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He had her in a bind. She couldn’t arrest and imprison the men whose devotion had supposedly saved an entire legion, including General Aquinas, though he unsettled her flesh.

‘We will put it aside, for now,’ she conceded.

‘We can talk this evening,’ said Marcellus. His gaze lingered on the prince. ‘There are matters we need to discuss.’

‘Then we shall arrange a welcome dinner,’ said Damocles. ‘It will be our great honour, of course.’

‘It shall be done,’ said Rectina, less enthusiastically.

‘Good, I will see you then.’

It was typical of him to announce an event, then expect everyone else to arrange it.

When Marcellus departed with his soldiers to join the joyous Martian cult outside, Claudia addressed the prince and Cassius:

‘You two should remain.’

‘Me?’ said Cassius.

‘Yes, I’m afraid so.’ She turned to Damocles and Rectina. ‘Leave us, please.’

Damocles huffed in indignation but dutifully left, corralling the other advisors as he did. Claudia waited until the room had emptied before setting her eyes on Prince Darius.

‘It’s time to discuss our deal,’ she said.

‘You have come to a decision?’ said the prince.

‘Yes, but my terms are different now.’

‘Oh?’

‘I happened, quite by chance, to stumble upon a most intriguing scene late last night… What you get up to in your own time is your own business, of course. Isn’t that what you said to me, Darius? But, and here I quote: “I am not the only one with eyes in Rome”. You’re lucky it was only me, who saw you. Roman men will do what they do behind closed doors, we all know that, but you were sent here to secure a wife, were you not? A prince of Persia and a foreign soldier? Your father won’t like it.’

‘Empress,’ said the prince, bowing his head in regret. ‘Whatever you witnessed, it was not… it did not—’

‘It… it’s not like that,’ said Cassius.

He paled, looking to Gia.

‘I already know of it,’ she said. ‘I must say, I am rather surprised, brother, after you expressed such strong opinions about an empress being with a gladiator.’

‘It isn’t the same,’ Darius protested.

‘You think a prince and a soldier is different? Or you think it’s different because you are men?’ said Claudia.

‘I am not at risk of throwing away my privilege and power for him,’ said Darius. ‘He is not my guard, sworn to protect me. He has no loyalty or allegiance with me. It is simply recreational.’

‘It is the same thing,’ said Claudia firmly. ‘Both of us are free to choose whom we desire, without being held to the fire for it. You have nothing over me, and I have nothing I wish to hold over you. Certainly not this. This should never be held over a person as if they have committed a crime, simply by loving someone.’

‘I didn’t say anything about love,’ objected Cassius.

‘Please, you must understand,’ pleaded the prince. ‘We must marry. My father will disown me. He sent me away and told me not to return until I am married. If he hears of this, he’ll be furious. There are…’ His face fell further. ‘There are already rumours he wished for me to dispel by marrying the empress of Rome.’

The misunderstandings Darius mentioned, back at home. He’d referenced them when they spoke of the graffiti. Claudia hadn’t pushed the issue, trying to play her hand too carefully. Perhaps if she had done a bit more probing, they could’ve come to an easier understanding.

‘You wish to hide it for your own reasons and I will respect that, but I will hide no more. My marital status, my preference – it should not reflect on my ability to rule.’

‘You would live in the open?’ he said. ‘Together.’