章 127: Checkmate

Yazdegerd stood within the palace of Constantinople. He was furious. Not only had Marcellus made an attempt on his life, but the man had not reacted to the trap that was set for him. Normally a monarch would demand the military buildup on the border be withdrawn, or at the very least respond in kind.

In fact, that was swarthy serpent's plan. If Marcellus showed an equal sign of hostility at the border, he could declare war, and justify his actions by saying the Western Romans were amassing troops in preperation for an invasion. . 

Yet despite this, the eastern roman scouts reported that the western roman empire maintained the same rate of military buildup in its provinces as they had established prior to recent events. They even continued to fearlessly send merchant caravans into Constantinople, as if they had not shamelessly made an attempt on the eastern roman regent's life.