As they arrived in the Villa they spotted the Emperor and Empress awaiting their return. They had sent a messenger ahead to tell them that their daughter was safe.The walk back to the Villa was uneventful and peaceful. Especially compared to the past few days. Hector had only lost his mother a week before and he was worried that he would also lose his best friend to the same sinister men that deprived him of a mother. He would avenge her someday, he promised. And when he did he will find everyone responsible. Trix was his only family left and he would not ever lose her to those people again.As they arrived Trix was still weak. A servant came up and offered them some drink. Trix gladly accepted it and drank everything up. Hector refused the drink as he was still holding Trix in his arms. The emperor would not trust anyone with his daug

Trix was in her room waiting for the doctors. As soon as she recalled everything she told Hector and her parents. But there was still a part of her memory missing. She couldn't remember the day she was kidnapped. Everything about it was a blur. They had returned to the palace and the memory of Juliana's death lingered still fresh in her memory. They had only returned home moments ago. After Juliana's body was retrieved the procession continued out of the city to a large and extravagant burial grounds. It had been owned by the family of Julian for generations and was practically habitable. There were dining areas and stables. There was even a summer home at the edge of the grounds. Juliana's body was cremated at the ustrinae and later on placed in an urn. After prayers were said and offerings made she was interned next to her mother who had died ten years before.The ride back was silent

"Now all we need to know is who could have made the poison." Hector whispered as they made their way to their morning training.Trix had come to hate this part of the day the most since she would often come out exhausted. Although several noblemen who had witnessed one of their sessions had commented on how well she could fight. Trix felt quite the contrary. She often lost to her male opponents and she feared having to face Hector. But today she was excited. It would be the first time she would see her maids fight. They had once been gladiators alongside mistress Maxima. They had chosen to serve the emperor as protectors of his daughter."Lady Vitatrix, Lord Hector." One of the men bowed as they entered the courtyard. Trix smiled and nodded to the man before making her way to the group of men to accompany her on her run. General Cato ha

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.

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