Octavius's day was a bore so far. He had had to sit in on many meetings and none of them were very interesting. The most exciting thing that had happened so far was him having to break up a fight that broke out in the tribune meeting. Surprisingly, his cousin Julius had not been involved in the fight.

The final meeting of the day was a legate meeting. His three legates were meeting to share news and make sure everything was going well.

As he entered the hall, he spotted a dark-haired woman in armour sitting at the table alone. For a moment, he thought it was Optio Themis. Then he looked closer and realised that this woman's hair was longer and she was darker skinned. Octavius was embarrassed that it had taken him so long to recognise Legate Jessica, the first ever female legate. He had promoted her himself from tribune, after she had personally taken command of two centuries out on the battlefield when their centurions were indisposed.

Feeling a slight flutter in his chest, he sat down at the head of the table. He glanced at her, and found her glancing back at him. She dipped her head. "General, sir."

"Legate."

Jessica looked away, looking slightly uncomfortable. Octavius wondered if the butterflies were flying around HER stomach too.

Not long after this, Legate Titus and Legate Icarus arrived. Octavius smiled a greeting to his cousin, who smiled back, but Titus completely ignored the general and sat down as far away from the other three as possible. Everyone noticed this but nobody cared. Nobody particularly liked Titus.

During the meeting, Octavius could hardly concentrate. He kept sneaking glances at Jessica and then looking away when she looked at him.

If he was being honest, he admired her a lot. She had been a legionary from when she was fifteen to when she was twenty-one, then she had been promoted straight up to prefect after she had survived a building collapsing on her and then single-handedly, through her own injuries, rescued twelve legionaries, including Septimus; and two tribunes, including Julius, from the building just as it caught on fire. From there, she served the empire tirelessly until Octavius had deemed that she deserved to be a tribune.

She had caught his attention very early on. She was determined and ambitious, but not so ambitious that she was willing to do absolutely anything to achieve her means. She would rather be a prefect and have earned it than be a legate through unscrupulous means. But she WAS a legate now, and it WAS because she had earned it. Octavius knew that, and he hoped she knew it too.

After the meeting was over, Titus got up and left very quickly. Icarus took longer; he had a brief word with Jessica and then came over to Octavius. "Are you feeling alright?" he asked concernedly. "You look pale and I noticed throughout the meeting that you didn't seem to be able to focus."

Octavius hesitated, embarrassed that it had been that obvious. "I am alright. Thank you for your concern, Icarus. I am sure Julius and Septimus are waiting for you."

Icarus nodded slowly, not looking back entirely convinced, and left.

Jessica awkwardly stood up. "I'm...just going to go," she said.

Octavius nodded slowly. What he appreciated most about Jessica, apart from her beauty, was the fact that off the battlefield, she was awkward and socially shy. Somehow, it made her seem more real. She was a different person off the battlefield, as Octavius himself was too. Maybe that had caught his eye as well?

"Sir, are you feeling alright?" Jessica asked slowly. "You look pale and peaky."

Octavius nodded again. "I'm fine. Thank you."

"If you're sure..."

As Jessica left, she took several deep breaths to calm herself down. What's wrong with me? she thought. Why was her heart beating so quickly?

Oh, no. She didn't...did she?

Did she have a CRUSH on Octavius?!

That was pathetic. Did she really think a mighty General like him would ever even notice her, let alone like her back? He had HUNDREDS of admirers! Why would she be any different?

Because you're the first and only female legate, her brain reminded her. Octavius HAD to have noticed you at some point or he wouldn't have made you a legate.

That was true. But had he noticed her in THAT way?

"Jessica," called Octavius's voice.

Jessica froze as the General came out of the hall. She swallowed back her nerves and put on a smile. "H-Hello, Octavius. S-Sir."

"Just Octavius will do. May I call you Jessica?"

Jessica swallowed again and nodded. "Of course."

The General hesitated. "Are you...seeing anyone?"

Jessica blushed. Did he really just ask me that?! She forced herself to calm down and appear strong. "No. Are you?"

"No." Octavius looked like he didn't know what to do with that information. "Are you...interested in anyone?"

"Um..." Jessica decided to tell the truth. "Yes."

"Oh."

Octavius looked disappointed, which confirmed to Jessica what she had only suspected: Octavius was interested in her. She felt very flattered, and if she played this right, both of them would be able to get what they wanted.

"Are you?" she asked quietly.

Octavius glanced up. "I...yes."

Jessica smiled. "Is it me?"

Octavius stared at her in surprise. She quickly added, "It...It's okay if it isn't. I'm sorry for making you feel embarrassed. It's just that...the person I'm interested in is you."

"R-Really?" Octavius smiled slowly. "Then...yes. You are the one I am interested in."

Jessica hesitantly reached out and took his hand. He closed his fingers around hers and smiled. "Will you enter a relationship with me?"

"I will," Jessica replied softly.

Hesitantly, she leant forward. It was too soon, she knew that. Too soon for such activities. They'd only just become a couple. But some part of her hoped...

That was when Octavius made the split second decision to kiss her.

And both of them knew it was a good decision.

But unbeknownst to them, a lone woman was watching them from afar, tears dripping down her face. Feeling her heart break, Priscilla turned and fled.