Chapter 610: Theory vs Practical
"A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just."
- Solomon, Proverbs, 13:22
There is still one thing that Abdullah needs to share with his friend before leaving.
"Your Majesty, I have heard about a story from an anonymous source that I would really like to share with you, once there was a pride of lions hunting in the Abyssinian plains. They became the dominant creatures, defeating all other foes who once claimed kingship of the land. But as the king aged, the other male lions grew doubtful and wary of their future. They worried about a time when the old king could no longer lead them into hunts, and no new king from his lineage was present to assume the throne..."
"Stop, stop, stop." Antonius interrupted, his hands gesturing for pause. "I understand what you are trying to say, just speak plainly and succinctly."
"In essence, my friend, you need an heir, a son who can take your place if necessary. Caesar, haven’t you read in the anabasis alexandri (Ἀλεξάνδρου Ἀνάβασις) by Arrian of Nicomedia about the downfall of the Hellenic empire following Alexander’s abrupt death? With no clear heir, and his only son still in his mother’s womb, the regents made his mentally challenged brother was initially put on the throne as a co-ruler with the young newborn heir. He was then deposed, and the young heir, unable to suppress the ambitions of the warlords, had to watch his father’s legacy crumble into nothing."
Antonius remained silent, staring at Abdullah. Matters of succession were always delicate, even when discussed with a close friend.
Abdullah turned slightly to face Antonius directly. "I’ve heard from Julian that you’ve adopted Giovanni’s son, a healthy and vigorous child destined to become a warrior, like his father. It’s a good sign, and Giovanni deserves the honour. But have you considered how your actions might be interpreted? To others, it may seem that you’re incapable of fathering a child, and so you’ve adopted an heir. They may begin to court the boy, forming a political faction with aligned interests. Then one day, you’ll have no choice but to face the threat from this faction, name the boy your successor, or risk a destabilizing civil war, like the Ottoman interregnum."
Antonius’ eyes widened as he grasped the implications of Abdullah’s words, for the first time, as he realised that there might be a slightly impactful result due to his decision to adopt the boy.
"Consider it, my friend," Abdullah urged as he stepped onto the carriage. "These words may sting, but they mean you no harm. Of course, only you know your own thoughts and the decision is yours."
But Antonius, instead of retreating into contemplation, seized Abdullah’s hand, held his gaze, and nodded his appreciation. "Thank you, my friend, thank you."
...
"Too late," Anna murmured, casting a side glance at her husband who had just returned to the tent, reeking of alcohol. "Take a bath before you lay down."
Antonius, however, seemed oblivious to her words as he continued to gaze at her, his eyes roaming over her figure like a wolf appraising its prey.
"What is wrong with you?" Anna asked, her eyebrows knitting together in confusion.
"Undress, now." Antonius growled, his eyes fixating on her curves that had become more voluptuous after giving birth to their daughter. His gaze was intense, fuelled with a fire, a flame of lust she have seldom seen before.
"What?" Anna was still lost, laying her book down to fully engage with him.
"Take your clothes off!" Antonius demanded, yanking off his belt and letting his robe pool at his feet, revealing his muscular body scarred from countless battles. It did not take long for an adult lady to understand the needs and meanings of the man, Anna finally understood his intent, a soft giggle escaping her lips as she subconsciously covered her chest, allowing the robes to slowly slide down from her chest as well.
"Well, well, and what has brought on this sudden change of heart of you?" she queried with a twinkle in her eye. "Usually in the past, you would insist you’re too worn out by your various affairs for this kind of things and never laid a hand on me."
"I’m not here for mere pleasure tonight, Anna," he responded, a determined look in his eyes. "I’ve embarked on a mission, one that requires a different kind of battle."
A flirtatious smile played on Anna’s lips as she finally understood. "Well then, prove your mettle, dear husband. Show me if your blade still carries the vigour of youth." She looked back at him, her eyes shimmering with anticipation and invitation.
"For the Romans, for the empire, charge!"
...
The night passed with Antonius slowly getting up from his deep sleeps with a headache that he has never had for years, probably a combination of effects by both the alcohols he had last night, and the number of vigorous exercises he has done for hours the night before, draining the very last of his body essence dry like how maidens squeeze the washed laundries dry of water. In the end instead of the conquering the lady, the Caesar became the one that got conquered, for he was like an oxen sowing acres after acres of crop fields, spreading his seeds across the fertile land anticipating for a harvest in the next ten months to come, or probably even longer.
It is hard to imagine how much power of destruction can a dear lady in her thirties do to her man’s back after not getting nourished for months, Antonius has realised what a terrible mistake he has committed the night before, for he has defined against not only one but two rules of any battles; never look down upon your opponent in action, and never make decisions when you are agitated by words and alcohol.
Antonius is defeated.
The main consequence of the defeat is apparent, for a big man like him is forced to be bed ridden all the way till noon, while his ’opponent’ climbed off the bed happily in the early morning to prepare him some meal with a few special ingredients that would buff his manhood. Before leaving she made a smirk to Antonius, claiming that she anticipates him making a come back tonight again tearing down the flag of the prides in her deeper parts.
The words of Anna sent his spines chilling, for he now knows that he is better equipped in the field of Biology only in Theoretical aspects, and his short ends will be immediately exposed to the woman that is most familiar with him when it comes to practical sessions.
Antonius rolled down the bed, cleaned himself up, wore those robes and went out of the tent, where his eyes are immediately set ablaze by the rays of light from the summer Mediterranean sun. The camp is already back to order, with troopers marching around singing songs of discipline, scouts and sentries on watch towers, and cavalries washing their horses clean as a daily routine. Cerberus is there seated right beside the tent with no armour but his blades behind his back, telling the guards off to their respective posts.
Upon seeing the Caesar, Cerberus made a weird smile trying his best to hide it back, but it is too late, for Antonius has already saw that cringe chuckle hanging on his face, making a light kick on the back of Cerberus’ legs.
"You know, your Majesty, in my hometown back in Novgorod, it is a shame if the husband is incapable of em... capitulating his own woman in his house hold."
"Shut up and get back to your work." Antonius rolled his eyes but seems to have remembered something as he called upon Cerberus again. "Wait, how is the city of Adrianople at the moment?"
"Lord Julian is in charge of maintaining law and order in the place with his corps, rebuilding is still underway, but progressing rather slowly as we have no more money to give to the conscripted citizens from our own villages, and the city is still having a very high opinion against us, refusing to offer any form of help."
"This is bad." The Caesar frowned. "Tell Julian to make sure that we must respect the traditions and customs of the locals and carry out the rebuilding works without disturbing the lives of the locals, the orders of the markets, and grain rationing spots must be maintained at all times, at top priority."
Cerberus remained silent, for a Varangian who specialised in how to chop people instead of how to govern people like him will never understand the importance of maintaining peace and harmony in newly occupied cities, but that is not his job anyways.
"Khalid!" Antonius called out to his cavalry leader washing his horse nearby. "Can you speak Ottoman Turkish?"
Khalid immediately stopped the chores in his hands. "Yes sir!"
"Fancy for a little walk?"
