Chapter 1 - Cruel Christmas

Chapter 1

Cruel Christmas

The whole room could be seen clearly from one corner. The young Emperor, who came here barefoot, looked around the familiar interior and sat in a corner. It was a fantasy scene anyway, so no one could follow him and nag.

“Long time no see, me from ten years ago. No, more exactly you would have been my destiny ten years ago if I had left it unchanged.”

In his sight, there was a boy who looked exactly like himself, but a lot smaller. A boy who only looked at the sky with his chin on the back of his hand said to himself.

“Ha… it’s snowing hard again today.”

The evening of Christmas Eve, when heavy snow was falling and putting everything to rest. Yes, on such a day, he would have been happy despite any kind of anxiety, with his chin on the window. Furthermore, even though he was lonely, his birthday had come. If the Emperor had not bothered him, he would have been satisfied with the little happiness, at the court in this outskirts, left unattended by his mother and father. Until when.

“Your Majesty, the day has come.”

It was the first sound the boy heard on his twelfth birthday as he looked at the snow pouring out of the window. The young Laskaris, leaning against the window, turned around and looked back.

“lakobos?”

lakobos, who played the role of head of the servants. This eunuch, who held the title of ‘cup-bearer’, was in charge of the court. They had lived together as one family since he was a little over nine years old, so they were quite close. However, whenever he looked at him, his face was always expressionless. In front of him, even his vain honor as the Emperor was let down.

“Why is your face like that?”

The situation in front of the 12-year-old’s eyes was hard to understand. He could not believe that a man who was cool-headed as if he was made of marble was now colored with emotions. Oh, my God, Lord.

“Your Majesty…”

Interest and surprise got mixed up half and half. He jumped out of the stone popping up by the window. The sleek-faced man, kneeling down, fell on his stomach. Feeling embarrassed, he went in front of him and put on knee on the ground next to him.

“lakobos, calm down. What’s going on for you to cry so much? Normally, you wouldn’t have come suddenly without saying anything.”

Since he did not know what was going on, he should smile and ask first. He wiped the eyes of the middle-aged man with his sleeve.

“…It’s frightening. But we don’t have much time now.”

That was embarrassing. What the hell happened this evening when he was waiting for a meal?

“I’m fine. I think it was safe even when there was a political change. Now, stop and tell me what’s going on.”

lakobos almost burst into tears again. Of course he did not have to answer. Soldiers who failed to develop endless patience kicked in the door.

“Commoner loannes Laskaris, hurry to receive the order of His Majesty the Emperor!”

His jawline was smooth without a single beard. Blonde hair with a big physique. He was not an ordinary Roman soldier. Yes, he was a Latin man who settled down as a mercenary. He rebuked rudeness with an awkward expression at the sudden situation.

“I don’t know how disrespectful this is. How can I be a commoner with three emperors as ancestors? More than that, where are you guys from? You’re not Nicaea’s soldiers.”

A rude soldier. No, when he looked at him again, there was a big drink attached to the helmet packed next to him. He was a junior officer. He had seen his father at the military parade for a while when he was still alive even though he was sick. The Latin officer stepped over the marble floor. The rug, which had been carefully maintained since his grandfather, became muddy, and the royal insignia and green eagle paintings hanging next to it were torn at will.

“The Roman Empire will be governed only by one capital. And only one Emperor will rule the Empire.”

If he did not listen carefully, he would be constantly lost by the different accent and pronunciation. Now he stuttered his words, mumbled and mumbled again. As he finished, his feet stepped back on their own. The blond officer unfolded a scroll.

“His Majesty Mikhael Doukas Komnenos, lll the sole Roman Emperor, has given orders. Laskaris, you are now evicted from the court.”

“Your Majesty…”

The officer opened the scroll forward, ignoring the murmur of a certain eunuch.

“Is it just eviction…? Are you just going to take the throne?”

