"I forgive you, uncle."
Staring at the dying Caligula, Nero spoke in silence.
"...Thank you...Nero...my sister's daughter————"
After receiving forgiveness from Nero, Caligula struggled to reach out and caress her face.
Finally, I closed my eyes and turned into golden stardust and dissipated under the moonlight.
In just a few seconds, Caligula completely disappeared.
Even the blood stains that had stained Nero's dress had completely disappeared.
It was as if he had never been there.
Only the Palatine Hill, littered with corpses and in disarray, tells everything.
Not far below the mountain, the city of Rome was lit by flames.
I'm afraid the reason can only be the same as here - being attacked by enemy troops who bypassed the front line.
Fortunately, Caligula, the greatest disaster, had been eliminated by Animusphia and Nero.
The number of soldiers led by him that bypassed the front line defended by Boudicca was not large.
Not enough to cause any greater damage.
——————It is enough that the palace is destroyed and all the Guards are wiped out.
Pierced through the gap in the clouds, the delicate silver moonlight fell on Nero, who was half sitting on the ruins.
It shines like a layer of white gauze.
With her eyes lowered, she stared at the spot where Caligula had been before he disappeared.
"I...should I really forgive my uncle?"
"..."
Animusfia did not reply to her, but walked to Nero and sat next to her.
Looking at the full moon in the sky, Animusfiya slowly said:
"Before I answer the question, let me tell you a story, Your Majesty."
"What's that story?"
The corners of Animusfia's mouth raised slightly.
"It's a story about the humblest slave and the worst master."
"Is there such a person?"
"I don't know, Your Majesty, maybe not."
Facing Nero's question, Animusfia shook her head and continued:
"But maybe there is, but not necessarily."
.....
"His father was a decorated war hero, and his mother was the granddaughter of Augustus."
"And his grandfather is the younger brother of the current head of state."
Nero looked at Animusfia with a strange look in his eyes.
There were not many people with this status in the Roman Empire.
It happened to be known to every Nero.
Nero's biological mother, Agrippina the Younger, fit these criteria.
Nero's maternal grandmother, Agrippina the Great, was the daughter of Octavian Augustus's daughter Julia, and was Octavian's granddaughter.
Nero's maternal grandfather was the famous Germanicus.
Germanicus's father, Nero Claudius Drusus, and his biological brother Tiberius were both Octavian's stepsons.
Because he was the first Roman general to lead an army to conquer Germany, he was given the title "Germanicus".
The name of Nero's maternal grandfather Germanicus also comes from this.
Germanicus also had a brother, who later became Claudius.
Caligula and Agrippina the Younger were the children of Germanicus and Agrippina the Elder.
It’s self-evident who the protagonist in the story of Animusfia is.
After Caligula's death, Germanicus's brother Claudius, who was married to his niece Agrippina the Younger, was proclaimed to the throne by the Guards.
Nero also naturally became Claudius's stepdaughter.
After Claudius died, she came to her own era - Nero Claudius Germanicus.
Three ancestors with royal blood finally converged in her body.
"Are you talking about uncle?"
Animusfia smiled and did not deny it.
"Yes, I am talking about your Majesty's uncle, Caligula."
"His family was full of glory, but he didn't have a wonderful childhood because of it."
“As a blood descendant of Augustus, Agrippina the Great always believed that power should be in her own hands, so after the death of Germanicus, Tiberius took Agrippina with her and Germanicus The children of Khos were exiled.”
"Agrippina the Great died on hunger strike after being exiled, leaving Caligula as the sole breadwinner of the family."
"Caligula was not the eldest son of Germanicus, but his two older brothers also died in exile."
"Probably from then on, he made up his mind to protect his family."
"Until the end, Caligula became the only remaining son of the hero Germanicus, and everyone in the empire unanimously hoped that Caligula would inherit the name of Augustus."
"Under pressure, Tiberius recalled Caligula to his side and watched him day and night."
"However, Caligula appeared to be obedient to his great-uncle and never mentioned the misfortunes that his relatives had suffered. At that time, Caligula was insultingly called the best servant."
"In the end, he survived Tiberius's death with forbearance. Tiberius's decree allowed him to inherit part of the power at the same time as Tiberius the Younger, but the Senate directly gave all power to Caligula."
"For the first two years of his power, Caligula was still pleasing everyone, still playing the role of servant."
"Because no matter how he acted, he would always be restrained by the Senate. At that time, Caligula chose to compromise in front of this group of old antiques who were still trying to recreate the republic."
"So at that time, he will be affectionately called Mingjun by the Senate, and he will accept everyone's love on the surface."
"But retreating blindly will not solve the problem. The Senate, which pushed further, finally touched the back of Caligula."
"He broke with the Senate."
"That didn't come without a price. Just a few months later, Caligula's sister, Julia Drusula, contracted a strange illness and died."
"That was the warning given to him by the senators. They never mind having Caesar's story repeated."
Animusfia looked at Nero.
"Caligula's feelings for his sisters were by no means ordinary family affection. His love had already been put into practice when he was a boy."
Nero pointed at himself and said:
"You mean...uncle?"
"Maybe it's rude, but Your Majesty, you should also know that your mother, Her Royal Highness little Agrippina, was robbed of her daughter by her brother Caligula when she was fourteen years old."
Nero nodded.
"His feelings for Your Majesty...are more like a father's love than an elder's affection for a younger one."
"The death of Drusula deeply stimulated Caligula and became the straw that broke the camel's back."
"He was caught in a dilemma. He was trapped in imperial power. Caligula was troubled and depressed all day long."
"At this moment, the moon cursed him and blessed him."
"Caligula descended into madness, but he also broke free from his prison. He was free from the shackles of power and the Senate. He took revenge on everyone who had participated in the conspiracy."
"But even so, he still did not forget the one he loved. He personally completely ignored the revenge that would come from the Senate later, but he still exiled his sister, Your Majesty's mother, little Agrippina. "
"Caligula's love for his family, your majesty, and his sisters was far greater than his love for the country of Rome."
"That's why he's the worst owner."
"This is the story of the humblest slave and the worst master."
Facing Nero, Animusfia bowed deeply.
"Now let me answer your previous question————"
"As a monarch, Caligula was definitely not a qualified Augustus."
"But as a member of your Majesty's family, his love for you has never diminished."
Nero looked at the ruins of the palace and the corpses everywhere, and asked sadly:
"...Yu, are you really qualified to forgive your uncle...?"
"As the niece of Caligula, as the current Augustus of Rome, and as the master of this land, Your Majesty, you are the most qualified to forgive his existence."
Animusfia said calmly.
