The Senate hall was heavy with tension as Lucius entered, his face set in determination, yet his heart raced. The walls seemed to close in around him, and the murmurs of the gathered senators only heightened his unease. He could feel the weight of their gazes, each one heavy with suspicion.
Septimus, with a sharp gaze and an even sharper tongue, stood up as Lucius entered, his voice cold and accusing.
"Lucius, you have been called here because Faustus, who stands before us, has brought damning evidence that proves your treacherous intentions. These documents show that your ambitions were never to restore Rome, but to seize power for yourself and destroy everything we hold dear. You have plotted to overthrow the Republic and establish yourself as a dictator. You are an enemy of Rome, and Faustus was right to expose your betrayal. You will be disarmed, and tomorrow, an official judgment will decide your fate."
Lucius stood frozen, staring at Faustus, his once-beloved childhood friend, with a look of shock and disgust. Faustus, the man he had reconciled with after returning his home, had turned against him in such a cold and deliberate manner.What betrayal!he thought bitterly.
Lucius clenched his fists, anger flaring in his chest, but he remained composed as he faced the Senate.
— "I am not a traitor!" he shouted, his voice resonating through the hall. "I've done nothing but seek justice for myself and for the people of Rome! I've come to free us from the chains of corruption, not to destroy the empire!"
The murmurs of doubt spread among the senators, some skeptical, others already ready to pass judgment. But then, Septimus, with a cold and calculating smile, motioned to another senator. A scroll was brought forth, unrolled, and placed in front of Lucius.
— "You speak of justice?" Septimus sneered. "These are the 'letters of the conspirators,' signed by you and your allies. Documents proving your treachery. Do you deny this, Lucius?"
Lucius looked down at the scrolls, his disbelief growing as he saw the falsified letters. They were carefully crafted fabrications, every detail designed to implicate him. But it was too late — the room was already buzzing with suspicion. He could feel the weight of the Senate's judgment pressing down on him.
— "This is a lie!" Lucius protested, his voice rising in defiance. "These letters are forged! I have never conspired to destroy Rome! I killed Macrinus because he was the true enemy of Rome, not me! He sought to plunge our city into chaos. I only wanted to return power to the people, to restore the Republic and bring peace to Rome!"
But his words were drowned out by the growing chorus of condemnation. Some senators murmured among themselves, their doubts erased by the fabricated evidence. Others openly accused him of treason. Lucius felt the walls of the Senate close in around him. He turned to Opiter Publius, the father of Helena, standing near the front. Opiter had always been a supporter of Lucius, but now... now things were different.
Opiter stood up, his voice trembling with emotion.
— "Septimus, you are wrong! Lucius has done nothing but fight for justice! He was wrongfully imprisoned in the Colosseum — he should never have been there! He is the grandson of Marcus Aurelius! He has no blood on his hands except that of Macrinus, who threatened Rome itself!"
Opiter's plea was met with cold silence. Septimus wasted no time in silencing him.
— "And what of your daughter, Publius?" Septimus said, his eyes narrowing dangerously. "Helena helped him escape the Colosseum. She is complicit in this conspiracy as well. You cannot hide behind your status, Publius. She is involved, and you are too, by association."
Opiter's face went pale, his heart sinking as the weight of Septimus's words hit him.
Septimus's voice grew even colder. "Here's the deal, Publius," he continued. "You are a respected man in Rome. If you side with us, we can ensure Helena's name will not be mentioned in the judgment. No one will ever know of her involvement. But if you continue to defend this traitor, you will both be destroyed."
Opiter was a man of honor, but this offer... It was a cruel one. To save his daughter, he would have to abandon Lucius, the man who stood for the same ideals as him. Helooked at Lucius, struggling internally, but he couldn't bear to see his daughter dragged into this, the weight of his daughter's future rested heavily on him.
Opiter looked away, unable to meet his gaze. He knew the truth in his heart, but he could do nothing to change the course of voice was barely a whisper. "I... I cannot risk it."
Lucius turned toward Septimus, filled with rage at the mention of Helena. Feeling guilty for causing her trouble.
— "Helena did nothing, I forced her to give me the keys and I threatened her to deliver the message to Commander Darius. She was coerced."
Opiter briefly looked at Lucius, a grateful gleam in his eyes. Then Lucius turned to the assembly of senators. "But you must believe me, everything I did was to free Rome from tyranny and to make my grandfather's dream come true. Why would I want to destroy Rome? This is where I was born, this is the land of my ancestors, who fought to build a just empire that has been tarnished in recent years by tyranny."
Then, as the room seemed to close in on Lucius, Septimus's voice cut through the tension like a knife.
— "You are making a mistake!" he shouted. "You accuse me of treason, but I have only fought for Rome's future. I wanted to restore the Republic, to bring peace to the people! Macrinus wanted nothing but war and destruction. I killed him to save Rome, to save us all!"
But no one listened. His words were swallowed by the storm of accusations. The senators, some corrupt and some too frightened to oppose, began to rise. Under the harsh glare of their judgment, Lucius was seized by the guards and escorted out of the Senate chamber. The cries of "Traitor!" echoed in his ears as he was led away, the crowd staring in shock and disbelief at what had just transpired. His credibility was shattered, his dreams dashed.
