Chapter 696: Village Of The Brave

The emperor and Leo did not linger in the plains, despite Leo's fervent wishes to stay longer. Antonius bluntly rejected his son's request, emphasising once again that a king should not remain under one roof for too long. He explained that staying in one place would cause a ruler to lose touch with the outside world, relying solely on what his subjects told him to make decisions, which could lead to foolish choices. Moreover, they had more pressing matters to attend to.

The young boy nodded reluctantly as they departed from the plains of Plovdiv, heading southwards. They crossed the mountain trails of central Bulgaria, bypassing major towns and instead residing in village homes, taverns, and tents.