It has been two years since that event. I kept true to my promise. Immediately as we arrived on Rome I sent out for the most skilled architects and workers to rebuild Gaul. The project took almost a year and a half to finish. During those months Jeanne had come to live with me. She was an irreplaceable companion. We spent those precious times together sailing, reading and occasionally fight gladiator battles in the arena as a duo.

When the reconstruction was finished she took the rightful place as the queen and left Rome.

I was devastated. I lost my chance to tell her how much she meant to me.

We often wrote letters to each other. Then one day the letters stopped coming. I have not heard from her for a while. I missed her.

I kept pondering on Jeanne's sudden coldness. Was she ill? Was she injured? Was she busy? Is there a war? An invasion? Did distance made her heart forget?

Or had she found someone else?

The thought sent me spiralling to jealousy.

My curiosity and longing got the better of me. I cancelled all my plans for the week and decided to pay her a visit.


"Never knew you were into older women." Lucius commented as he ate some grapes. "Five years would be acceptable, but centuries? That's a bit too old, Your Highness."

"She's nineteen if you got the timeline right." I corrected. "I would be a year older than her then."

"If you two ever got married, your Highness." Lucius laughed. "You would become my great grandfather to the fifth. Never knew I was related to royalty."

It was a nice surprise that Lucius had also descended from Jeanne's bloodline. We were able to find out by tracing his ancestry with the help of the census. I offered him his freedom once more. I even offered him the position of governor. He still flat out refused. "Not leaving my family behind." He would usually say which was followed by a shrug.

"You can stop calling me 'your Highness'." I joked. "We're of equal ranks now."

"Could I call you son instead?" He grinned bashfully.

"Sure." I smiled back. "Father."

The carriage halted to a rocky stop. I peered through the tinted window of the carriage. Gaul had admirably improved in her reign. There were dozens of new infrastructures. Trade was abundant and unrestricted here. The newly constructed harbour was inviting navigators to circle the globe for new crops and gold. Merchants had come to settle in the kingdom as well as different slews of races. It was a nice change from a once deserted town.

A coachman opened the door for us while another heralded our arrival. As we stepped off the carriage a well-dressed man escorted us to the entrance of a newly finished Temple of Venus.

"Why are we here?" I addressed to the courtier. The courtier was of Celtic descent.

"Her Highness is waiting for you, my Lord." The courtier spoke in a deep nasal accent. "The Queen has a deep gratitude towards the goddess Venus. She had the temple built out of pure devotion. She has graced the temple's opening with her presence."

"Very well." I replied.

"You better go by yourself." One of the senators who accompanied me voiced out.

"I better park the carriage while at it." Lucius was in a rather smug mood. He nudged at the courtier. The fellow almost lost his balance. "Do you drink, buddy?"

"Excuse me?" The courtier was slighted.

"You know, some few shots of beer at the backstreet pub? Lucius insisted. "For celebration."

"I call the shots!" Another senator volunteered. "Whose with me?!"

Every single one of the politicians said yes. It was the first time a group of senators agreed on one thing without breaking into a massive debate or bloodshed.

"Wait for us." I said futilely. They were leaving us behind. I was planning to fetch Jeanne from the temple and join them later. Jeanne adored parties and wine. In fact she has a higher alcohol tolerance than me.

"You have a good time in there." Lucius forcefully put an arm on the unwilling courtier's shoulder. "See you tomorrow."

Everyone was acting strange.

Something was amiss.