"That aristocratic guy at the banquet kept staring at you. Pen? Interesting? Pavilion wWw. ｂiquge。 ｉｎfo”

After the lavish dinner, Seklas escorted Appis back to his room in the mansion to rest. This veteran of the Roman legion, who had experienced many life-and-death trials on the battlefield, was the first to tell Appis about his worries. Indeed, as a veteran of the Legion, Sekras still had a sense of the enemy's eyesight, and Appius' demonic gaze easily caught Sekras's attention. And the purpose of Sekras's trip was to protect Appis's safety. Therefore, I pay special attention to this kind of malicious gaze.

"I know."

Appis drank a little wine and replied lightly.

"He knows you? Or what kind of relationship is there? I noticed that he looked at you a little strangely. ”

Sekras continued. He wanted to know what was going on.

"He's my father. Nominal father. In fact, I am the illegitimate son of the deceased general Sabinus. And staring at me at the banquet was my titular father, Appius. ”

Faced with Sekras's question, Appis replied calmly. Maybe at this point, there is no need to hide his background from the people around him, because now he is the chief centurion of the legion, and he is working under Caesar, so he doesn't have to worry about such a life experience being known, which will lead to death, even Appius himself was on the scene, and he didn't dare to do anything with himself, so Apis naturally explained.

But this answer surprised the accompanying companions. They looked incredulous, then looked at their superiors.

"Your father? But I see that his gaze is full of hatred for you. ”

Sekras continued to ask, puzzled. He couldn't understand why what was going on between father and son, even if it wasn't his own son, the old nobleman didn't need to be so aggressive, as if he couldn't be at peace if Apis didn't die for a day.

In fact, since the day he sent assassins to assassinate Apis four years ago, this indomitable teenager has become a fetter in his heart.

"Yes, he hates me. Because my mother cheated on him, he couldn't tolerate his wife and others, so he wanted to get rid of me. He sent someone to assassinate me many years ago. Unsuccessfully, I escaped, and was found to have sold me as a slave to a Spanish slave owner. Therefore, of course Appius will enmity against me, for I will take revenge on him and take his life at any time when I return. At least that's what he thinks. ”

Apis said this lightly, while Sekras and Emma were dumbfounded. They don't know that their centurion, their master, and such a tragic past, a tortuous life. From a noble boy to a slave that everyone can abuse, but he fought with wild beasts in the bloody arena before finally joining the legion and fighting to this point. It can be said that Appis has been able to get to this point today, which is already a legend in itself. And Emma's understanding of Apis in her heart is also a little more, why other Romans treat slaves so cruelly and roughly, but Apis treats slaves gently and kindly. He had almost no slaves, minions, and all the booty was converted into gold coins and put in his pocket.

"It's a sad story. But you have to watch out for him. ”

Secras's expression was a little melancholy, it was an unfortunate story, and even more unfortunately, the story continued. The road to Rome was already dangerous, and now, with such a dangerous relationship as Appius, Seklas thought and couldn't help frowning.

"Don't be too nervous, I guess Appius wouldn't dare do anything to us in this city. And once I arrived in Rome, his sphere of influence was not there. Also, the assassination of Roman citizens who were running for tribune was a crime that Appius did not dare to take a risk. ”

The light in the room was a little dim, and Appis replied in a pretended lighthearted manner as he faced the three companions who were with him. Despite this, Apis was still wary, and put his dagger under his pillow as he slept. I'm still a little nervous every day. In this age of bloody barbarism, no one knows what those nobles will do.

For this reason, Appis even used to sleeping while sitting, but no one knew this.

"I'll stay in your room tonight."

The silence was broken by Emma. After Appis finished speaking, Emma suddenly spoke. And judging from Secras's eyes, the Roman veteran looked at Emma with a lewd appearance, as if he expected that in the night, the young couple would be stormy in the room. But Appis was very calm. In fact, for Emma, Apis only wants to save her, an innocent child in the war, even if she is a barbarian, Apis does not want to hurt her.

"She'll protect you, Appis?"

Sekras gave a lewd look. He knew that this Germanic maiden was not just a servant, but that in the barracks, she could defeat even strong Roman soldiers. Emma's desire to protect Apis is well known, but not impossible.

"I think she will. Okay, Emma stays here tonight, and you go back to your room to rest. Sekras, Turus, you can find a girl to have a good time, and it can be regarded as relaxing on the road. We're still on a long journey, and even though it's only three or four days to get from here to Rome, I don't know what we're going to encounter in the next three or four days. You know, Appius wasn't the only one who didn't want us to return to Rome. ”

Appis said, and a wave of melancholy could not help but rise on his face. Indeed, the white-robed senators of the Senate, the fathers of the Republic, may not have been willing to let Caesar's men run for important office in Rome. And beneath these superficial phenomena, even Pompey can do tricks. In this turbulent era, everyone has a poisonous snake heart hidden in their hearts, stretching out their fangs in the most dangerous corners, and then devouring each other to protect themselves......

……

"Appis, I didn't know you had such an unfortunate past."

After Sekras and Turus left, Emma stayed behind and sat on the edge of the bed, massaging Appis's shoulder. Although they are the servants of Appis, the relationship between Emma and Apis is more often not a master-servant relationship, but like a young friend. This can be seen in Emma's words and actions. More often than not, the Germanic maiden even volunteered to stay with Appis. Because many times, Appis and her experiences are so similar.

"There will also be strife among the Romans. Your people are also full of intrigue and murder among themselves. ”

Seeing that Appis sighed but did not speak, Emma continued. Every time she learned about Appis, the young Germanic girl felt herself a step closer to him. Even Emma felt that in this world, perhaps only this Roman could be trusted and relied on. Although Emma was so hostile to the other Romans.

"Yes, human nature, Emma. Good people die at the hands of conspirators, just as wild beasts devour their own kind, and in this respect there is no difference between man and wild beasts. The Romans were like that, the Gauls were like that, and the Germanic people were like that. ”

Appis said, looking out the window at the vaguely bustling scene, just like the city of Rome that he and Octavia had seen from the hilltop villa many years ago. (To be continued.) )