Chapter 380 - 268: Empress Dowager
"Helena."
A woman’s voice rang out. It belonged to a young woman.
Her hair was a light brown with reddish tones, pulled up tightly into a bun, with two loose strands framing her face. Her skin was fair, her eyes a sharp blue. She noticed Eric, a stranger in this familiar room.
She walked toward Olympia.
The old Nun who had led Olympia in earlier gave a slight bow, showing her respect for the woman, and explained.
"Your Grace, Empress Dowager Maria, Miss Olympia is following the Emperor’s wishes by receiving an important guest. This was a sudden arrangement, and we know your morning prayers begin very early and that you loathe to be disturbed."
The woman didn’t respond to the old Nun. Instead, her gaze fell upon Brinyos, who stood beside Eric.
"Brinyos," she said, calling his name as a question.
"Yes, Empress Dowager. This is the Emperor’s will." Brinyos bowed as well, speaking respectfully to the woman named Maria. "This is the Earl of Gloucester from the England Kingdom, a distinguished member of the Norman Nobility and Miss Olympia’s brother."
Maria looked at Eric again.
"Lord Gloucester, this is His Majesty the Emperor’s foster mother," Brinyos added for Eric’s benefit.
"Helena, you haven’t done your morning pra—"
Maria looked at Olympia, but her words were cut short.
Olympia interrupted her directly, speaking first.
"Maria, this is my brother, Eric De Outville."
"A Norman from Apulia?" Maria asked, looking at Eric.
"Yes. Thank you for taking care of my sister, Olympia, all this time." Eric gave a slight bow.
"Olympia is a good girl."
Maria looked at Olympia, instinctively wanting to pat her head. However, she was nearly the same height as Olympia—in fact, Olympia seemed a fraction taller.
She retracted her hand in time, quite naturally.
"My dearest brother," Olympia emphasized.
"Is that so?" Maria rested her chin on her hand, seemingly in thought.
Olympia turned her head and muttered under her breath in Lombard, ’I have three brothers. One is a warmonger, one is greedy, and only this middle one is currently normal. But I was only five when he was exiled. What do you expect a five-year-old girl to remember? So don’t take it too seriously.’
"What are you saying?" Maria noticed Olympia muttering.
"I said, he’s a good brother." Olympia lifted her head and patted Eric’s shoulder.
"Out of courtesy, perhaps we should show this esteemed Earl Norman around the Monastery where you live, Helena. To ensure he truly believes you are being well cared for here." Maria glanced at Eric, as if asking his opinion.
"I would be delighted," Eric did not refuse.
Maria nodded, then turned to lead the way for Eric.
’I told you not to take it seriously. It’s just formalities,’ Olympia muttered under her breath again before following.
Brinyos seemed tired. He slapped his own cheeks to wake himself up, then followed as well.
They exited the hall and proceeded down a corridor, heading deeper into the Monastery.
It was time for the Monastery to prepare breakfast, which was served after morning prayers. The aromas from the cooking utensils hidden in the kitchen wove into thick waves of fragrance, sometimes wafting toward them, sometimes dissipating.
Brinyos, who had been insisting he wasn’t hungry, had his stomach rumble again.
"It is not a fasting period. Some of the Nuns enjoy roasting pork and figs. Perhaps you would like some, Lord Brinyos. The Nuns are happy to provide food for people," Maria said, gesturing toward the kitchen.
At the kitchen entrance, a Nun was roasting lamb over a brazier.
Brinyos insisted he didn’t need any, that he wasn’t hungry now, but Eric noticed him hesitate.
In the end, Eric gave him a shove inside.
Maria shot Eric a slightly surprised look but said nothing. She continued walking, entering the Monastery’s courtyard. The courtyard was quite large, filled with lush greenery and potted plants. As it was summer, the fragrance of the plants was strong.
Passing a magnificent church, Maria introduced it. "Saint Euphemia Church. I worship and pray here. Though it’s not as ornate as other churches—it has no mosaics, excessive architectural decoration, or even any Holy Images—everything here returns to the beginning."
"But it allows one to find peace. I believe there is a Power here greater than architecture and art. Praying here, perhaps, brings one closer to God."
"Olympia is also very fond of this place. She usually prays only here. It calms her."
Eric looked at Olympia, who nodded. "Oh, I love it here. I always find peace here."
"Is that so? We can build a similar one in Normandy when the time comes." Eric patted Olympia’s head.
Olympia smiled and nodded, then turned her head away and muttered under her breath, ’As if. Morning and evening prayers leave me exhausted. Lack of sleep makes me irritable. I only stay here because I can’t go back to bed, and this place is so simple there’s nothing to smash, which keeps me from making a scene.’
’For me, the best gift is sleep. Please, just give me the biggest, softest bed.’
A short while later, bells began to ring.
At first, it was just one bell, perhaps from the Saint Sophia Cathedral. Soon, the bell of another, more distant church joined in, then another, and another. The chimes of bells near and far rang out one after another until the entire city of Constantinople echoed with their melody.
The tones of the bells varied, from crisp, high-pitched, angelic sounds to deep, resonant ones.
These holy sounds from every corner of the city marked the end of morning prayers and the beginning of the day, bringing a sense of tranquility and peace to the new day.
Afterward, Maria led Eric on a tour of Olympia’s room. As they were coming out, Maria suddenly grabbed Eric’s arm and whispered:
"Mikhail said you could be trusted. You’ll be on our side, won’t you?"
"Those are two different things. The first depends on whether you are equally trustworthy. The second depends on whether you can be of ’value’ to me."
"What do you want?"
"A timely chaos, a pair of valuable bargaining chips, an unexpected inside man... Show me the value you can bring me," Eric said.
"What’s wrong, Maria? Why are you holding onto my brother?" Olympia’s voice piped up.
"There’s a threshold at his feet. I was just reminding him not to trip."
"But there’s no threshold here," Olympia said, pointing to the flat floor.
"Perhaps there is." Maria walked out of the room, headed in another direction, and then departed.
Olympia found that a bit strange.
Eric patted Olympia’s head, then took her hand and placed a bracelet on her wrist.
It was a sterling silver bracelet with an elegant curve. The band was slender but sturdy, its surface engraved with simple geometric patterns. A deep blue sapphire was set in the center, surrounded by four small diamonds, and the ends of the bracelet finished in a delicate vine motif.
It was a beautiful bracelet, and Olympia was captivated by it.
"Olympia, you need to wait a little longer. I know that waiting is painful, because I have been there myself."
"I can’t take you away right now, but this bracelet will be with you. I hope it can give you Power. You can use it when you think you need to, to ensure your safety until I return." Eric patted Olympia’s shoulder.
"I’ll take care of myself, Brother Eric," Olympia nodded.
After Eric left, Olympia looked at the bracelet on her wrist, her fingertips gently tracing the inlaid gemstone as she muttered:
’Just formalities, just formalities... but at least he left something. Perhaps the future is already set... sails, sails, the sea breeze blows, a small boat drifts, carrying hope... will it be able to return to shore...?’