"You failed to capture them? What do you mean by that?"
Andronikos frowned.
With an irritated flick of his hand, the women in the chamber gathered their clothes and slipped out.
"Was it not you who assured me a few ships would be easy prey?"
He glared at the admiral seated across from him.
"Or did you perhaps intentionally let them escape?"
"Of course not!"
The middle-aged man raised his voice.
Admiral Kontostephanos and Andronikos locked eyes.
Andronikos stroked his beard thoughtfully.
Though past sixty, he possessed a vitality that rivaled men half his age. Even his appearance seemed decades younger.
"For reasons I still cannot fully explain…" Kontostephanos said, his face flushed, "Prince Baldwin's vessel separated from its convoy. By the time my men located it, matters had already escalated."
He continued:
"They boarded under the pretext of inspection and attempted to subdue the crew. But the resistance was far fiercer than expected."
"So instead, they were captured?" Andronikos scoffed. "The Imperial Navy truly has fallen."
"Had we used Greek fire, the matter would have ended swiftly."
"And if Baldwin had burned to death?" the admiral shot back. "A royal envoy perishing at sea would have complicated matters beyond measure."
"If a delegate from Jerusalem dies here, both Constantinople and Jerusalem would demand answers."
"Jerusalem?" Andronikos popped a grape into his mouth and laughed.
"They can barely defend their own borders against Saladin. What will they do? Protest?"
Juice dripped from his chin onto his robe.
"I've lived among them. They lack the strength to act."
He leaned back.
"If we could not capture him, we should have killed him. Once he reaches Constantinople, what tales will he spread?"
"We've reported the incident as unauthorized action by certain captains seeking plunder," Kontostephanos said carefully. "No direct orders can be traced to us."
"They will suspect regardless."
Andronikos paused.
"Which means we must move swiftly. Constantinople must fall before whispers turn to accusations."
He pulled a letter from his robe.
"A message from Maria and her puppet husband."
"Maria Komnene…"
"The emperor's half-sister. A foolish girl who believes power was stolen from her."
He waved the letter dismissively.
"She begs me to march to Constantinople. Claims the people will rise to greet us."
"It is not impossible," the admiral replied. "The regency is dominated by Westerners. Many resent Frankish influence."
"And that is why you support me, is it not?" Andronikos laughed.
"The emperor himself carries Frankish blood. Convenient, really."
His lips curled.
"Once the boy emperor is removed… I shall take Empress Agnes as my lawful wife."
"She is not yet fifteen—"
"Flowers are most beautiful at the moment they bloom," Andronikos interrupted. "What use is a flower one cannot pluck?"
He rose to his feet and looked toward Constantinople.
"What I want is the Empire. Not to admire it from afar—but to hold it in my hand."
His voice rose.
"Call the dancers back! Tonight we celebrate!"
Kontostephanos bowed and withdrew.
Half-clothed dancers brushed past him as they re-entered.
***
"Constantinople!"
The shout came three days after the attack.
The walls rose in the distance.
Three days.
No further attacks.
There were inspections—yes.
But the tone of the patrols had changed. Careful. Measured.
Once we rejoined the convoy, any further ambush became impossible.
"Wooooo!"
Aig rushed to the bow.
Not only him—soldiers, servants, knights—all those seeing Constantinople for the first time gathered to stare.
The Venetian sailors chuckled.
They had seen it many times before.
The famed triple walls…
They stretched endlessly along the coastline.
Constantinople.
Founded anew by Constantine I.
Called the Queen of Cities.
Even I, raised in the 21st century, found myself staring in awe.
"I can't believe walls like that exist," Aig whispered. "Can anyone even breach them?"
"No wall is invincible," Hugh said with a snort. "All things built by men can be broken."
He gestured casually.
"Attach boarding platforms to ships. Land a small force to exploit weak points. There is always a method."
"True enough," I nodded.
The Fourth Crusade would one day prove that.
"Though I doubt we'll ever invade this city," Hugh added.
"We'll see," I said lightly.
If I told him that Crusaders would one day sack this Christian capital…
He wouldn't believe it.
God wills it, they would say.
What exactly did God will?
"Prepare to dock!"
We entered the Harbor of Theodosius.
Given the size of our fleet, docking took nearly half an hour.
"Careful with that! Do you know how much it's worth? That crate is worth months of your wages!"
Marco shouted at the laborers.
"Elixir?"
He scratched his head when I approached.
"They treat it carelessly. And some crates keep disappearing…"
"Elixir is too popular," I replied calmly.
Which was precisely why I brought plenty.
Two hundred barrels in total.
Thirty already sold to Marco at double price.
One hundred seventy remained.
For the Knights, production had meant sleepless nights.
But worth it.
I needed gifts.
Enough to buy Constantinople itself.
"Elixir is selling extremely well here too. Our profits alone—"
Marco stopped himself mid-sentence.
He didn't want to disclose how much he was marking it up.
"You may speak freely. I already have reports."
He flushed.
At that moment, a group approached.
Soldiers carrying axes and shields.
Two richly dressed women and a single man led them.
The pair seemed married.
The third woman—who?
They stopped before me.
"The representative of His Imperial Majesty greets the noble of Jerusalem."
They bowed.
I returned the courtesy.
"I thank you for the welcome. And you are…?"
"I am Maria Komnene," the first woman said. "This is my husband, Renier."
My expression stiffened.
The emperor's half-sister.
The woman who would one day help bring Andronikos to power.
"And this is…?"
I looked to the other woman.
She resembled Maria—though younger.
She bowed, jewels glinting.
"I am Theodora. His Imperial Majesty has sent us as the welcoming delegation."
"We heard you encountered… an unfortunate incident at sea," Renier interjected.
I sensed his anxiety.
So they were involved.
"We captured several imperial soldiers who attempted to kill us," I said evenly.
Calling it "unfortunate" was generous.
"The Emperor and the regency await you at the palace," Renier said quickly. "The matter can be addressed there."
Meaning he had no authority.
"Then please lead the way."
The axe-bearing guards—Varangian Guard, no doubt—exchanged looks with my knights.
We began our march.
Vikings by origin.
Elite foreign troops sworn only to the emperor.
Even in the game, their loyalty stats were absurdly high.
They maintained perfect formation through the streets.
I glanced at Maria and Theodora.
Silk garments were one thing—
But the amount of jewelry they wore was blinding.
Maria spoke first.
"It is rare for royalty of Jerusalem to visit our capital. We pray for peace and order in the Holy City."
Her eyes searched mine.
"I have heard the situation there is unstable. If you have traveled this far, then surely there must be a reason…"
She was fishing.
Trying to determine my purpose.
I smiled faintly.
"I came…"
Because you are about to destroy Byzantium from within.
And if Byzantium falls, Jerusalem follows.
All the pieces were in place.
It was time to step onto the stage.
I met her gaze.
"I came to preserve peace and order."