As he asked, Laskaris touched a round golden seal that was revealed in front of him. Colorful sentences in elegant handwriting adorned the parchment paper. He slowly swept down sentences, paragraphs, words and dots with his index finger. That was exactly what he had said.

“Phew… it’s really an eviction. That’s a relief.”

Why did a 12-year-old say with a happy expression that he was relieved of his eviction? No, that was not the only way to look at it. Wouldn’t this be the true gift from God on his birthday?

‘Three years ago, the Prime Minister, who was like the Emperor’s brother, was robbed and killed just because he was hated.’

When the coup took place, the great nobles who hung in front of his ancestor’s coffin spit at the dead Emperor, mocking him.

‘I… couldn’t do anything. Or I would have been evicted at that time, and not now. But now again…!

He was just playing helplessly on the palm of their hands, and now that he had just turned twelve, it was the same as when he was eight.

“Can I live in a private residence?”

“He said that once you are evicted, you will be free to do whatever you want. The law does not allow the sins of the father to affect his descendants.”

His father’s sin. Yes, what a sin. And that young him was generously punished for only a fraction of that.

‘It doesn’t make sense.’

It was clear to Laskaris, who was now looking from the position of a third party, as he recalled how he had been struggling. However, it was the voice of a 12-year-old boy who was not even an adult. It was a voice that could not exceed the one of the court even with the authority of the Emperor.

“Ugh… ugh!”

An unknown waterfall-like flow swept him away. His chest became very painful. He lifted the corners of his mouth as hard as he could and spoke softly to the eunuch who was still lying down

“For a while… I’m going to live in the monastery of Sosandra and exchange letters with teacher Blemidis, lacobos.”

“I will always follow. I will follow you until the end. I have already delivered my resignation.”

The blonde officer, who was quietly listening to the new drama between the two, urged them again.

“If you’ve accepted it, Laskaris, you should get ready. We’ll arrange transportation.”

His low voice was still overwhelming. The boy, who had difficulty making eye contact, first took off the Emperor’s small coffin and put it on the table.

“lacobos, help me take off this coat first. I can’t go out wearing this. And I’ll wear simple clothes and take two loaves of bread. I haven’t even eaten yet.”

“Hurry up.”

Under the watchman’s eyes, he hurriedly took off his heavy clothes and shoes symbolizing the Emperor.

‘I feel better inside.’

Perhaps because he felt as if he had been released from the prison system that had been squeezing his fate, he felt rather relieved. The hunting hat of the Phrygia region, which was brought from somewhere in a hurry, was quite large on the head of the young abandoned Emperor. However, it was better to avoid eye contact as much as possible.

‘A hat that’s too big. It’s like watching that day.’

In my memory, there was still a sound that rang through the church where the enthronement event was held four years ago.

“Clothes too big won’t fit. It’s the same. The authority of an Emperor is a power too great for a kid who has not even become an adult.”

It was the first declaration of Mikhael VIII, the guardian angel of the Empire, who became a great Emperor. It was a ridiculous statement that Laskaris, who had offered to present the throne to him, had to suffer right under his nose.

“I’d rather contact the Patriarch somehow to help… no, no. It might damage the church for no reason.”

Four of the court’s top officials, appointed as regents of Laskaris, died or disappeared in all sorts of ways. There may had been some other breakthrough. However, the 12year-old loannes IV had no idea about it, and even if he did, there was no one to help him.

“Uh… Laskaris-nim, we’re ready.”

lacobos came in and bowed deeply.

“Laskaris. It’s been a long time since I’ve lived in a castle. I didn’t know I would be so happy to be a commoner. It was rather a curse to be a member of the royal family.”

Then he looked up and faced the blond officer for a while. The man, who looked strange for a moment, greeted him more politely than before.

“Laskaris-nim, the escort will lead you to your destination. To the old capital, Nympheon.”

Despite his awkward expression and stiff tone, he did not think about anything else. He opened his woolen collar, feeling a penetrating chill.

