doesn't matter if he's unknown or not. Even if he's just a beggar, as long as he's a crusader and a Frankish Christian, I'll marry Anna to him and give Cyprus as Anna's dowry. The crusaders will surely accept it with great joy."

But my son Alexius will probably be furious. As far as I know, his army there may have reached more than ten thousand men, not all of them peasant soldiers, but also some horse archers, and possibly some heavy cavalry.

If this were in Byzantium—in Asia Minor, whatever he did, I would know if there were more than a hundred people involved. But in Cyprus, with those cowardly and despicable merchants—he knows I have never taken them seriously, and he can do whatever he wants as long as he can bribe them.

Even if I discovered it, as long as he escaped Constantinople, Cyprus would be his only means of survival.

"You want to make the Crusaders..."

Theodora's interruption caused Manuel I to frown in displeasure, as it forced him to recall a topic he had been trying to avoid—he was indeed afraid of his eldest son. Regardless of his words, the fact that he had been defeated by Sultan Arslan II had severely damaged his prestige in the army, and one only needed to look at the list of Byzantine emperors to see how many military commanders had ascended the throne based on even the slightest connection to the royal family…

His wariness of his eldest son—keeping Alexius in Constantinople and never appointing him to a governorship or other powerful position—now became an advantage. Alexius had done nothing wrong, so he couldn't have done anything wrong either—and those officials and generals who harbored resentment towards the emperor might give him a chance…

He was indeed afraid; he didn't know whether people would call him a "traitor!" or "Basilius!" if Alexius truly betrayed him!

But the Crusaders would not tolerate such a huge obstacle; they would not even obey the Byzantine emperor. And the people of Cyprus—to the Crusaders, heretics were perhaps even more hateful than pagans.

They believed in the orthodox church, which the Roman Catholic Church considered heresy, and the Crusaders were the sword in the hands of the Roman Catholic Church. It was already merciful that they did not turn Cyprus into a second Alassane.

Without the protection of the Cypriots, Alexius's ten thousand men would inevitably have nowhere to hide. Do you think the Crusaders would reach an agreement with Alexius, allowing him to retain his army? Of course not. The Crusaders would simply expel this force, which was not of their own, from Cyprus. But elsewhere, even in Atalea, the furthest point from Constantinople where they were now, they were still under Manuel I's watchful eye. Where could he go?

Was he going to abandon his position in Constantinople and become a stray dog ​​like the former Armenian prince Murray? Leaving aside whether he could even endure such humiliation, how many people would be willing to follow him if he lost his status and had to seek refuge with the Saracens or the Crusaders?
The Saracens were considered infidels to be killed, and the Crusaders were the most hated rebels.

Even those who come for profit hope to follow a king, not a bandit.

“He will…he will…” Theodora gripped the crooked armrest of the low couch tightly, and even now, she dared not touch Manuel I’s arm. “Yes, poor Theodora,” Manuel I shook his head at her with pity.

“I know my son. He’s a lot like me: cold-hearted, mean, cruel, and incredibly dramatic. Given his position, he would have had many opportunities to kill his sister to stop the marriage. But he won’t. If he did, he wouldn’t be able to experience the deepest regret and pain of those people. He will definitely choose the most opportune moment.”

For example… ah,” he suddenly stopped speaking and turned to the sea, “I think I see it, is that firelight? The fire of Cyprus.” Theodora was already limp, she struggled to sit up and look out. They were on a huge terrace, the curtains of which were drawn high, and from here they could indeed see a few points of starlight flickering on the dark sea. No, those weren’t starlight, they were firelight.

“Anna!” she cried out.

“Woman!” Manuel I scolded affectionately. “If I were Alexius, what would I do? I would certainly stop this marriage to prevent Cyprus, which I have cultivated for so long, from falling into someone else’s hands. This is both a crisis and an opportunity for me. The knight is one of the closest confidants of King Arrassal, and King Arrassal will surely be his witness at the wedding.”

"And the important figures of the Crusades will surely attend the wedding. Oh, and I remember they said the Patriarch of Arrassa seems to have arrived in Cyprus as well, and your little Anna insists he officiate her wedding; the Archbishop of Cyprus is furious," Manuel I's face broke into a maniacal grin. His face was flushed with excitement. "Not only will I destroy this marriage, I will use it to take down these people, and then demand ransom from the Crusaders one by one. How much will I get?"
A king should be worth at least 500,000 gold coins, and the wealth of the Knights Templar is renowned throughout the world.

"With this money, I can do whatever I want. Whether it's the fleet or the cavalry, or the officials and nobles in Constantinople, or the governors of the various military districts, I can win them all over. Then, what can that emperor in the Grand Palace do?" He laughed heartily, then suddenly stopped, glancing at Theodora, who was now deathly pale. "But no matter what his fate, your little Anna is certainly going to die."

These words completely drained Theodora of her strength. Her body slumped down as if she wanted to kiss the emperor to beg for his forgiveness, and Manuel I thought so too, until her teeth bit into his throat.

Theodora used all her strength. The emperor was beating her, and others were trying to pull her hands and feet away, but she resolutely refused to let go. The emperor was unable to make a sound, and without an imperial decree, the eunuchs dared not rashly draw their swords...

