The Emperor spared no hospitality for the crusaders who arrived in Rome. He held feasts for them almost daily.

"Haha, you certainly have a good appetite, Duke Godfrey. Oh, let me tell you about when I first arrived in Constantinople."

Thanks to this, the talkative Hugh was always at maximum satisfaction.

Perhaps because he took care of the other crusaders so enthusiastically, both Godfrey and Bohemond caused no trouble.

"The second princess Maria enjoys exercise, prefers short hair, and is already taller than the princess?"

"Yes, but why do you ask?"

"Oh, it's nothing. Don't worry about it."

Of course, that Bohemond occasionally revealed some inscrutable thoughts... but overall, he remained peaceful.

Unlike what I had worried about, the winter of 1096 spent with the crusaders flowed peacefully and calmly.

"Still no news of a child?"

"Kup..."

It was after the banquet celebrating Nikephoros receiving the title of Panhypersebastos (an honorary position created by Alexios for his sons-in-law) on New Year's Day.

The Empress asked while crunching on Pringles.

Nikephoros and I, nearly spitting out our wine simultaneously, exchanged startled glances.

He hurriedly lowered his gaze, signaling for me to answer. With no choice, I looked at the Empress and opened my mouth.

"No, nothing at all. You know we're not even at that age yet."

"What do you mean 'that age'? I was your age, Anna, when the Emperor and I..."

"Anyway! Both of us don't feel ready yet."

I absolutely did not want to hear about my parents' sex life.

The Empress replied nonchalantly, "Is that so?" Then, gently stroking her full, pregnant belly, she continued.

"As I always say, the true meaning of marriage is only realized after having children... Oh, Panhypersebastos, don't worry about what others think. That is, if Anna wants it."

"I-I'll keep that in mind, Your Majesty."

Nikephoros bowed his head with an expression as embarrassed as mine.

Perhaps because only the three of us remained in the room, Her Majesty the Empress was being unusually forward today.

She looked at us alternately for a moment, then turned her attention back to the plate of snacks.

"By the way, these Pringles are really delicious. Did you develop these yourself too, Anna?"

Thankfully, the embarrassing topic seemed to have passed. I let out a small sigh of relief and answered.

"Yes, it's artichoke paste fried in oil. I mixed various sauces that Romans enjoy for the seasoning."

Pringles was a snack I had decided to make the moment I first tasted artichokes, that unidentifiable leafy plant. It was also a personal favorite.

To recreate that taste and texture from my memory, I had practically sacrificed the digestive health of dozens of cooks.

Now released to the public, it had become quite popular among citizens.

"But don't eat too many. Greasy food can't be good for the baby."

While artichokes looked healthy enough, I couldn't be certain about their effects on pregnant women.

The Empress nodded as if there was no need to worry, took a sip of fruit juice, and continued.

"By the way, Anna, I saw your business financial report."

After grandmother Anna Dalassene stepped down, the position of Augusta had naturally passed to the Empress.

'It seems she's trying to properly fulfill her role as Augusta starting this year.'

I nodded without much thought.

"What did you think?"

"It was excellent. Though the report was too extensive for me to read completely."

The Empress answered honestly, smiling somewhat sheepishly.

Well, unlike my grandmother who had weathered all manner of trials, the Empress was a hothouse flower who had only lived in the palace raising children.

"Thank you," I replied, then suggested with a bright smile.

"If there's anything you don't understand or need, please let me know anytime. I'll help with whatever I can."

Compared to the Empress, I was already a seasoned CEO of several years. I had confidence in my ability to handle the internal affairs as Augusta.

The Empress nodded with a gentle smile.

"Thank you, Anna. Your help will be a great strength to me."

Judging by her smooth response, it seemed she had intended to ask for my help from the moment she mentioned the financial report.

I replied, "Just leave it to me," while comfortably adjusting my posture.

※※

"You've got more work starting the new year."

"I'm just helping Mother with the parts she's unfamiliar with."

Having been so busy with New Year celebrations recently, it felt like it had been a long time since I'd relaxed on the sofa. As I sank deep into the cushions, Nikephoros approached and sat across from me.

"Duke Raymond departed from Adrianople yesterday. He should arrive in the capital within a week."

"He's finally coming? What about Robert?"

"Robert, who landed at Dyrrachium a few weeks ago, is currently passing near Maroneia. He should also arrive in the capital within a week."

"Well, they're all coming at once for a change."

Once their armies arrived, all the major lords who had made their names in history would be gathered.

The famous First Crusade was now just around the corner, and I couldn't help but feel my heart flutter slightly at the thought.

"Then we should start looking at our enemies' movements too. How is Danishmend these days?"

"As always, he's building his power by swallowing up smaller neighboring states one by one. Outwardly, he maintains a stable alliance with the Sultanate of Rûm."

"So he had no intention of betraying our Sultan's brother after all."

"Well, the territories occupied by the Armenians include Danishmend's lands too. He probably decided there was no need to make more enemies."

Indeed, if the southwest of Cilicia was Rûm's territory, the northeast was Danishmend's.

"So how are those Armenian fellows doing these days?"

