Rebellion (3): Blood on the Purple
Ioannikios Keroularios stepped into the palace. He gazed upon it with a satisfied expression. At that moment, a young man approached him. Ioannikios greeted the youth with a smile.
"How did it go?"
"The Varangian reports that the mission is complete."
"Heh heh heh. Perfect."
Ioannikios beamed broadly. Then, turning his eyes toward the purple chamber where the emperor primarily resided, he murmured softly.
"Did you think your power would last forever, Basilios?"
The emperor's death. It was all part of young Constantinos's scheme.
Constantinos had recruited Varangians who harbored grudges against Rogerius. Using them, he had devised a plot to eliminate the emperor and Uranus, who stood in the way of the nobles' ambitions.
The emperor's assassination. To achieve this, the Varangian guard needed to be drawn away from the palace. So, they had suborned the imperial guards to stage an attempt on Rogerius's life. Since it was a deliberate approach, it was only a matter of time before the Varangians noticed. Naturally, they would move to rescue their leader, and Constantinos had been waiting for that very moment.
The instant the Varangians departed, the nobles secretly deployed Bjorn. He approached the chamber where the emperor and Lord Uranus remained, under the guise of the remaining escort. Free of major suspicion, Bjorn succeeded in the assassination.
"You've handled the cleanup properly, I trust."
"No need to worry, Excellency. We've framed it so that the Varangian acted on Rogerius's orders to assassinate the emperor."
Bjorn, a Varangian by birth. Though abandoned by Rogerius, he had once been part of the Varangian guard, making him the perfect scapegoat. After killing the emperor, they had deliberately left traces to make it appear as though Rogerius was responsible.
"But will people believe that a Varangian tried to assassinate the emperor?"
Constantinos's question prompted Ioannikios to explain dismissively, as if it were no great issue.
"Whether one who enjoyed the emperor's favor tried to kill him is true or false doesn't matter."
Ioannikios paused briefly. Then he looked upon the young man, who burned with ambition for power much like himself.
"Do you know what can turn even a falsehood into truth?"
"What is it?"
"Power."
Ioannikios's curt reply. Just then, private soldiers of the Keroularios family approached, bearing a severed head in their hands. It was unmistakably that of a Varangian, starkly different from any East Roman. Whether it truly belonged to the man once called Bjorn mattered little to them.
"Excellency, we've searched the palace, but Zoi Porphyrogenita is nowhere to be found."
The nobles had planned to capture Zoi and marry her to Michael, Leonus's adopted son, to legitimize their claim. Securing her person was essential, yet she had vanished. Their scheme had hit a snag.
Constantinos wore a worried expression.
"Excellency, without the purple bloodline, our legitimacy will falter. The duces of the military districts may well rise in rebellion."
Ioannikios closed his eyes calmly. After a moment's contemplation, he opened them again, as if struck by a brilliant idea.
"She's not in the palace, but Emperor Constantinos and Theodora Porphyrogenita are elsewhere."
For Zoi's marriage negotiations, Basil II and Uranus had arranged a separate venue. While those two held their private talks, Zoi's father Constantinos and her sister Theodora waited nearby for the discussions to conclude. They were still unaware that Basil II and Uranus were dead. Thus, summoning them here and taking them into custody would secure their persons.
Losing Zoi was a misstep, but other cards remained in play. There was no need for haste.
"Send word that Basilios has summoned them regarding the marriage matter."
"Understood."
The adjutant turned to leave upon receiving the order.
"It might be better if Constantinos goes rather than you."
Ioannikios said this while pointing to the adjutant's armor. It was stained with blood, splattered gruesomely from severing Bjorn's head, exuding an aura of terror. Naturally, arriving like that would arouse suspicion, so the adjutant nodded.
"Constantinos."
"Yes, Excellency."
"If you bring soldiers, the emperor and the Porphyrogenita will surely grow suspicious. You'll have to go alone and persuade them to come. Can you do it?"
"I shall meet your expectations."
Constantinos bowed courteously to Ioannikios. Then he departed the palace alone, heading toward where Constantinos and Theodora waited.
Once Constantinos had gone, Ioannikios issued orders to his adjutant.
"Follow him discreetly. Intervene decisively if any unforeseen issues arise."
I spurred my horse hard and arrived at the palace swiftly. As I dismounted and moved to enter, she blocked my path.
"Wait a moment."
