xymnovel Chapter 30 Relatives and Friends
Chapter 30 Relatives and Friends
In Queen Maria Komnena's bedchamber, Lyon stared blankly at a pile of papyrus scrolls filled with plans. The table was almost entirely filled with several untouched dessert plates. A bowl of chicken stewed with almond milk and precious spices had cooled completely, the fat congealing into white streaks. Next to it, a piece of fig bread garnished with candied fruit had been torn off and forced upon him by his mother, Maria.
A soft footstep approached. Maria entered, carrying freshly made pastries on a silver platter filled with exquisite sweets. She gently set down the platter, her gaze sweeping over the untouched food. A flicker of disappointment crossed her eyes, but it was quickly replaced by renewed anticipation.
She reached out to stroke her son's hair, but then hesitated, afraid of disturbing him. Her hand froze in mid-air, and she simply straightened her sleeves.
Seeing her son's worried expression, Maria spoke with concern, her voice a tentative, even timid, gentle tenderness: "My son, you're worrying about the kingdom again... The kitchen has made some sweet treats you might have liked when you were little, would you like to try some?"
Leon looked up, his gaze meeting his mother's for a fleeting moment before quickly falling back to the papyrus scrolls. This sudden surge of maternal love left him bewildered. He had never seen his mother in his entire life, and aside from blood ties, there was virtually no affection between them. Moreover, he was, at heart, a soul from the future, and it was impossible for him to naturally call a stranger "Mom."
His thoughts drifted back to the question he had been pondering—his friend Alexius. Historically, he would gradually be sidelined by his mother until, two years later, he would be completely stripped of power and in 1183 would abdicate in favor of his cousin Andronica. Two months later, Alexius was strangled with a bowstring by one of Andronica's retainers, and his body was thrown into the sea.
Lyon couldn't stand by and watch his friend meet such an end, nor could he allow the Roman Empire to fall into the hands of a tyrant. But he was now powerless, and the Kingdom of Jerusalem itself was already in grave danger under the threat of the Ayyubid dynasty. What could he do?
Seeing her son remain silent again, Maria raised her voice, a hint of lightness and pride in it, and said with a smile, "Alright, if you really have no appetite... well, this one is different."
She pointed to a plate of pastries that looked less refined than the others, but were clearly made with care: "These were made by your sister Isabella. She just returned from the convent today, and as soon as she heard you were here, she rushed to the kitchen without even changing her robes, insisting on making something for her brother whom she had never met."
These words were like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, creating ripples in Lyon's chaotic thoughts. He looked up abruptly, his aloofness replaced by surprise and a touch of tenderness.
"Sister? Isabella..." This unfamiliar title carried a strange warmth. While he was wholeheartedly planning how to save his distant friend, another blood relative was welcoming him in the simplest way.
Maria was very pleased with her son's reaction, covering her mouth and letting out a silvery laugh. She waved towards the door.
Lyon followed Maria's gaze and saw a little girl, about his age, timidly hiding behind the curtains in the porch, only half of her pretty face visible. Encouraged by her mother, she finally stepped forward, shyly entered the room, and hid behind Maria.
Isabella wore a simple dress still stained with flour and sugar, exuding an air of monastic seclusion. Her hair was simply tied up, and her clear eyes, filled with curiosity and a touch of nervousness, secretly observed her legendary younger brother.
Lyon looked at her, then at the plate of pastries, and then cut off a piece and put it in his mouth.
It's actually...quite delicious?
He cut off a few more pieces and put them in his mouth, giving Isabella a genuine smile, and asked, "It's delicious. In the monastery… do they still teach this?"
Isabella's eyes lit up at the compliment, her nervousness subsided, and she became more talkative: "No! I asked my nanny to teach me. I told her my little brother was coming back... I only know how to make this kind of honey cake, and I hope... I hope you don't dislike it."
As she spoke, she quietly took a small step forward, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her dress: "The nuns in the convent usually only teach us prayer and embroidery, but the kitchen nun is the best. She secretly taught me this. She said that welcoming family home with sweet food is the best way."
The tense atmosphere gradually eased, and Maria looked with relief at her son, who was finally eating normally and chatting amicably with his sister.
Lyon savored the sweet cake, listening to Isabella recount amusing tales of her time at the convent—how she secretly fed the stray cats that wandered into the garden, and how she was caught by the nuns for daydreaming during prayer. Yet, in this tender moment, his thoughts drifted away into the distance.
He thought of Alexius. The boy trapped in the depths of Constantinople, his mother ambitious, surrounded by danger. He was like a caged canary; his life must have been miserable.
Looking at the innocent and carefree Isabella before him, a thought quietly sprouted in Leon's heart: he had to protect those he cared about, whether it was this sister he had just met or his dearest friend far away in Constantinople. Perhaps... their futures could be connected in some way?
The idea flashed through his mind, but he immediately dismissed it.
I'm really obsessed with playing games. I want to form alliances with any single, unmarried relatives I see... Alexius's mother and Andronica would never agree to a marriage that would strengthen Alexius's power. They would do everything in their power to obstruct it, and even launch a coup before the marriage takes place.
Arranged marriages are ultimately a long-term solution, unable to quench an immediate fire. Not only will they be of no use, but they might also alert the enemy, making the friend's situation even more dangerous.
Thinking of this, Leon suddenly stood up. Maria and Isabella were both stunned, looking at him in confusion.
"Excuse me, Isabella." He paused, turned to Maria, the title lingering in his throat before finally uttering softly, "Mother."
He hurriedly rolled up the papyrus on the table and practically rushed out of the room.
At the end of the corridor was a secluded windowsill. Leon strode to the window and tapped the window frame three times lightly with his knuckles.
"I'm here." Altaïr's calm voice came immediately from outside the window, as if he had been waiting there all along.
"Do you Assassins have a stronghold in Constantinople?" Lyon asked directly.
There was a moment of silence outside the window. Altaïr clearly hadn't expected this question.
"No." After a moment, his voice rang out again, tinged with caution. "However, as far as I know, headquarters did indeed have plans to extend its reach into Constantinople. But..."
He paused, then let out a soft, almost self-deprecating snort: "Even we have to think twice before venturing into the deep waters of Constantinople. The operating costs are too high, and... there aren't any worthwhile assets to bet on there for the time being."
Lyon's lips curled into a confident smile: "What if I told you I'm quite familiar with the new emperor there? With just a personal letter from me, you could gain a foothold under his protection."
"Know you?" Altaïr chuckled instinctively, then quickly composed himself, clearing his throat. "I apologize, Master. I just felt that a Roman emperor who would be on good terms with you... a bastard son of Komnenos must be quite young. Such protection is probably not very reliable."
"To be precise, not the emperor himself, but his mother, the current regent." Lyon lowered his voice, a calculating glint in his eyes. "The current young emperor Alexius, his mother, the regent empress dowager, is having an affair with her deceased husband's nephew—yes, the kind of relationship you're thinking of. Meanwhile, they also have to deal with the open and covert attacks from Princess Maria Komnina's faction..."
He leaned closer to the window crack, his tone becoming meaningful: "A regent empress dowager with something to hide, enemies, and in dire need of help... I think she and her lover would certainly welcome 'professionals' like you."