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‘Just… maybe don’t spy on me again, okay?’ Gia gently brushed a strand of hair out of Claudia’s eyes. ‘Unless I’m in danger.’

They silenced as they heard movement outside the door: light laughter, the clank of armour.

‘We are always in danger,’ said Claudia. ‘That is the problem.’

Now was the time. It had to be.

‘Forget about Cassius, forget about Lesbionicus,’ said Gia, with a smile. ‘Let it just be us, for tonight.’

‘Perhaps we should be extra cautious for a while,’ said Claudia, finally summoning the courage.

Gia didn’t answer for a moment, her face soft.

‘Do we not live in secrecy already?’ said Gia. ‘What more can we do to hide ourselves?’

Claudia took a deep breath, steeling herself.

‘You probably shouldn’t sleep here with me any more,’ she said.

‘Why not?’

‘We are being too obvious.’

Gia’s face was unreadable. ‘You’re serious?’

‘I don’t want it to be so but it must be done, to keep you safe.’

‘Is this because of what my brother said?’

‘Yes, but not only that. There is the graffiti, the play today. I have to tread carefully with the prince. We have been too reckless already. We must be smarter, and assume that eyes are always upon us at all times. Anything my enemies can use to wound and weaken me, they will take, and that includes you. That includes us.’

All of this was true, but it was not the only reason. Claudia sensed that Gia knew this.

‘What happened to let it be recorded in the annals of history?’ Gia said. ‘Isn’t that what you said just yesterday?’

‘That was before the people put on a play to satirize me, before I found out that the prince possessed a knife of Jupiter, before I heard your brother beg you to leave me in the name of your dead mother…’

‘I thought we were stronger than that,’ said Gia.

‘We were… we are.’

‘So, what has changed between us? Nothing.’

‘I have a responsibility to the people, to women, to the goddesses,’ said Claudia. ‘I have a duty now. I can’t risk losing what we have already sacrificed everything for.’

‘I’m not asking you to.’

Your brother’s words are just another reminder that we are not safe here, that you are not safe here.’

‘When have I ever been safe?’ Gia objected. ‘I am happy as long as I’m with you.’

‘And I you, but if I love you, shouldn’t I do everything in my power to protect you?’ said Claudia. ‘Cassius is right. You are in danger so long as you stand at my side. Your life will never be your own. I will always have an obligation that is greater than my commitment to you.’

‘Are you telling me you want to sleep apart, or are you telling me you want to… be apart?’ said Gia.

Claudia swallowed.

‘It is just… for now,’ she said. ‘Until the heat is off us. People will stop talking about it eventually.’