I warmed his cold blood

At night, a ring of torches is lit in the atrium, and the moonlight paints everything like white paint.

Helen sat on the steps, his shadow hanging down in folds, and the plain white robe almost rubbed him into the moonlight.Two slaves stood behind him, gently shaking colorful feather fans to repel mosquitoes and heat for him.

He was holding a bowl of oatmeal porridge in his hand, stirring it unhurriedly, his lips were tightly pursed, his brows were tense, and his appearance was not leisurely.

The slave ran over in a panic, his back soaked in sweat.

"Master, Master Polio has passed away." He knelt on the ground, "His slave came back from vacation and saw that he was very rotten."

"Where's his body?"

"On the way, brought from Latham."

Everything reproduces like a mirror image.

He put the empty bowl on the ground, smoothed the folds of his robes and stood up.

He has not seen his father for more than 20 years.For his father, his impression stayed on that day——

That morning, he grabbed the ivory whistle beside his pillow, which he begged his mother to buy after crying for a long time.

The ivory whistle is shiny and smooth to the touch like turquoise.He likes the fine lines on it, and can even draw it with his eyes closed.The mellow milky white color made him afraid that it would turn into goat's milk and flow away secretly at night.

Toddlers have small hands, and the whistle is unusually large.He hopped into the courtyard whistling.

The yard was noisy, and he saw his father pushing his mother.My mother was shaking from crying, her hair was tangled like a spider's web.Then, his father came towards him, grabbed the whistle and threw it to the ground.Flying debris scratched his short arm.

After that day, the father disappeared.

A strong and pungent stench came, like a devil's claws strangling his throat.Helen had never smelled such a stench before, and felt dizzy for a moment, with tears streaming out of his eyes involuntarily.

Four shambling slaves entered the door, their mouths and noses covered with black veils, and they carried stretchers in their hands.The thick black cloth covered it, unable to conceal the swollen human figure.

The slaves staggered down the stretcher.

Helen covered her nose with a silk handkerchief, and went over to lift off the black cloth covering the corpse.

It was a face similar to that of a devil, or it was cursed by the gods.Dirty green eyeballs are attached to the eye sockets like moldy cheese, and maggots seem to be swimming; the tip of the swollen tongue protrudes from the thick lips, and there are bright green flies lingering and buzzing in.

A gold ring is squeezed between fermented fingers, hidden from sight.This is the only thing that has not been stained by the decay of the corpse, barely showing the dignity of the owner in life.

He tore the ring from his speckled finger.The deteriorating skin broke with the pulling, and the entire hand was peeled off like a glove, revealing the turquoise flesh and bones.

Helen couldn't bear it any longer, and fell aside and vomited.He seemed to want to vomit all his internal organs, but in the end he could only spit out almost transparent acid water.

After a while, he stood up with the support of the stone pillar, and ordered: "Carry him down and bury him in a sarcophagus. I don't want to vomit tomorrow and sprinkle flower petals on the maggots."

The slaves responded and carried the body away.

The ring was dipped in slime and restored to its original appearance after being soaked in suet and plant ashes.

Harun held the ring on the palm of his hand and raised it to eye level.

The ring is very small, allowing only slender fingers to pass through.The black agate was inlaid on the gold ring, and the bust of his father was recessed on it, which vaguely revealed the stately appearance of his life.

This is a signet ring.

In Rome, the toga was always worn, and pockets could not be sewn into the robe.The seal is made into a ring and worn on the hand, which is convenient for carrying and stamping.

In his last life, he did not let the corpse enter, but ordered to be buried immediately.After the burial, the funeral director gave him the seal ring.According to the law, the signet ring is a gold product and cannot be buried with it.

He suddenly tightened his grip on the ring, and the agate was deeply embedded in his palm, making it a little painful.The air-like friendship between father and son made him feel no sadness, and he couldn't even squeeze out a polite expression of regret.

What he cares about is another thing——

In fact, my father had two signet rings, one black and one red.And he only has black.

At that time, it was because of the red seal ring and a sealed will that he lost all his family property and soon fell ill and died.

