Rome looked fondly at his two grandchildren, Veneziano and Romano, as they lay sleeping on couches in Rome's villa after eating mumbled something inaudibly, then rolled over so he faced Rome and began sucking his thumb. Romano swore in the pillows. Rome smiled, his grandchildren were too precious for words.
But a couch was no place for a child to sleep. He picked them both up and slung them over his shoulders. Quietly the empire snuck into the children's room, then carefully laid them out on their beds.
"That is much more comfortable, no?"
He stayed at their sides, watching them sleep for a few minutes, until he heard knocking at his door. "Sicilia, who is it?" he called out to his door slave.
"It is the Emperor," Sicilia responded, unfazed by the fact that the most powerful man in the Mediterranean was knocking at the door. Sicilia had opened the door for countless emperors, dictators, senators, and triumphant generals to be bothered by something so insignificant.
"Let him in," Rome replied, as if there was another conceivable answer. "Oh, and tell Gaul to make another dinner, the emperor will surely be hungary,"
"Yes, sire"
"And try to delay him, I need to change into something better,"
"Yes sire,"
Rome left the children's room and hastily went into his own. He threw off the casual tunic and looked about for something grander to wear. He caught sight of his old military uniform, the golden chestpiece still gleamed but the leather was worn and bloodstained. He contemplated wearing it, his glorious conquering past might be behind him, but he was still a powerful military nation, right? He banished the thought from his head. It was an absurd thought to dress in uniform when meeting these new emperors, Augustus had loved it, but the man had been dead and cremated for centuries. These were more civilized (might he say weak?) men, and he had to dress accordingly. He took out one of his finest tunics, then laid out a toga. These would do.
After dressing he went into the study, where Sicilia was entertaining the emperor, telling him some old story of the Punic wars. Both of them turned around when Rome entered the room.
"Salve, my emperor, you look well" Rome said, greeting the man.
"Salve, my friend, Sicilia was telling me a most interesting story about Carthage. It is hard to believe there ever was someone who could change the might of Rome," Here the emperor shook his fists.
Rome smiled, "I believe dinner is ready, Gaul has prepared us a feast for the ages,"
"Good, good! I know when I come here, I will never leave with an empty stomach,"
Once Sicilia was out of earshot, the old man leaned in and whispered into Rome's ear.
"There is something I must discuss with you."
Author's Note: Thanks for reading, all reviews are appreciated. I have not studied Roman history for a while, so if you find any errors later on, send me a message.