Crusader Kings: Prisoners of War.

Chapter 60: A Guard of No Small Importance

In this way, Orville and Domitia were left behind to look after the house, while Tia and Vespa went to the Senate to handle government affairs.

This satisfied Orville very much. He did not want to have any contact with the elders of the Senate. It would be best if the elders completely forgot about him.

Domitia looked at Vespa and the other man who were gradually going away, her eyes revealing a complex emotion, a mixture of longing, envy, and melancholy.

Orville looked at the other person with interest. He really didn't like this person, but he also admitted that her growing environment was quite flawed. Perhaps this was the seed of tragedy. If you look closely, whether it is Domitia or "Domitian" in another world, their lives are quite tragic.

He lost his mother when he was young, and his father had to work in another province and was thousands of miles away all year round. His "stepmother" took care of him well, but they were not from the same class, so the care was not meticulous and it was difficult for her to have a say. The family had little money because he was going into politics, and at one point they had to mortgage their house.

Although it is said that "eldest brother is like father", it is not a good thing to have too outstanding brothers. The emperor lived under the shadow of his father and brother all his life. He was strict, fragile, lonely, had no trust in others, and was also jealous of the achievements of others.

In fact, apart from these shortcomings, he was a decent monarch. Although he was not as outstanding and brilliant as his father and brother, he was not "bad" either.

Orville's hostility towards him mainly comes from the fact that the other party may be the one who killed Tia in the future, but even historians in later generations cannot be sure of this, and it can only be said that it is a hypothesis with speculative elements. Orville will not want to take the initiative to murder the other party just because of the hypothesis, after all, she is also his sister, but he can't avoid being highly alert for this.

After calming down, Orville reached out and handed Domitia an exquisite square cedar wood and silver-inlaid small box with a detailed pattern of the goddess Athena on it. He knew that Domitia was a believer of Athena.

"I brought you a gift. Although I don't know why you don't like me, I think we can be friends, just like your sister and I. I will try to treat you two equally."

For a twelve or thirteen-year-old, these words are very hurtful. What Domitia needs most now is recognition, recognition that she is a "mature adult" just like her father or sister.

In addition, for children of this age, gifts are indeed very important. Domitia looked at Orville and the exquisite box again and again, and finally chose to take it.

[Domitia Flavia Vespasia, a noble lacking confidence]

Diplomacy: 11
Military: 8
Management: 9
Strategy: 11
Knowledge: 13
It really doesn't look that good. The other party is only twelve or thirteen years old and there is still room for growth. Logically speaking, Domitia's attribute points should be pretty good in the end, and she won't be as biased as her sister.

Domitia opened the box with great anticipation, and inside was a golden cake with a detailed full-body picture of Athena carved on it. This was made by Orville's craftsmen during the trip. In fact, he didn't want to give it to Domitia at first. The Flavi family's ancestral home was in the Sabine region, where Minerva (Athena) was widely worshipped. He wanted to give it to Tia, but it was okay to use it now, and he would make one for Tia later. Anyway, he had money and no shortage of materials, but manual carving would take some time.

It was obvious that she liked it very much, and she held it in her hands and examined it repeatedly. Orville also liked it very much, because it was made of pure gold.

Domitia put the things back into the box, put them away carefully, and then immediately frowned and said seriously: "Thank you for your gift, I like it very much. But you want me to share my father and sister with you with this thing, which is absolutely impossible."

This is exactly why Domitia is so hostile to Orville. Her father and sister already spend very little time with her, and now someone comes to cause trouble.

Looking at the other person's delicate and cute face, Orville also found it funny, so he leaned down and looked at the other person at the same height: "Whether you like it or not, we will share it in the future. How about this, I will give you more of my father, and you will give me more of my sister, okay?"

As if taking this seriously, Domitia frowned and thought about it, and finally shook her head to refuse: "You are a man, you should have more contact with your father."

Orville smiled and felt relieved. At least Domitia is still a very innocent and lovely little girl. If she realizes the problem in time, she will not end up killing her siblings. Maybe Domitia's "parricide" is just a false accusation in the future. "I will do this. I will go to where the men gather in a while. Do you have anything to do this afternoon?"

"I will be taught Greek and rhetoric by a teacher."

"Then I won't bother you anymore. I'll leave first. If you need me, you can ask me for help, within limits of course."

…………

As he left the mansion, a young officer stopped him at the door.

"Are you Lord Orville Flavius ​​Vespasianus?"

Few people called him by his full name, and Orville was stunned for a moment: "Yes, it's me."

"His Majesty the Emperor asked me to report to you. He thinks I would be best served under you. I will serve as your bodyguard for the rest of my time."

Seeing the other person's firm eyes and strong body, he looked upright. Orville had a good first impression of him: "What's your name?"

"Belisarius Flavius ​​Sabinus."

"Cough cough cough!!!" Orville couldn't catch his breath and started coughing.

After taking a few deep breaths, Orville was able to take a closer look at the other person's appearance. It's true that he was quite similar to Belisarius. Romans in this period did not grow beards. If they grew beards and were a little thinner, they would look like Belisarius in the mosaic.

After looking around for a long time, the other person's eyes looked a little strange, and Orville said, "Are you Thracian?"

"I was born in Italy, in the Sabine region. I am from the same hometown as the Emperor, so I was chosen to join the Guards. But there are always people who say that this name doesn't sound like a Roman name."

Orvel's mind was a little confused, but he still reached out and patted his shoulder: "Father asked you to follow me because he has high hopes for you. As long as you have the ability, I will definitely let father give you more opportunities. Work harder and do a good job. I am also optimistic about you."

After a few words of encouragement, Orville finally had physical contact with the other party.

[Belisarius Flavius ​​Sabinus, a loyal and resolute warrior]

Diplomacy: 19
Military: 18
Management: 13
Strategy: 8
Knowledge: 17
Judging from his personality, he seems to be similar to the "Last Roman" in history, but the difference in ability is a bit large. After all, the other party is also a famous general ranked among the Byzantine generals, and his military ability should fluctuate around 25. 18 is really a bit low.

(End of this chapter)