The early morning dew sprinkled on the petals makes the morning covered with a layer of white frost, which looks very clean and thorough, and the pale golden sunlight is reflected on it, which makes people feel refreshed.

Unlike the front court, which was used to entertain guests, the marble slabs were laid out on the floor of the backyard, and there was not much decoration and flowerbeds for admiring the guests, like a playground, surrounded by a ring of sand for Caesar's horses, and the walls on both sides were filled with all kinds of armor, shields, and weapons, neatly placed on shelves, which were in a sense valuable collectibles that needed to be wiped down regularly.

Theodore stood on the playground, weighing a weighted exercise wooden sword filled with lead, with only a simple linen coat and a pair of leather sandals, and cautiously observed Valens, who stood in front of him, dressed like himself.

This practice lead weapon was widely used in boot camps in Rome because it was heavier than a real iron sword, and training with this weapon helped soldiers to use a real weapon without feeling too heavy in their hands.

Lead was widely used in Roman life, especially the famous Roman aqueducts. Of course, Theodore knew the poison of this thing, and now the canals in Caesarea are all pottery, which avoids the possibility of lead poisoning before the Romans can become stronger.

As if observing his prey, Theodore gathered around Valence about a meter and a half, moving slowly, half-bent over, his sword tucked in his chest, looking for an opportunity to attack.

Valence was still like a sculpture, just standing there, motionless, the sword in his hand seemed to him to be non-existent.

But his eyes were always on Theodore's body, shoulders and elbows to be exact, because Theodore always felt that the muscles in this position were constantly numb, as if he would be hit in the next second.

It's magical, like the legendary sixth sense, but it's not the same.

As if he had been electrocuted, Theodore jumped half a step backwards, and then Valens' sword swung down with great force.

"Bang!Bang!Bang!Bang!!" strode forward, Valence brandished his sword expressionlessly, like an airtight wall, with a small movement, but Diodore had to retreat to block it, while looking for an opportunity to counterattack.

Obviously, Theodore's strength was inferior to Valense's, and the sculpture-like Valence didn't even roar, the sword in his hand flew up and down, constantly forcing Theodore to retreat, and the silent attack seemed to be more liliang than the roaring thunder.

"Ah——!!!!h

Tightly grasping Valense for a stagnation, Theodore began to officially counterattack, roaring loudly and waving the sword in his hand, slashing out with almost no strength left.

Striding forward, Theodore rushed in front of Valence with one of his arrows, stabbed straight out, and then slashed downward, but the fierce Jiashi still did not impress Valens, this stone-like man, still so silent, silently blocked Theodore's attack, and dissolved it invisibly.

His expressionless face was infuriating, as if all his efforts had been in vain, and Theodore, who was a little depressed, quickened his pace, trying to force him against the wall, and swung his sword faster.

Calmly retreated, without a trace of panic, Valence's every step was a short section, and there was no crampedness, his eyes moved back and forth on Theodore's toes and shoulders, making Theodore's paralysis even more obvious.

There was a muffled sound of "pop ——!", and when Theodor stabbed out, Valence waved his backhand, and the blade slapped the whole blade on Theodore's wrist, with a slight force, Theodore, who couldn't hold on, let go of his fingers, and the sword in his hand flew out.

"Stop!" Valence stretched out his hand to stop Theodore, who was lying on the ground and was still trying to stand up, and threw the sword in his hand aside, a stiff smile on his face, "Let's get here first, my lord." ”

"Alas——," Theodore, who sighed for a long time, did not refute him, tilted his head and muttered, and handed his right hand to him: "Pull me up!"

"This time it's a little longer than the last time. Valence had a smile on his face, but also a little bit of relief, as if he was looking at his son who was slowly growing: "You still need more time to practice, and you still need experience." ”

"But the enemy won't give me that chance. Theodore gasped and wiped the sweat from his sleeve.

"Here, drink some. A glass of water was handed over.

"Oh. Theodore didn't care, but raised his glass and drank it all. The cool water made the body feel a little more comfortable, and he turned his gaze to find Helena looking at him quietly, with her little head tilted behind her back and a gentle smile on her face.

"Ah, I'm sorry, I didn't find you just now. Theodore quickly put the cup down, turned around and said with a little panic. After thinking about it, he had some questions: "You have always been there?"

