16-year-old Rurik Rostislavich stood on the observation deck of Vladimir Palace with a wine glass in his hand, because behind him was the banquet venue. His figure looked a little lonely, but he was
He did this deliberately because he just wanted to be quiet and not be surrounded by sycophantic nobles.
There is no doubt that his dress is in line with what a Rurik prince should look like. He wears a luxurious robe embroidered with patterns, tied at the waist with a belt, and a pair of calfskin boots buckled on his feet. When he stood
When we were there, everyone had to say that he was really a good boy from Ross.
What Rurik saw was the prosperous scene in Kiev Square. Young men and women were dancing around the bonfire, enjoying their youth. Of course, there were also people holding the girls they liked and releasing their desires in the darkness.
As for the middle-aged people, they mostly drink and chat around the campfire, talk about the old days with their friends, and make jokes between them that others think are too much.
For some reason, Rurik yearned for all of this. He also wanted to live such a leisurely life, but it was a pity that it was like a dream to him.
What is very unusual is that, as the heir of Kiev, Rurik is actually dissatisfied with his life as Prince Rurik.
Although his father had told him countless times that as Prince Rurik, he was luckier than ordinary people and should not lament his current situation. He was also aware of this, but that emotion still kept coming out.
As the son of Rostislav, Rurik really felt that life was too tiring. People were comparing him with his legendary father all the time. He felt that he was completely living in discipline and being disciplined by his father.
Discipline, be disciplined by elders, be disciplined by the people...
During the Battle of Buda, Rurik had no choice but to go into battle, and Uncle Yang pushed him into the fire pit. He almost died on the battlefield several times, but he only survived because of luck.
But even so, after the war, everyone's evaluation of him was still much worse than that of Rostislav. At his age, Rostislav had defeated the Khan in battle, so what was he?
Although he had long known that he could not compare with his father, Rurik almost collapsed emotionally at that time. However, his father's training for a long time allowed him to control his emotions and did not let him show these emotions.
His father's relief after the war encouraged him a lot, but unfortunately this could not change the pressure on Rurik, and he still lived under discipline.
After his father became the Grand Duke of Kiev, he originally thought he could rest for a while, but unexpectedly his father immediately asked him to become the Prince of Pereyaslav to supervise the Polovets.
Rurik didn't want to go to the border, but in the end he had to obey his father's orders. He couldn't refuse his father. Rurik knew it better than anyone.
From the father's point of view, this is all his responsibility as Prince Rurik. He must always train his son so that he can shoulder the future.
Rurik knew the relationship between obligations and rights, but he still wanted to escape from it all because living as a Prince Rurik was too tiring.
As for inheriting Kiev, or even inheriting the whole of Russia, Rurik was actually extremely indifferent. Whenever he saw his father running crazy like a machine, immersed in countless meetings and documents, he felt scared.
Although he was afraid, he still had to learn, because his father ordered him to carry out the instructions, and he had to carry it out.
More than once, he wanted to abandon it all and get rid of his identity as Prince Rurik, but in the end he backed down. If he became an exiled warrior or an ordinary person, he would really be able to survive those powerful people who set off each other.
The waves?
As a Rurik, he was very aware of those bad things. It was this that made him hesitate. In the end, he admitted his shortcomings. It was better for him to follow the path planned by his father. He himself did not have the ability to decide the future.
capable.
So he could only lament there alone, lamenting in his spare time between work and study. For example, he ran out while getting to know the nobles. This was the only way he could express some of his inner emotions.
He didn't dare to tell anyone about his emotions, because he knew very well that if his father knew about this, he would be scolded in the face, and his father's view of his emotions would only be hypocritical - but in reality
Shang was right. As Prince Rurik, he didn't have much reason to complain. He should just go about his business honestly.
"Lord Rurik, your father summons you."
Just when Rurik was lamenting silently, his attendant and friend Kirill, a fellow of the same age who was born in the Moscow aristocracy, appeared behind him.
Rurik would tell Kirill his whereabouts before leaving, so the Kiev prince would ask his friend to accompany his father before he was alone, so that his father could call him when the time came.
"Really? I'm coming."
