Looking at the radiant Manuel accepting his coronation, Balin sincerely felt that he had made the right decision at the time.
He also couldn't help but recall the scene of meeting Manuel on the night he was pardoned at the beginning of the month.
Initially, like Shilin, he wanted to find an opportunity to restore his independence and break free from the rule of the new Christian monarch.
However, to lull the other party into a false sense of security, Balin requested a meeting with Crown Prince Manuel, who was still regent at the time, on the afternoon of his pardon, hoping to achieve his goal.
Manuel readily agreed to Balin's request for a meeting and scheduled it for that evening.
That evening, in the usual office room of the Mangup City Palace, Balin finally saw with his own eyes the Theodore Crown Prince who had once made him grit his teeth.
At this time, Manuel was wearing a light blue dalmatica, and the majestic expression on his charming face was particularly clear beside the burning fireplace.
Seeing this, Balin, while marveling at the firmness of his expression, also subtly ridiculed his previous rash ideas in his heart.
However, he still tried to convince himself not to be deceived by appearances, saying that perhaps this person was just outwardly splendid but inwardly rotten.
Holding this thought, after some pleasantries, Balin tentatively asked Manuel a question he desperately wanted to know: "Your Highness, regarding the governance of Northern Crimea, why do you tolerate our old faith?"
"Why?" Manuel smiled at the time, feigning ease, "Perhaps it's because I'm willing to try and believe that faith won't affect our future harmonious coexistence.
Or, even if our faiths are different, it won't and shouldn't affect us."
Balin was somewhat surprised, but before he could react further, Manuel's tone shifted, becoming serious, "But ultimately, whether this will happen, it should just be my wishful thinking.
Although I don't want to think about what will happen next, I probably have a good idea."
As he spoke, Manuel's gaze towards Balin sharpened, making him shiver involuntarily.
"Your Highness means..." Balin grew a little fearful.
He vaguely sensed that this young Crown Prince in front of him might not, no, was not as simple as he imagined.
He might have already secretly prepared to prevent a Muslim rebellion, and only out of some perhaps unrealistic ideals and expectations in his heart, did he implement freedom of religion in Northern Crimea.
In other words, this Christian Crown Prince in front of him and the Principality behind him had the complete ability to overturn the table, but they were unwilling to reveal it themselves before their plans came to light.
Thinking of this, Balin broke out in a cold sweat, and his gaze towards Manuel became much more fearful.
Before parting, looking at Manuel, whose smile was as warm and gentle as the winter sun, Balin took a deep breath and made a bold decision: he would completely change his course and sincerely pledge his allegiance to this Crown Prince.
After making up his mind, he immediately turned and bowed, briefly informing Manuel of his original immature ideas and the Tatars' covert actions.
Manuel listened in silence.
After a long while, he shook his head regretfully and said with a bitter smile, "So it really is like that."
After expressing his feelings, he smiled and asked Balin with concern, "So Balin, what is your stance now? Can I trust you?"
"My blade will be wielded for Your Highness from today forward," Balin replied firmly.
"Very good.
Next, I need your assistance with some matters."
After that, it was what happened later.
As Balin recalled the past, the envoy from Constantinople, who was celebrating Manuel's coronation with everyone, was filled with astonishment.
Legally speaking, the monarch of an Autocratic State should only be called a Despot, but this new monarch of Bosporus actually called himself a Caesar.
Although in the current decline of the Roman Empire, it was no longer uncommon for monarchs of orthodox countries to usurp various titles, he still felt it necessary to formally report this matter to the Emperor still in Constantinople, so that they would take it seriously.
And Maria, who represented Trabzon to congratulate her brother, watched her dear brother ascend to the position of Caesar, and prayed for him and for the Holy Father and Holy Mother from the bottom of her heart.
Although reason told her that she would have to inform her husband David and her in-laws in detail about this matter upon her return, she still hoped to stay a little longer in her old home in Mangup City to experience this hard-won atmosphere.
However, she still had a small question in her heart, "By the way, where is Isaac?
Logically, he shouldn't be absent from such a solemn occasion, should he?"
As for Isaac, Maria's second brother whom she constantly thought of, he was naturally under house arrest in a monastery not far from the church where Manuel was crowned.
Even for such an important occasion, due to his sensitive status, Isaac was not allowed to temporarily lift his house arrest to attend the ceremony.
Despite this, upon hearing that his brother had been crowned Bosphorus Caesar, Isaac, dressed in a pure black monastic robe, still made the sign of the cross for Manuel from the bottom of his heart, congratulating and praying in his mind, "May the Holy Father always protect you, brother."
The coronation ceremony had subsequent parts, but these were all considered tedious rituals.
It wasn't until evening that Manuel's coronation ceremony finally concluded.
