The Restoration of Rome: In the Name of Augustus

Chapter 46 Returning Power

In Basilius's bedchamber, Alexius lay listlessly on his bed, his mind replaying the months he had spent with Agnes.

At the time, her every smile and frown seemed ordinary. Andronica's care for her was merely a pretense and a show; he would often approach her in a loud voice and then display his affection for her with great physical gestures. Agnes, on the other hand, would always appear at the right time when she was embarrassed or lost but dared not show it in front of her subjects, offering either comfort or help.

How foolish he must have been to be grateful to a devil like Andronica, while completely ignoring the girl who loved him most. Countless times, she blushed with embarrassment and told him not to indulge in pleasure and to fulfill his responsibilities as a husband and Basilius, but each time he brushed it off as a childish joke and continued his carefree and extravagant life with Andronica.

The grief was so profound that it robbed him of his instinct to cry.

If Leon were here now, what would he say to me? Would he call me a coward? A puppet? My mother's plaything? A useless piece of trash who couldn't even protect his fiancée? But I'm completely isolated from the Empire's political affairs by my mother. Even if I wanted to make a change, who could help me reclaim Basilius's power, help me protect the people I love and the millions of subjects of the Empire?

Just then, Rollo's voice suddenly rang out from outside the door, interrupting his thoughts.

"Your Majesty, please attend the upcoming meeting in the council chamber."

Alexius turned stiffly toward the door, his voice weary and powerless: "Is it Mother? Let her decide. I... don't want to go."

Rollo at the door paused for a moment, then said, "It's not the Empress Dowager. The person who invited you is Lord Cantostefanos, the current Imperial Navy Admiral, your cousin."

Cantorstaphanos? Alexius jumped up as if struck by lightning—he knew that name! Every boy dreams of being a general from a young age. Although he knew almost nothing about the outside world when he was young, he learned about famous generals from Ireland to the Khitan during his conversation with Lyon. Among them, he admired the general from an Eastern country called "Han" the most. His name was hard to pronounce. He used a small number of cavalry to sweep across enemy territory and beat the "Turks" to a pulp.

"The Empire also has such a figure, who is your cousin by lineage. In 1158, he led an expedition against the Turks and won a great victory that forced the Turkic Sultan to pay tribute and submit," Lyon said at the time. "If you ascend the throne, you must make good use of this veteran general."

"I remember now, I remember everything!" Alexius's heart pounded, and he nervously asked Rollo outside the door, "Cantorstefanos? The Cantorstefanos who defeated the Turks more than twenty years ago?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Alexius's power seemed to flow back, and amidst endless pain and helplessness, he finally found a refuge. If he didn't want to rot in his mother's hands, he had to seize this opportunity. With that thought, he decisively opened the door, met Rollo's puzzled and surprised gaze, and strode towards the council hall, even Rollo couldn't keep up with his pace for a moment.

Inside the palace council chamber, the lights flickered. Although the Empress Dowager had boasted to Alexei that even Kantostefanos would have to show her respect, the stern, battle-hardened presence of the empire's Grand Commander completely crushed the fragile aura she had built up through her son. Seeing Kantostefanos standing directly beside the main seat, she could only swallow her anger and reluctantly sit opposite the princess.

Cantorstefanos did not sit down, but closed his eyes to rest, as if waiting for someone to arrive.

The council chamber doors opened again, and Rollo, accompanied by several Varangian veterans, escorted Alexius inside. Cantorstefanos opened his eyes, stepped forward, smiled slightly at Alexius, and bowed: "This old minister Cantorstefanos greets Your Majesty. Please, Your Majesty, take the seat of honor."

Cantorstafanos's eyes were as deep as a black pool, their depths unfathomable.

Alexius gave him a deep look, nodded, and sat down in the main seat as instructed. Cantorstaphanos still did not take a seat; he walked to the emperor's side, placed his left hand on the hilt of his sword, and his right hand behind his back, standing beside the emperor like a statue.

The implication was self-evident; it seemed that Cantostefanos had indeed come with ambition. The Queen Mother and the Princess, though displeased, dared not retaliate, both turned their gazes toward him.

Cantorstefanos ignored their gazes and proclaimed loudly, "Gentlemen, today the Empire faces not only the crisis of civil war, but also the test of life and death from the outside world."

He turned to the Queen Mother and the Princess, his tone calm yet sharp: "The Queen Mother has devoted herself to stabilizing the court and assisting His Majesty, while Her Highness has stood up for the people of her homeland, both out of loyalty to the Empire. But now the Hungarian army is fighting the Empire's legions on the front lines, the Venetian fleet is frequently invading our borders, and the Turks are also mobilizing troops, ready to make a move. If we continue our internal strife, within three months, we will see enemy flags outside the walls of Constantinople."

"Your Majesty, it is understandable that you are worried that His Majesty is incapable of ruling personally and therefore assume the role of regent. However, you must also understand the hatred towards the Latins within the empire. Continuing to act as regent may be detrimental to the empire."

"Your Highness, as a member of the royal family and His Majesty's elder sister, you should consider His Majesty's interests, as well as the interests of the royal family and the empire. Although the empire has a deep-seated hatred for the Latin Crusaders, what does that have to do with other Latins? Since Alexius I, the empire has actively adopted and learned Latin systems and technologies, and Latins are an indispensable force in the imperial army. What is your intention in inciting hatred among the people of Constantinople, even to the point of launching a rebellion? Don't forget, your husband is also a Latin!"

The Empress Dowager's face instantly darkened. She glanced at Princess Maria opposite her, whose head was lowered and whose expression was unreadable.

Cantorstafanos silently observed their reactions, then turned to Alexius: "I propose that the Queen Mother move to the Blahnée Palace to live out her days in peace, and that Her Highness the Princess and her husband Reinier serve as governors of Constantinople, responsible for pacifying the people. Your Majesty shall command the royal guards and fulfill all the duties of Basilius. As for me, Cantorstafanos, I will assist Your Majesty in commanding the imperial military and resisting the invasion of foreign invaders."

The air in the council chamber seemed to freeze.

The princess nodded slightly, her expression unchanged, seemingly tacitly agreeing to Cantorstefanos's suggestion.

The Empress Dowager was clearly unable to accept this outcome. She was about to slam her fist on the table when Roy suddenly walked up to her side.

"What is it?" she asked angrily in a low voice.

"The patrolling guards found him in the flower bushes of your bedchamber... Lord Alexei, his throat was slit, and his body was already cold."

The Empress Dowager was completely stunned, her anger vanishing instantly. She looked sharply at Cantorstefanos, her eyes filled with terror—could it be him? How could he be so ruthless! She immediately lost all will to resist and slumped back into her seat.

Cantorstafanos looked back at the Queen Mother with a puzzled expression. He had expected her to object fiercely, but her shock and dejection were truly unexpected.

Alexius stared blankly at everything. His once domineering mother and estranged sister both bowed their heads before Cantorstefanos. Could the empire's current crisis truly be resolved by this old general, as Lyon claimed?

He didn't know the answer yet. But he understood that after this night, he would truly become the Basilius of the Empire.