After the conversation between the couple became serious again, they once again brought up the issues concerning Pontus.
"So, what do you plan to do with the Pontus region?" Barbara asked her Little husband with a serious expression.
"By the end of this month, I will quickly establish a rudimentary system similar to the one I structured on the Tauris Peninsula," Manuel replied with an equally serious expression, "At least I must ensure that Trabzon can operate as I intend before I return to Tauris to quell the rebellion."
"That sounds exhausting," Barbara sighed lightly in response. "But don't worry, during this time—no, at any time—I will help you."
Manuel felt a warmth spreading deep within him at his wife's reply. However, he did not dwell too long in this warm feeling; instead, after patting his cheeks a few times, he reset his expression to a serious one.
Seeing her husband's demeanor, Barbara, though a little puzzled, also adopted a more serious expression, then asked about another major issue, "What about Tauris then? That one unit of troops and the tax exemption order aren't enough, are they?" The unit of troops and tax exemption order she referred to were the 1,000 veterans Manuel immediately dispatched under Dungar and Vladimir to cross the sea and return to Tauris, along with an edict to exempt all self-cultivating farmers on the entire Tauris Peninsula from taxes for the next year, after his coronation in Trabzon that day.
"Of course not. After all, this time it involves exiled Rus entering the territory and Tatars with unclear intentions, so it's definitely not as simple as local farmers resisting taxes." He chuckled helplessly when he mentioned this.
"Holy Mother, so that's how it is," Barbara exclaimed.
At this moment, the church bells in the city rang, making them notice the time. "Is it nine o'clock? We've been talking for so long." Manuel stared incredulously at the indicator on the church clock.
"Oh, I see," Barbara's expression was tinged with a sigh. "Speaking of which, apart from that one night, we haven't had such a comfortable chat in a long time."
"How does it feel?" Caesar asked his wife playfully.
"Not bad," Barbara ran her fingers through her black hair, her face slightly flushed. "One last question, how do you plan to deal with the throne pretender, Alexander Komnenos?"
"Well," her Little husband merely chuckled, "He's been placed under house arrest for now. As for his ultimate fate, I'll leave that to David Komnenos to consider and decide."
"Won't that be too cruel?" Barbara couldn't help but feel a chill.
"It shouldn't be too ruthless, after all, they are brothers," he simply laughed it off casually.
At this point in their conversation, a key member of the Dark Department suddenly requested to submit a report. After permission was granted, he sat down on the spot, received it, and read it.
After reading it, Caesar clapped his hands and smiled, "Farmers really are…" In the final moments of that morning, he sighed to his wife, "Isn't it just taking a little of their grain? Why won't they starve themselves for the country? They truly are a bunch of unruly commoners."
"You're a devil. Besides, if everyone starves, who will farm for you?" At this moment, Barbara was completely bewildered, in a state of utter confusion.
"That's why farmers are the bane of the country."
"Then why do you still eat wheat bread?!"
The morning banquet concluded with this complaint. Meanwhile, in another part of Trabzon, in the Komnenos family's exclusive palace, Caesar Manuel's nominal co-ruler, David Komnenos, was hesitating over how to finally deal with his brother. For Alexander Komnenos was currently under house arrest there, under his surveillance.
In fact, David was not hesitating due to familial affection. Although there was certainly an element of it, it was more for the sake of himself and the entire Komnenos family. Moreover, according to the interrogation report after Alexander's house arrest, he already knew that if the other party had truly seized the throne of Trabzon, then David, as a collaborator of the Gavras Family, would at the very least be sent to a monastery to live out his remaining days, and if things were worse, he would likely be blinded as well.
If his cousin and Brother-in-law himself had been willing to personally deal with Alexander, then David wouldn't have to worry about it now. But the other party had actually kicked the ball to him, which was truly annoying.
Ultimately, David decided to meet someone, someone who had long lost power but still lived a secure life.
At noon that day, after receiving permission from his Caesar cousin, David personally went to a castle in the city outskirts and met his elder brother: the former Basileus of Trabzon, John IV Komnenos.
John himself was currently having lunch with his wife and daughter in the castle. But upon David's visit, he quickly tidied his appearance and the room, meeting his brother, whom he hadn't seen in nearly two years, in the castle hall.
After a simple joint prayer, John got straight to the point, questioning David's intentions with an unemotional tone, "So, my brother, why are you here to see me instead of assisting our cousin in governing Pontus?"
David showed no anger at these words, which could be considered a show of dominance; instead, he was a little embarrassed. After all, when the other party fell from monarch to a caged bird, he himself became powerful and influential. If he didn't feel a little strange, their brotherhood would be too fake.
Even so, David quickly and implicitly stated his purpose, "Brother, you must be aware of what has happened in Trabzon these past few years. Then you should also know about Alexander's house arrest, right?"
At this, John's mouth twitched slightly. Although he had been under house arrest during this period, information had not been delayed in the slightest. Rather, he, who had not been mistreated materially, was as well-informed about these messages as any other noble. And he had thus recognized the vast difference between himself and his young, promising cousin, ultimately accepting his fate.
Therefore, he had felt no surprise or dissatisfaction when he learned of Alexander's house arrest.
"Manuel wants you to deal with him?" John sighed.
David nodded in affirmation.
After confirming this, John cautiously offered his opinion, "The survival of the Komnenos family is paramount right now." Regarding his overly active younger brother, John had no good feelings, both subjectively and objectively. "Alexander, he's too impulsive and overestimates himself, both in the past and now."
"Let him 'go'."
The next day, Manuel approved David's proposal, ordering Alexander to enter a monastery and become a monk. In the spring of the following year, Alexander Komnenos died in the Saint Sofia Monastery in Trabzon. There were rumors that he had drunk a bottle of wine the day before his death. According to the Secret History of the Goth, that bottle of wine was suspected to have been mixed with a large amount of aconite.