When Rurik heard that it was his father's order, he did not hesitate at all. He put away the frustrated emotions on his face and walked into the noisy banquet hall again, walking past the people who were looking for fun.
As the heir to Kiev and all of Russia, Rurik was actually very conspicuous in the banquet hall. Everyone noticed his return immediately, and then began to comment on him. Rurik was used to this, he had
I can’t remember how many times I was viewed as a commodity.
However, those aristocratic girls who came with their father were more or less obsessed with him. Rurik had always had a gloomy temperament, and such a temperament was difficult for young girls to refuse. Many girls and young girls wanted to
I tried to get close to this prince, but in the end I gave up.
The Grand Duke of Russia, Rostislav Vladimirovich, was sitting at the head of the banquet hall. The Grand Duke wore a fur coat and a fur hat inlaid with gold and silver, making him look quite majestic and solemn.
The Grand Justice was having a very pleasant conversation with a Kiev nobleman. Rurik knew that person. He was a Kiev nobleman named Kiyanin and was now a powerful nobleman in Kiev.
This man has experienced the era of Izyaslav, the era of Svyatoslav, and now the era of Rostislav. He has been an unfailing nobleman for three generations. Among the people, people call him the tumbler.
In fact, according to Rostislav's liquidation, this man will definitely be liquidated. He was one of the main generals of the Kiev militia during the Battle of Buda, and there was no way he could escape this attack.
But this roly-poly was really good at getting things done. After escaping from the battlefield and returning to Kiev, he immediately set out to seek refuge with Rostislav.
When Rostislav faced Kiev, he was the one who pushed for the door to open. After Rostislav entered the city, he directly handed over half of his family property and all his floating wealth.
It can be said that a strong man broke his arm, and his actions also brought him sweet rewards. Rostislav did not continue to liquidate him and allowed him to keep his property.
Moreover, because the powerful group in Kiev was attacked hard by Rostislav, and this long-standing group suffered heavy casualties, the Kiyanin family was able to expand, annexed many industries, and restored some vitality. Now their family is still an important part of Kiev.
The presence.
"Father, Lord Kjanin."
Rurik put his luggage respectfully in front of them, and the two people who were chatting happily looked at the young man of the Rurik family, with smiles in their eyes. That look was very familiar to Rurik, and it was
I was looking at the product. Is my father trying to sell him?
"Look, my friend, my son is a good young man, there will be no problem at all."
Rostislav showed off his son, and Rurik understood something when he saw this scene. He immediately straightened his back and showed his best posture in front of the two of them.
"Okay, that's very good, my Grand Duke."
Kiyanin also gave a series of approvals. Rurik was the kind of son-in-law that every noble family wanted. He was also the eldest son of the Grand Duke and the future heir of Kiev. There was nothing better than this.
And the most important thing is the wish expressed by the Grand Duke... That is a huge event...
Seeing that he had obtained the consent, Rostislav turned directly to his son and asked him, "Rurik, I want you to marry Lord Kjanin's daughter. Is there any problem?"
Rurik was taken aback by his father's words. Although he had a premonition before that it was for this matter, he still couldn't help but be stunned when it came to him.
He has met Lord Kjanin's daughter Euphemia, who is only two years younger than him. She is a very energetic child, and she is obviously a beauty. She is very outstanding among her companions. She also had an affair with Rurik.
Contact, but ultimately still very shallow.
But no matter whether she was beautiful or not, Rurik couldn't refuse her. Even if she was an old woman, he had to marry her. His father just asked him to go through a process. He had no choice in this matter.
"Of course I have no objection, father."
Rurik lowered his head to express his submission to his father. He had no idea about marriage for a long time and was waiting for his father to manipulate him like a puppet on strings, just like he was manipulated by his great-grandfather.
"Well, you should get engaged first and communicate with each other about your feelings. When the time is right, I will announce your marriage."
Rostislav was very happy, as long as the marriage was successful, his relationship with Southern Rus would be strengthened, and his son's future rule would be more convenient.
The Grand Duke stood up together with Kiyanin. The Kiev nobleman was also very excited. He did not expect that the Grand Duke would really marry him, and the status of their family would be completely different from now on!
The two drank the contents of the cup in one gulp to celebrate their marriage, while Rurik just looked at it, looking extremely submissive as always.