"Tiberius, I've been following your growth for a long time, and to this day, I think there's something I have to talk to you about."

After the Battle of Corchia, Tretus rushed back to Rome in order to find the truth. Tiberius, on the other hand, traveled with Apis to Damascus in the south in the northern mountains of Asia Minor. For the young man who had always been at his side, Appis felt the need to test his attitude towards himself.

"You say, General."

Tiberius, who had been called by Apis for a political lesson, stood at the table very calmly and returned respectfully.

"Tiberius, you are a very good boy, and I have always loved you, and I have taken you with me on the expeditions, so that you can be trained in these battles. But there's a question I want to know what's going on in your heart? ”

"What's the problem? Uncle. ”

Young Tiberius was a little surprised, he had never seen Apis so serious as he was today. Looks like there's something big to discuss with him. But what can it be? I have always done what I should do very peacefully, without a little overstepping my authority and not betraying my thoughts. And there is a reason why he is called Uncle Appis, the powerful Roman man in front of him has crossed paths with his two fathers, and they were once called brothers.

"Tiberius, you know, I promoted you and loved you, but, in a way, I was your father-killer, and I defeated Octavian and forced him to commit suicide in prison. Will you hate me? From this point of view. ”

Sitting in a blanket chair, Apis asked, staring at Tiberius. The question came so suddenly that young Tibi was a little stunned, and he stood there, bewildered. And Appis didn't simply get the answer from this question. In fact, in the face of such a problem, everyone will say that they do not hate, because in front of them is the most powerful man in the whole Roman world, and to say hatred is to be his enemy. Appis intended to observe Tiberius' reaction when he heard the question.

“…… This question...... How do you answer that...... General Appis, you know, Octavian was not my biological father, when I was younger, my real father was Claudius. Nero. However, he later lost and died in a dispute with Anthony. My adoptive father, Octavian, was more interested in my mother, Lilia, and he loved my mother, and I could see that, although he also cared for me, but at that time he was busy with the complicated affairs and problems of Rome, and with you and with Antony. It would be a lie to say that there is no affection for Octavian, but this is the rule, the winner prevails, and the loser can only end hastily. If I want to say that I hated you, I did have it when I was young, but later, you gave me the same fatherly care, you did not leave me and my mother because of the decline of the Octavian family, and even let Nevia play with us, and often came to care for me and my mother, which makes me grateful to you from the bottom of my heart......"

The young Tiberius did not know how to answer, he was already sixteen years old, he knew some people and some power struggles, but it seemed impossible for him to act thoroughly, as cunning as a fox. Thus, in front of Appis, he is presented with a boy who is at a loss for what to do, who is more mature than his peers, but who is not yet able to reach the level of the adult world to disguise himself.

And his words, Apis still believed a little. After all, Tiberius was different from other boys, he had a very rough experience, he lived with his biological father Claudius when he was young, and then, Octavian took a fancy to his mother and forcibly took Lilia away from Claudius, and after that, Tiberius lived in Octavian's house. Octavian was defeated in the civil war, and after that, he gave him fatherly care. Poor Tiberius had three fathers when he was less than twelve years old......

"I'm sorry, my question was so abrupt that you didn't know how to answer. But, child, I am still glad for your sincerity. Sit down and talk, today, we are no longer in the relationship between generals and soldiers, but between friends, chatting, talking. ”

Apis said, pulled a chair and let Tiberius sit beside him, the first emperor of the Roman Empire in history was in front of him, but the current situation was that he was just an ordinary child, and whether he could be an emperor or not still had to say by himself.

"Uncle ......"

Tiberius sat down. The light of the oil lamp outlined the slightly bowed bodies of the two.

"Tiberius, for the past two years, I've been letting you and Teretus go to the real battlefield for training. Therefore, many people also think that I am deliberately promoting you two young people. In fact, it is. You know, in Rome there are already quite a few nobles who are starting to approach you and Tretus, and you may not feel it yet, because you have been with me for more than a year, and you don't know what is going on in Rome, and your mother won't tell you much. But, child, you must be clear, in the future, the more I promote you, the more I value you, the fewer real friends you will have, just like this group of nobles, they may approach you just to gain your support and trust, and to pave the way for their political career. Your former friends will not necessarily be simple friends anymore, and people's hearts will be distorted in the face of interests. Even if some of them want to simply see you as a friend, their fathers, their relatives, will try to impose various ideas on them. So, sometimes, I myself am conflicted, should I promote you? Will it allow you to spend your youth, middle age, and even old age in pure life, or will you spend the rest of your life in constant danger, like me and other politicians? The more I love you, the more complicated the question becomes. Can you understand? ”

Looking at Tiberius's immature face, Apis said slowly.

It's more like a conversation between father and son, but Apis doesn't tell Tiberius that he wants to recognize him as an adopted son, because telling a person the truth too early can distort his mind and make him less real. Apis also needed to be careful about Tiberius, whether he had many good qualities and absolute loyalty to himself. Yes, loyalty is paramount. After all, in the future, Nevia is to be entrusted to him.

"I understand ......"

Young Tiberius nodded.