Imperator: Resurrection of an Empire-Chapter 425 - 420 -

As Julius and Serena rode their mounts out of the stable they were greeted with a sight.

Zeff, and Miri along with their toddlers.

Yuri dressed up to the nines in a full ensemble of fabric and jewelery to make ones heart beat stronger and leave a bitter aftertaste in ones mouth knowing you were leaving something important behind.

And lastly his Commander in charge, Fihatri.

Four members of his inner court, all that remained of his original inner court who had not yet been sent out to newly conquered lands to manage in his stead until the regional government could be instituted and their reassignment or return to the Eternal city could be facilitated.

The sight of these four, these four who had been with him almost since the very beginning.

Just the nostalgia of the fact that without these four, along with Elheat, Hadin, Yusen and Givens who were currently serving as Generals and Commanders in other parts of the empire right now, he would be dead in a ditch back in Aquitania.

Just another casualty in the Maniacal war raged by an unstable Emperor thirsting for the right to call oneself master of the world.

"Didn’t think we’d letcha sneak off on your lil date without getting to say a proper goodbye didja?" Joked Miri as she held her newest born in her arms.

"..." Zeff meanwhile to her side looked confused as to why he was even dragged here in the first place.

The only thing grounding him in the moment was his son constantly tugging away at his tunic while pointing around at every amazing sight he could spy within the Imperial palace.

The two military inclinded members were Hadin who was in charge of the Romanus legions of the Latinium province, both those acting as the home guard protecting the Eternal city, but also all those who’ve enlisted and are being trained across the numerous training fields that have been setup outside of the city.

Fihatri while still being a military member himself was not involved in the active general military any longer.

Having undergone special training, to the point that now only two years after discovering the last of the Praetorians within the hills of Berthaquin, former Count Fihatri now served as one of the illustrious members of the Romanus Praetorian guard.

He was only a general member not yet a captain or commander but even still, he was only one of two newly accepted members into the Emperors Guard, beyond those who belonged when they were first encountered in the hills, or those who had since come of age while meeting the requirements to become on of the Imperial guard.

Commander Leman had already stated he would be leading the Emperors personal guard on this latest excursion, so in his absence the remaining Guard would be responsible for protecting Yuri, with a secondary goal of protecting Zeff, and Miri along with their family.

Seeing their Emperors eyes landing on them.

Fihatri, and Haddin both simply offered up a salute of the legion to their commander in chief.

A synchronized fist to their breastplate, with a single tap before their arm outstretch presenting their raised fist forwards.

Responding in kind Julius offered up the same salute in response along with a head nod.

Before returning his gaze to Miri.

Who upon being ignored for her earlier comment was casually sticking her tongue out at him. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Seeing this he could only chuckle, Miri was already approaching twenty years old and yet acted like she was a middle school student before her Emperor.

"Take care, we won’t be gone long, so you’ll have plenty of time to make more babies when we get back."

Julius stated loudly enough for all present to hear, causing not just Miri but also Zeff’s faces to become beet red with embarrassment.

Seeing the troublemaker Miri silenced, Julius could turn his attentions to the remaining member of the send off party.

Yuri dressed up like she was about to attend a formal event, approached Julius who was still mounted on horseback.

His mouth opened to say something but he just couldnt find the words.

However it seemed that neither could Yuri.

When she reached his side, her head was tilted up looking at him with wet eyes, refraining as best she could to not cry.

Rather than speak words she reached out with her soft hands, taking one of his in her own, before dragging it down, forcing Julius to bow from atop his horse as he reached down far enough.

Yuri moved her head in, and planted a kiss upon the ring resting on his right hand ring finger.

The ring looked identical to the ring Yuri herself once bore before her act of self-sacrifice within Aquitania where she sliced off her finger bearing the ring to activate the self-destruct mechanism beneath Aquitania to obliterate the Visigoth forces that had surrounded the region.

Her own finger was restored thanks to Julius’s aural arts, but the ring... looking identical to her was no different than if her sacrificed ring had been exchanged with Julius.

A ring that given their current arrangement now, felt more to her like a sign of their relationship, than anything else.

Moving her head in she planted a kiss upon his ring.

Almost as if it were a protective blessing she was bestowing upon him to keep him safe on this trip outside the safety of the city.

Having his hand be released, Julius motioned forward leaning down furhter using the same hand to caress her face, running his rough fingers across her fair skin.

Yuri became overwhelmed and unable to hold on anymore took off at a brisk pace racing inside her eyes welling up further, Miri seeing the state of her friend took off to follow.

Julius likewise with misty eyes didnt want to linger any longer, so kicked his horse to spur it into action.

Starting the beginning of his journey away from home, from his friends, from his responsibilities, and from one of his lovers.