“Yes. Nicaea is a sick place for me. I don’t want to get caught up in unnecessary things. I should live comfortably in the land where my grandfather’s legacy remains.”

Let’s leave the land of sorrow! But before that, Laskaris suddenly wondered about the name of the giant German mercenary standing in front of him. Why? He did not know.

“…Hmm, what’s your name?”

It was a sudden question. After a short pause, the blonde officer made a rough pronunciation mixed with Latin.

“Carlos.”

“It’s the same name as the great Frankish monarch. I wish you success under the command of the great Emperor Mikhael.”

He did not say good words in hopes of an answer. He walked past him calmly. It was only well known that this was the last dignity shown by Laskaris as a lord.

“Damn it, damn it.”

Carlos clenched his teeth and cursed. Veins were clearly visible on the back of his hand holding his belt. Laskaris, who left Carlos behind, breathed out white air. The clear and hazy steam soon scattered into the air.

“It’s pretty cold out there.”

“Would you like more blankets?”

“No, this is fine.”

Walking silently, he quickly reached the entrance of the court. An arch-shaped ceiling that connected the exterior and inner porch of the building appeared. The huge arched ceiling depicted all kinds of strange animals, angels, gods and armies.

“All right, it’s over. Coming all the way here reminds me of teacher Blemidis’ lecture.”

“What is it?”

lakobos also looks more comfortable.

“As it is the sanctuary of the church, let’s assume that this palace is the realm of God. So this porch is a link between the outside world and this meaningless realm of God.”

Perhaps because the entrance was close, his breath was white and he felt the cold reaching his bones. The snow was piling up over the entrance of the palace and was swallowing all the sounds.

“You follow me well. To the end. To think it would end so smoothly.”

Smirk, he had been so innocent. Swallowing such thoughts, the 21-year-old Laskaris followed with one hand holding a cape and the other holding a candlestick. The boy Laskaris continued.

“Maybe, lakobos, an Empire, let alone an Emperor, must be an illusion without substance. It’s a phantom that gives the image of a complex and emotion-less machine, that can be changed whenever necessary.”

“Your Majesty.”

Habits were this scary. Iakobos, who had been an eunuch for more than 30 years, called him ‘Your Majesty’ again. Laskaris tried to dissuade him, saying they would be scolded by the soldiers. If they could take a few more steps, they would be free just like that.

“Huh, huh? What, what are you guys doing?”

The voice of lacobos was embarrassed.

“Why, why?”

It was even before Laskaris’ question was over. Behind the pillar, a shadow popped out of a corner and quickly grasped his neck. As he was dragged away while being grabbed by the collar, his drooping body naturally pressed his breath as his clothes were pulled down.

“Argh! Ugh…”

He was dragged away, speechless. There was a strange swear word coming from behind him… and a blade flashed. All the sounds were absorbed by the snow piled up. On this blessed day, only he was following the wild hand of fate everywhere.

“Ha… I can’t see it.”

It was a decade ago, and even now, it was completely gone. However, even the adult Laskaris could not prevent his hand holding the candlestick from shaking. Candles could not be heavy.

“Wook…”

There was a lot of nausea that he wanted to pour out violently from the inside. He turned his eyes away because he did not want to see those vivid memories that came back to life.

“I don’t want to see you, go away!”

However, no matter which way he turned his head, he could see an eleven-year-old being dragged into a room. It felt like someone was forcibly grabbing and turning his head. The helpless face of the child in his sight was ridiculous.

“Oh, huh!”

A dark small room. He was thrown inside as soon as the door opened. He hit a bag that was on the floor and some kind of package. He screamed in intense pain and tried to breath out, but he could not even spit it out.

“Ha, ha…”

The first thing he felt in the suffocating dust was warm air. In the center of this warehouse, there was a brazier fire. Why…? Something like lightning crossed Laskaris’ hectic mind.

“B-blinding… was that Mikhael’s order?”

He tried to spit out theses words. However, his mouth was constrained by a gag, so it only sounded silly.