And Manuel was finally able to take off the formal yet heavy coronation robe.
The coronation ceremony was over, and he had officially become a legitimate monarch.
And this grand coronation today even made Manuel feel as if he were dreaming.
At this moment, he secretly took some time to stand on the city wall of Mangup City, gazing into the distance, and murmured to himself, "I've really become the Caesar of Bosporus, why does it feel so surreal.
But it's great, all the efforts I made at the beginning were not in vain."
Thinking of this and the events that had occurred during this period, he felt a bit lost, but soon, his eyes, which had been mixed with joy and confusion, became resolute.
"If I am to govern North Tauris correctly, I should not use such radical methods, but rather punish my enemies with clear rewards and punishments, and treat ordinary nomads kindly.
Only through such long-term governance can the northern territories be more effectively assimilated."
Manuel looked north, quietly muttering to himself in a voice inaudible to others, "But I'm out of time.
It's 1432, I don't have time to be entangled here in Eastern Europe."
"So I'm sorry, I have to do this," Manuel paused.
Although he liked to use outrageous radical statements to hide his true feelings, he clearly understood what his decisions had brought to this land.
"People in this world, besides satisfying their own interests, also act for things they firmly believe in.
Normal people should act for faith or ideals, for the universal or the distinctive.
But a weirdo like me," Manuel scoffed at himself, "is for 'Rome,' or rather, the Rome in my heart."
"So as long as it's for the revival of Rome, I will do anything, even if it goes against some things I used to uphold, it doesn't matter."
Having said this to himself, Manuel's eyes were filled with resolute courage, and he also made up his mind to completely cast away that immature part of himself.
At this moment, in Mangup City on the Black Sea coast, the summer evening breeze swept through, making it feel exceptionally refreshing.
About half a month later, in Constantinople, John VIII, after receiving the reply from the envoy sent to Mangup City, smiled helplessly, "The Caesar of Bosporus?
My Brother-in-law certainly has a big appetite."
"Brother, what do you think?" Constantine, the Moria Despotate, who had deliberately stayed in Constantinople, asked him curiously.
"What else can I do?
I can't send an army of thirty thousand to force that 'Caesar' Brother-in-law to change his title.
Since he's already like this, then just go along with him."
"I see."
Constantine nodded affirmatively.
After returning to his residence, Constantine, after much deliberation, formally ordered Justinian by his side to go to the newly rebuilt Bosporus, under the guise of helping his Brother-in-law, to win him over.
"Your Highness, do you really want to do this?" Justinian's voice was a little choked, because he had known Constantine for some years, and his loyalty to Constantine made him reluctant to leave Constantine's side.
"Yes," Constantine firmly patted him on the shoulder, "The Roman Empire needs close and trustworthy allies, so please, Justinian."
"Since Your Highness entrusts me so, I will certainly not fail in my mission." Justinian, upon hearing this, bowed firmly in salute, showing his undeniable loyalty.
After seeing Justinian off with George Sphrantzes and confirming that there was no one else around, the two suddenly exchanged a smile and high-fived in celebration with great tacit agreement, "Excellent, Your Highness, we finally sent that garrulous plague away!" Sphrantzes cheered and laughed from the bottom of his heart.
"Yes, no one will ever again talk about digging up my past embarrassing moments from their diary!" Constantine also couldn't stop smiling.
Meanwhile, in the palace in Edirne, Ottoman Sultan Murad II was questioning Chandler Pasha about how his Janissaries regiment in Brusa was missing 250 veterans.
And unable to withstand the pressure, Chandler Pasha finally told the Sultan about what his grandfather, the old Chandler, had done during his lifetime.
"What a joke?
Your grandfather sent 250 Janissaries to the Crimean Khanate?!" Murad, upon hearing this, immediately reprimanded, "The Crimean Khanate was annihilated by the Golden Horde at the beginning of the year, wasn't it?
Then where are those Janissaries?"
"There has been no news so far," Chandler Pasha replied, kneeling tremblingly.
Murad could guess what was going on with his toes; it must be that this group of Janissaries was involved in the war between the Golden Horde and the Crimean Khanate, and perished with Crimea.
But now the person in charge had also passed away, and Chandler Pasha was, after all, a victim of his grandfather, which made it difficult for him to deal with him.
After a while, Murad waved his hand, indicating that he would no longer pursue the matter; after all, it was only 250 Janissaries, and the loss was just a scratch.
However, the changing situation in Eastern Europe was also beyond his expectations, as the Principality of Theodore, by intervening in this war, had, after a civil war, elevated itself to the Bosphorus Despotate.
"These Christians really like to play tricks," Murad chuckled to himself, "Send some people to secretly check out the Black Sea.
Anyway, no matter what, these Christians won't be able to make waves."