Some time later, it was roughly noon.
"Manuel, please allow us, your humble servants, to welcome your return." In the archives of the Trabzon Palace, the elderly Greek scholar, John Anagnostes, considered the head scholar of the institution, respectfully bowed his head before the visiting monarch.
Manuel showed little expression, merely nodding gently as if in approval.
He then allowed the scholars before him to resume their positions, and as he had done during his previous discussions with the archivists, he began by casually discussing some religious and daily matters before moving on to the main topic of his visit.
"So, Caesar, do you wish to confirm the progress of the general bill today?" Upon hearing Caesar's mention of the matter, George Amiroutzes, who had always sought a higher position, immediately stepped forward and asked in a very fawning manner.
Manuel merely smiled and nodded in response to his question.
"Then, with your permission, we ask Caesar to personally review it." After discussing with the scholars present for a moment, Anagnostes turned to Caesar and gave this reply.
"That's good," Manuel thought.
The scholars before him then presented him with a draft sample of the constitutional law they had completed, allowing their monarch to personally review their achievements.
After Manuel received and carefully read it for about half an hour, he was satisfied and affirmed their achievements over the past few months, "Holy Father above, you have all done quite well." At this point, his words immediately took a turn, "However, in my personal opinion, here, and here, and also there, the articles of these laws would be best if slightly more concise.
After all, it is not meant to demonstrate specific judicial administration, but rather to serve as a guideline that Pontus and Tauris must follow in the future…"
Over the next few hours, Manuel personally guided these scholars, making the already well-developed outline of constitutional law even more in line with his anticipated practical needs.
And because his own knowledge and abilities were relatively outstanding, the scholars, even if initially resistant, had their reservations vanish after listening to Caesar's detailed guidance.
Thus, by evening, Manuel's review of the results was largely concluded.
On his way back to his chambers, he took the opportunity to visit his wife, Barbara, who was recuperating, and had a good chat with her.
During their conversation, when he noticed her abdomen, his mind suddenly heated up, and he blurted out his true thoughts, "It's almost time, how much longer do we have to wait?"
After speaking, Manuel immediately realized the strangeness in his words, quickly pursed his lips, and laughed, "Ah haha, just pretend I didn't say that."
"Manuel, you're nervous.
That's rare." Barbara did not show any reproach or anger at her husband's behavior, but rather narrowed her eyes and teased him with a half-smile.
"Ah, I already said to pretend I didn't say it…" Faced with his wife's teasing expression, Manuel couldn't help but babble in a somewhat flustered manner, "I'm just purely curious about what our second child will be like."
"Oh, this," After hearing Manuel's somewhat muddled statement, Barbara's calm demeanor instantly broke, "Am I not still pregnant? Besides the Holy Father, Holy Mother, and the saints, who can foretell the future of a fetus?"
"I don't know," he, as her husband, shook his head as if in agreement.
"…"
In this calm and everyday atmosphere, Manuel concluded his visit with his wife.
After eating dinner and then turning to play with his infant daughter, Justiana, to strengthen their father-daughter bond, he finally concluded his day's schedule.
"This feeling of peace is truly immersive and enjoyable," was his true thought before falling asleep that night.
At the same time, while the southern coast of the Black Sea in Asia Minor was peaceful and quiet, the neighboring Kingdom of Georgia in the South Caucasus remained in a state of war, with unrest throughout the country, just like the western part of Asia Minor.
In the middle of the night, in the city of Tbilisi, Alexander I, the King of Georgia, still sat on the throne in the royal palace, listening to his subordinates' reports.
At this moment, Alexander I, who was getting on in years, leaned slightly to the left on the throne, and like when he ruled the kingdom in his youth, he fixed his shrewd and keen dark eyes on the every move of the subordinate reporting to him.
Being stared at by King Alexander in this manner, the subordinate reporting to him was also extremely nervous.
Although Caesar was already a middle-aged man over fifty, he still possessed enough cunning and ability to control these subjects whose loyalty was uncertain.
But how long could this last?
Georgia, plagued by internal and external troubles, could indeed rely on its strong ramparts and towering mountains to resist repeated barbarian incursions, but if there was no unity within the kingdom, would it not eventually split apart on its own, like other orthodox countries?
Thinking of this, Alexander I couldn't help but recall the past and present tragic situations of the neighboring Eastern Roman Empire and Kievan Rus', and he sighed deeply, pressing his hand to his forehead.
Then, thinking of the local forces within the country, led by Samtskhe, his gaze became even sharper.
After all, the one kneeling before him reporting was an envoy sent by Atabeg Ivan II of Samtskhe.
After listening to the other party's report, the King of Georgia's eyes immediately narrowed, and he smiled as he gave his reply, "Did you really come all the way here in the middle of the night just for this?"
"Caesar, the order to levy troops is an important matter for us in Samtskhe," the envoy replied, bowing his head, though his tone lacked any appropriate reverence for the King.
"Is that so," Alexander I responded with a casual smile, "Then forget about it, after all, Samtskhe is not on the front lines fighting barbarians, is it? If I recall correctly, the Principality of Samtskhe should be neighboring the Bosphorus Despotate."
"But Caesar, the Bosphorus Despotate recently overthrew the Komnenos family's rule in Trabzon," the envoy reminded him.
"Yes, but they are of the same lineage, aren't they? 'Trust your neighbors, they are not always so bad.'"
…
After a moment of silence, the envoy from Samtskhe returned empty-handed once again.
But Alexander I could not be happy, for the fact that Ivan II had previously been able to raise a rebellion without being deposed already indicated Samtskhe's unshakeable position.
Thinking of this, he couldn't help but feel a little envious of the young Despot of the neighboring Bosphorus Despotate; surely his rule of the country was much more convenient than his own, a king constrained by vassals.