Mediterranean Hegemon of Ancient Greece

It was still drizzling when Alkibidas left the port area with his convoy and headed straight to the city of Thurii after getting on the main road.

Due to his many industries in Thurii, he often came here almost every two months. But each time he visited, he found the city changed in ways that often made him sigh, ‘The Kingdom of Theonia is growing so fast!’

But at this moment, the new changes in the city are much more: In the past, dozens of large water wheels ran along the banks of the Crati River to the city of Thurii, bringing clean water to the city day and night through the aqueduct, then to the water towers, then to the large fountains scattered throughout the city in an orderly manner. But this drought taught the Theonians to treasure water more than ever. So they have taken the initiative to store more water during rainy days, such as building cisterns in the courtyards of every household in the outer area of the city and covering it with wooden boards to prevent evaporation. At the same time, many citizens even raised money to build small altars of Poseidon in their residences.

Despite the end of the drought, the temporary grain stalls set up by Thurii's city hall in the various markets were still packed with people, more than ever. After all, they had all used up their grain reserves.

Alkibidas glances at the long, well-ordered line in front of him as he recalls the series of events that have taken place in the kingdom recently.

His homeland, Rhegium, not only didn't have much fertile land, it didn't produce much either. But since Rhegium had become a free city of the kingdom, its trade had flourished with Theonia at its back, making the territory safer and the citizens wealthier, with luxury becoming common and the people not needing to save surplus food. So when the drought hit Rhegium and the rivers in the area stopped flowing, the city soon ran out of food.

The Council of Rhegium panicked and rushed to ask the Kingdom of Theonia for help. So Davos ordered a shipment of grain to be sent to Rhegium while sending people to keep telling them to control everyone's purchases.

But the officials of Rhegium ignored this. As a result, the wealthy Rhegians bought it all up as soon as they put it on the market, leaving them no choice but seek Theonia's help again.

Although Davos became furious, he could only approve the allocation of another batch of food reserves to Rhegium. And he once again warned them that Theonia’s reserve would need to supply the entire kingdom with its nearly two million population, leaving no surplus food reserve for Rhegium. If they still suffer a shortage after that, they will have to find a solution on their own.

The Rhegians should have already learned their lesson by now, but they didn't.

The strategoi and council members of Rhegium split the grain among themselves, and some of them even sold it at higher prices in their shops after receiving it. While the Rhegian merchants who had gone to the Mediterranean to buy grain had returned to sell it at even higher prices on the Rhegian market and even tried to do the same in Theonia. Unfortunately, Theonia’s Ministry of Commerce severely punished them for that.

But Rhegium isn't just home to wealthy merchants but also ordinary civilians and numerous freemen in the port. Of course, they didn't have enough money to keep buying food from the market. So once the food prices in the various shops kept increasing, and the council hadn't imposed strict restrictions, everyone began complaining.

Suddenly, someone revealed how the Council of Rhegium had twice embezzled the free food reserves from Theonia, arousing the public's anger. As a consequence, they gathered to loot the shops, beat the merchants and even shouted, ‘We no longer want to be a free city; we want Rhegium to be fully integrated into Theonia!’

By the time Alkibidas left Rhegium for Thurii, the revolt was still ongoing…

Alkibidas sighed as he suppressed his annoyance. After getting checked by the city guard, he entered the inner area of Thurii with his convoy.

Although it's almost dusk, the Nike Square is still bustling with activity: Vendors hawked loudly; Bards sang at the top of their voices; Several students from the Theonia Akademia each gave a lecture, both to improve their courage and learning and to promote their profession to the public; There are also those providing brief performances of their newly composed poems, music and even performing drama here and there to refine their work through the audience's reactions and feedback.

Around the Nike Square, people discussed the content of the Senate's announcement, which was posted on the stone wall that very day; Beneath the stairs of the library, young people read stories from books while the children around them listened intently; And at the Thurii Fountain, women drew water and chatted, while children laughed as they play… It's a warm and tranquil sight!

