Manor

The war ended, and Florence's mercenaries began to leave. After a full year as a mercenary, Vitus's savings reached fifty thousand florins, far exceeding his expectations.

"I never imagined being a mercenary would be more profitable than doing business."

He resolved to expand his ventures, spending money to purchase a batch of captured armor from the quartermaster, enough to equip two thousand men, though it would require repairs from a blacksmith.

Additionally, the army's three-pounder and serpent cannons had been used too frequently, and Vitus was unwilling to buy these second-hand items, planning another trip to Florence.

In February 1424, Albizzi led three thousand mercenaries back home, with some signing a new contract to maintain order in the new territory. Some mercenaries did not accept the contract and sought better-paying work; Vitus was one of them.

This period in Europe was full of opportunities, and he did not want to serve as part of Florence's occupying force in the Lucca region, merely collecting a fixed salary and handling trivial matters.

As far as he knew, Sigismund, the regent of England, and the Dauphin of France (Charles VII) were both recruiting mercenaries, and there was bound to be a suitable job for the Tuna Mercenary Group.

(Two years prior, King Henry V of England had died, and his heir was merely an infant. England was jointly governed by Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, and John, Duke of Bedford, as regents.)

Just as Vitus was contemplating his options, Pauli, whistling leisurely, invited him to visit his estate.

"Estate?"

Pauli nodded, "Yes, cities are crowded, and sanitation is terrible. My mother, sister, and wife usually live at the eastern suburban estate; the environment is much better than in the city."

After settling the Tuna Mercenary Group, Vitus rode to the eastern suburbs of Florence. Bypassing a village, Pauli pointed to the cluster of ochre-colored buildings on a distant hill, "It's right there."

Inside the estate, the Di Maggio family received the news and gradually made their way to the villa's terrace. Giulio's wife, Catherine Di Maggio, walked to the edge of the railing and pointed with her fan at a horse-mounted figure not far away.

"Is this the Byzantine prince? I've mentioned him so many times in letters, and now I can finally meet him. I hope he's worthy of my Agnes."

At first glance, Vitus Palaiologos was not the elegant prince Agnes had imagined. He was wrapped in a thick, dark wool cloak, a sword hanging at his waist, his cheeks gaunt, his features sharply defined, and his hair cut in a neat Roman style. His chin was clean-shaven, and his appearance resembled that of a noble marble statue from ancient Rome.

Sensing her daughter's shyness, Catherine Di Maggio gently stroked her hair and said calmly, "Vitus is the fourth son of the Palaiologos family, a legitimate royal member. His only drawback is that he's not favored, but that's for the best. If he had hopes of inheriting the throne, you wouldn't be able to match him."

Since confirming Vitus's identity, Giulio had begun to consider a marriage alliance.

While bankers were wealthy, their social status was lower than that of traditional nobles. Arranging marriages to elevate family status was a common practice, and Vitus was a perfect candidate for such an alliance.

In Giulio's memory, the Palaiologos family were originally Anatolian local nobles who rose to prominence in the 11th century. Over the next hundred years, the Palaiologos family successively intermarried with prominent families, such as the Doukas, Komnenos, and Angelos families, gradually growing stronger. In 1261, Michael VIII recaptured Constantinople and ultimately usurped the throne.

Although the current Eastern Roman Empire had declined into a third-rate power, the Palaiologos family still held the title of Emperor, enjoying esteemed status. The last time John Palaiologos traveled abroad, he received the highest level of courtesy.

On the other hand, Vitus himself possessed excellent military talent, having twice saved the expeditionary force from peril (the Battle of Genoa and the mountain ambush in early September). Without him, the expedition would have ended long ago.

At this point, Phil also chimed in, claiming that he and Vitus often practiced swordsmanship last year, with their skills being evenly matched, placing them in the same tier of swordsmanship masters.

The people present were amused by Phil's statement. Catherine tapped Phil's head with her fan, musing to herself:

"If he could fight Phil to a standstill, it seems the Byzantine prince isn't much of a warrior. But that's of no consequence; our class doesn't rely on personal martial prowess anyway."

As the procession drew closer, the estate's iron gate slowly opened. The family crest hanging on the gate was a seagull and a lily. Vitus dismounted, handed the reins to a nearby servant, and walked along the gravel path into the estate.

On both sides of the road were meticulously trimmed hedges that maintained their shape even in winter. Ahead stood a three-story main house, its exterior walls built with warm-toned, light yellow stone.

The main house followed classical principles of symmetry, with three floors. The ground-floor windows were narrow and featured stone arches, giving it a sturdy and stable appearance. The second floor, known as the "noble floor," had wide and elegant windows to ensure ample natural light in the main hall. The roof had a gentle slope and was covered with reddish-brown tiles.

"Don't just stand there; make yourself at home."

Pauli invited Vitus into the foyer. The floor was a geometric pattern of red and white marble, the walls on either side hung with large tapestries, and the air was filled with a faint scent of incense.

Passing through the foyer, Vitus was led into the central hall, the heart of the estate. The dome depicted a vibrantly colored mural, not of a religious theme, but of merchant ships sailing through a storm, likely costing a considerable sum.

To the left of the hall was a stone fireplace, with a thick olive log burning fiercely within. Several deep red velvet high-backed chairs and sofas were placed nearby.

Without waiting for the guest to react, Pauli began introducing the family members:

His father, Giulio Di Maggio, and his mother, Catherine Di Maggio. Next were Pauli's wife, Rosa, his younger brother, Phil, and his sister, Agnes.

What's going on?

Vitus was surprised by the Di Maggio family's warmth and suddenly recalled the hints from Albizzi and Pauli last year, guessing the meaning behind Old Man Di Maggio's intentions.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, he followed Giulio into the study. Giulio was direct, "What do you think of Agnes? If you agree to the marriage alliance, I can provide a dowry of thirty thousand florins, plus a vineyard covering two thousand acres."

Am I worth that much?

Although Vitus was in urgent need of money, this matter had to be reported to Constantinople first. His biggest concern was that the Emperor might have already decided on a marriage alliance for him with another family without his knowledge.

"What you say makes sense," Giulio leaned back against the velvet chair, rhythmically tapping the table with his right hand. "We'll each write a letter later to inquire about the opinion from Constantinople. If there are no other issues, this matter will be settled."