Monuments of Thessaloniki

"Nothing, nothing," Antonius waved his hand. "According to the court physicians, it is nothing but merely all those old injuries that have come back to me. I call this a punishment by God, for I have killed just way too many people in the past… Give that to me, Cerberus."

Cerberus passed a bottle to the old emperor, who took it and gulped it down.

"What is that, father?" Leo asked, despite already knowing from the strong scent of liquor emanating from his father's mouth.

"Good things."

"I see."

The old emperor seemed revitalised, as he stood up by himself again.

"Now, we ought to get back to Constantinople. We have squandered too much time out here, and your mother is already mad at us."

Then, the old emperor glanced at his adopted son as well. "Well, Giovanni, there is no need for you to go back to Commander Aurelian now; you shall come back with me."

"Yes, father."

…

The royal family set off once again the next day.