Chapter 562: The Enemy at the Gates

The arrival of Hermanus undoubtedly gave Marcian, who was almost out of breath, a sigh of relief. At the same time, it also brought a moment of comfort to this nervous city. At least it made the panicked citizens understand that they still had reinforcements to help the current Augustus.

At least the combined number of the two armies could force Flavius ​​Luca outside the city to retreat. Now no one in the city wants to see the outbreak of war.

Marcian held a grand banquet in the palace, inviting the nobles of the Senate and the courtiers. Of course, the most important person invited was Hermanus, and anyone with a discerning eye could see what Marcian meant.

Seeing that the banquet was full of guests, Marcian now stood up with his glass and said loudly to the nobles present: "With great respect, I welcome Hermanus, this veteran with great military achievements, and I warmly welcome and thank him for joining us."

Marcian's flattery of Hermanus was blatant, which made the nobles present smile awkwardly. Everyone understood that this was just a helpless act.

However, no one would deny that Hermanus' arrival did make the nobles and civilians in the city give up the idea of ​​escaping. This might be because they truly felt safe.

Just when everything in Constantinople was celebrating the arrival of Hermanus and his navy, outside the city of Constantinople, a large number of soldiers had formed a battle array and were gradually approaching Constantinople under the cover of darkness.

The guests were toasting each other, laughing and talking happily. But the bad thing about wine is that people would drink a few glasses just for the taste of the drink, but they would get drunk after drinking for a while.

Marcian regarded Hermanus as his confidant or savior. Every glass of wine and every word he said was full of flattery and seemed to be telling Hermanus implicitly that if he supported him as Augustus, he would get everything he wanted.

After the banquet, Hermanus was specially escorted back to his residence by the guards sent by Marcian.

The service was so attentive that the guards would not stop until they saw Hermanus walk in with his guards. Hermanus was drunk and dizzy until he walked into his room and saw a familiar figure.

"Oh, I must have drunk too much, or there is indeed someone here who I didn't notice in time. Sorry, forgive my gaffe, sir!" Hermanus muttered to himself while rubbing his sleepy eyes and trying to open them wide. Finally, he saw the man clearly despite the dizziness.

"Father, it seems that you are drunk at the wrong time." Belialiu stood up and helped Hermanus back to his bed.

"Oh, my God, Belia." Hermanus tried to open his eyes wide and stared at Belia in surprise. His lips trembled with excitement. He stared at Belia without blinking, and his words were mixed with excitement. Such emotions were simple and sincere. "You haven't been back for a while, my dear child!"

"Of course, Dad, I'm really happy to see you!" The father and son hugged each other tightly after being separated for many years.

"Oh, tell me, child, is it because the situation in the west is so uncertain that you are planning to come back and return to the reliable and solid arms of your father?"

"Ha, father, you are wrong. I am no longer an innocent child." After Belialiu finished speaking, his expression changed like a magic trick. He seriously pulled Hermanus, who was still in a drunken dream, and asked, "Father, how loyal are you to Augustus?"

"Which Augustus?" Hermanus thought Belia's words were a joke, and thought such a naive question was just a child's nonsense, so he asked jokingly: "Are you talking about Marcian?"

"No, it's Theodosius!"

"Ha, my God, young people nowadays are really lawless and always self-righteous. Can you even say Theodosius' real name casually?" Hermanus seemed a little displeased. He used words to severely teach Beliarios, who he thought did not know the rules a lesson.

"Yes, it's him, the late Augustus." Beliuli nodded repeatedly and then asked, "What do you think of him? At least tell me so that I can understand what you mean."

"May he live long. Oh, it would be great if he were still alive." Hermanus said, sighing deeply, looking worried. "You know, Belia, this is bad news, a loss for Rome."

"So you are still loyal to Theodosius, not Marcian, am I right?"

"Loyalty is to the living, not to the people who have been wiped out and become the past, Beria, my child."

"And what about Augustus's will? Will you obey his orders?"

"What are you talking about, Beliaru!" Hermanus jumped up from the bed as if he had been electrocuted. He stared at Beliaru with wide eyes in horror. "Kid, do you know that forging a will will kill you? You must know this!"

"I didn't forge it, father!" Belia protested righteously, "This is real, father. Augustus personally sent someone to Luca. Of course, there is also a letter from Licinia. Now Luca is asking my father if you are still loyal to Augustus. If so, let me give you this letter."

Hermanus took the beautifully wrapped letter doubtfully. He swallowed and his expression looked ugly and unnatural.

He finally opened the parchment, and when he saw the words on it, he couldn't help but widen his eyes, as if Theodosius himself suddenly appeared in front of him.

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"Oh my god, oh my god!"

Hermanus was so excited that he held the parchment letter as if it were an extremely precious treasure.

"This is really the will of Theodosius, absolutely true, I can guarantee it with my life. Oh, God, can this be true?" Hermanus couldn't believe his eyes, but it all happened in reality.

"So, it was Theodosius's will to let Flavius ​​Luca become the new Augustus?" Hermanus said to Beliarius tremblingly, holding the parchment.

"Now Luca's army has approached Constantinople, so Lord Luca specially asked me to come here to ask you, father, whether you will choose the legitimate successor of Augustus or the traitor who is bent on taking over your power to achieve his goal of usurping the throne."

"This is going to start a war, my child." Hermanus said, lowering his head in thought, and then said: "But now it seems that this is a problem that we have to face. It seems that the new master of Constantinople is about to be born!"

(End of this chapter)