Lady Marcella was quite a beauty and her family was of good reputation. She was the third daughter and the only one among her five siblings that remained unmarried. Hector spent the night speaking to her about how he was adjusting to society. She showed concern on how he was adjusting to the much larger city after having lived most his life in Clusium.
"To be honest my dear lady it has been difficult. Fortunately for me I have no longer much need to walk the streets as I used to. I believe I would always be lost if I did so." He jokingly told her. Of course there was some truth in his statement, such as he was definite that he would get lost in the city.
"Well I must take you around one time. I have grown up within these city walls and I know the best places to be in." Lady Marcella said with the most charming smile he had ever seen.
"My lady you look amazing tonight!" Lord Felix exclaimed as he escorted Trix into Senator Julian's villa.Trix blushed and smiled. She was nervous. It would be the first time she would see Hector since she learned of his budding romance with the Lady Marcella. Today was his birthday and she had prepared a gift for him. Also in the care of her maids was a gift in case the engagement between Hector and Marcella was announced. Picking out the gift was heartbreaking to her."Are you well princess?" Lord Felix asked."Yes, I am just tired from my lessons. It would be much easier if Hector was around to assist me." She responded half heartedly."Come, princess the senator has prepared a place of honor for you." Lord Felix then led her to a
Trix felt all the guests in the room turn towards her direction. She had spoken too loud and reacted too severely. She appreciated Felix's attention but hearing from Hector's own lips that he assumed they were in a relationship hurt her more than she believed humanly possible."My lady, are you alright? Is something the matter?" Lord Felix said trying to comfort her as if she was a spoiled princess."I am fine Felix." She said to him. Then she looked to the crowd. Their eyes were filled not with concern but with ambition. Many of them sought good favor with her father. The rest simply wanted to be done with him. How many times in the past few weeks had she questioned the intentions of the people around her? How many only saw her as an opportunity and how many truly saw her as a friend? It was only Hector that had stuck with her through thick or thin. He was her friend when she was just some orphan in a small town. But he had changed, Rome had changed him."I lea
Trix woke up less than a minute later. A crowd had gathered around her and she found herself in Felix's arms. She had never fainted in her entire life. Yes she had been knocked unconscious when she was kidnapped but this was different."Princess, are you alright?" A man called out."Yes. I simply lack rest. I will be fine." Trix tried to get up but Felix stopped her. She could see the concern in his eyes."Maybe I should take you home Trix." Felix said with a frown on his face."I'll be fine. Please take me to Lord Hector so I might congratulate him and his future wife.""I am here Trix. Please don't tire yourself." She looked to her right and there was Hector holding bottles of cure
Trix woke early the next day feeling cheerful and rested. The events that had transpired the night before had begun like nightmare that ended as a sweet dream. She layed in bed remembering in her mind the dances she shared with Lord Felix, their late night stroll, and even how he had opened up to her that night. She was happy he was there. She would have felt alone and had would have done something irrational.Trix knew that she would have to face the reality of last night's events, but she lay on her bed trying to delay it. Soon Fausta and Cassia came into her chambers to wake her. The two maids were whispering and giggling as they entered her chambers. She could hear the mention of Felix's name and hers."I am up. There is no need to wake me." Trix called out from her bed."We
"People of Rome. It is on this day that we shall be rejoicing." A lone man in the square called out as the crowd gathered. "It is on this day that the gods have smiled upon us. The Princess Vitatrix, daughter offered Emperor Patricus and Empress Eliana, has been betrothedto Lord Felix, son of Senator Felix. To commemorate this occasion the emperor has commissioned that a week of celebration be held. Feasts and Fights in honor of his daughters engagement." The crowd cheered. Among them were three women, they had their faces covered and they wore simple clothing. Little did the people of Rome realize that this was their Princess Vitatrix and her Lady's maids Cassia and Fausta. The girls had gone to the market place as Trix wanted to see the people's reaction to her engagement. In reality the engagement had happened a week ago but
The night was a blur to Trix. She knew that music was played, that food was served, and gifts given. The only part of the night that stuck to her was the one dance she shared with Hector and the moment he had handed her over to Felix. This is not what she wanted, to be around someone you love but not be able to love him. It hurt her.As her engagement to Felix was to be celebrated in the following days she knew she had to put on a mask of false joy. She knew that any woman would be happy to be engaged to Felix. He was kind, intelligent, rich, he was perfect. But despite his perfection Trix could not find it in herself to love him. Was this the price she had to pay for being with her family? Or was it just some cruel twist of faith that had led her to be in this situation at that particular moment?"Trix are you listening to me?" S
"So a secret cult of Roman senators who are calling themselves the Society of the Eagle were behind your abduction and poisoning. To add to that you believe that Lord Felix is one of them. Do you have any idea how absurd that sounds Trix?" Hector questioned her. They had agreed to meet in her chambers after the matches at the arena."Don't look at me as if I'm crazy Hector. I actually heard them." Trix said."Do you have any idea who they are?" Hector sighed."That's why we are going to my father's library to look them up. Also I've asked some of the guards go look into it." Trix said gleefully."Are you trying to build your own spy network?" Hector teased."Well I will eventually ne
The hall was filled with men and women of the nobility. Many stared as Trix entered the room, the ladies gossiped on why instead of her betrothed she had come with the heir of House Julian. Others were simply unaware of who Hector wad and assumed him to be Lord Felix the younger. Trix scanned the room in search of Felix, he was not there."I cannot see him." She whispered to Hector."I'm sure there is a reason for his absence. An urgent matter perhaps?" Hector patted her hand as they made their way to the head of the hall where a table wad prepared for the imperial family. They stood as the emperor greeted the guests and only sat when he sat.At this Hector moved to make his way to a seat near his grandfather and fathet when the emperor called him. "Surely you will sit with us Hector.