Chapter 386: A Common Enemy

A week and a half passed, and finally, Juluis arrived at his next destination. Sighing, he got out of the carriage and looked at the small manor. It was nothing like what he was used to, and clicking his tongue, he told himself he was almost home. After travelling, he realised how much he hated it. Being away from the palace and forced to live away from what he was sure of.

Only Magnus’s home could be up to standard, and even then, it was still insignificant to the Palace. The servants of the minor lord lined up in two neat parallel lines and bowed. Julius clicked his tongue at the small number of servants but quickly understood that many, or more, would likely be too much for such a small manor.

In the middle of the two lines, a young man stood in a pristine butler uniform, which was of much higher quality than the other servants’. "Where is your master?" Juluios asked with an annoyed tone. Despite looking around, he couldn’t see anyone other than the servants waiting for him.

The butler shook his head and frowned. "Forgive me, your highness. The sudden change in temperature has made him ill. Coming outside has become hard, and instead, he will meet you in the dining hall. He believes that after a long journey, you must be hungry."

Julius hid his displeasure and followed the butler. "Your aides will be looked after. We have their room prepared."

"Thank you. We will stay for a day. I must return to the palace quickly after all."

"Of course." The butler walked coolly ahead of Juluis as the Prince looked around with slight distaste. The manor was quiet without many decorations. It was obvious the lord had some wealth, but in his eyes, it was still a pathetic amount. Opening the door to the dining room, Juluis stepped in and the butler shut the door behind him, quietly locking it without Juluis knowing.

Julius felt something was wrong and looked around with cold eyes. "Where is he?" Reaching for the small dagger on his waist, Juluis didn’t feel like he was overreacting.

"Brother." But a friendly voice called out as Bardas walked in with his arms spread. Julius stared at him and pulled the dagger, but was stopped as the butler moved quickly and placed a knife to Julius’ throat.

"What is the meaning of this, Bardas?" Julius didn’t panic. Whilst he was scared, he couldn’t show it and tried to think of a way out of the predicament. He could call out, but knew that his men would still be outside unloading his luggage. Bardas smiled and took a seat at the head of the table. Picking up the leg of meat, he took a bite and rested his feet on the table.

"You know. Father has ordered them to kill you. He plans on blaming Magnus for it." Bardas said casually as he took another bite of food. Julius dangerously squinted, staring daggers into Bardas.

"You’re lying." Julius quickly countered, making his brother chuckle.

"I’m not. When do I ever move without Father’s explicit orders?" Bardas looked at Juluis and took another bite of food. He watched as his brother opened and closed his mouth, chuckling again. "Enough. Put the knife away. Let him sit."

The butler did as told and took a step back. Putting his hands behind his back, he watched as Juluis slowly moved for a chair and sat down, ready to act if given the order. "I know you have only ever moved when Father said, but how do I know you don’t see your chance now? One bastard has already made a move for the throne. Why can’t you do it?"

"Because killing you here would be my death sentence if Father didn’t order it." Putting the leg of meat down, he picked up a glass of water and downed the entire glass. Looking at Julius, he could help but sigh and agree with Theodosius. "Are you deliberately playing ignorant. Father only wants Constancence to take his place. The rest of us are abandoned children."

"He is Pope now," Julius said through gritted teeth, thinking of his cowardly younger brother who ran away.

"Just because he is one now doesn’t mean he will be one forever. We are now all pawns to get Constance to return. The prodigal son." Bardas said bitterly. "That’s why he wants you dead. To create a succession crisis. Then I will be ordered to kill one of my brothers. It was Cato’s idea."

"Ha." Dryly scoffing, Juluis heard enough, "I don’t believe you. I am the Crown Prince.

"And Constance is the second son. You are a hindrance now. Why do you think you haven’t been named as his official successor despite being the eldest son? Think for yourself for a minute."

Julius fell silent. He knew Bardas wasn’t lying about the succession. His father’s disappointment in him and the rest of his siblings was evident to everyone, and even his visit to the Holy Land was proof enough that he wanted Constance to be his heir. Yet it didn’t explicitly mean he needed to be dead for it to be true.

Bardas sighed and shook his head, "Father has already killed numerous of his own children when he had too many bastards. Luckily, I was old enough to realise what to do to survive. Blood relations mean nothing to him so long as he gets what he wants." Julius lowered his head.

"Why haven’t you killed me?" Looking at the butler behind him, he knew that he could have died already. Bardas smiled.

"I don’t want you dead. Father is good at keeping control of the Empire, but he is a cruel and insidious man. If I do this, what is stopping him from removing me? After all, I am one more loose end."

Bardas shrugged at Juluis’ probing gaze, "I thought you were his dog."

"Unlike you, I had to lower my head and do what I did to live. Your death sentence was ordered because you didn’t do what father wanted. He’s a disgusting man who won’t tell people what he wants and expects us to understand. Constance running away proved he was different from the rest of you. Someone who wouldn’t sit like a good boy and follow every word like the gospel. You and the rest of our siblings failed to understand that, and now it’s too late."

Bardas’ voice was full of disdain as he talked about Theodosius. Julius watched him and smiled, "So you want me to be Emperor then?" It was a question he had to ask. All his siblings had always been his rivals, and it was because of this that he did what his father ordered. He wanted to prove he was the best choice, but now he understood where he went wrong.

Now it was time to see if he needed to add another rival. Bardas looked at Juluis and smiled, "No." Laughing, he grabbed the knife on the table and played with it, "Come on. It is the most powerful seat in the world. Of course, I want it for myself. But I can be content with a place near the seat."

Julius looked at the blatant greed in Bardas’ eyes and laughed, shaking his head, "You have just told me that you want what is rightfully mine and expect me to trust you.

"Should I kill you instead. The plans are already made to frame someone else after all. I will walk away free and have a chance to take it for myself instead." Julius’s smile vanished from his face as he looked at the butler behind him. The man pulled his dagger back out and was ready for the order.

"Fine." Julius knew that even if he managed to walk out, the wound she would get meant he would die before he even reached the Palace. Everyone within the manor was likely Bardas’ people, and as he said, the plans to kill him were already in place. He didn’t know how long they had been preparing, but he was sure it was long enough to pose a real threat to him and his escort. "If you have a daughter, I will marry my heir to her. That way, we are linked by marriage and have no reason to fight over the throne. Leave it for our children."

Bardas stabbed the knife in his hands into the table and stood up, spreading his arms. "Perfect. But for now, you must die. At least we must fake it."

Julius smiled and watched as Bardas went for the door. Stopping just before he walked out, he turned to Juluis. "Sorry if you have any friends with you right now, but everyone you came with will die tonight. It has to look authentic if we want to trick Father."

Julius curled his fist in anger but nodded, "I understand. Do what you must." Bardas smiled and left the room with his butler. Sitting at the table alone, Juluis looked at the feast and frowned. Picking up his knife and fork, he put the food to his mouth but hesitated and put it down. Even if Bardas said all that, he couldn’t trust him completely.