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Claudia hesitated. Even if she wasn’t ready to declare her public love for Gia, it would be a good moment for her to assert that she belonged to no man, that she would rule alone as empress without need of a husband, but once more, the words stuck in her throat.

Marcellus was a serpent but he knew, as she knew, that she was vulnerable. Even with a prince for a fiancé, she was going to struggle, but without one, she was even more at risk. She needed him to be threatened, to see her as dangerous too.

Her gut told her to be cautious, to never underestimate her enemies. Men were so resistant to women taking their place in general. She was sure the concept of an empress with a wife would rile them into anarchy. The fear of manhood becoming obsolete. What then?

‘I… do,’ she said. She couldn’t bring herself to meet Gia’s eye. ‘Thus, I must decline your offer of marriage.’

Marcellus nodded slowly, his cheeks colouring.

‘You were not empress when your betrothal was arranged,’ Hieronymus said. ‘The prince will seek to take advantage of your new power. You cannot trust the Persian royals. It is known.’

Several others hummed agreeably.

The Roman Empire and the Persian Empire had a long and bloody history. Though towns and fortifications were continually sacked and razed, neither side was willing to push too far beyond the border. The balance between them was almost always restored. Her father’s strategy had been to maintain a stalemate.

‘I am certain they would say the same of us,’ she said. ‘But I shall take your advice into consideration.’

‘If I may say so, it would be far better to marry Marcellus and secure the imperial bloodline,’ said Damocles, who had reappeared, presumably upon hearing of the imperial engagement. ‘By wedding your two houses, there will be no question that the Julio-Claudian dynasty reigns. It will be difficult for anyone to contest your right to rule, and those who doubt that a woman can lead alone will be assured by his presence.’

Claudia bristled. She knew no one would be concerned about an emperor without a wife.

‘I said no, and that’s the end of it,’ she said.

‘Really, Princess,’ began Hieronymus, ‘if I may—’

‘The next man to call me Princess will be escorted from the premises and stripped of his roles,’ she said. ‘It is the most basic of courtesies, to refer to me by the correct title.’

The room fell to a resentful silence.

‘Tomorrow, Gia will ride with me, as my protection,’ she said. ‘Everywhere I am, she will be also, so long as she wishes.’

She looked to Gia, for confirmation.

‘I do wish,’ Gia said. She glanced at Hieronymus. ‘What are your plans for security?’

‘I don’t remember putting you in charge,’ said Hieronymus.

‘You are to consult with Gia on all matters of my safety,’ said Claudia. ‘That is an order.’

‘I’m not sure if the optics of an empress riding with a gladiator is quite what you wish to convey,’ said Damocles. ‘They aren’t high society.’

Gia gave him a stony look.

‘Celebrities, certainly,’ Damocles said, in a higher pitch than usual. ‘Popular, heroic and beloved by the people? Certainly. But to ride in the imperial chariot alongside the ruler of Rome? Certainly not.’

‘I’m afraid I have to disagree,’ said Claudia lightly. ‘If gladiators are a symbol of the people, then I shall stand with the people.’

‘You do not need to stand so closely,’ said Hieronymus.

‘They already know I sponsored Viatrix the Victorious back in Pompeii. It’s not a secret. We were both there when Vesuvius erupted, and we survived together. I don’t intend to forget that, or the citizens who were lost. There is nothing shameful about it.’

The courtiers whispered intently.

‘If you need a second reason, Gia is the only person I trust to protect my life. If not for her, I would not be here. It is settled. The first empress of Rome shall ride with her female guardian. We are making a statement. That isn’t a suggestion, or a recommendation.’

‘If you insist,’ grumbled Damocles.

‘Very well,’ said Hieronymus, in a voice that said: on your own head be it, Princess. ‘Then we shall keep the parade short. We’ll start at the palace and finish at the Pantheon, where you can make an offering to your god – I mean, goddess – as is tradition.’