"It seems you failed." The old Genoese nobleman crossed his fingers on his chest, looked down at his nephew in front of him, and said coldly.

"It was indeed my miscalculation. The little fox Moria was not as easy to control as expected. He wanted a more equal status before agreeing to cooperate."

"More equal? ​​Huh!" The old man snorted coldly, looking out the window at the increasingly noisy Roman market outside the ship at the calm seaside, with disdain in his eyes. "No one in the entire Roman Empire has this right now.

You are qualified to negotiate terms with us. It seems that this Justinian does not know the current affairs as you said. Maybe he should have accepted the terms given by Henry of Flanders in the first place. Although they are harsh, they are at least realistic."

Andrea Adoria said nothing and looked calm. Although he knew what would happen if his mission was not completed this time, he was still as calm as before, even when facing this man.

"Don't you have anything more to say?" Constance asked Andrea meaningfully, "The family has always had strong opinions on you, and with this failure, even I can't keep you.

.The marriage with the Milanese concerns the entire city-state, not just the Doria family's private affairs, but you didn't even bring your sister back this time." The old nobleman's warning did not sound like anger or anger.

It seemed like a threat, but it showed a hint of nonchalance.

"If the family has already decided on something, no matter what I say it won't make any sense, Uncle Constance."

"You answered well." Constantia turned her head and glanced out the window, "I came back here secretly from Constantinople this time, and I will tell you the truth about the negotiations with Flanders.

Already blown. The Senate was very angry. We helped Michael Dukas get rid of the Duke of Agrinion, but he bit him back and allowed the Venetians to easily pull out the Illyri we bought.

A pirate stronghold in Asia. Not only that, Henry was also pressured to expel our expatriates in Galata. To put it simply, our layout in the east has been completely destroyed in the past two years. In other words, the motherland and our Doria family

The only hope is in that little fox."

"So uncle, what do you mean?"

"Go back again and agree to that boy's request." Constance shook his head helplessly. He was unwilling to do this if it was not a last resort. But compared to the unruly partners, the rising Venetians have already forced

They have no choice.

Andrea was not surprised by her uncle's decision in front of her, and nodded immediately, "Yes, uncle. What about Antonia's child?"

"Humph, your good sister." Constance looked disgusted when the name was mentioned. "Your indulgence in her over the past few years has brought shame to the family. Even if you bring her back this time, I will bring her back."

She was sent to a monastery. Her regretful marriage has made her no longer worth negotiating with the Milanese. Let's keep her with that dirty Greek for the time being. It will be a bargaining chip for us in the future. I am very happy.

Andrea, my child, the dirty half of your blood has not led you to the wrong path, I still need you, and the Doria family still needs you."

The man disciplined his nephew with a downward gaze, but his eyes did not have the warmth that a descendant's blood relatives should have. It was as if he was looking at an ordinary tool. After each use, he would check whether it was in his hand and whether there was anything left.

The need to stay by your side. And in the shadow that could not be seen in this cold gaze, Andrea Doria's pale fists were clenched tightly behind his back, and his nails dug bright red blood marks in his palms.

…

"I didn't expect to continue to trouble you." Antonia was in the greenhouse, and Odosia was removing her bandage and replacing it with new gauze to wrap the wound. She looked at the princess and said slightly apologetically.

Eudocia shook her head, cleaned the wounds that had begun to heal for the Genoese girl and said: "You have done enough for us, little Antonia, not just me, but also Justinian, we all have

Thank you. And you are the godmother of my child. Even if Justinian agrees, I will not agree to the Genoese to take you away like this."

Looking at the woman in front of her who was very kind to her, Antonia's eyes warmed subconsciously. It had been a long time since she had felt loved and cared for like this. Although the princess in front of her was only a few years older than her, looking at that peaceful face,

The Genoese girl seemed to see her deceased mother again.

"Thank you, Sister Odosia!" she blurted out subconsciously, and by the time Antonia reacted, she had already shouted the title.

But the Roman princess was a little surprised at first, and then she held the Genoese girl in her arms with a very happy expression.

"This is the first time someone has called me sister! Little Antonia, you should have called me that a long time ago. Anyway, you are the godmother of Helena's child, so there is no problem at all in calling me sister." As Angelet,

The third princess of the Si family, Odosia unexpectedly likes to be called this name, because in the past few months of getting along with her, she has already regarded Antonia as her sister.

"It hurts, it hurts!" The Genoese girl, who was suddenly stunned by such a warm embrace, screamed in embarrassment. It turned out that the excited Roman princess forgot to tie a knot on her bandaged arm.

…

At the same time, under the night in Thessaloniki, Justinian was in the Macedonian Prison. There were not many prisoners in this heavily guarded prison, because under the influence of the long-term war, anyone who could go to the battlefield

No one with weapons could be allowed to eat prison food here. Because of this, after the war, it was used as a special place for prisoners of war. Although the soldiers of Epirus were allowed to be freed, they were

However, in the battle under the city of Thessaloniki, Justinian's army also captured a group of Bulgars and Serbs. He did not let go of these servants of Mikhail Dukas.

.

Justinian strolled past the iron bars of the prison doors, glanced at the faces of the prisoners imprisoned in the prison with different expressions, and finally stopped in front of a prison cell in the deepest part. And this night

, he came here secretly just to see this man in prison.

I saw the guard guard slowly opening the iron door, and a middle-aged Serbian man with a long beard was sitting inside.
Chapter completed!