Chapter 35: The Sour Fruit

Constantine went back to the imperial garden, back to the same old pavilion where he can relax, a bard plays a soothing ancient Greek tune, a palace maiden gently massages his chins and head, another maiden peels and feeds him with fresh grapes.

If it is just looking by this scene, one would have thought that the Roman Empire is still at the height of her power with a lazy tyrant living a lavish and sinful lifestyle.

This brief period of relaxation came to an abrupt stop as an imperial guard came in reporting that Constantine's Protevestiarites, or Lord of the Imperial wardrobe, George Sphrantzes, has arrived under the previous orders of the emperor.

The coming man bowed towards the emperor and greeted as the emperor signaled him to take a seat.

"George…" Constantine opened his mouth slowly. "You heard the words of the Ecumenical Patriarch… What do you think of it?"

George Sphrantzes thought for a few second and replied. "I agree with him, your majesty."

"Why?"

"I am a historian and a translator of ancient manuscripts, your majesty. I have seen, read, and wrote those words of crusaders pillaging and ransacking our city, your majesty."

"… I see."

"But fear not, your majesty, you have my support. I also do know that desperate times need desperate solutions."

"Great…"

Constantine paused the bard from the music and leaned back, signalling the maidens to leave. He then continued. "How do the other men in the court view our… allies."

"Most of them have unfavourable views towards them."

"They will have favourable views to the Ottomans, gladly welcome turbans into our city and put their Kilij knives over their necks?" Constantine laughed sarcastically and laughed back.

"Well… there are still some people with favourable views to our allies. It is really embarrassing to say but my daughter, Therma, has her eyes on the Genoese mercenary leader Giovanni for quite a while now. Judging by the look of it I bet she want to roll in bed with him…."

"And sow his seeds across her land?" Constantine chortled at the gossips of George's daughter for a while George covered his face in shame, after a while Constantine stopped and comforted George. "You have done another contribution for this country George, my friend. With your daughter forming a there-happily-after-bond, we can have a tighter grip on those Genoese mercenaries through their captain, and perhaps we can make Lord Giustiniani will pay his allegiance to the empire through this."

"I have previously wanted to marry her to a literate family member from the house of Kantakouzenos, but I can't now when there are gossips around her everywhere in the city."

Constantine shredded his shoulders, leaned forward and patted his old friend with eyes of sympathy.

"Don't be so worried my friend, I don't think it is such a bad choice for her to choose her own path… anyways, how about Lord De'Ricci, how is he viewed among my courtiers and citizens of Constantinople?" Constantine asked again as he peels another green grape and puts it into his mouth.

"Ah, Antonius, our heroic admiral. He has a bunch of admirers inside the city, but among the noble-born I only know one, and her father seems to be very unpleased with her choice of man, that he threatened to lock her up, sorry I cannot reveal who she is for now… But Antonius is really an enthralling person to talk about."

"Oh?"

George, suddenly aroused with interest, elaborated with flying colours on his face. "Antonius is well loved and respected by the folks and ladies, for his tales of valorous adventures as pirates and his incredible military success outside the shores outside the coasts of Anatolia. Furthermore, his ships often go outside into the Black Sea, Marmara Sea and Aegean Sea, bringing in an abundant supply of food and other daily necessities, and provide them to the poorer peasants in the city. Thus, I can say that he's got the heart of the peasants."

���Oh, that's nice." Constantine replied with a insouciant look as he peeled the skin of another grape. "Yes, Constantinople no longer suffers from a shortage of food supply thanks to him and his boys' efforts."

"Yes, your majesty." George became more and more excited as he continued. "Antonius is also pretty charitable in aiding the merchants of various Republics and Romans, using his ships to protect them from potential raids by those Cossacks, Ottoman and Mamuluk privateers. Preventing any disruption of the trade route between Achaia, Peloponnese, Candia and Constantinople… Thus, he has gained the title 'Guardian of The Merchants'…"

Constantine stopped peeling the grapes and started paying attention.

"… Did I forget to tell you that, he is now the largest employer of workers in the city? He has built a giant metal forge in the Genoese quarters, outside the old palace of Botaneiates. He employed hundreds of peasants and iron workers under the disposal of two men called Orban and Jacob, which he claims that he is 'building a weapon so powerful never seen before…"

Constantine stopped leaning back casually and started massaging his forehead with his elbows on his knees and continued asking. "You and your scholars seem to have a rather positive opinion about him …?"

"Yes, your majesty." George nodded as he reached for the grape that Constantine just peeled. "Antonius is famed for his unusual esteem towards literate people, especially people with knowledge. He always pays us with mutual respect despite the fact that he is a cutlass-wielding guy. He never hesitates to ask people of knowledge with a sincere attitude, and eagerly learns how to read and write Greek Cyrillic script. Thus, most courtiers, although they despise Catholic aliens, but don't have any negative feelings towards Antonius."

The emperor did not utter a single word throughout, narrowed his eyes with wrinkles emerging on his forehead, keeping his elbows on his thigh and massaging his forehead the whole time. He looked at the fruits that he just peeled and picked one up and put it into his mouth.

It is sour.