"When you said you were going to procure a new gladiator, I assumed you would purchase one with actual skill." Acteon said as Victoria removed his robes, trying to keep the look of disgust off of her face.
"He has potential. Skill can be honed. He will more than repay his cost in the future." She said. "Batiatus was most charitable."
"Batiatus?!" Acteon whipped around.
"You said I could have my pick from lanistas. Surely you must have known I would select the one with the most prestige and housed a good friend." She dropped his robes to the floor, looking away from his naked form and went to sit in front of her mirror and began brushing her hair.
"Batiatus is my rival. Do you not care that he could surpass us in rank among the nobility, despite the blood of your father that runs through your veins. He seeks to elevate himself, as do I."
"He is a cunning man and a great lanista to have had Crixus, Gannicus and now Spartacus among his ranks." Quietly, she added. "You should learn by example." She sighed and felt his eyes upon her as she lazily brushed her hair.
"You could have Acca do that for you." He said.
"Why would I do so when I can manage just fine with my own hands. I sent her away for the night."
"To tend to the needs of the boy you made purchase of?" Acteon sneered as he sank down onto their bed.
"He is not a boy. He is a man, one that will one day see us both elevated, and no. She has taken to her bed. The journey was hard on the poor girl's feet." She placed the brush on the top of her vanity and turned around. Acteon was still watching her, still completely naked. "Why am I being subjected to such scrutiny?"
"Why do you treat these slaves as though they held meaning?" He asked, emphasizing the word slaves with a look of distaste.
"Acca has been at my side for years, she does. As for the others, despite their patronage, they are no less human than you or I. We have had this discussion many a time before and I bore of the subject."
"I do not. I have also not forgotten the time you shamed this house by stopping the entertainment I had delivered before the fucking senators."
"Entertainment?! You call having a man whipped to death who has done no wrong, entertainment? Stomach turns at the coldness of your heart. I could not sit by while you committed such acts. The senators cared not for your entertainment. My stopping it was their entertainment." She rose to her feet and started to leave when he grabbed her arm.
"Because of you, they think me foolish child who cannot control his wife."
"They thought so before my hand swayed opinion. And I am not to be controlled, you fucking ass." Victoria said, snatching her arm away. "I am to be cared for. You are the fucking entertainment. A foolish lanista who has only had one champion in his span, married to the greatest senator's daughter. My father's coin pays for this house, for your gladiators, for me. You are but poor excuse for a man."
"How dare you to speak to me in such a manner?!" He roared.
"Please clothe yourself." She looked down at his measly cock in annoyance. "The sight of the worm between your legs turns stomach once again." She turned and stormed out while he fumbled to tie something around his waist and followed her. "Do not follow me."
"Where do you go?"
"Away to clear thoughts. Do not be in my bed when I return." She waved her hand for two guards to open the gates of the villa and she quickly stepped out onto the grounds of the estate.
"My lady!" Acca was panting as she caught up to her domina. "Apologies, but why do you leave so late at night? I was awoken to the sight of my domina disappearing into blackness."
Victoria sighed and slowed her pace for the young blonde slavegirl to match. "Words of malice escape tongue. Blood is heated in anger. I thought it would be cooled when not in the presence of talking shit."
"May I speak, Domina?"
"Of course, Acca."
"Why do you not have your marriage dissolved? Surely a man more suitable to your tastes could be found with ease."
"One could, but my father will not dissolve the marriage for another year. Steps have been taken to see the day brought closer, but for now…" She sighed. "I must await my father's arrival for the games. Perhaps Ceasar will be among them." Victoria smiled at the thought of the beast of a man within her bed, between her thighs.
"Blood appears to boil again." Acca said with a smirk.
Victoria grinned. "It appears so. Come, let us return." And they did so. Victoria apologized to her husband but the words were hollow, absent actual meaning but did not lay with him as he tried to persuade her to do. Instead, she slept in the guest quarters and had guards posted outside the door. The morning did not find her sharing breakfast either. She and Acca shared their morning meal on the balcony, where she could watch Duro during his training. Here, she could see every ripple of his powerful muscles as he followed the orders of the Doctore. She often managed to catch his eye and he flashed her a smirk every time. His training had only begun and he was already behaving as an arrogant champion would. He would make a fine gladiator indeed. A fine tool, to see herself elevated.