Eagle Byzantium

Next to the remaining columns and fountains of Hierapolis, Anna and Gawain sat side by side under the crimson umbrella on the semicircular arena seats. They were surrounded by generals and retinues, with all kinds of flags fluttering.

Under the protection of the honor guard, the Brenus couple stepped off the shoulder carriage, holding their son Theodore in the middle, with their heads lowered, and walked respectfully through the ranks of the forbidden soldiers and walked to the singing pool in front of the arena.

"Brother-in-law, adopted brother, why is this necessary?" Gawain hurriedly stood up and walked down enthusiastically, holding Brenus's hand. "After the battle of Little Antioch, I have been worried about you, and now the whole family appears intact. Being in front of me really makes me overjoyed.”

Dido coughed lightly and glanced sideways at Gawain with resentful eyes, while the young Theodore, with curly brown hair and brown eyes, looked up in surprise at her uncle who stood in front of her like an iron tower. .

At the same time, Anna also coughed slightly, walked to the step behind Gawain and stood still, looked at Dido again, and slowly stretched out her arms, "Sister, why don't you give me a hug that represents eternal peace? "

"Because I dare not embrace the sun, because according to common sense, I will be burned to death by it." Dido turned her head and replied to her sister with a smile.

Because the people around her were far away, Anna's expression changed without scruple, "What's the value of talking about it now? You and your husband's army and fortress should all be handed over to Gawain. Wouldn't it be great to be safe and secure in the sunshine? We join forces to avenge the patricide. The Roman Empire will soon be unified again and will be stronger than when my father was in power. It was violated and insulted before. Its enemies will be mercilessly punished, and you will remain the most noble purple princess, Nikephorus Brenus will receive a very glorious new title, and your little one Theodore will safely inherit you. With their wealth, title and power, he will serve my son Christopher well in the next generation. Come, the fate has been decided, my sister." After Anna said, she stretched out her arms again and waited. Wearing Dido.

In the semicircular arena, the halberds, axes and spears of the forbidden soldiers were shining everywhere. Dido, who had already decided to kneel down, had nothing to be stubborn about, so she stepped forward and saluted Anna first, and then In an extremely understated manner, he stiffened his body, put his and Anna's arms together, and tried his best to make a hug gesture.

"Long live Romana! Long live the alliance between Caesar and the Princess in Purple!" Seeing this, all the forbidden soldiers roared vigorously.

"I hate you, I hate you..." Dido put her chin on her sister's shoulder and whispered.

"You can talk to Gawain about these words later." With such a shocking answer, Anna pushed her sister away, then turned around with her black hair hanging down, glanced at Gawain sideways with a smile, and then left.

At night, in the bathhouse of Hierapolis, which is surrounded by tight colonnades and pointed shrines, the ink-colored water in the reservoir is rippling with white tiny starlight. Gawain is standing on the edge of the pool in the middle, while Dido is standing far away from him. Only seven or eight feet away.

"Dido has never been able to explain something clearly to you. I'm very sorry. We are also aboveboard in this meeting. You and Brenus don't have to bear any burden." Gawain said with a lot of guilt, "Anna I have been promised that in the future, the palace, forest gardens and springs in Nanfeihong will be your and Brenus’ private property, so there is no need to worry about prosperity.”

"Don't worry, I won't complain or tease in front of you. What about Theodore? What will happen to Theodore in the future?"

"Of course he will become the Grand Duke of South Africa and the Prime Minister of the new empire. I will ensure that he receives a good education. Together, we will form an unbreakable royal blood alliance with the empire. Wouldn't it be great to control the empire for generations?"

"It's very good. My father thought the same way at the beginning. He hoped that the empire would always have the blood of Komnenos flowing through it. My father also promised to absorb your barbarian blood, but your blood should have flowed into my body. ....." At this point, Dido breathed quickly and her eyelashes flashed as she recalled the past.

"No, actually I already liked your sister before I met you."

"How can that be called sacred love? It's just a runaway indulgence in desire!" Dido could not overcome this hurdle in her heart and asked Gawain.

Gawain did not answer, but looked at his sister-in-law seriously, "Forget everything, it is just a cruel misunderstanding. It is useless for you to continue to resent like this. Anna and I will not be entangled in this kind of emotion before and from now on." Among them, because there are many more important things that need to be solved by the two of us, I will make up for it with Theodore."

After that, Gawain left the bathing place.

After the Brenus couple surrendered, Anna immediately announced that she would build a luxurious palace for each other on the most scenic coastal hill in Tarsus New Port. Brenus, who would become the "Grand Duke of South Africa" ​​in the future, and his wife Dido, the purple princess who is the "Mrs. Nan Feihong", must go to live in that palace. As for the palace property in Nanfeihong City, it is also their private property, and Theodore Brenus's inheritance rights are completely guaranteed.

However, everyone with a discerning eye knows that the Brennus couple have turned into stars guarding the sun and the moon, surrounding the Gawain couple, and even the date of residence in their own fiefdom of Nanfeihong needs approval.

Many of the rich cities in their territories, including Miletus, Ephesus, Hierapolis, Philadelphia, Smyrna, etc., with a population of 1.5 million, were all destroyed at once. It was annexed to Gawain and Anna's accounts. The seven or eight thousand troops of Generals Xhosa and Simon were also recruited. In view of General Xhosa's consistent attributes, Gawain naturally deprived him of his command rights and instead gave him a generous salary. I can live my life as the Duke's Chief Etiquette without any worries.

Five days after the "Covenant of Hierapolis", Anna entered the city of Smyrna in a royal crown amidst the cheers of the crowd. There, the leaders of the Chamber of Commerce of Pisa all fell down before Caesar of Tarsus and begged her Continue to grant "charter" to your side.

Check out the 16-9 book bar to see the correct version!

"Of course there is nothing wrong with the charter, but the completely tax-free customs policy and the completely exempt floating dock granting of lease payments like my father's time must be abolished. You can continue to make frankincense, fennel, and fennel in Smyrna, Chios, and Samos. Safflower and alum business, but appropriate taxes must be paid, floating docks, cargo All the warehouses have been nationalized, and ships will be provided to support our army. If you dare to show any disobedience, I will punish you and liquidate you. In fact, after careful calculation, your income has only been reduced by 30% from the original basis, and you have still made a lot of money. Right? If you are dissatisfied, I will consider transferring the charter to the Marseilles and Aragonese.”

"We fully comply with His Highness Caesar's new policy!" Businessmen of all kinds bowed in front of Anna's purple boots and expressed that they did not dare to have any objections.