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‘Certainly,’ said Claudia, intrigued. ‘Whenever you’re ready.’
He and his train of courtiers filed out as Gia moved to stand next to her, her hand resting protectively on her sword.
‘Well, this is nice,’ she said, as they walked out to the gardens. ‘Me, you and him, on a nice little romantic excursion.’
‘Just remember that my heart belongs to you and all of this is a mere show in the name of politics.’
Gia made an uncertain noise, her face wrinkled in doubt.
‘Okay, but if he crosses the line, I can’t promise to behave.’
10. ME, YOU & HIM
When Darius returned, he was accompanied by his tall-hatted advisor, Mehdi, who looked cheerful. The prince carried a curved sword on his hip, its blade glinting in the midday sun.
‘We have a full itinerary of events planned in your honour,’ said Claudia. ‘We are most eager to entertain you, my prince, and show you all the leisure and pleasure Rome has to offer.’
‘Trust me, I am ready to experience them,’ said Prince Darius.
Claudia engaged him with the little Persian she had learned to impress him long ago.
‘Your pronunciation is good,’ said Darius.
‘I’m afraid I’m not fluent. I do speak other languages though.’
‘Such as?’
‘Greek, a little Celtic, Aramaic…’
They made idle talk about their lives, sharing the unique experience of growing up in palaces with rulers for fathers. Claudia noted that he seemed much friendlier towards her than before.
‘Any time I did something he didn’t like, my father had me dragged to court and reprimanded in front of everyone,’ said Darius. ‘When I was young, it was a kind of humiliation ritual, but when I became a teenager, I took a certain pride in it. I was rather notorious.’
‘My father never noticed if I did something wrong, because my brother was always busy doing something much more offensive,’ said Claudia. ‘At some point, I gave up and committed to being the good one.’
‘And look where that has got you,’ said Darius. ‘He is in the ground and you are ruler of the world.’
‘It did rather work out, didn’t it?’
She asked of his siblings, and he asked where she had travelled. She asked of his animals, and he asked about Pompeii. She kept it bright; nothing too personal or revealing, just enough to make her sound worldly and amiable, as advised.
‘Let us stop here a moment,’ he said, when they reached the giant bronze statue of Hercules.
‘What is it?’ asked Claudia, smiling anxiously.
She hoped he wouldn’t ask to kiss her.
‘I wish to apologize for my rudeness earlier,’ he said.
‘Oh,’ she said, surprised.
‘I did not intend to be rude, but Mehdi has informed me that I was indeed rude.’
Mehdi nodded curtly.
‘I’m not a good traveller. Long journeys, they fray my soul. They make my spirit weary. I am a man of creature comforts and homely bodies. I hope you can forgive me, Empress?’
‘All is well,’ said Claudia, pleased and relieved. ‘I myself have been known to be a little disgruntled when overly tired.’
