Hilde didn't look like she cared.
"Alcibiades has explained the whole story to me. I know that Pericles is dead and his body has been brought here..."
Hilde didn't want to show too much of her dislike for Pericles. After all, doing so in front of Rhodes would really ruin her impression of Hilde.
At this time, Rhodes took out a scroll from his arms.
"Sister Sissi, this is the handwritten letter that Lord Pericles asked me to pass on to you in his last moments."
"There's even a handwritten letter written to me."
Hilde shook his head helplessly.
Hilde roughly guessed the contents.
He simply felt regret and repentance, thinking that what he had done to Hilde in the past was really too much. But if he had known this would happen, why did he do it in the first place? As a father, he did not fulfill his duties as a father. Didn't he arrange for someone to send his daughter to a distant place where she would almost never come back, or even arrange for a killer to kill her directly on the ship?
When Pericles sent Hilde on board, did he consider what kind of dangers Hilde would encounter on board? Those soldiers did not completely fulfill Pericles' request. They would not simply kill Hilde, but wanted to do many excessive things to Hilde. If Hilde was really a weak woman with no power to tie a chicken, wouldn't she be helpless in the face of such a situation? Hilde could imagine the despair without having to experience it herself.
So, just because of this matter.
Hilde could never forgive Pericles in her life.
But he is dead.
Hilde originally thought that she would definitely have some conflicts and disputes with Pericles in the future, and Pericles might even become Hilde's enemy. However, before these happened, Pericles passed away and left this world early. This was indeed beyond Hilde's expectations.
It can only be said that in the face of the plague, all human beings are equal. Even a famous Athenian archon like Pericles, once infected by the plague, the only end that awaits him is death.
It's really scary.
"You should have a good rest these few days."
"Well... well, Sister Sissi, what are you going to do with Lord Pericles?"
Chapter 8, Section 10: The Burial of Pericles
"Put him in peace first, and don't worry about the rest."
About Pericles.
Hilde had no other ideas.
Although Pericles was indeed hateful, the person was dead and everything was written off.
Since the person is dead, no matter what, Pericles is still an idol of Athens and a person who has left a strong mark in history, so Hilde did not plan to do anything to prepare a cemetery for Pericles and bury him first. As his "daughter", Hilde felt that it was necessary for her to do these things for Pericles.
"Okay, Sister Sissi."
Rhodes felt that Hilde might be a little sad.
So she had to leave first.
After Rod left, Hilde sat quietly at the table alone, looking at the sky outside the window.
She was a little confused.
Obviously I have no feelings for Pericles.
But after knowing that he was dead, why did I still feel sad?
Hilde turned around and saw Pericles' handwritten letter placed aside.
She picked up the scroll and looked at it. She could probably guess what Pericles wrote, but she didn't plan to open it to read. Hilde didn't hesitate at all and threw the scroll into the stove next to her, letting the flames burn the scroll directly with the fire.
Hilde decided.
Whether Pericles was apologizing or repenting.
It doesn't make any sense anymore.
In Hilde's heart, there was no need to forgive a dead person. Even if they reconciled, Pericles was already dead, and Hilde would only feel more uncomfortable. It would be better to let this "enemy" exist forever in Hilde's heart. That would be fine.
"whatever."
Hilde turned away from the fire.
Soon, Pericles' ice coffin was moved out. She walked in front of Pericles and looked at the stubborn old man who was now frozen as if he was asleep. She felt no waves in her heart.
For Pericles, Hilde's decision was.
Simple handling.
Hilde only brought Sophia, Rhodes, Alcibiades and others with her to a hill outside the city of Byzantium. Hilde's mother, Aspasia, had already brought people here. At this time, under Aspasia's arrangement, the soldiers had already dug a pit, and even the tombstone was ready.
Rhodes followed Hilde silently. She found that Hilde did not look sad at all, but just very serious. She was so serious that Rhodes did not dare to say a word to her.
Hilde, are you sad?
Or is she simply unhappy?
And so on to the top of the hill.
Aspasia stood beside the tombstone with tears on her face and walked up to Hilde.
"Sissi."
"Mother……"
Hilde hugged Aspasia gently.
"I... I'm still very sad. When I think of the days I spent with Pericles, I..."
"Mother, this is normal. What happened between you is romantic and happy, and this will never be erased. So, you don't have to worry about your feelings." Hilde couldn't help but let out a bitter smile. "But it's different for me. Anyway, he has never acknowledged that I am his daughter. For me, I may not be able to be sad."
"Sister Sissi!"
When Rhodes heard this, he quickly walked up to Hilde.
"Lord Pericles finally told me... He said he was wrong, and then..."
