Chapter 378 - 267: Aphrodite and Helen
Eric didn’t give a direct answer to Alexios’s proposal, instead deflecting it skillfully.
Eric asked Alexios about his sister’s situation. Alexios told him that he would arrange for Brinyos to take him to see her tomorrow, assuring him that she was being well cared for in Constantinople.
After that, Eric made some more small talk with Alexios before asking to take his leave and departing from the private room.
He needed to get back quickly.
This had been a private conversation with Alexios. He couldn’t let his companions realize it, or things would get complicated.
In fact, Eric was truly relieved that Alexios had chosen a private meeting. It saved him the trouble of having to put off his comrades, especially Count Evler.
When he returned to the great hall where the Norman Knights were gathered, the place was in chaos. The Knights were all thoroughly drunk, flirting with the serving girls. Wine cups and jugs were strewn about, and the air, thick with the smell of alcohol and the smoky scent of burning torches, was filled with raucous laughter and shouting.
Eric feigned drunkenness as well. He swayed, steadying himself with one hand on the edge of a table. With the other, he grabbed a cup, tilted his head back, and drained it in one gulp. Then, wiping his mouth with his sleeve, he blended into the crowd.
A few Knights saw him return and sauntered over, roaring with laughter.
"Lord Gloucester!" one of the Knights shouted with a grin. "Where did you go? Were you off having some fun without us?"
Eric wasn’t annoyed in the slightest. A sly smile spread across his face as he leaned in conspiratorially, lowering his voice as if sharing a great secret. "Fun isn’t the word for it. It was more of a... beautiful encounter. I just met a woman from Greece... Oh, she puts the serving girls here to shame. So beautiful it makes your head spin."
Another Knight’s eyes lit up. His face flushed with excitement, he pushed forward eagerly. "Go on, tell us! What was she like?"
"She was a fiery little thing. A full head of black, silky curls cascading down to her waist. And that body—a narrow waist, long legs, and curves that could make a man’s heart pound just watching her walk. And her eyes... they sparkled with a kind of bewitching Charm."
"And then?" a Knight urged impatiently. "What did she say to you?"
Eric feigned recollection. "She drew near and whispered to me, ’My Lord Knight, you are truly one of a kind. I have never seen such a handsome Norman Warrior.’"
"Whoa!" The surrounding Knights gasped in amazement. Some started banging on the table and laughing, while others gave him a thumbs-up.
"What next? What did you say back?" another Knight pressed, dying to hear what happened.
Eric shook his head slowly, deliberately drawing out the suspense. "I gave her a look and said with a smile, ’My lovely lady, if you wish to learn more about the... ’valor’ of the Normans, perhaps we could find a more... ’private’ place to chat.’"
"HAHAHA! Now that’s our Norman Count!" the Knights cheered, some of them whistling.
Seeing their wild reaction, Eric paused for effect before continuing. "Then she gave a little smile and whispered, ’I know a place... very quiet, where no one will disturb us...’ Her voice was as light as a feather, drifting into my ear."
The Knights were on the edge of their seats, their eyes wide with anticipation as they stared at Eric.
Eric continued, "After she said that, she quietly pulled me toward the back... We went down a dim little hallway. She pressed up against me, her hand straying to my waist, and whispered in my ear, ’Lord Earl, you know no one can disturb us here, don’t you?’"
"And then?! Don’t stop now! Lord Earl, don’t tell me you came back after just that!" one Knight couldn’t help but shout, his face a mask of urgency.
Eric waved a hand, gesturing for them to be patient. With a wicked grin, he said, "Well then... I decided to play along. I asked her, ’So, how would you like me to prove my... ’valor’?’"
"What did she say?!" The Knights were practically bursting with anticipation.
Eric spread his hands. "She said, ’My Lord Knight, could you please help me move that stack of wine barrels? I just twisted my ankle and can’t move them.’"
The hall fell silent for a moment. Everyone stared, stunned. Then, as if a powder keg had been lit, the Knights exploded into thunderous laughter, doubling over in hysterics.
"Move wine barrels?! HAHAHA! Gloucester, you poor bastard!" one Knight howled, slamming his fist on the table as he laughed.
"I knew it! I knew it! Lord Gloucester is famous for his abstinence and restraint! And here I was, actually expecting a risqué story from him."
"Hahaha, so did you actually move the barrels for her?" another Knight asked, laughing so hard he was crying.
Eric shrugged with an innocent look. "Of course I did," he said with a smile. "After all, I am a man of ’Knightly Spirit’!"
...
The next day, Eric rose very early.
The other Normans, however, were still sleeping off the previous night’s excessive drinking and wouldn’t be lucid until the afternoon at the earliest.
Brinyos was waiting for Eric at the entrance to the Imperial Palace.
Brinyos looked exhausted, with dark circles under his eyes. The sixteen-year-old had been stewing all night over the harsh words Russell had directed at his father the previous evening, silently fuming.