Chapter 380: Arriving in Constantinople (1/2)

Days had passed, and the Royal Clipper had arrived within the boundaries of the City of Constantinople. The moment such a massive vessel came within the city's vicinity, it had caused a great commotion. Until now, nobody had ever seen such an enormous ship before. It was frankly defying what the people of the Byzantine Empire knew about shipbuilding.

Naturally, only one person within the Meditteranean could build such a massive vessel. With this in mind, Emperor Vetranis and his family personally traveled to the docks to meet Berengar and his host. However, the ports in Constantinople were not large enough to accommodate such a large ship, as such Berengar and his host used several of the rowboats on board to reach the docks, while the clipper was anchored further out at sea.

Berengar was first to step on the docks, and as he did so, Emperor Vetrnais went up and shook his hand with an excited expression on his face.

”King Berengar, it is a pleasure to have you within my city. I hope your journey went without difficulties?”

Immediately after saying this, Honoria appeared and stood next to Berengar. After that fateful night where Berengar had disciplined her and the others, she was now far more submissive to her man—standing quietly by his side and latching onto his hand with a smile on her face. Berengar smiled in return when she approached and immediately answered her father's words.

”There were some minor difficulties, but nothing I couldn't handle, right, Honoria?”

Honoria immediately flinched when hearing this; the pain she had felt in her buttocks after Berengar had so viciously spanked her still resounded within her mind every time she thought about the incident. As such, she quickly and obediently nodded her head in response to Berengar's question.

”As Berengar has said, it was nothing we couldn't handle.”

Vetranis smiled as he heard this while waiting for the rest of Berengar's host to depart from their rowboats. After all, had gathered, they began to reacquaint themselves with Honoria's family. Interestingly enough, there was one man present Berengar did not recognize; by process of elimination, he quickly surmised that this man who was roughly his age was none other than the second Prince Decentius.

Decentius glared at his sister with overwhelming hatred; if not for this girl and her actions, he would not have been forced into the corner that had caused his treasonous actions. While Honoria was hiding in Austria, getting railed by this Barbarian King, he had butchered his godfather and mentor in pursuit of power.

However, worst of all was the idea that his bloodline was being soiled by the descendent of barbarians who had destroyed the Western half of the ancient Empire centuries ago. It was because of this that he was far from courteous when he was given a chance to speak to Berengar face to face.

”So you are the barbarian who is fucking my bitch of a sister. Congratz, I hope she at least has tight pussy, because that is about the only thing that can make up for the trouble she will inevitably cause you!”

Berengar was astonished that a member of the Imperial Dynasty would speak in such an offensive manner to a foreign dignitary. He was not the only one who was enraged by Decentius's actions; the boy's father immediately raised his hand and struck the prince across the face, causing his lip to bleed as he began to chastise him.

”How dare you speak of your sister that way!?! You call King Berengar a barbarian and yet speak in such a foul manner while greeting a foreign dignitary? You have spent too much time around common foot soldiers, so much so that you have forgotten your etiquette as a prince of the Empire!”

Decentius gazed at his father with fury; he could not fathom that the Emperor would strike his son in front of a Barbarian King from the West. In his eyes, It was simply disgraceful for Romans to lower their heads to the savage Germans.  Apparently, Decentius had not received the memo that the Kingdom of Austria was now every bit the Byzantine Empire's equal, if not superior. Either that or he was too proud to admit it.

Berengar instead had a calm expression on his face. He immediately began to respond to Decentiu's uncouth statement with the dignity of a monarch.

”I am a barbarian, am I? Well, maybe you should treat this barbarian with some respect. After all, it is my Kingdom that manufactures the weapons you have used to achieve your victory in North Africa.”

While Berengar knew the truth about what had transpired in Cairo, he decided it would be wise not to reveal his hand and thus provoke Decentius into doing something stupid. At the same time, they stayed within the confines of the Imperial Palace. After all, Berengar did not want to spend his wedding looking over his shoulder for a potential assassination attempt.

Decentius' expression turned ugly when he heard this retort; he had never expected Berengar to respond in such a manner. Based upon his prejudices about the German people, he assumed Berengar would immediately slug him for his vulgarity.

Honoria, on the other hand, was not the slightest bit enraged by Decentius' behavior; throughout her entire life, she was never close with her siblings and was aware that her second brother had long since despised her. The fact that she ran away clearly did not help matters.

Seeing that the atmosphere was becoming tense, Vetranis tried immediately began to shift the conversation to the task at hand.

”Well then, King Berengar, if you and your host are ready, we will be departing for the palace now.”

Upon hearing this, Berengar smiled and nodded before he led his family and his royal guards towards the Castle. Though the guards appeared unarmed, they each wielded a 1422 Snub-Nose Agency Revolver in their pockets, as well as several dozen rounds of ammunition. They were also were equipped with a boot knife.