Chapter 511: Visitors
"Make the world a better place..." Apostolos whispered to himself as he read the last few lines of the letter sent here by Abdullah.
This sentence once sounded way too familiar to him, when he was still that naïve teenage rogue roaming around the three states of Serbia, the Ottomans and Albania carrying a sword while seeking for renowned tutors in the region for more knowledge, while doing a little extra work of rescuing kidnapped ladies or robbed farmers in the rural areas with that sword in his hands, which often got himself into more danger almost costing his life for a few occasions. But to him, that period of time was the most enjoyable and memorable time in his entire life, for it was filled with laughter, joy, honour and adventure, with a very simple motto he gave himself.
"Strive to make the world a better place."
However, Apostolos do not know that since when, maybe when he started entering his thirties? That his way of observing the world started changing abruptly. He stopped being so naïve because he knew that only can he save a large amount of people when he is all the way at the top of the pyramid of governance, he stopped trying to rescue those whom he do not know, he started getting engrossed in the studies of laws, philosophy, literature and geometry, just like all the other ancient pagan Greek scholars thousands of years ago, aiming to gain a role in the local Serbian government, until he got rejected by the authority, because his portfolio shows apparently that he is not pitiful enough to Orthodox Christianity.
That moment struck his mind like a thunder, from that day onwards he threw away all thoughts of what so ever helping the others out of the dilemmas, he went back to the village he grew up in, and with the knowledge and experience he has gained throughout the years, he quickly consolidated power and land in that village making him become the biggest landlord in the region, owning his own brute force and intelligence network. According to himself, that moment of knowing that he got rejected by the Serbian authority, was the moment that his dreams got defeated by the reality.
Life did not change much for him until Antonius came by one day and decided to bring him out of the village that he never stepped his foot out for the past decade, and now he is here in Epirus secretly looking at his liege’s letter and recounting on his old memories.
"Ahem."
Suddenly a slight cough came from behind, giving Apostolos a shock that almost made him jump up on the spot. He hastily closed the letter and placed it on the table and turned back, only to see the Caesar already walking steadily towards him, with not a single bit of sound produced due to the boots and the soft carpet. The Caesar took a glance at him and the letter, but surprisingly did not say a single word, and gave Apostolos a pat on his shoulder.
"You seem to be very free at the current moment."
"I shall always be ready for you whenever you need and summons me, your majesty."
Antonius grinned and sat down on his seat, he continued looking at Apostolos and leaned back stretching himself. "You know what, I like you Apostolos, for that you are never like the rest who are either always go against me in every possible way behind my back, or those who are asking me for things every single time without fail causing me troubles while giving me stupid praises trying to appease me, you are my exception, and I like it."
"It is an honour to hear such a remark from you, your majesty."
Antonius tilted his head and continued grinning at the old man. "And your attitude, I like it too, you are one of the only few who greets me every time formally unlike the rest who have followed me for the past decade, maybe to them my title of admiral comes before my title of Caesar."
"Thank you, your majesty." Apostolos’ heart continued beating wildly, as he still has no idea on if the Caesar means anything in his words, or there is anything that he wants from him. Ignorance towards the unknown is indeed one of the most feared things for Apostolos, and so he decided to take the initiative and opened his mouth. "Though I would like to raise up something to you, your majesty, that with no means of disrespect, no matter whatever the title is, be it being the ’Caesar’, or the ’Karabisianoi’, or the stratēgos of Archipelago, Thessaloniki and Thessaly, they are all granted by someone else, someone that no one wants to pay their respect to."
Antonius narrowed his eyes and asked. "What are you trying to say?"
"I mean, that these titles are actually not gained because that man wanted to grant you these titles, but because of your strength, your followers, your prestige, and your wealth, which has far surpassed that person who have granted these honour titles, no matter what the titles are they all cannot match you, and you definitely should gain an even higher title which shall allow you to legitimately assign more prestigious titles to us, your servants too."
Antonius did not make a reply, instead he decided to change his topic a while and finally decided to stop playing around with the old man before him. "Apostolos, I will need you to organise a military parade, a quick one, should not be too long. You the only man in the camp that have studied about how the ancient pagan Romans do their Triumph parade, I want it done with a day."
This task certainly sounds hard to anyone else, but still it is not really a big deal to Apostolos, at least when compared with the game of guessing what the liege is thinking deep in his mind.
"Yes, your majesty." Apostolos bowed slightly forward. "Anything else that I can do for you?"
"Nothing, nothing." Antonius stared at this man before him, for he is unable to see through what the man is thinking in his head, with him bring the master on hiding his inner thoughts, feelings and emotions all the while. This guy is definitely the most cautious man in his court, never being open hearted towards anyone he knows, protecting himself to the fullest but yet dares to stand up and point out his liege’s mistakes, a strange man indeed.
"Nothing, you can carry on with what I just told you."
Apostolos bowed slightly and backed off, but just as he is about to leave the tent, Antonius called him again stopping him in his tracks. "Apostolos! Maybe, just maybe, next time when we are both free, we can have some collaboration session together, and then you can tell me how your view on things and what kind of person is you think I am."
"Yes, your majesty." Apostolos bowed slightly again and proceeded on to leave the room.
Antonius was observing him all the while, Apostolos still got no expression on his face.
But just as Antonius took his seat again, his guard came in again reporting that the delegates and supervisors sent by Constantinople has arrived at the camp, and they have stopped in front of the camp gate demanding the Caesar to see them as soon as possible in a very harsh manner. Antonius is totally not expecting this, but since that these people are by right his supervisors sent by his liege, then it is indeed his job and responsibilities to answer their doubts.
"Never mind, since they are already here, just asking them to come to my commanding tent, and ask the kitchen to prepare some meal and wine for a brief welcome ceremony."
However, instead of leaving the tent, the guard continued standing over there with a bitter look on his face and replied. "Your majesty, then have demanded that everything ought to go in a formal way..."
Antonius still does not get it and asked back. "Formal way? Which is?"
They brought the banner of the Palaiologos and the standard of the Ecumenical Patriarch alongside with their stuff, and they demand you to be like the Roman generals in the old days, coming out of the camp gate, greet them, kiss the Ecumenical patriarch’s standard, and they said that considering your rank they shall be more lenient towards you, your majesty, so you do not need to kneel towards the emperor’s banner, instead you shall only need to bow."
Antonius finally understood it this time round, these people from Constantinople, who have never showed themselves all the while in the entire battle, did not come here to express their good wishing and congratulations to him and his army on the victory they have just acquired. Instead, they are here to show their dominance, and more importantly, came here to take their share on the pie of victory.