“Hum, hmm, uh-hm!”

Even though he did not want to see the dark interior, he slowly got used to it. Several soldiers were standing in the shadows with no expression. And there was a skewer in the hand of the person standing. The one who steals the eye. The holy mercy of the Emperor. This object had many nicknames, but only one purpose. Stabbing a person in the eye to remove visual ability.

“Hmm, hmmmm!”

He shouted something again. The 21-year-old Laskaris, who had managed to watch this far, closed his eyes. However, closing his eyes did not remove the scenes that he had seen dozens of times. The agent, who was in charge of the new Emperor’s dirty work, had a disgracious smiled while sweating under tension.

“Hush, this is His Majesty’s secret order. He told me not to kill you, Laskaris, but to blind you and lock you up. Come on, we’ll be done in a minute. Let your body go, haha!”

What he thought to be the worst scenario happened. The unimaginable pain had already penetrated his body. A loud sound broke out as he was trembling.

“Ugh!”

The smell of burning squid, terrible shouts and violent body shakes. Even with his eyes closed, it was drawn very clearly in his head.

Christmas was passing by for the boy who celebrated his twelfth birthday. The sharp end of a heated iron ball. His shaking body could not even wiggle under the hands of the five wicked soldiers. One of them then ungagged him.

“…Aahhhhh! Father, mother!”

The smell of burning skin and a hot pillar that could melt a skull. It was not a shock his young body could take. The young Laskaris’ body trembled weakly and was about to die.

“Whew, were you too young to be blinded?”

“Ah, I feel dirty, heck. If you’re going to kill him, you can just strangle him or poison him.”

“What can I do? I have to do as I’ve been told. Let’s bring him while he’s alive.”

The soldiers, who quickly returned to their own concerns, crumpled the monarch’s body into a bag. The 11-year-old Emperor’s body, which could not even resist, was already stiff.

His dreams usually ended like this. And he would always wake up to reality again. Still leaning his forehead against the wall of the church, Laskaris breathed heavily.

“Phew, it’s over.”

He only recalled one memory, but now his memory and consciousness were blurred. Let’s just think it went well. Having instilled such a strong sense of revenge, he thought he had come back thinking like this.

‘I didn’t know anything. I was young, weak and innocent. In the end, I was struck like that.’

Did he survive in the end? He lived alone for 40 years as if he had already died. Even the Empire, which had been taken away from him, was tilted in chaos.

“What a strange thing. I can’t believe I suddenly returned to the mid-50s when I didn’t achieve anything or gain anything in that situation. If this is not the will of the devil, can it be God’s providence?”

At the end of Laskaris’ view, there was a dark room again. The eight-year-old himself was lying in the large Emperor’s room with tear marks left behind.

“Uh… uh, what? Huh?”

The heartache and physical pain of being betrayed had festered and rotted for 40 years. But one day he fell asleep and then woke up, and everything had not happened yet.

“It was the beginning of everything. And it was also the beginning of a new path of suffering. Well, I never really hated that hardship.”

Laskaris once again fixed his cape, grabbed the candlestick, and slowly began to walk backwards, pointing at the wall. Towards the room where he woke up. From afar, bells and wood bats could be heard to announce the daybreak routines of diligent monks. The same was true of the day when Laskaris suddenly woke up from pain.

“What the… my hands are so small, no, how am I supposed to see this? What the hell!”

Laskaris had returned to his eight-year-old body. It was not the twelve-year-old who struggled with his pain, but the time when he inherited at eight-year-old the throne of his father, who had just died. When he blankly thought about what happened and what he should do.

-Bong bong bong

The sounds announcing the early morning routine of the monastery from afar awakened the consciousness of Laskaris, along with a dim light. It had been only seven days since the new Emperor lost his parents and became Emperor. It was dawn on 26 August 1258 AD. There was only one day left before the coup.

– Continue for the next episode –

TL notes

[1] Michael VIII Palaiologos