As he was pushed out of the room, Opiter stood frozen, his heart heavy. He wished he could do something — anything — to stop this injustice, but he knew that, for now, he was powerless. He cast one last look at Lucius, who was now being dragged away and taken to wait for the Senate to convene for an official judgment.
In the hallway, as the senators gathered in small groups to discuss their victory, Opiter's mind was in turmoil. He had failed him, but more than that, he feared for Helena. Would she truly be safe? Or would this conspiracy swallow them both whole?
Lucius was now imprisoned in a dark cell of the Tullianum, awaiting trial. But he quickly understands that this trial will be a farce, a mere means for his enemies to get rid of him. A bitter smile crossed his face as he thought back to his day. It had started so well, and he had spent a very pleasant afternoon with Helena. He had glimpsed a bright future for both Rome and for himself and Helena. He had finally seen hope for his own future, and now, here he was, back at square one, imprisoned.
Lucius told himself that, in the end, the odds were really against him.
Opiter returned home, his steps slow and heavy as the weight of the Senate's judgment bore down on him. He had hoped for a different outcome, one where justice prevailed, but he knew deep down that the Senate had already made its decision — and it was one that would ruin Lucius's life. As he walked through the villa, his heart ached with sadness not just for his daughter, but for Lucius.
The young man had endured nothing but sorrow and injustice throughout his life. He had been betrayed time and time again, forced to fight for what was right in a world that refused to acknowledge his worth. Lucius was a good man — honorable, courageous, and full of hope. He deserved so much more than this.
He deserved a life of peace, of happiness and he wished there was something, anything, he could do to prevent it.
As he entered the villa, he was greeted by the sight of his daughter, Helena, sitting in the garden, her face beaming with the joy of a peaceful afternoon. She had spent the earlier part of the day with Lucius in the villa and Opiter's heart sank at the thought of it. His daughter, so full of hope and brightness, did not yet know the terrible truth.
Helena rushed to her father as he entered the villa. Her voice trembled slightly as she spoke.
"Father, you're back! What did they say? Why was Lucius called to the Senate so suddenly?"
Opiter struggled to find the right words. He had always been a man of honor, but today, the weight of the Senate's decision and the impossibility of the situation had broken him. He tried to smile for his daughter, but it faltered.
— "Daughter, listen to me," he began, his voice thick with sorrow. "Lucius has been accused of treason. They have fabricated evidence against him, lies that will see him condemned. They are determined to destroy him, and there is nothing I can do to stop it."
Helena's face froze as she processed his words.
— "What do you mean?" she whispered, her voice trembling. "But... but that can't be true! Lucius... he has been nothing but honorable, fighting for Rome's future. He wants peace, not power!"
Opiter's heart ached as he saw the pain in her eyes. He knew how much she cared for Lucius.
— "I know, Helena. I know," Opiter said softly, stepping closer. "But the corruption runs too deep, and those who are loyal to the old ways are too powerful. Even the honest senators are too afraid to act."
Helena shook her head, a tear escaping down her cheek.
— " Why would they do this?"
Opiter sighed.
— "Because they see him as a threat, Helena. The truth does not matter to them. The Senate is full of men who only care about their own power. They want to keep the people in chains, and Lucius threatens that. He speaks of restoring the Republic, of returning power to the people, and they cannot let that happen."
Helena shook her head again, refusing to accept the reality of the situation.
-"There has to be something we can do!"
Opiter sighed deeply, looking at Helena with a mixture of sorrow and helplessness.
"Helena," he began, his voice tight with emotion, "we can't help him. Not now. They are threatening to implicate you because of your involvement. If we try to intervene, we'll be dragged down with him. I can't let that happen to you."
Helena's eyes widened with disbelief, her heart pounding as she stepped closer to her father.
"No, Father... I won't let them do this to him," she replied, her voice firm despite the worry that clouded her gaze. "We can't just let him suffer alone."
Opiter saw the determination in his daughter's eyes. It was the same fiery spirit that had always burned within her.
"Helena, my dear," he said softly, his voice laced with regret, "I have always tried to do what is right, but today... today, I am powerless. I know you want to fight for him, but it's a battle we cannot win. Lucius will be found guilty. There's no way around it, and I am so sorry."
Helena collapsed into her father's arms, sobbing uncontrollably. The weight of the injustice, the loss of the future she had imagined with Lucius was too much to bear.
As Opiter held her, his arms strong yet filled with a deep, aching sadness, Helena's mind raced, her heart torn between the pain of letting down her father and the fierce need to stand by Lucius.I can't give up on him. I won't,she thought, her breath shallow as she clung to her father for comfort.Even if it breaks his heart, I'll fight for him. It's not over. It can't be.
But as she felt the warmth of her father's embrace, a quiet sorrow washed over her.I hate seeing him like this,she thought, guilt creeping in,I hate that I have to defy him. But I can't turn away. Lucius needs me.
Opiter held her tightly, but in his heart, he knew the battle for Lucius had already been lost. The Senate had made its decision, and nothing could change that now.