Chapter 148 - Downfall

"Alexa Zöe, is that your name?" the Empress of Constantinople's voice made her tremble.

Alexa looked at the floor, confused and scared, although she tried to hide her feelings. In addition, she struggled to balance about ten kilos of clothing and accessories over her shoulders and head. It made the maiden feel very small inside her clothes, and at the same time, it was difficult to maneuver that excessive size around her. It was hot, even though it was almost winter.

On top of the dress. Alexa wore a stole embroidered with silver threads and gems. Her brocade silk cape had so much cloth that it could serve as a tent for four people. And then there were her earrings, several rings, a hat that was the latest fashion at court ... And the wig, of course, falling in beautiful blond braids behind her back. Alexa didn't have long or lush hair of her own. It itched.

At this moment she was looking at the feet of the empress, in shoes as beautiful as her own.

"Yes, Your Majesty, this is my name." 

Her father was at her side, after being introduced into the chamber where the empress was waiting for them. The intricate mechanics of moving around the court, dealing with eunuchs, ladies and guards, until they could actually see the empress, was less terrifying than realizing that she didn't quite know what to say. And there was a huge list of what to do and what not to do.

She was panicking.

"You are small and delicate, I see from here," said the woman's firm voice that Alexa had not yet seen her face. "Your father told me that you have beautiful eyes and a beautiful smile too, but my short sight don't allow me to see it myself. You can look at my face now."

Fighting the urge to hold the heavy hat that seemed to hang to one side, the maiden raised her face. Alexa felt the wig, hat and veil shift on her head, and she wondered if it was visible. She hoped not.

The empress, a woman with thin eyebrows and light-colored eyes, a thin mouth and an impassive expression, fixed her gaze on Alexa's face, and then with a sign, ordered the servants to bring them food.

"Bryennios, your daughter is graceful. So I've heard she speaks languages ​​other than Greek and had the finest education. It's so precious!" The comment showed that the Empress wanted to continue to chat with them. Alexa's father hoped for that sign of goodwill. The silence would have meant that the meeting would go wrong. Bryennios replied with a proud smile,

"She was born with this gift, Your Majesty. She has a good ear, and is quick to assimilate languages. Alexa has an excellent memory for numbers as well. She also trained the bow, and ride quite well. I allowed her to question me about trade and politics so that Alexa could be a good asset manager for the family."

"It's good that you think of everything and was so zealous of a girl's education. Although women should not interfere in politics, it's good that they know how to support their husbands with the right attitudes."

Alexa listened to what they said about her without being able to interfere. This was also about politics, and the empress was certainly interfering, if she did what her father would like her to do.

Her father was increasingly tense with the dissatisfaction of several members of the Order against the Dallassenos. They weren't happy to discover Alexios was in fact Alexa. Political backlash was expected from the events. The rumor that Michalis had defied and disobeyed direct orders from General Doukas was a scandal that divided opinions from the Armies. Michalis has always been admired by his honor and sense of duty, and the word of Doukas and his men about it started to be questioned.

It was no wonder that Doukas was angry.

There was also a rumor that Doukas would be named the megadux, that is, the greatest general in Constantinople, which would give him incredible powers. 

It would only be possible if his dirty secrets remained secrets, of course. The patriarchs of the Church would pressure the emperor if the truth came out.

But Bryennios had served the emperor directly for years, and his proximity to the empress was one of his best cards to prevent a political hunt against the Dallassenos. A hunt that could end in their demise.

The night before, Alexa spent hours listening to her father explain it all. He told her other things that scared her even more.

Zöe, her mother, was a cousin of the emperor and the daughter of a governor, and Bryennios still had a good name in politics. Years of wars and pressure by the Ottomans, after the Restoration had taken away all the glory of Constantinople, but Bryennios' loyalty to these people made him believe that approaching the emperor, instead of moving away, was the solution to the hard times the Dallassenos went through.

They were served at separate tables, but they could talk. 

Alexa looked with gluttony at a pastry covered with honey, but the maiden knew she could only drink, as her father recommended. "Don't undo all the good impression your clothes will make by acting like a hungry peasant in front of the empress!" his orders had been clear.

"Do you like poetry, Alexa?" the Empress asked in a kind tone.

The maiden swallowed. She liked poetry, and knew several of them, but not all were… adequate. The empress undoubtedly expected to hear something a well-educated girl could say in public. And Alexa liked the poetry of pagan peoples from the East, some Greek classics, and knew little of the rest.