Zoi's sudden action. I tried to push past her, but she showed no sign of yielding.
"If you go in now, everything will play out just as our enemies want."
"There's still a chance His Majesty and my foster father are alive."
Zoi stared at me silently. Then she slowly shook her head.
"You already know that's not true."
A surge of rage and regret washed over me. Shame toward Lord Nikephoros, who had trusted and adopted me as his son. And as captain of the Varangian Guard sworn to protect the emperor, remorse for failing to prevent his assassination. Variables abounded, but none excused my failure to fulfill my duty.
My fault. It was all my fault.
"It was my failing. I couldn't protect His Majesty... my foster father..."
My voice thick with regret. Tears welled in Zoi's eyes as she stood before me.
"Enough... please, stop. In this moment, I'm the one who's most heartbroken... just stop."
Zoi, who had lost her uncle as if he were her father. The tears gathering at the corners of her eyes bespoke her longing for him.
"My apologies, Excellency."
"...No. Lord Rogerius, you've lost your foster father too. I understand your pain fully. But regrets and grief can wait."
Zoi wiped her tears with her hand. Then she met my gaze.
"We've lost those two, but my father and sister are still inside. We must save them. It's the only way to stop the nobles from devouring this empire."
The palace where Basil II and Lord Nikephoros had been. Zoi had told me that Emperor Constantinos VIII and Theodora waited nearby, not far from the palace, for the marriage talks to end.
"The nobles already know I'm gone. They'll do anything to capture my father and sister. It's their path to legitimacy."
The nobles had assassinated the emperor. Of course, they'd conceal it and fabricate a falsehood. Or pin it on someone else—and from the circumstances, that someone was me.
The reason they'd recruited Bjorn, who bore me ill will, bypassing skilled assassins to employ a Varangian. It was obvious: to frame me for the emperor's murder.
Those close to me—Angelos, Asakios, Manuel, and Ioannis—wouldn't believe the nobles' claims. But others might. Power turns lies into truth. Such fabricated falsehoods could deceive the masses. The tongue could kill, a terrifying force. Yet power like that came with constraints. It required legitimacy from those who held it: Co-Emperor Constantinos VIII or Theodora.
"We must rescue them. Otherwise, not only you, but the entire Macedonian dynasty will become the nobles' puppets and fall."
"Understood, Excellency. Tell me where His Majesty and Lady Theodora are."
Zoi pointed to the annex opposite the palace.
"There."
At her words, I remounted. I turned to Halvar, who had drawn near.
"Halvar."
Halvar's face was etched with guilt over his brother's fate. I had planned for him to come along, but his condition was poor, so I decided to leave him here.
"Stay with Alton and protect Her Excellency."
"...No... I will obey Yarls's command."
Halvar was in rough shape. I asked Alton to look after him and called for Bachana. Then Zoi appeared before me, blocking my path as if refusing to stay with Halvar and Alton.
"I'm not staying. I'll rescue my father and sister myself."
Her actions were understandable. Having just lost her uncle, she couldn't bear losing the remaining two. Regrettably, I could sympathize but not comply.
"My apologies, Excellency, but you cannot come."
"Do you think I'll be a hindrance? I'm skilled with a blade, and..."
"Your tactical acumen is renowned. I know full well."
I regarded her silently. Zoi, flushed with excitement, gradually regained her composure.
"As Your wise Excellency already knows, the nobles seek the purple bloodline. And you are part of it."
That was precisely why I couldn't take her. But Zoi was no pushover.
"Which is exactly why I must go."
This was a side of Zoi I rarely saw. Curious, I met her eyes, prompting her to explain.
"If you go alone to rescue my father and sister, they'll suspect you immediately."
She had a point. But it wasn't enough to convince me.
"I can handle that."
"You might think explaining my uncle's death will let you bring them out safely, but they've endured such situations many times before."
The two rebellions during Basil II's reign. The rebels had approached Constantinos VIII and Theodora then too, seeking legitimacy.
"That's why I, as family, must persuade them myself."
"..."
Truth be told, it wasn't entirely unreasonable. Pushing back further would only breed resentment. Moreover...
The woman before me now overlapped with the image of my former lover. My mind screamed no, but my mouth betrayed me.
"Very well. But you must obey my orders precisely."
"Of course."
Zoi nodded. She and I mounted our horses and galloped off to rescue the emperor and Theodora.