——Because the will stated that Polio's heir was not him.

A slave came in and announced, "Master, Lady Fanny is here."

He looked towards the door, and there was a small dark shadow, which was his mother.

Fanny was helped in by the slave girl.She has bad legs and feet, and she has a staggering posture when she walks.

She was wearing a black dress, her head was wrapped in a black veil, her eyes were red, swollen and blue, as if she had just returned from a trip to hell, and she exuded a sick and gloomy air.

A drop-shaped obsidian hangs on her forehead, and the fine silver threads on the edge are arranged in waves.The black gemstone gathers the dark light into points, shining brightly under the moonlight.It's so delicate and lovely, it hides some of her haggard and sickly features, and all the brilliance of her body is concentrated here.

She has worn it for more than 20 years without taking it off for a day; it seems that without this obsidian, she is no longer Fanny.

"My little Hermia..." She cried out Herron's nickname, "Your father is dead..." She was trembling with excitement.The slave girl tugged at her arm to keep her from slipping to the ground.

"I have already buried him ahead of time." Helen said calmly, "The funeral will be held tomorrow."

"I haven't seen him for the last time! My poor Pliny...why won't you let me see him?!"

"He's like a horrible devil! I don't think you want to see him like that. He's full of disgusting bugs." Herren's stomach twitched again as he thought of the dirty green.

"You can't say that about him!" cried Fanny, alarmed. "He's your father..."

"He abandoned us for 20 years and fooled around with other women! I didn't know he was living in Latham until he died!"

"Oh! at least he left Polio's property for you, Hermia..."

"Maybe he left a will, and the specified heir is not me..."

"My God! My God! It's impossible..." she screamed. "You're his only son! He'll just give you his fortune!"

"Who knows." Helen sighed softly, "There are always some parents who value love more than children, don't they?"

The words that Fanny had slipped to her lips were cut short.She wept sadly, covered her mouth with her hands, and let out a hissing sob.Her slave girl had served her for a long time and wiped away her tears tenderly.

"Hermia..." She walked towards her son, habitually picked up his wrist and pinched it a few times, and groped carefully, as if she was describing the shape of the bone, "Oh, you are thin, my poor child .Last time, your wrists were rounder."

Her eyes are steaming, and the shallow crow's feet stretch out, making her kind and vicissitudes.Helen looked at her, and felt warm in his heart, followed by melancholy.In memory, her lifespan is not much left.Soon after his mother died of illness, he was declared an "illegal heir".

He raised his mother's hand and kissed the back of her hand. "Mother... I'm sorry. I was a little excited just now..."

Fanny stroked his hair softly. "It's not your fault, my Hermia. You're innocent. It's your parents' quarrel that got you down. It's me who should say sorry."

She lowered her hands and cupped Heron's cheeks. "I have been recuperating in Naples, and I haven't seen you for a long time. I miss you very much, Hermia."

Helen bowed her head obediently and let her kiss his forehead.

"Do you have Pliny's ring?" she asked.

"Hmm." Helen opened his palm, and there was a black signet ring lying on it.

Fanny squeezed the ring, looked at it, and sighed slightly.She took Heron's hand, put the ring on his ring finger, and said happily: "You are the new head of Polio, Hermia. I am really proud of you. Your father left you two A house, a rose garden, and a half-built public bath.”

Herron nodded, he had heard these words verbatim before.In order to increase their reputation, many nobles funded the construction of baths and libraries, and named them after their families.

At the beginning, he lived extravagantly and couldn't make ends meet.Coupled with the construction of baths, the money is almost in short supply.It was the same person who paid off all his debts at the cost of his life...

He pulled back his thoughts, held his mother's hand and said, "After the funeral, I'll go make a round. Don't worry, mother."

"Of course I don't worry, my child." Fanny smiled, the obsidian in her eyes and forehead shone brightly, as if stars had fallen on them, making her sickly face instantly bright. "I want to bake you caviar bread, brushed with egg yolk, sprinkled with shredded coconut and pine nuts, and baked until golden brown. I think you will like it."