Chapter 85: The Fate of Egypt (1) "Cleopatra…"
The young princess in front of Marcus was indeed the renowned Cleopatra VII, just as he had anticipated. Meeting her felt different from his encounters with other historical figures.
Spartacus, Cicero, Pompey, and Caesar were all prominent figures he had met near the height of their historical significance, so their appearances matched his expectations. Cleopatra, however, was very young, and seeing her now was both surprising and impressive.
'I wonder if I'd feel the same if I met Octavianus or Agrippa later.'
Cleopatra gazed at Marcus with her sparkling eyes. Realizing he hadn't introduced himself, he spoke politely.
"I am Marcus Licinius Crassus, representing the Roman Senate as an envoy. I am both a senator and an aedile of Rome."
"An aedile is an official responsible for city administration, correct? I heard you must be of a certain age to hold such a position in Rome, but you seem much younger."
"Yes, the law was recently revised, and the age limit was significantly lowered. But you seem quite knowledgeable about Rome."
"It's undeniable that Rome is a leading power in the world today. Naturally, I need to study it."
Marcus was genuinely impressed by her intelligent response, given she was probably only nine years old.
"Do you speak Latin as well?"
"Unfortunately, I haven't learned it yet. I currently speak Greek, Egyptian, and Persian. I've just started learning Arabic and Aramaic."
"You speak three languages at nine? That's quite impressive."
"I've simply found effective ways to learn. My teachers praised me, but they were also excellent at their jobs."
Historically, Cleopatra could speak more than eight languages by her early twenties, so her proficiency in three at nine wasn't surprising.
She also showed a subtle pride in her achievements. Though she was still young, her intelligence made her quite endearing.
"It's not just good teaching; talent matters too. You have a natural gift, Princess."
"Let's say it's a combination of talent and effort. But that child…"
Cleopatra turned her attention to her younger sister, who was glaring at her with intense anger. Arsinoe's eyes were fixed solely on Cleopatra, filled with contempt and rage.
Cleopatra shrugged off her sister's hostility and addressed her.
"Why don't you apologize to our guest from Rome first? You should acknowledge your mistake if you were rude."
"Apologize? Me? I am a pure-blooded descendant of the great Ptolemy. People like you with impure blood are not on the same level as me."
"Even with your knowledge, can't you think? Don't you realize how meticulously Pharaoh prepared to welcome the Roman delegation? You demanded our guest kneel and tried to force him with your attendants. What do you think Pharaoh will say when he hears about this?"
Cleopatra emphasized 'Pharaoh' rather than 'father,' subtly indicating that Arsinoe's actions had crossed a serious boundary.
Their exchange was unusually harsh for two sisters not yet ten years old. It was clear from this brief confrontation why their relationship was strained.
'They must have different bloodlines. They're both daughters of the current Pharaoh, so they are half-sisters?'
This likely explained their animosity. In royal families, internal competition for power often overshadowed sibling bonds. If their mothers were different, estrangement could easily occur.
The rivalry between Arsinoe and Cleopatra was likely intensified by their guardians, who had significant influence and ambition. Such dynamics often fostered hostility and exclusion among royal family members.
Cleopatra sighed, looking back and forth between her sister and her sister's guardian.
"If you have no intention of sincerely apologizing, then do as you wish. However, I must report today's events to Pharaoh. While our guest from Rome may not harbor resentment, Pharaoh should be informed of what nearly happened."
"Are you going to report me?"
"If you've done something wrong, you should repent. There's no guarantee you won't repeat your mistake. Can you take responsibility if your actions damage relations with another country? What did your tutor teach you?"
In the end, Arsinoe was the one who yielded. Even her tutor had advised her that it would be wise to apologize.
Though she wasn't as intelligent as Cleopatra, she wasn't foolish. She could tell from Cleopatra's demeanor that Marcus held some status, even if he wasn't royalty. Admitting her mistake and apologizing in front of him was difficult for her, but she knew she had no choice, especially with the threat of her father being informed.
Despite her pride, Arsinoe was still just a child under ten years old.
"I'm sorry for being rude to you, our guest from Rome. I didn't know better and offended you. Please forgive me."
As she spoke, Arsinoe approached Marcus and whispered quietly.
"And if Pharaoh asks about today, could you please say nothing happened?"
Her plea was typical of a child afraid of parental reprimand after causing trouble.
Marcus nodded reassuringly.
"I have no intention of causing unnecessary trouble where I came with friendly intentions. I accept your apology, and I hope we can maintain a good relationship moving forward. Spartacus, do you have it with you?"