"I just saw it when I was passing by. As if feeling that her behavior was a little impolite, Helena lowered her head a little shyly and secretly glanced at Theodore's face: "See you here......"

"It's nothing, all of you here are gentlemen, and besides, we're friends, aren't we?" Theodore scratched his head with a smile, wanting to pat her on the shoulder, but thought that it was a little girl standing in front of him, so he had to take it back stupidly: "So, are you disappointed to see me like this?"

"No, I think you're brave. Helena looked very serious, her big blue eyes flashed, and she pouted and tried to come up with an encouraging momentum: "Even if you know that it is impossible to win, but still insist on challenging again and again, such a person can be a knight!"

"Only those who walk in the dark and still have a hundred times more faith can take on the responsibility of a leader!" said Helena, with a little pride, like a poem, and suddenly laughed: "This is what my brother told me. ”

"Your brother must have been a great leader. Theodore said with a smile, his right hand gently brushing the long waterfall hair, helping her to reach behind her ear: "Only that kind of person can have a knight like Elendil, and a sister like you!"

Helena seemed to be frightened by Theodore's behavior, and the whole person shrank back sharply, her pale pink ears turned red, and her right hand was clenched into a fist on her chest, and the whole person was speechless.

"Well, this, it's just a gesture of friendship. Theodore also realized that he seemed to be a little too "friendly", and quickly explained, but looking at the other party's blushing face and the faint blame, maybe he should leave for a while?

"Alright, sir, it's time for you to meet with the lords of the Senate, it's not a good habit to keep people waiting. Once again, Valence spoke when Theodore needed him most, though he was unconscious every time.

"Is it so fast?" Helena frowned slightly, and said with some unhappiness, "Shouldn't you rest for a while, after such a strenuous exercise just now." ”

"But the Lord is Caesar, the Caesar of all the Romans, Miss Helena. Valence bowed his head deeply: "What your lord carries is the expectation of all Romans. ”

"......"

"Okay, Helena. Theodore interrupted her and looked her in the eye with a smile: "Well, I'll have the chef cook the most haode dinner, and then I'll invite you to share it with you, and you can tell me your brother's story at that time, I'd love to hear it." ”

“...... Really?"

"Because we're friends, I'm not going to break my word. Theodore lifted Helena's little hand and kissed it gently: "Because I am Caesar, I do what I say." ”

————————————————————————————————————

"The merchants of Marions were willing to offer 400 florins (large gold coins) to help build the trade route from Caesarea to Marions, and the first investments included a portion of horses with excellent stamina, in return for some protection from the Roman army. ”

"Tell them that the Roman army only guarantees their safety in Caesarea, that we have not made an alliance with the other lords, and that sending troops is tantamount to a declaration of war. Theodore tapped his middle finger on the table: "Let Virgil be in charge of this matter, and besides, this councilor, your report has improved, and I hope it will be so concise and clear in the future." ”

"Ahh The terrified lawmaker stayed there, not knowing whether he should apologize or humbly respond.

"Sit down. Theodore waved his hand helplessly: "What else is on the agenda?"

"Then adjourn the meeting!" said Theodore, standing up, "the strength of Rome depends on your ability to do your best to accomplish your mission, long live Rome——!"

"Viva Rome————!!!!

............

"Damn! this is the most boring thing on shijie, and there are so many people who want to get in!" Diodore angrily drank the wine in his glass: "Sitting in that seat for an hour is almost longer than a year!"

Valence watched in silence as Theodore whined and complained every day, but did not say a word. For a sixteen-year-old boy to be able to patiently do the work of some forty or fifty-year-old man, that in itself is remarkable, and the slightest complaint does not tarnish Caesar's image - of course, it is better not to be discovered.

"Alright, Valence, let's go back, I don't want to stay here for a minute. Theodore stood up lazily, stretched his waist, and shook his spirits: "Here I feel like I am thirty years old." ”

"Understood!" Varens hastened to follow, driving closely behind Theodore.

"Speaking of which, though, Caesar. Valens asked tentatively, "Do you have any plans to get married?"

"Married?no, no, no, it's too early for me, isn't it?!" Theodore was a little stunned, and smiled to avoid the topic, "And isn't General Belisarius also married?"

