Chapter 89: Emperor is also a human. 1097 CE

As Emperor Alexios stood in front of the commanders of the crusaders, they greeted him with respect. A sea of men were standing outside the walls of Constantinople, underneath the sun.

Pluto and Anna were in the walls of Constantinople, admiring the sight in front of them.

“I’ve never seen so many men in one place…” murmured Anna. “Is this what Paris felt when he saw the Greeks outside the walls of Troy?”

“I frankly don’t care about him.” said Pluto coldly. “Come one princess, you said you want to see your father.”

Anna nodded, and she walked with Pluto towards a platform near where the Emperor was standing. They looked at the crown below them, armoured men were entering the city, greeting the emperor.

Anna admired his father, she looked at him with respect and love, she stared at his father, armoured from shoulder to toe.

“I wish I could be like father some day.” commented Anna.

“Standing in front of a crowd?” scoffed Pluto.

“No.” huffed Anna. “Respected. Valued. The life of a Byzantine princess isn’t exactly a fun thing… only good for marriage…”

“Don’t be so pessimistic.” chuckled Pluto. “I’m sure you could be a great woman in the future.”

“Like an empress?” questioned Anna hopefully.

Pluto sighed. “Princess, I have told you many times-”

“Yes, I know.” murmured Anna in disappointment. “But I could take it by force, my mother supported me…”

“Anna.” said Pluto, dropping the courtesy. “Being an Empress and staging a coup isn’t a game, people will die, your close family will die, it’s not worthy, your brother is a good heir, and he loved you like an elder sister, so I advised you to not listen to your mother’s whisper.”

Anna then looked at her father, greeting the generals of the crusade politely. “Father staged a coup once, and he’s now the emperor.”

“Your father is different,” said Pluto. “He was a general before he was emperor, he had many accomplishments, while you? You just sat in the library all day.”

Anna then clenched her fist. “What am I supposed to do then? I couldn’t do anything more besides that, I will be married in a couple of months, and my only duty will just be giving my husband children.”

Pluto sighed. “I know Anna, I pity your situation, but you cannot be selfish either.”

“Can you help me then?” asked Anna. “Get out of this cycle.”

Pluto raised his eyebrow. “You know, your father told me to bring you in my travels after Phastos’s contract is done.”

Anna’s eyes shone. “Then can you?”

“No.” said Pluto, making Anna disappointed. “But I have an alternative for you.”

“And what kind of alternative is that, teacher?”

“I’ll give you something.”

“What kind of ‘something’?” questioned Anna again, rolling her eyes.

“You like to dream, right Anna?” asked Pluto back.

“Daydreaming? I did that all the time…”

“Then I can make you live in those dreams,” said Pluto. “As well as control it.”

Anna was confused. “I don’t understand.”

Pluto smiled. “Just sleep tonight, I’ll give you the best dream you will ever have.”

Anna was still confused, but nodded nonetheless.

—

The next morning, Pluto was woken up by a loud banging from his door. Pluto groaned as he heard it, and walked up to the door, before opening it.

He saw Anna, looking at Pluto with excitement. “How did you do that?!” shouted Anna.

“Do what?” Pluto smirked.

“L-Last night! I- I dreamed of becoming an empress– a-and it just felt so real! I feel like it’s actually real, but it’s not! Father chose me instead of John, a-and people loved me, I- I also married y-” before she could continue, she blushed, and shut up. “H-How did you do that?” she asked again.

“Want to know?” smiled Pluto.

“Yes!”

“Well, you have to work hard to get it.” answered Pluto. 

“What?”

“Show me what you can accomplish,” said Pluto calmly. “Then I’ll show you how to do it.”

“Accomplish?” questioned Anna. “What can I do?”

“I don’t know.” shrugged Pluto. “You need to figure it out by yourself.”

Anna frowned. “That’s not fair.”

Pluto just ruffled her messy hair, and said. “You’re a good writer Anna, maybe you could write about something.”

“Like what?”

Pluto shrugged again. “I don’t know, figure it out yourself.”

Pluto then stepped back, and slammed the door in front of her, making her huff in annoyance.

—

Princess Anna was now sitting in front of her father, she had been called by him, she didn’t know why.

“Anna.” Her father spoke. “How have you been?”

“I am fine, father.” answered Anna calmly, maintaining her composure.

“How is your study with Pluto?”

“The lessons are interesting, father…”

Her father hummed, and looked at her intensely, making Anna a bit uncomfortable.

“Do you hate me, Anna?”

Anna was surprised. “F-Father?”

“You will not be Empress because of me, do you hate me?”

“O-Of course not, father!” exclaimed Anna.

The Emperor smiled. “Then thank god it wasn’t the case…”

The Emperor then stood up, before walking to a desk. He grabbed something from the shelf, it was a set of writing utensils, all decorated with jewelry.

“Pluto told me you liked writing.” commented her father.

“Y-Yes… he taught me how…”

“You read books too?” asked The Emperor again, as if it wasn't obvious.

“Yes.” answered Anna again.

“You like to read what? Aristotle? Herodotus?” questioned The Emperor again, making Anna flinched. 

“I-”

“Do not worry Anna, I am not going to punish you.” spoke the emperor softly. He then gave the writing utensils to Anna. “Here, for you.”

“Father?”

The emperor smiled. “I want you to know that I am proud of you, Anna. continue to do what you like, if you don’t want to marry and want to delve into your hobby, you just have to ask.”

“Father…”

“I’m truly sorry, Anna, but I could not make you the Empress, you know why…”

Anna just nodded guiltily, and didn’t dare to look at her father.

“Anna, look at me.” said the Emperor, and she looked at him. “Anna, write about me, will you? I’m sure you’ll do well at it.”

Anna’s eyes shone with ideas. “I- Will try my best father!”