"This newborn girl is yours," Eunice confirmed. "Clytia gave birth to Emilia less than an hour ago. But…my sister refuses to raise the child."

"Well I can't!" Quintillius said, alarmed. "Helena will know I had an affair!"

"I am sorry, but that is your problem!" Eunice snapped. "You helped create her, so you have a duty to raise her!"

"I can't! Helena will leave me, and Icarus needs his mother!"

"And Julius? Your youngest?"

Quintillius froze, his facial expression changing yet again. He scowled. "He no longer lives here."

"What?!" Eunice stared at him. "Why?!"

"None of your business!" Quintillius dropped his voice quickly. "I can't raise the girl, alright? Take it up with the general."

Eunice glared at him. "I will, you callous, uncaring bastard."

Quintillius took another step back, clearly unused to being talked to that way. Eunice kept up her glare for a few more seconds, before turning and heading to the general's house.

Octavius was the youngest general Rome had ever seen at just age eighteen. He was the adopted son of the late Julius Caesar, which meant that a lot of people disliked him. But he was slowly beginning to show everyone that, despite his young age, he could be the general that Rome needed.

Growing weary, Eunice knocked on the general's door. Before she had even waited ten seconds, a man's voice from behind her said, "Octavius isn't in. He's at the infirmary."

Eunice turned to face the old man behind him. "Is he alright?"

"I believe it is his cousin who is injured."

Eunice thanked the man and headed towards the infirmary. She was worried about what she had heard. Octavius only had two cousins: Icarus and Julius, Quintillius's sons. Icarus was at his house, so it must be Julius who was injured. A horrible feeling was in her chest as she wondered if Julius's injury was related to him not living with his parents anymore.

As soon as she entered the infirmary, she saw immediately where Julius was: there was only one bed occupied. A couple of the medics were buzzing around but otherwise, the entire place was empty. Adjusting the baby in her arms, Eunice headed over to Octavius, who was sitting next to the bed.

As she approached, she heard a very young voice whimpering, "It h-h-hurts…!"

"I know," Octavius's broken voice whispered back. "You're being very brave, Julius."

"Excuse me, general?" Eunice said, taking a step forwards.

The eighteen-year-old general turned to look at her. "You are a Vestal Virgin, correct? I'm sorry, but I do not know your name."

"My name is Eunice." As she took another step, she spotted the six-year-old boy in the bed. Hundreds of bandages were wrapped round his right leg, which looked almost crushed. "I-If you don't mind me asking, sir, wh-what happened?"

"A horse," Octavius replied softly. "He was knocked down by a horse."

"My leg hurts!" wailed Julius suddenly. "Octavius!" He started screaming in pain.

Eunice took a few steps back and hushed Emilia as she started to cry. A medic came running out of nowhere and began to tend to Julius. Octavius scrambled back to join Eunice, almost crying. "This is all my fault," he croaked.

Eunice hesitated. "Sir, I know this is not the best time, but there is a matter that requires your attention."

"Now," Octavius said. "Let's do it now. I-I need to take my mind off Julius."

"Very well, then. I will get to the point." Eunice held her arms out, displaying baby Emilia, who was now asleep. "This is Emilia."

"Is this baby…yours?" Octavius asked hesitantly.

"Oh, no!" Eunice shook her head firmly. "No, no, no. It is my sister Clytia's."

"Clytia. Is she okay?"

"No," sighed Eunice. "She refuses to raise the baby because…Emilia is illegitimate."

"Oh." Octavius nodded slowly in understanding. "Does she know who the father is?"

Eunice sighed. "Yes, sir. The father is Quintillius."

Octavius's eyes widened. "My uncle?!"

"That is right," Eunice said regretfully. "They had a one night stand about nine months ago, and Emilia is the result."

Octavius glanced down at the peacefully sleeping baby. Illegitimate children were very deeply frowned upon in Rome; most were killed. Octavius was highly against that practise, and he knew that he couldn't let little Emilia die if he could help it.

There was one place he could send her…

"Eunice, I need you and the Vestal Virgins to raise her," he said pleadingly.

"Of course, sir," Eunice said. "I was hoping you would say that; after all, Emilia is my niece."

"She is also Julius's half-sister," Octavius realised aloud. "He cannot know of this. Neither can Icarus or-." He broke off. "Will Quintillius tell Icarus about Emilia, do you think?"

"I do not believe so," Eunice said. "But…really, I do not know."

"Alright, then I had better have a word with him. Would you mind taking her with you right now?"

"Of course, sir."

Octavius began to walk to the exit.

"Sir…?"

The general turned. "Was there something else?"

Eunice hesitated. "Quintillius told me that Julius no longer lives with him. Why…Why is that?"

An incredibly sad expression settled on Octavius's face. "Julius will be crippled forever," he said bitterly. "Quintillius doesn't want crippled children."

Eunice felt a wave of disgust and indignation flow through her. Julius was six years old and he had just had an accident. He'd need the support of his family even more now, but they had given him up. First Julius, then Emilia. Eunice was starting to think Quintillius hated children. She hoped he wouldn't treat Icarus badly.

"Thank you, sir," she said to Octavius, who smiled weakly back.

"Just make sure Emilia gets to the temple safely. I'll be checking in on her now and then. She's my cousin, after all."

That was true. Emilia WAS Octavius's cousin; half-cousin, technically, but family nonetheless. It made Eunice feel better to know that little Emilia had such a powerful person on her side.

She would need it.