It's actually normal for Valence to ask this question, in feudal society, every shili revolves around a certain family, and the heirs of this family are the key to inheritance, and no heirs will cause the centrifugal detachment of his subordinates - if the boss has no heir, then who will call the shots in this family will become a big problem, and the henchmen in charge of the power will have their own ghosts. The most important example of this is that after Alexander's death, his empire quickly collapsed into small kingdoms. Liu Bei, the male lord of the Three Kingdoms, even when Shili was still very young, in order to appease his subordinates and reassure them, he also recognized Liu Feng as his righteous son.

"What are you talking about?" said Valence, smirking, "It seems that you don't know the character of this general. ”

"General Belisarius, that's the Caesarea tavern and the public baths!" Valence pursed his lips disdainfully, but it could also be understood that he couldn't eat grapes and said that grapes were sour: "I don't know how many good girls are heartbroken because of this general, and they want to die!"

"As for the others, like Quintus or Mehimus, they're already married, and Quintus is now the father of two!" Valence said in a rambling voice, "so I think you should actually think about it now." ”

"Of course it's possible, it's better to be a pure-blood Roman, as for identity and appearance, it doesn't matter with your status!" Valence Pureblood still couldn't detach himself from his own essence and revealed his thoughts.

“......”

"Well, yes, tonight you know, I'm going to have a little party. Theodore explained "implicitly": "So ......"

"Rest assured, Caesar. Valence smiled imperceptibly sly: "At that time, Captain Elendil should be far away in the port as your representative, patrolling the security of the port, and he will not be back until tomorrow morning at the earliest!"

"It's my guard, it's so reassuring to anything!" said Theodore's eyes, a wicked smile and a look of contentment.

"Of course!"

Bright candles illuminated the table, and the chef who had been "tasked with it" by Theodore showed his housekeeping skills, and sumptuous dishes were filled with red tablecloths, as well as breads of various shapes and shapes, which were made like works of art, and dotted the table.

Helena, dressed in a sky blue dress, seemed to be a laughing elf, tirelessly telling the story between her and her brother, over and over again, ruby-like wine, staining her slightly drunken dimples, and fiddling with the silver spoon in her eyes, as if she remembered something, something that had happened, or someone who had a relationship with her.

..................

"If you can't drink it, don't drink so much alcohol. ”

Theodore smiled bitterly, Helena, who had fainted from the drunkenness a long time ago, leaned back in the chair and made a soft "whew-whew-" sound, the corners of her mouth were still the sweet arc, and her long eyelashes shook and trembled.

"It should be ...... at this time" Theodore turned to go out, but suddenly remembered: "Oh yes, Elendil has gone to the port." ”

It seems that I got him away by myself.

"Alas—" Sighing softly, Theodore walked up to Helena's chair and gently lifted her up in his arms with both hands, and the drunken Helena smiled infatuately, probably thinking of some story.

But it's so light.

Theodore suddenly realized that the girl in his arms was so light, and he almost leaned up too hard.

"No, it's so well developed...... Huh?!"

"Don't think too much, don't think too much............" Diodore repeated over and over again, carefully holding her and tiptoe up the stairs.

Softly opened the door and laid the sleeping Helena flat on the bed, and Theodore, who finally caught his breath, continued to mumble "Don't think too much, don't think too much...... as he turned his head to leave.

He found himself tugging at the corner of his coat.

"No...... "Helena is talking like she was in a dream: "No...... Want...... Walk ......"

"Brother...... Brother ......"

"I'm so sorry, I'm not your brother. Theodore whispered as he slowly pulled his hand away from his clothes.

"Don't go...... Brother...... Don't go...... Don't leave...... Helena ......"

The melodious sound of a soft dream sounded in his ears, and Theodore was a little silent, he had always felt that he was ...... It's a decent gentleman.

If you are a decent man, you shouldn't take advantage of others, right?

Helena...... I don't want to ...... anymore Don't want to...... Don't want to...... A ...... alone One person ......"

Are you trying to make me make a mistake?

“...... Brother ......"

"Sleep, sleep, Helena. Theodore gently held her little hand, while trying to calm the "hot heart" that he used to be an otaku, and slowly patted the side of the bed in a gentle tone.

"I'll never leave you alone again, I'll never be alone again, I'll always be watching over you, to...... Well, swear in my brother's name!"

(Zuihou is about to enter the first volume of a big climax.,Everyone work hard.,Let "Glory Banner" be on fire!)