"It doesn't make any sense."
Hilde interrupted Rod.
"What kind of role did Pericles play in my life for more than ten years? He always wanted to kill me and regarded me as a disaster that would destroy Athens. If it weren't for my mother, Aspasia, who has been protecting me, I would not be alive today... So, for so many years, Pericles has been playing such a role in my life. And when he was about to die, he told me to forgive him. Could I really forgive him?"
"Sister Sissi..."
It was the first time that Rod saw Hilde get angry at him.
She shook her head somewhat bewilderedly.
"I, that's not what I meant..."
"Rod, I know that Pericles has done you a favor, but you know...Pericles' attitude towards you is exactly what I wanted most when I was a child. I used to think that Pericles just didn't like me that much, but when I grew up a little, I realized that Pericles hated me and wanted me to die, so I completely gave up this thought."
Hilde turned around.
Look at Aspasia and Sophia.
"So, the more this happens, the more I can understand your kindness."
"Xixi, I'm sorry for wronging you."
Aspasia knew what kind of life Hilde had been living over the years.
In this regard, Pericles really went too far.
Sophia walked to Rhodes' side, patted him on the shoulder gently, and took her away.
"Xixi is actually very sad, and she said that on purpose, so don't take it too seriously."
"But……"
"It's okay, just wait a moment."
After Sophia and Rhodes left, Hilde sighed and pulled up the cart with Pericles on it. When Pericles' body appeared in front of Aspasia, the strong mother finally couldn't help it. She threw herself in front of Pericles and burst into tears. Dione, who knew nothing, hid behind Hilde, looking at Pericles with some fear, while Hilde just gently stroked Dione's head.
“Human death is inevitable.”
"Are we all going to die in the future?"
"Yeah... In the future, we will die for various possible reasons. This is normal."
"...Well, I understand."
Dione has grown up, and she understands birth, aging, sickness and death very well.
The orphans in the orphanage all had dead parents, and some of them had never even seen their parents for the last time before becoming orphans. Under such circumstances, while Dioni was taking good care of them, she could also feel that even though people can do many things when they leave this world, they can only do nothing in the face of such a thing.
After all, Dione knew.
I am also an orphan.
Hilde walked over to Aspasia and patted her shoulder gently.
"Mother, don't be too sad."
"But……"
"Pericles died for Athens. He died a worthy death and was buried under the gaze of his family..."
First tune, first section, free choice of path
If you think like this.
Pericles was indeed a very lucky man.
At least I can leave this world this way.
At least he could be buried surrounded by his family.
His death was inevitable. In the environment of Athens, even if Pericles did not die from the plague, he might have died in Cleon's murder.
In Hilde's view, Athens' democracy was a joke. People defended the democratic system of the city-state on the surface, but in reality, they were just frantically seeking benefits for themselves within this framework. Internally, Athens oppressed slaves and the poor, and the gap between the rich and the poor was huge. The reason why Cleon had such a high reputation was that he grasped the voice of the common people. Externally, Athens oppressed foreign races and allies, attempting to establish the Athenian Empire and Athenian colonies, bringing countless wealth to Athens.
When problems began to arise in this framework, Athens' problems were immediately exposed.
The Spartan siege, the plague in Athens, and the Ionian problem caused Athens' democratic framework to begin to fluctuate. Athens needed to establish hegemony, so Pericles became the de facto dictator. In fact, he was the de facto dictator of Athens until his death.
He is fully capable of this, just like Peisistratus.
Use his concentrated power to bring better results for Athens.
But he didn't do that.
And what kind of person is Pericles?
Is he an egoist or a simple idealist?
Hilde had trouble giving him an answer.
She could only write this sentence on Pericles' tombstone:
Pericles, a person who cannot be erased in the history of Athens.
Pericles' body was buried in the cemetery. When the soil was covered, Pericles' work was completed. Hilde watched the tombstone being erected, and then she supported her mother and returned to the palace.
Compared to Pericles' death, Hilde was more concerned about Rhodes' affairs.
She came to the door of Rod's room and knocked.
"Rod."
Soon, Rhodes opened the door.
"Sister Sissi..."
"Can I come in?"
"of course can!"
Rhodes quickly made way, and then Hilde walked into the room.
Rhode looked very cautious, fearing that his behavior would displease Hilde. Seeing her like this, Hilde knew that Rhode, who had just arrived, must be very nervous and uneasy. After all, this was not the Athens she was familiar with, and there was no Pericles to protect her all the time.
Plus what Hilde said to her today.
It must have overwhelmed Rhodes.
So, Hilde gently pulled Rod to the bedside.
"Rod, I lost my composure today."
