Crusader Kings: Prisoners of War.

Chapter 30 Control Group

Seeing his expression, Vespa also teased him, "My daughter is my dearest daughter. She can't marry anyone casually. Don't think too much. I am one of the few consuls in Rome who doesn't allow my children to have political marriages. This depends on her own wishes. She has the same rights as men."

Orville still felt strange: "But why did you choose me? Even if you don't become the emperor, with your status, isn't it easy to find an adopted son?"

Vespa shook his head repeatedly. "It would be fine if he didn't inherit the throne, but it would be a different story if he did. I can't look for children from prominent families, because they are very likely to side with the Senate to murder Tia. I can't look for a new noble or someone with strong roots in Rome, because that person would never be able to withstand the temptation of becoming emperor. As long as Tia dies, my other child will be useless, and the wealth and power of the Flavius ​​family will be his. Isn't this just making wedding clothes for others?

You are lucky that you have no parents and are a foreigner, without any roots at all. It is perfect for you. "

Orville was speechless. He didn't expect this to be a benefit. Putting aside the part that offended him, in fact, if you think about it carefully, what Vespa said is quite correct, and it can even be said to be shrewd.

If an adopted son is adopted within the Roman system, it goes without saying that the noble families in the Senate will definitely tend to maintain the existing order. It is not a good idea to adopt a new noble or even a commoner. The Romans fully recognize the inheritance rights and legitimacy of adopted sons. In other words, in the eyes of the Senate, this adopted son is the legitimate and reasonable male heir. Tia is one of those who follow the crooked path, and they will definitely support this adopted son.

It would be different with Orville, the Roman ally. The Senate would have to face a difficult choice: either choose Tia, a Roman with a good family background, outstanding military exploits, high popularity, and outstanding ability, whose only disadvantage is that she is a woman; or choose Orville, an honorary Roman who participated in the rebellion, changed his career halfway, had questionable ability, and had never been to Rome. His only advantage is that he is a man.

When a worse choice is presented, the other choice does not seem so bad. This is probably what it means. Orville is the control group chosen by Vespa.

Vespa went on to say, "I have tested your abilities so many times, and I have basically recognized them. The most important part is your loyalty to Tia and Rome. I have been monitoring you all the time, and I know everything about your actions, including the things between you and the Herod family. But it doesn't matter. What's important is that you really didn't intend to harm Tia. I have always been very accurate in judging people. Now tell me, can you guarantee your loyalty in the future?"

Orville lowered his head and thought for a long time, then raised his head and said seriously: "I promise that I will not participate in any attempt to murder Tia Flavia Vespasia in the future, and I will do my best to ensure her safety in this risk. If I violate this, let the devil eat away my soul and let the vultures eat up my flesh and blood."

Vespa's cloudy eyes stared at Orville's clear eyes for a long time, and finally he nodded with satisfaction: "Very good, I believe you, but I certainly can't trust you completely. So now I only ask you to promise not to think about harming Tia.

I said I would make two or three preparations. I don't even know what the final outcome of the matter regarding Tiya will be, but no matter what, you just need to use your brain to protect Tiya's safety. This is the only thing the Flavius ​​family requires you to do. I will find a chance to handle the adoption procedures. Don't be too anxious. It will be easily resolved."

It seemed that Vespa was a little tired after talking so much, and there was a lot of sweat on his forehead. He made a gesture to indicate that Orville could leave.

Orville must have been very excited about his sudden rise to fame, and he wanted to say on the spot, "Godfather, I bow to you!" But he finally controlled his emotions, paid no attention to the surrounding situation, and left the Governor's Mansion hall quickly and gracefully.
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As soon as Orville returned to his residence, several soldiers came to his door and said they were Vespa's confidants. Orville also understood the situation. Vespa explained the matter so thoroughly because he wanted him to understand. He made these soldiers his personal guards and kept them with him all the time. He also specifically told the soldiers to rest assured to report to Vespa and keep records.

He had never intended to do anything bad to Tia from the beginning, so there was no need to hide it and let them check it.

What Vespa said to him today was actually a request for help. Vespa didn't say it but he certainly understood it. Orville seemed to make the matter of becoming emperor sound very simple, but no one could predict the outcome of the war. The twelve legions on his side sounded scary, but in reality, less than half of them could be mobilized. It was impossible not to have troops stationed on the border, and the distance was long, so the gap between the two sides was very small.

Orville knew that Vespa would win so he was confident of victory. In fact, Vespa himself was very nervous now. No one knew who would win or lose before the fight.

The outcome of the war was still uncertain, and Vespa was anxious to adopt him. He also told him so many important things. In fact, he also hoped that if something really happened, Orville and Tia could take care of each other, so Orville got a bargain.

In this transaction, Orville is undoubtedly the one who has benefited the most. He jumped directly from a foreigner to the adopted son of the future emperor's family. Although he has no inheritance rights and it is indeed impossible for him to succeed to the throne, he is already better off than most people in this country. In the future, it will not be a problem for him to work hard and become the governor of a comfortable province. In the final analysis, all Orville needs to pay is loyalty.

He had his own plans, but he also took his oath very seriously. He would do what he said. Since he had promised Vespa, he would do his best to protect Tia's safety in the midst of all this trouble.

That was why he was cautious and only said he was loyal to Tia without mentioning the other potential murderer Domicia. He planned to see the situation when the time came, and if it didn't work, he would force the other party to drink leaded wine until she died.

He later checked carefully and found out that the Romans in this world had not discovered that the wine brewed in lead pots would be "sweeter". He planned to brew a batch of such welcome wine himself, and then send wine to whoever he was unhappy with.

Considering that the luxurious nobles in this world also drink wine as a daily beverage, it is said that they drink more than 200 liters a year. Even an iron man cannot withstand the excessive heavy metal content, and by then they will be disabled if not dead.

He smiled with relief, but Orville still couldn't help worrying. If he followed the normal procedures and let Tia succeed to the throne in Rome, she would probably not be able to avoid the assassinations in her previous life. In his opinion, if he wanted Tia to succeed to the throne as everyone expected, he might have to use some unconventional means.

(End of this chapter)