Chapter 281 Banquet

When it comes to food, the Roman nobles naturally considered themselves to be the most discerning eaters in the world at that time. Of course, Augustus's banquet brought all of these together. The waiter opened the door respectfully, and the magnificent house was in full view.

This spacious hall was filled with invited Roman nobles. According to tradition, the nobles would eat on couches arranged in a rectangular shape. There were four couches placed directly opposite the door. The mattresses were dyed purple. Luca knew without thinking that this was prepared for their purple room. Then there were two rows of the same couches, but the color was no longer purple, but red and other colors. This might be completely based on the nobles' own preferences, because non-royal members were naturally not eligible to use purple.

They stood behind the couches, in front of which was a small but ornately decorated table with various baked foods and fruits, and a silver wine glass for wine. Beside each couch was a female slave in linen clothes, holding a silver wine jug, ready to pour wine for the nobles at any time.

"No need to be polite, my nephew!" Valentinian was used to calling him that. It was nothing to Valentinian again. Instead, calling him nephew made him seem closer. But Luca felt uncomfortable. He even began to regret giving this little bastard such a big favor. He had to bear it! Luca thought so and had to smile in response.

Valentinian led Luca past the nobles, and Luca imitated Valentinian and nodded to the nobles around him from time to time. Then came Gala Placidia and Licinia. The nobles naturally did not dare to neglect the regent queen, and bowed repeatedly to show their respect for Placidia.

Then Valentinian suddenly fell on the couch, causing the couch's surface to creak under his pressure.

"Hurry up and take your seats!" Valentinian stretched out his hand and beckoned to the nobles, "I'm so hungry that I can't walk. Come on, let's eat!"

Augustus had already spoken, so the nobles and Luca naturally did not dare to neglect him. Everyone lay down in their seats, and the maids hurriedly filled the glasses with wine because they knew that Augustus was about to raise his glass. Among the nobles present, only Licinia was still standing.

"I'm still feeling a little uncomfortable," Licinia said to Valentinian, "so I won't attend the banquet today, so as not to make a fool of myself in front of everyone."

"Oh, Licinia, my wife!" Valentinian lay on the couch and begged Licinia, "Look at all these distinguished guests, and your brother Luca. Didn't you just say that you were very excited to see your brother? Why don't you want to accompany me with your brother, the great hero of the empire?"

"Valentinian!" Licinia looked a little unhappy, but she didn't dare to show it in front of everyone and could only stand there awkwardly. Placidia called Valentinian and said to him, "Since Licinia is not feeling well, you should understand her discomfort and allow her to leave!"

"But mother!" Valentinian said in confusion, "This banquet is really important! My nephew Luca has come all the way here. If Liginia doesn't come to accompany him, then our Purple Chamber is being disrespectful to my nephew!"

"That won't work!" Valentinian's words were immediately rejected by Placidia, and the banquet immediately came to a deadlock.

"It's nothing, really." Faced with such a road situation, Luca naturally had to stand up without hesitation. He persuaded: "Caesar, Augusta! If Li Ji, um, my sister is really feeling uncomfortable, you must be considerate. After all, my army and I will have to rest here for some time, and then there will be plenty of time to get together with my sister. Do you think I'm right? Liginia." As he spoke, Luca turned around and looked at Liginia. Liginia was a little surprised at first, but she quickly regained her composure, nodded, and withdrew from the banquet with Placidia's tacit consent.

"What an ignorant woman!" Valentinian cursed inwardly, then looked at Luca with an apologetic smile and said, "I'm sorry, this woman, yes, your sister, she was never like this before. You met her earlier than I did, so you should be able to understand what I mean. Am I right, my nephew?"

Luca was very helpless and could only nod to Valentinian. He couldn't say anything for Licinia, after all, she was Valentinian's woman now.

"Okay, everyone!" The young Augustus immediately forgot the unpleasantness just now. He raised his wine glass, and the nobles in front of him immediately responded by raising their glasses.

"For our distinguished guest Luca and his great military exploits, let's toast him a glass!" Valentinian called out, and the nobles raised their glasses to Luca. At this time, Luca also lowered his head to find his own glass, which had already been filled with wine by the maid. He hurriedly picked it up and followed the nobles' rhythm, drinking the wine in the glass.

Then it was time to eat. Facing the delicacies in front of them, no one had enough resistance to stop drooling. Valentinian was the first one who couldn't bear it. He put down his wine glass and grabbed a piece of meat and put it in his mouth. In order to enhance the taste, he also stuffed two wild fruits into his mouth. The nobles started eating one after another. They lowered their heads and enjoyed the delicacies on the table in front of them. Although they looked quite elegant, they could not resist the desire for food in their stomachs.

"By the way, do you want to work for me? My nephew!"

Luca picked up a lamb chop and a piece of cake, eating slowly, one bite of meat and one piece of cake at a time. He never expected that Valentinian's sudden words would make Luca stunned. Luca came to his senses and quickly turned to look at Valentinian, who was looking into his eyes, which were full of sincerity.

"Uh, my Caesar," I didn't expect Valentinian to be so direct and decisive. Even Luca secretly wondered if this guy had taken the wrong medicine. Didn't he think about the feelings of the dignitaries around him, and his mother? Didn't he need to consider these? He could only slowly say: "I didn't understand what you meant!"

"Hey!" Valentinian smiled, then turned to his mother, Gala Placidia, and said, "Mother, since Luca has come here and is so loyal, if we don't give him a corresponding position, wouldn't it be unfair to this person who has come from afar to contribute to the empire? We can't treat him unfairly!"

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"Oh, yes, yes, yes! My child!" Gala Placidia nodded repeatedly. Finally this time, Valentinian's mother reached a consensus with him.

(End of this chapter)