"The Sultan finally withdrew his troops after besieging Tarsus for a month. It's essentially an acknowledgment of the Armenians' occupation."

"What? I didn't hear about any battle."

"The Armenians simply locked themselves in the fortress and waited for the Sultan to tire and leave. Defensive warfare is their specialty."

"So our Sultan's brother also didn't risk attacking Tarsus, which is defended by masters of siege defense."

Even with the kebabs' numerical advantage, the Sultan's brother had just fought with me for nearly three months.

Whether in terms of supplies or morale, he was probably lacking in various ways to continue the siege of Tarsus.

"Yes, and he couldn't leave Iconium empty for too long either."

"That's true. Sigh, I hope our Sultan's brother manages to appease public sentiment."

In a situation where the founding Sultan Suleiman Shah had no son other than Kilij Arslan, if even he were driven out, the Muslims of Anatolia, who had been barely unified, might split again into dozens of small states.

The real kebab 200 years later, the Ottoman Empire, was also a state built on the ruins of the fragmented Sultanate of Rûm.

"The Sultan will endure well."

"Why are you suddenly saying such things? Did you develop feelings for him while fighting?"

"Not exactly... but the leadership he showed on the battlefield cannot be ignored."

"He only lost to me, though?"

"Strategy isn't the only aspect of leadership. The ability to hold together an army of tens of thousands even after such defeats can also be considered part of leadership."

Indeed, if rumors spread that the Roman Emperor had been defeated twice by a young Turkish princess, the soldiers would be the first to rise up and demand the death of such an incompetent emperor.

The fact that no civil war had broken out in the Sultanate suggested that Kilij Arslan's personal reputation among his people was quite good.

"Ah, right. Speaking of which, I should send some Pringles to the Sultan's brother through Iconium merchants."

"Pringles... do you really need to send those?"

"Of course, capturing his palate is part of the plan."

The Roman Wave began with R-Food.

"Moreover, once the Crusade officially begins, we'll need to bring the Iconium merchants here for their safety. If not now, we won't have another chance."

No matter how much the Sultan guaranteed their safety, if crowds excited by the sight of the Crusader procession rose up to kill Christians, there would be no solution. If left unchecked, the Boxer Rebellion might occur 800 years early.

"I meant why are you concerned with the Sultan's taste... never mind, if the Princess has decided, there's nothing to be done."

After giving an ambiguous answer, Nikephoros quickly changed the subject.

"So how will you receive Duke Raymond?"

"I'm thinking of going to greet him personally again. Raymond leads the largest army among the Crusaders."

Moreover, Bishop Adhemar, the Pope's representative, was currently with him.

If I had gone to greet Bohemond with the message not to cause trouble, I planned to greet Raymond with the intention of getting along well in the future.

"As for Robert, we can just welcome him when he enters the capital."

Having roughly concluded, I glanced at Nikephoros.

"Yes, understood. So what kind of hospitality are you preparing for Duke Raymond?"

Nikephoros asked briefly without raising any objections.

It wasn't a matter that required much deliberation, so I answered immediately with a light smile.

"Very special hospitality, of course."

※※

"My lord, the Roman Princess is coming to greet you personally."

"The Princess herself?"

Raymond opened his eyes wide in surprise at his aide's report.

He had expected the Emperor's hospitality, but the Princess coming in person? Faced with this unexpected development, he turned to Adhemar with a blank expression.

"His Majesty must be paying special attention to the Crusaders."

Though Adhemar appeared outwardly calm, he couldn't completely hide his surprise.

After all, this was the Roman Princess they had been so wary of. He was already rapidly thinking about the Princess's unexpected move.

"Very well, make preparations."

Raymond nodded and dismissed his aide, then immediately spoke.

"What could her intentions be?"

"I'm not sure, but we can't deny that the game with her has already begun."

As visitors, they were naturally the ones who could lose the initiative. Adhemar surveyed the surroundings with a sharp gaze.

"Let's keep all possibilities open. Rumors say that Godfrey and Duke Bohemond have already fallen under the Princess's spell."

"Indeed..."

Raymond swallowed hard.

He had heard those rumors. Rumors that the two men, seduced by the Princess, were wasting time in pleasure.

Taking a deep breath to compose himself, Raymond nodded and stared straight ahead. He resolved not to be easily swayed by whatever the Princess might say.

About ten minutes later, the Princess's entourage finally appeared. There was a stir among the crowd centered around a small girl with a noble bearing.

Raymond exchanged glances with Adhemar and spurred his horse. The Princess's side also seemed to have spotted them, causing a small commotion.

And shortly after, at the Princess's gesture, something suddenly appeared.

"Huh?"

"...What is that?"

Adhemar asked in a puzzled voice. Raymond was equally perplexed.

Their eyes were fixed on the sight of a huge cloth fluttering in the wind.

In a somewhat dazed state, Raymond slowly read the words clearly inscribed on the enormous cloth.

"We sincerely welcome Count of Toulouse and Rouergue, Duke of Narbonne, Margrave of Provence, Duke Raymond to Constantinople...?"

Before the bewildering message, young girls were holding flower necklaces and waving their hands in welcome.