The maiden knew she should impress her possible future mother-in-law with her resourcefulness and grace, but she felt herself sitting there, like a broomstick, under the gaze of the Empress's inner court.

In addition, her father nudged her to get up when she addressed the Empress again. When he did, the maiden almost tripped over the cover itself, clinging to the chair to prevent it. Feeling her cheeks on fire, if she cursed internally for thinking being a woman would be easy.

Alexa had always considered himself a smart boy, but he was a stupid girl, no doubt.

"Your Majesty, what would you like to hear?" she asked.

The empress had pretended not to see the incident, and just raised a quizzical yet good-humored eyebrow in her direction, when the heralds warned in the corridor before the room they were in,

"Your Majesty is in the Empress quarters! Long live the emperor!"

Alexa and her father threw themselves to the floor immediately, and the empress got up from her chair, accepting the help of two ladies to bow.

The doors opened and Alexa had a glimpse of elegant shoes and a beautiful cover with embroidered lush patterns in the brims, as traditional in Byzantium. But the damsel also noticed another person close behind the emperor. 

She had seen those fancy shoes before.

He was the younger brother of the emperor, Doukas. Her brother's killer.

"Eirene!" the emperor exclaimed, "Why did you need me to come?"

Alexa's heart missed a beat. What if it was an ambush? What if the empress just wanted to hand over the Dallassenos to Doukas?

"Forgive me, Your Majesty, for upsetting you. I asked them to deliver my message only if there was no risk of interrupting you. But I really am a fool, because you told me you would be busy! I just remembered that Bryennios Dallassenos was in the capital, and that I would like to see him without the weight of an official meeting. General Doukas, my dear brother-in-law. What a pleasant...surprise."

The last word was a little exaggerated. The emperor, who had a soft and pleasant voice, said,

"It's better to see Bryennios when it's not about official business."

Doukas was quiet, Alexa had not yet looked up from their shoes.

Servants rushed to find seats of honor for the Emperor and the general.

"Why, isn't this Alexios ... dressed as a woman?" asked the general at last.

"Forgive me, General Doukas. This is my daughter Alexa. It's the first time that she has come to court, and I thank Her Majesty Empress Eirene for her generosity," said her father, without lifting his eyes. 

The emperor had not yet given permission.

"It's definitely Alexios, the boy who wins horse racing."

Alexa saw the shoes come towards her, and also her hands in front of her on the floor, quiver with fear and anger. Doukas crouched down in front of her, the metals in his clothing tinkling as he leaned toward her.

Doukas took her chin in a brusque and offensive gesture, which made the maiden look up at him.

"Well, if it isn't Alexios!"

She couldn't look him in the eye impassively, and her own eyes welled up with tears.

"But what is this farce?" he asked, laughing. "If this is a comedy, tell us right away, Bryennios. I heard that my sister-in-law is looking for a bride for her third child."

"You should spend your time taking care of our borders and less of what you think my agenda is, General Doukas," the Empress replied dryly, without hiding her dissatisfaction. "In my view, the Bryennios family is very loyal to the Emperor."

"Loyal? Hahaha, Your Majesty, this cannot end well! Bryennios is a dangerous madman, trying to marry the emperor's son with a farce," while speaking like that, Doukas squeezed Alexa's chin between his fingers, looking delighted by the situation.

"I cannot accept this, General. I would never act against the imperial family or betray Their Majesties' trust. I would never make fun of them, after years of loyal service according to the wishes of His Majesty, the Emperor. This is Alexa, my daughter. I don't even dare to think my daughter would be worthy of the attention of the imperial family. However, I cannot admit that she is offended without merit. I would be a terrible father if…"

"Ah Bryennios, you talk too much!" Doukas made a mocking gesture with his free hand, and made Alexa get up. 

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw that the imperial couple was watching as the scene unfold. The empress fidgeted in her luxurious chair, but the emperor was as still as a statue.

"If you say so, noble Bryennios, I should believe it. But ... Forgive me if I can't. Let us do it this way: I will take her tonight ... if she is a woman, and a v.i.r.g.i.n, I will marry her!"

Were those words of mockery, or was he really serious?

When looking at the despicable Doukas' face, the maiden saw the gleam of a challenge, and that he would definitely see it through the end.