"Yes, sir. I've been carrying it around because it's valuable and I didn't want to leave it in the room."
"Then let's give one to each of the princesses as a gesture of friendship."
Spartacus produced some sugar candy from his pocket. Although it wasn't a finished product, it had enough flavor to captivate those who had never tasted sugar before.
Arsinoe and Cleopatra received the candy with curious expressions and hesitantly took a bite.
"What is this? It's incredibly sweet! Sweeter than honey!"
"It's delicious…"
Young children have a natural fondness for sweet treats, especially when they encounter something new.
Arsinoe, showing a more endearing side than her previous haughty demeanor, looked at Marcus with a look of delight.
"Hmm… I'm not sure how to describe this taste… um…"
"Would you like another one?"
"Really? Thank you!"
She eagerly took another piece of candy. Cleopatra, watching Arsinoe with interest, shyly extended her hand.
"Can I have one more too?"
"Of course."
The most effective way to win over children is often through food. The sweetness of the candy softened their hearts, dissipating the earlier hostility.
Arsinoe and Cleopatra stayed close to Marcus, chatting animatedly. Arsinoe even asked him to export sugar to Egypt, while Cleopatra was intrigued by the high price of sugar.
In the 15th century, sugar was valuable enough to buy two cows per kilogram. Marcus planned to adjust the supply to achieve that price. He was effectively monopolizing the market but believed this pricing was optimal given the local purchasing power.
Showing the taste of sugar to Egypt's upper class was part of Marcus's strategy. He intended for Ptolemy XII to hear about it by tomorrow and hoped to begin discussions on sugar exports right after the banquet.
What he didn't anticipate was how Arsinoe's chatter would continue until sunset. Cleopatra had to drag her sister away when it was time to leave, as Arsinoe wouldn't stop talking by Marcus's side.
Spartacus, watching Cleopatra leave, spoke with a playful smile.
"It seems the princesses are quite fond of you, sir."
"I get enough attention from children with Tryanus and Sophia. More of it can be exhausting."
The high-pitched voices of the girls had given him a headache after hours of listening. Spartacus, still smiling, shrugged.
"Well, they seemed completely taken with the sugar candy. I bet they'll visit you every day while you're in Egypt."
"I gave them the candy as a promotional gesture, but I didn't expect this side effect."
"Being friendly with the royal family isn't a bad thing. I've heard that Egypt often has sibling marriages and co-rulership. One of those princesses might become Egypt's ruler someday."
"As far as I know, there is one more older daughter besides these two. I don't have to worry much about her for now."
He wasn't yet sure if maintaining a relationship with the Egyptian royal family would be beneficial or detrimental in the long run. It could be useful if he could gain their favor, but their royal pride would make that a challenge.
Cleopatra was known for her ambition and lust for power, matched only by her intelligence. After conversing with her directly, Marcus felt the historical accounts were accurate.
While Arsinoe was just a naive child of her age, Cleopatra was different. Despite being only nine years old, she displayed a clear sense of judgment and subtly but firmly kept her brother in check. She was too astute to be merely a pawn in a long-term alliance.
It might be more strategic to support Arsinoe if Marcus only intended a moderate use of their influence. For now, it was best to observe both sides and decide on supporting the next pharaoh based on the evolving situation.
Although they were still innocent children, in ten years, they would have shed their childishness. Such was the nature of royal families driven by power.
Marcus took a bite of the sugar candy he had given to the princesses. The voices that had chattered loudly were still echoing in his ears, and beyond the sweet taste, he sensed a faint bitter aftertaste.
The next day, Marcus was invited to a grand banquet hosted by the pharaoh himself. The banquet hall resembled a miniature version of Alexandria, with a clear distinction between the Greek-clad ruling class and the musicians and dancers in traditional Egyptian costumes.
Ptolemy spared no expense on food, wine, and entertainment for the Roman legionaries, clearly aiming to flaunt his alliance with Rome and demonstrate his support from the Roman Senate to Alexandria's elite.
Marcus decided to play along with this display, having received a generous sum of money. Curio was already enamored with the fragrant wine, delicious food, and seductive dances. Cassius was engaging in fluent Macedonian conversations with the Macedonian ruling class as a scholar.
Marcus attempted to enjoy the banquet quietly in a secluded area, but Cleopatra and Arsinoe soon found him. They bombarded him with endless questions about his stay in Egypt, the remaining sugar candies, and Roman cuisine.
Marcus was finally able to escape their persistent questions when it was time to meet the pharaoh.
