In the city of Olympia.
Queen Zoe from the Cyrus Peninsula has arrived in the city of Olympia, and the city lord Apirius has come to greet her in person.
The reason why he did not agree to the request of the Southwestern Crusaders was because his eldest granddaughter was about to arrive in Olympia, making it difficult for Apirius to cope with the situation.
"My dear Majesty, you are much more mature than last time." Apirius helped Zoe out of the car.
"My dear grandfather, you haven't changed since last time. The lifespan of a demigod is truly something mortals like me envy." Zoe smiled and placed her hand in her grandfather's arm.
Zoe at this time was already a lady who was almost thirty years old. Time did not seem to have left many traces on her face, except that the traces of her youthfulness that originally belonged to a girl were completely faded away, and replaced with the unique charm that belonged to a woman.
Looking at Zoe's noble and graceful dress, grandfather Apirius's thoughts couldn't help but fly to his other little granddaughter, Theodora.
Zoe is about 6 years older than Theodora. Now Zoe is 28 and Theodora is 21. Have his two granddaughters really grown up
Then, Apirius saw Zoe's husband, a fat banker from Athens, walking out of the car with a smile and nodding in greeting to his demigod elder.
Apirius was slightly displeased and nodded modestly in response.
In fact, whether it is Zoe, Theodora or Apirius, this family are typical visual animals. They prefer handsome and beautiful young girls and have little interest in those who are not good-looking.
As for the marriage between Zoe and the banker, it was a purely political marriage: the other party had considerable connections and financial resources in Athens and could help Zoe consolidate her ruling foundation in Cyrene as soon as possible.
As for privately, the two of them almost played separately and basically never slept in the same room. Zoe secretly kept several beautiful boys from Siris, and her banker husband naturally had his own secret lover, which was in line with the aristocratic customs of this era.
Rather, it is better to say that people like Theodora, who keep themselves clean and always follow the person they love, are the outliers among the nobles.
Thinking this, Apirius took Zoe and her husband to the palace in Olympia.
"How is the Crusade going now?" Zoe asked casually after entering the palace and dismissing the accompanying waiters.
This tone of questioning a subordinate made the banker husband feel uneasy, but Apirius did not show any anger at being offended by his granddaughter, and just said lightly:
"It is said that the mercenaries are making good progress and have already advanced to the Thracian Plain."
The entire Thrace province was mountainous in the west and plain in the east. Since the plains had been pushed down, that is to say, the fortresses in the mountainous areas had been removed, the Crusaders could pass freely.
As for the Thracian Plain, there are no fortresses that are easy to defend and difficult to attack. Across this area is the giant Theodosian Wall of Constantinople.
"It seems I have to prepare my jewelry and clothes to return to Constantinople." Zoe said with a smile.