General Marcus Acacius stood at the edge of the Forum Romanum. His presence drew respectful nods from the sea of passing citizens, though few dared approach the imposing figure who had conquered Numidia for Rome. Each victory brought Rome closer to its supposed glory, yet further from the peace the Empire had once known. The rivers of blood Marcus spilled in Numidia stained his dreams, though his face betrayed nothing of his inner troubles.

After a few moments, he caught sight of her, the wife of Senator Thraex. She moved through the forum with practiced grace, though something in her bearing set her apart from the usual parade of senators' wives. Their first meeting still haunted him. He remembered the subtle shift in her expression as he recounted his military triumph in Numidia. Where others had praised him, she had shown something else entirely, something that had initially struck him as judgment, perhaps even disdain.

He had dismissed her initially as another creature of Rome's corrupt heart, another jewel in Senator Thraex's collection of beautiful things. Yet, in their subsequent encounters, he sensed something deeper. Their exchanges, though brief, crackled with unspoken tension. Months passed, and their paths continued to cross. He found himself studying her when propriety allowed, noting the subtle ways she held herself apart from her husband's excesses. He had seen Senator Thraex parade her around at parties like a prized mare, noting how she tensed when the senator was near, how she subtly bit the inside of her cheek when he humiliated her with thinly veiled insults disguised as jokes.

At forty-seven, Marcus was well past youthful infatuation. He had maintained his honor in a city that traded in secrets and lies. Yet he could not dismiss these unwanted feelings, this dangerous fascination with a married woman who appeared to represent everything he should despise about Rome's current state. It was a weakness he could ill afford. Rome teetered on the edge of chaos, ruled by twin emperors whose cruelty was matched only by their capriciousness.

Marcus watched as she gazed at a merchant's display of yellow and orange silks from the far reaches of the Empire. She stood alone–a rare sight, as Senator Thraex typically kept her close as if she would run away if given the chance. Marcus stopped at a respectful distance, close enough for conversation yet far enough to give her space. "Hello. I haven't... run into you here before. Where is Senator Thraex?" He felt foolish. There were so many things he could say, that he wanted to say, but his first words were inquiring about her husband.