When he saw all that, it was hard to believe that Theonia was at war and that it was about to get even bigger! Overwhelmed with emotion, Alkibidas walked through Nike Square, bypassed the Grand Senate Hall and entered the forbidden area known to the people as the ‘King's Hill', where the palace guards immediately stopped and questioned him.

Alkibidas revealed his identity and origin, prompting the guard to rush to the king's residence on the hill to make a report.

While Alkibidas waited, the guards checked the items he was about to bring up the hill, but he was already used to that.

Just then, a white carriage drawn by two white horses and escorted by guards arrived from the east. Although the carriage wasn't lavishly decorated with gold and silver, its elaborate design, the splendid patterns painted on the roof, and the beautiful carpets of the white horses showed the grace and splendour of the carriage's owner.

“Brother!” The curtain of the carriage's window suddenly opened to reveal a beautiful face.

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

Agnes allowed Alkibidas to ride in the carriage, and the convoy followed closely after getting inspected as they made their way to the top of the hill.

“Is father feeling better?” Agnes asked with concern.

“He is still the same as before, paralysed in bed and unable to walk. The physicians sent by His Majesty have treated him on several occasions without making much progress…Now he is not as fussy as he used to be, and the other day he told me he wanted to come to Thurii to see you. But you know…” Alkibidas shrugged helplessly.

When Agnes heard this, she became melancholy. Of course, she knew what Alkibidas meant.

Over the years, the polemarchos of Rhegium, Athelycus, have tried various ways to persuade Davos to choose Agnes' son, Apox, as heir to the throne.

But on a particular occasion, a somewhat drunken Athelycus went so far as to declare at a family banquet two years ago, “…Cheiristoya is not a pure Greek (there was a lot of intermarriage between Greeks and other races in Asia Minor) and was once a princess consort of Persia. If her child were to succeed to the throne, I fear the people would be disgruntled. Besides, Crotokatax is too mild-mannered to be a king's heir, whereas the intelligent and pure-blooded Apox should be a worthy successor to you, Davos…”

When he uttered these words at the banquet, Davos became furious, for he was very wary of anyone trying to interfere in the critical matter of the kingdom's succession by deliberately stirring up quarrels to destroy his family. In his anger, he smashed the wine mug in his hand and had his guards eject Athelycus from the palace, ordering him to return immediately to Rhegium and never to return to Thurii.

Since then, Athelycus' standing in the Council of Rhegium has plummeted, and the Council members who would typically curry favour have begun to turn their backs on him. This affected Athelycus so much that he became depressed and drunk all day until he suddenly collapsed and fell into a coma one day. After he got resuscitated and returned to his senses, he noticed his lower body had become paralysed, and he could no longer walk…

Agnes looked dejected when she thought about the past events, especially since she was the one caught in the middle of this issue. On the one hand, she felt guilty since Cheiristoya was generous enough that she didn't mind Athelycus' drunken words and got on well with Agnes as usual. On the other hand, she felt she had to take some responsibility because her father had become ill from drinking too much. So this incident has always been a source of guilt for her.

She hesitated momentarily and said, “…I will ask His Majesty to lift Father’s ban and allow him to come to Thurii!”

Alkibidas shook his head and said, “Agnes, don't beg His Majesty! You should know Father's temper well. Besides, it would be better for you and the children if he did not come to Thurii!”

Agnes wanted to say something when she heard that. But in the end, she remained silent.

Seeing her expression, Alkibidas comforted her and said, “Although Father can't come, you can go to Rhegium to see him.”

Agnes' eyes brightened, ‘His Majesty shouldn't stop me from going to Rhegium!’

As the two chat about the recent interesting events in Rhegium, the carriage finally arrives at the King's residence.

As soon as they got off the carriage, they saw several figures rushing over, “Uncle! Uncle!…”

But the children running in front weren't Apox and Aviya, but Brillantes and Eunice.

Only Agnes' two children were eligible to call Alkibidas uncle by blood. However, Davos had discussed this with Alkibidas so that this difference in family affection would not divide the children, so he allowed the children to call him uncle from the start.

“Uncle, what wonderful presents you have brought us this time!” Brillantes glances straight at the convoy behind the carriage.