Upon entering the room where the pharaoh awaited, Marcus was greeted by a peculiar and stimulating scent. He looked around with curiosity. Priests were tapping censers and chanting incomprehensible phrases. The room, entirely adorned in gold from floor to ceiling, gleamed brilliantly, reflecting the glory of their sun god, Amun-Ra.
A man who appeared to be the head priest struck his golden staff on the ground and announced, "Pay homage to the descendant of Isis and Ptah, the master of Egypt, the incarnation of the great Amun-Ra, and the lord of plants and bees, the great pharaoh Ptolemy!"
A middle-aged man in a finely wrinkled white linen robe sat on a magnificent throne. He was adorned with a massive ornament on his head and covered in jewels and gold from neck to arms, waist, and legs.
While the Ptolemaic dynasty typically wore Greek attire, they donned pharaoh's regalia for official occasions. Marcus wondered how they managed to move in such elaborate clothing and bowed politely.
"I pay tribute to the pharaoh of Egypt. I am Marcus Licinius Crassus, representing the Roman Senate."
"Marcus Crassus, I sincerely welcome you to Egypt," Ptolemy responded warmly. "Did you experience any inconvenience while staying in Alexandria? If there were any issues, I will have my subordinates address them immediately."
"Thanks to your generosity, there has been no discomfort. The senators accompanying me also asked me to extend their gratitude."
"I'm pleased to hear that. I was concerned that my daughters might have been impolite."
"What did they say?"
"They didn't say much. They asked me about sugar candy and mentioned something unclear. They also inquired about your return to Rome. It seems they wish to spend more time with you."
Marcus smiled awkwardly and bowed slightly. "I appreciate your kindness, but I have pressing matters to attend to in Rome and cannot stay long."
"Is that so? That's unfortunate. Please, have a seat. Let's continue our conversation."
Ptolemy provided Marcus with a chair without a backrest, a considerate gesture for the Romans who found such chairs more comfortable while wearing togas. Marcus expressed his gratitude and took a seat.
Ptolemy leaned forward slightly and asked, "The Roman Senate has clearly recognized me as the legitimate ruler of Egypt. What if someone here refuses to acknowledge that?"
"You should assert your royal authority and address such dissent. Rome does not interfere in the internal matters of its allies," Marcus replied.
"But isn't denying my authority equivalent to rejecting the Senate's resolution?"
"If someone poses a direct threat to you, we will certainly assist. However, intervening simply because of dissenting voices would be seen as a violation of your sovereignty under the guise of supporting a resolution. We are not that kind of people."
Ptolemy seemed relieved but still somewhat uneasy. Marcus noticed his discomfort and asked, "Are there dissenters in Egypt?"
"No… There are no open rebels. However, the priests in Memphis are quite unruly and not always compliant. I fear they might become a source of conflict in the future."
"I trust that your loyal subjects can manage the situation. But if difficulties arise, know that Rome will not ignore the troubles of a friend."
"It's reassuring to hear that. I can apply more pressure on them now. By the way, regarding the bank you wanted to establish, I'm willing to permit it, but with one condition."
Marcus nodded, eager to hear the condition.
Ptolemy smiled slyly and continued, "I invited you to Alexandria to discuss this. How about running the bank under the name of the Ptolemaic dynasty?"
"You mean transferring ownership of the bank?" Marcus asked.
"No, not ownership. I simply request a stake in the bank. Eucoros mentioned it would be highly profitable. If that's true, it would strengthen my control over Alexandria's finances. As the ruler of Alexandria, I believe I have both the right and duty to participate. Adding the Ptolemaic dynasty's name would also benefit you. Using the royal family's name in business in Alexandria carries immense value, doesn't it?"
"Indeed, it would bring considerable trust and authority. I'm willing to accept your proposal, provided you agree not to interfere too much with the bank's management."
Ptolemy nodded with satisfaction.
He wanted to be involved in the banking business to reduce the influence of the priests in Memphis. Alexandria was wealthy, but the pharaohs' wealth controlled by the priests was immense. With limited access to those resources, Ptolemy needed alternative funding sources besides taxes.
Eucoros had presented him with a lucrative opportunity through Marcus. The more Ptolemy learned about Marcus through his extensive information networks, the more he admired him. Monarchs and republicans have different perspectives on events and phenomena, and Ptolemy wanted to see Marcus in person.
After meeting him, Ptolemy's intuition, honed over nearly twenty years as pharaoh, told him that Marcus possessed qualities of an emperor. If he couldn't eliminate Marcus, he should ensure that he never becomes an adversary but rather an ally.
Ptolemy had no desire to dominate the Mediterranean world; his goal was to secure his absolute rule in Egypt. With this in mind, the pharaoh smiled thinly, satisfied with his decision.
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