1627 Summer(June – August)

‘Blink’

“Oh, great.”

My eyesight grew so worst that I couldn’t see clearly even with my glasses. I called the Physician to the King and had my eyes examined.

“I, I’m afraid it’s a cataract, B, Basileus!”

‘Sigh’

“T, the only way to treat it is as surgery. W, would you...?”

“Never mind. I’m already 71(*MC was born on July 7, 1556) now, and thanks to Holy Father, Jesus Christ, and Virgin Mary’s blessing, have had all the glory a man could ever dream!”

“B, Basileus....”

“I guess the Almighty God is now trying to summon me to heaven. You can go now.”

Of course, the real reason was that I couldn’t trust this era’s cataract surgery, with no decent anesthetic. But I decided it was better not to say it aloud.

At my words

“I, it’s an honor to s, serve you, B, Basileus!”

The Physician to the King was deeply touched by my words, prostrating himself before me. I bestowed some silver ingots on him before shoving him away.

1627 Fall(September – November)

“Basileus! A massive popular revolt by peasants occurred, driving Ming into chaos! It’s the biggest one we’ve ever witnessed!”

“Li Zicheng revolted in this time line, too, huh?”

“H, how did you know the name of the head of the rebels when I didn’t report it yet, B, Basileus?”

“...I have my source. By the way, shouldn’t you be reporting this to Richard, the #1 shareholder of your company?”

“T, that’s...”

“Well, it’s okay. Richard must be busy with American colonies, British Isles, the Netherlands, and Iberia, you know.”

“T, thank you for your benevolence, B, Basileus.”

“Don’t do anything dangerous, like fully supporting the rebels or the Ming royals. Just keep watching the situation.”

“W, we’ll do as you say, Basileus.”

Well, since my days are numbered, the news from the Far East became my leisure.

I wonder what happened to my ex-girlfriend from Hong Kong in my previous life after my 1st life’s death. Though I broke up with her due to several reasons, it was thanks to her that I became interested in the Far East and learned about Korea, China, and Japanese History during my college life along with my major, Economics.

F**king Xi Jinping!

I hope Hong Kong will be a much peaceful region in this timeline.

Also, setting aside my personal reasons, since the Suez Canal is almost being completed, the New East Roman Empire should be aware of the Far East as well!

1627 Winter(December)

The Turkish Amirs(=feudal lords) in Eastern Anatolia asked for my protection. They would rather see a New Roman laurel wreath in their hometown than the Persian Shiite Turban, to protect their Sunni Islam faith.

However, I refused their request.

“I’m afraid that’s your business, which is not my concern.”

‘Cough’

The truth is since my body was getting weaker day by day, with death looming by, quarreling with Persia would be a heavy burden for my 10-year-old heir, Arthur. (* Arthur was born in 1617 December.)

“I, I see...”

“T, thank you for your time, B, Basileus.”

Of course, they looked depressed. But, they didn’t ask for more and returned.

Persia didn’t march more westward either, out of worry that it might trigger my fury just like I did to Venice, leaving the eastern Anatolia region as a buffer zone of 2 empires – The New East Roman Empire and Persia.

1628 Summer(June – August)

I came to spent most of my time, lying in bed, although I still looked at documents and did paperwork.

“Basileus! The Augustus of the West, Richard has sent a small bottle of isopropyl alcohol as a sample, which can be used as a disinfectant, along with its’ production method!”

“Oh?”

“It is said that Brussels was the 1st place that successfully produced it, and the New West Roman Empire government will monopolize its’ production and sales in their realm.”

“What are we waiting for? Order the manufacturing complexes in Greek and Anatolia region to mass-produce it, too!”

“Yes, Basileus.”

Currently, it is said that the massive reclamation project is being carried out in the Netherlands region of the New West Roman Empire, increasing the threshold of the population. With the drastic increase in agricultural production, perhaps the Malthusian Trap wasn’t a problem, yet.

Even the population of the North American colonies of the New West Roman Empire reached a million.

‘Well, it’s not my concern anymore, but Richard’s. Maybe he’s trying to toss all the surplus population into the North American colonies.’

1628 Winter(December)

‘Achoo!’

It was a much colder winter than before. I tried with all my might to be careful as possible, but, with my old body and my age, I failed. Yes, I ended up catching a cold.

Though the Physician to the King told me it was no big deal, I knew it wasn’t. He must have told me white lies so as not to cross my - Basileus’ - mind.

So that’s why I summoned my 3rd and current wife, Hildegard.

“W, what can I do for you, B, Basileus?”

‘Sigh’

“First, from now on, in private, you can address me as ‘Edward’, my dear.”

“P, pardon?”

“Second, if I die, don’t worry about me, but think only yourself.”

“W, what do you mean?”

“Get remarried if I die. You’re too young to live as a widow after my death.”

Though it will cost me an arm and a leg to ask Richard – my eldest son, the 2nd Imperator of the New West Roman Empire - to be a regent of the New East Roman Empire and become Arthur’s custodian after my death, I can’t let a young lady like Hildegard waste her life even after I’m gone.

However

“P, please, I, I beg you, B, Basil...no, E, Edward, don’t!”

“How can I leave Porphyrogenitus, my beloved Arthur?”

Though she’s not clever, she’s a devoted woman to her husband and her child, just like Sarah in the Old Testament, which is a rare type of girl these days.

“It’s because I feel too sorry for you, my dear."

"Thinking of you spending the rest of your life as a widow, after my death, breaks my heart!”

And I wrote a piece of pledge – stating that if she were to get remarried after my death, I wish to provide her all the wedding gifts she request - and handed it to her before shoving her away from my room.

Next morning. that paper was folded neatly at my bedside.

‘Sniff’

“My, of my, I must have grown old. Now, I can’t do anything as I wish, can I?”