Chapter 711 Fate (Part 1)
"You don't have to pretend anymore, I know you're awake!" Luca said lightly, holding a torch, he found a bench and sat next to John.
Only then did John slowly open his eyes. His eyes were red and bloodshot. He was so tired and in pain, but he raised his head and looked at Luca.
In the end, he chose to remain silent when he was alone.
"Tell me, how long do you want to keep it secret?" Luga asked directly to the point.
John did not answer, but turned his head away, deliberately avoiding looking at Luca.
"You can hide it from others, but you can't fool me!" Luca said, hanging the torch on the rack beside him.
He took out a piece of cake from his toga, handed it to John's mouth, and whispered, "Here, eat it!"
John turned his head away, but he glanced at the cake with his sidelong eyes, and his throat moved up and down. It was not difficult to see that he was very hungry.
"Don't be stubborn. You know your own body best. He is very hungry now. Eat this. I brought it from the palace."
As Luca said this, John was still a little hesitant. He looked up at Luca, pondered for a moment, then opened his mouth and ate the cake in Luca's hand bite by bite.
Maybe it was because he had been pampered since childhood and had never suffered such injustice, or maybe it was because he had endured it for too long and finally exploded at this last moment.
Luca could see John's body trembling slightly, and then his whole face was already shining with tears. His voice was also sobbing slightly, like a child who had suffered great injustice but could not speak out.
"Why did you and Li Jinia hide this process from me?"
"Because Madam is worried that you, Caesar, will be indecisive in dealing with major issues." John whispered, forcing Luca to lean in to listen. He was so weak that he could only answer Luca in such a loud voice. "After all, Sir Andrew is someone who has been with you through thick and thin. No matter which king is in power, how could he not have some sympathy in such a matter?"
“Hehehe…” Luka gave a few bitter laughs, “So you guys are afraid that I’ll hesitate so you plan to make this decision for me, so that I’ll be surprised to see that all my troubles have been dealt with, without me even having a chance to react.”
Luca looked at John and asked in a low voice: "My friend, do you think this will solve the problem that is giving us a headache?"
"Although this is not a perfect plan, Caesar." John looked up at Luca and continued, "This is the only thing I can do for Flavius."
"Flavius, Flavius again!" Luca snorted coldly, "Since you were sent to my camp by Theodosius, I knew you were definitely not an ordinary person, and your coming to my camp must not be a coincidence."
John did not respond to Luke's words or acquiesce in it.
"His Majesty Theodosius was very grateful for your life-saving grace, so he gave you a legion so that you could live a decent life in Western Rome for the rest of your life. However, he never expected that the energy you burst out would surprise him. He began to realize the changes that your power could bring to Rome, so he thought that only you were another suitable candidate for Rome."
"What?" Luca looked at John with a half-smile, and asked slowly, "Is there another person?"
"He is dead, Caesar." John shook his head slightly. "As you know, Marcian, Purgolia's husband."
"It's incredible that he is one of the chosen successors."
"Caesar knew that he would not live a hundred years." John said, sobbing, as if he had not yet recovered from his sorrow. "However, Caesar knew more about what would happen next than I did. Caesar, who relied heavily on the Western Legion, swept through the Eastern Legion for the first time and captured Constantinople. Marcian and Pulgolia both became the steps for you to ascend the throne."
"It seems that my appearance is purely accidental." Luga couldn't help but smile bitterly and shook his head helplessly.
"Caesar is an experienced person. I think he understands better than me that the bloodshed brought by Augustus' position is far more intense than ever before!" John lowered his head and said slowly: "I have to admit, Caesar, you are stronger than the previous Augustus, but at the same time, you are weaker."
"I seem to understand what you mean." Luca sighed softly, "I'm afraid all this was instigated by Likinia."
When Licinia was mentioned, John Antiochus suddenly raised his head, staring at Luca with wide eyes in horror, "So Caesar, you already knew all this."
Then, John Antiochus bowed his head heavily and said dejectedly: "It's not her fault. It's all my fault. I bewitched the lady."
"You don't have to explain, John." Luca patted his shoulder and continued, "She has already told me all this. She originally thought that you had successfully handled the matter. Unfortunately, she miscalculated."
"Madam..."
"I have no intention of dealing with her, Sir John." Luca put his hand on John's shoulder. "I seem to be able to understand you now, Sir John."
After hearing what Luca said, John did not show any happiness. "I know how bad what I am doing is."
"Maybe from the moment you nodded in front of Likinia, you never planned to look back!" Luga sighed, but it was only at this moment that he suddenly realized that he had been sighing more and more since he fell ill.
Yes, he was a little afraid. He was afraid that he might suffer a lot in the future. He sighed because he was still so attached to everything in the present.
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"Let me bear all this." John was silent for a long time, and finally whispered his inner thoughts. "Please don't let this matter affect anyone else, not just Caesar, but also Augusta. These bad things cannot be allowed to become a stain on the Purple Room. The Purple Room still needs to shock the people with its holiness and purity, and then maintain Flavius's authority."
Luca looked at John for a long time without saying anything. He didn't know what to say. He just felt as if he owed this young man. He was highly valued by the Purple Room, but he had to sacrifice his life to avoid bringing shame to the Purple Room.
Luca was a little absent-minded. He was thinking, if John Antiochus completed the order assigned to him by Licinia, what would he get? Perhaps he would be promoted, or suffer a new disaster, such as assassination. I am afraid that his fate would not be any better than that of failure, but what is certain is that he did strengthen a layer of protection for the Flavius family's control over Constantinople, allowing Flavius' descendants to survive in an uncertain future.
This young man had staked everything on this, and Luka even thought he was a little great. But this was his fate, the fate of serving the Purple Chamber.
"Do you have any other last wishes?"
"No more." John shook his head slightly.
Luga looked at this strong young man. He bit his lip tightly and slowly stood up. "Then I will give you my last gift."
John looked up and watched Luke pull out a golden cross inlaid with jewels from his toga.
"I really can't think of anything to give you, my old friend." Luca smiled bitterly and put the cross into John's chained hands. "This cross is what I use in my prayers day after day. I hope God can recognize it and agree to bring you to his kingdom."
"Caesar..." John clenched the cross tightly in his weak hands. He looked up at Luca and tears flowed again.
"Promise me you won't lose it."
After saying that, Luga turned his back and slowly walked out of the cell. When he opened the door, he saw a lot of people standing outside, all staring at Luga with wide eyes.
"He refused to say anything, and I lost my patience." Luca said expressionlessly, "Kill him tomorrow."
(End of this chapter)