But Manuel I was an old man, and his throat was covered with loose skin. After a piece of flesh was torn off, Theodora was finally pulled away. The emperor pointed at her, and Theodora just swallowed the wet, disgusting thing whole. "You will watch your empire perish!" she cursed under her breath, but everyone heard her.

Suddenly, the woman unleashed unprecedented strength, broke free from the eunuch's restraints, ran to the terrace, leaped over the low railing, and plunged into the raging sea.

------

"Then you...you heard me right—call the witnesses...to come."

A sinister smile crept across Anna's lips. In the darkness, everything that had happened flashed before her eyes like a revolving lantern. Unlike Theodora, who clung to hope, she didn't need the emperor to reveal his final trump card to understand everything her father had done—hatred and regret surged through her chest, overwhelming all other emotions.

Grand Master Philip of the Knights Templar strode forward and exchanged a glance with the Grand Master of the Knights of Goodwill. They had both been somewhat incredulous. But when they saw the triumphant smile on the face of the Byzantine woman, they understood. It wasn't out of love, perhaps a little, but more so out of revenge—revenge against her father and brother. But could she hold out until the ritual was complete?
Chirac glared at the two Grand Masters. To be honest, if Anna could endure the excruciating pain of her internal organs, she could live for at least a few more hours. Those few hours wouldn't be enough for her to conceive—and even longer wouldn't be possible, as her uterus had been destroyed.

"Do you know what you're talking about?"

"I'm destined not to survive, you just said so yourself," the princess said, feeling much better after taking the potion, or rather, the potion had awakened the last bit of life hidden within her body. "How much longer can I hold on?"

"Not much left, child, maybe only a few hours."

"A few hours is enough." The princess felt another wave of exhaustion; it was as if her soul was about to leave her body and rise into the sky.

She grasped César's hand, as if that could slow her descent into the mundane world. "Please give me some more medicine. Stronger medicine, to drive the pain away from my body."

"In that case, your survival time will be shortened, perhaps to only half or even a third of what it was before."

"Even if your student is exceptionally talented, I believe he won't need an hour."

It was a crude yet funny joke, but no one in the room could laugh.

"If you insist..."

"I insist..."

“Anna,” Cesar said, holding her hand, “if you just want revenge…” He could cut off Alexius’s head right now.

The princess turned her head slightly, glanced at Cesare again, and finally denied it: "My lord, my love for you is not that deep, after all, we have only spent such a short time together. I love you because you are worthy of love, just like pearls and jewels; anyone with eyes could see you and not like you."

I once dreamed of living with you, having children, and watching them grow up and inherit everything we have. I was even willing to give you all the power I held in my hands. Because I believe in you; you are a person of high moral character. Even if you don't love me, you wouldn't inflict the cruelest humiliation and contempt on me like my father did on my mother.

My child and I were supposed to have a happy future. But now all of that is impossible. My father used me, and my brother killed me. But I am not a goddess of vengeance. I cannot become a ghost and constantly tell them my pain and hatred, driving them mad and dead.

So, what else do you think I can do? But I know a way to make them feel pain and remorse—they are a bunch of cold-blooded beasts, and nothing can break them except their own interests.

Call all the witnesses in. I'm sorry to have to put you through this, but even if it's for Cyprus... Love me. Cesar, let's become husband and wife.

The patriarch stood up and looked at his students; ultimately, it was he who had to make the decision.

But he knew that Cesar would definitely agree. Whether for Cyprus or for Anna, Grand Master Philip of the Knights Templar immediately summoned the witnesses from the next room, as well as the Archbishop of Cyprus, and two other Cypriot nobles were brought into the room as if they were being escorted.

This room was even larger than the original bridal chamber, with layers of curtains dividing it into several areas. Before Alexius infiltrated, the Templar knights and maids outside the door had all been killed—the missing Byzantine and Cypriot maids were probably the inside agents.

Now all the curtains were removed, and the knights quickly prepared a wedding bed. Anna drank the potion from the patriarch's hand—ostensibly holy water in a golden cup—and she regained her radiance and spirit. Like any bride, she lay on the bed smiling, waiting for her husband. Cesar lay down beside her and held her in his arms. Baldwin, along with Raymond, draped the white linen sheets over the newlyweds.

Although witnesses are supposed to look at the wedding bed, which is not contrary to doctrine and tradition, everyone subconsciously looked away this time, including Raymond.

They heard Anna breathing softly, and a moment later she cried out, accompanied by Cesar's soft words of comfort. She was crying, but it was a joyful cry, which turned into kissing and biting sounds a few minutes later.

At one moment, she called out Cesar's name, shouting loudly—a shout that was unbecoming of a noblewoman, yet strangely genuine—followed by Cesar's unusually unsteady voice, "Anna!?"

“Continue,” Anna commanded. “I’ll curse you, I swear, if you dare stop now…” Then she let out a cry that was a mixture of pain and pleasure, which was almost—but who would blame her at this moment?

Patriarch Heraclius only glanced up occasionally and saw large red flowers imprinted on the white linen sheets in the torchlight.

(End of this chapter)