Chapter 500: Conflict

In the early spring of Rome, everything was busy. The nobles ran their own estates, the citizens managed their own shops and did odd jobs, living a tight life, and the slaves worked in the fields. At least being able to have a full meal or secretly drink a glass of the master's treasured wine was a supreme enjoyment.

At this moment, in a large manor outside the city of Rome, Aetius was sitting in the open space in front of the villa of the manor. The view here was wide, and in front of him were fields. The slaves were working hard, and watching them manage the land that belonged to them was truly a supreme enjoyment.

Everything within a kilometer radius of the villa was Aetius's private property. He had just quelled a barbarian riot in Gaul, and after celebrating his success he would return to Rome, even if it was a long way away.

There was a big tree in front of the door, which was a good place for cooling off, and it was also what Aetius liked about this manor. He sat under the shade of the tree, with a special slave pouring wine for him one glass after another, and he was very happy sitting on the soft chair.

"I think you have also come out of the ridiculous situation you were in before, Levi." Aetius said, slowly placing the half-full glass of wine in his hand on the table beside him, and turned around to look at Levi who was standing behind him.

Such a long period of loneliness made Livi look both spiritless and slovenly. His long beard made him look like a barbarian, and his messy hair made it difficult for him to be associated with civilized people. He was now behind Aetius, with his head down, like a child who had made a mistake.

"You're a good fellow, Livi." Aetius said, stretching his legs lazily, then lying down in a comfortable position. "I even began to regret letting you follow the Huns to collect money. I didn't expect that such a commoner woman would turn you into this."

"I am very sorry, sir!" As he spoke, Levi lowered his head even more. He was like a child who had made a serious mistake, begging for forgiveness from Aetius.

"Have you made up your mind?" Aetius looked up at Levi and said, "You are no longer my captain of the guards. I have a better candidate than you!" Aetius pretended to be sarcastic and said, "He is more reliable than you. At least he will not give up his future for a woman."

Levi kept talking about his pain points. He lowered his head even lower when he heard this. Aetius would never say this to someone. As Levi had been his bodyguard for many years, he knew this very well. But the fact that he said this today proved how disappointed he was with Levi. Levi didn't know what to do. This meant that he could no longer be Aetius' closest bodyguard. He didn't know what to do. He could only beg Aetius like a slave begging his master: "Please give me another chance!"

"Well, I still have a vacant position for a centurion on the front line. Otherwise, you can go and have a look!" Aetius said this mercilessly, which made Levi gasp. A nobleman, even if he was down and out, was still a nobleman and had dignity. Immediately entering the bottom was a position that he despised the most. This was an unbearable insult! "Sorry, it seems that I have to leave now!" Levi shook his head helplessly. This was an unbearable insult for him, but it was not surprising. After all, it was all his own fault. The captain of Augustus's close guards refused to do anything and had to go back to find that woman, which made Aetius lose face in front of Valentinian III, the bastard.

"Sir..." Just as Aetius was discussing his new job with Livius, a messenger soldier jumped off his horse not far away and trotted up behind Aetius. He held a piece of parchment in his hand and handed it to Aetius.

"Let me see." Aetius took the parchment and said jokingly, "Is this good news? I hope so!" But when he opened the parchment letter and read it carefully, his face became gloomy.

"Where did this news come from?" Aetius asked the messenger behind him.

"The Cremona garrison," the messenger said, "I'm afraid they have already reached Milan. It is said that they did not stop but continued to head west."

"Forty thousand people..." Aetius murmured, tightly clutching the parchment in his hand, as if he could not accept such a fact.

If Aetius was so nervous, it must be a big deal. Even though Levi was extremely curious, he had no way to ask. At least now, he was not sure whether he was qualified to ask about these things.

"How pitiful!" Levi sighed secretly in his heart. Looking at Aetius with a frown on his face, he knew that if he continued to stay here, it would only cause more trouble.

"It seems that I have to leave now, Lord Aetius!" Levi nodded to Aetius and then stepped back. Aetius seemed to have not heard him or deliberately ignored him. Levi was very embarrassed. At least now he had no status in Aetius' heart.

"Orius Luca went to Macedonia this time. I originally thought he had a life-threatening journey, but I didn't expect that he not only came back safe and sound, but also brought an army of 40,000 people." Aetius suddenly lost his composure, as if the shade under the tree could only block the scorching sun but could not block the anger in his heart.

To be honest, he began to envy Luga, because this kid who came from Nar's side always did things beyond his expectations, as if the Eastern Asia region was his unlimited ATM. In front of him was the United Legion, and although they went back, there were 40,000 people again this time. How to explain it?

"Does the Senate know this news?" Aetius asked.

"Not yet, my Lord."

"Then order the soldiers to block this news and not let the elders of the Roman Senate know about it!" Aetius looked as if he was facing a great enemy. This matter had already made him alert! "What's wrong, Luca?" Outside Milan, Andrew looked at Luca curiously. He seemed to be somewhat resistant to entering the city and even said that he was unwilling to enter the city at all.

"Nothing, just..." Luga hesitated, but Andrew could tell at a glance that Luga was simply afraid to see Tenaia again. He didn't know why, maybe because of guilt.

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"Are you afraid of seeing your son?" Andrew deliberately said, "Oh, God, Luca, don't be so petty. That kid looks exactly like you, except that his hair is like his mother's."

"No, that's not why I'm here, Andrew!" Luca shook his head and continued, "I'm always confused. Here, I even started to think about whether to go south to see Likinia or north to see Tenaia. Sometimes it's always so strange, because you obviously don't want it to happen, but it happens. I must be a bastard now, you know what I mean, Andrew."

Luca was indeed worried, not only because he had a son, but also because he had a daughter, Eudoria, in Ravenna. This little princess, whom he refused to acknowledge, was also his fault. He even hated her because everyone had indulged him and even tried to persuade him to do this. Although no one knew about this or it was deliberately concealed, it was a stain on his life and a past that he could not bear to look back on.

(End of this chapter)