1 Chapter I
| TOTAL WAR ROME |
There was the World - Rome - and as Legions of Rome continued to dominate Gaul and the barbaric hordes. To the sea at the south Mediterranean with the fight against Carthage and its Carthaginian navy, that are all turned to sinking ships and burning woods. Total War besieged Rome.
Over the course of Rome's success in military campaigns, despite the odds and enemies on all sides that has numbered over tenfold than Rome's Legions. Despite the numerous defeats at the hands of their enemies, it is through the sheer preservation of Rome that its army continues to persist and prevail.
As renowned Legions, led by great leaders, it is through these men that Rome still stood in a world without a sense of dignity and law. Rome was order, Rome was power, and in their world in total war;
Rome was civilization.
| TOTAL WAR ROME |
As the seasons changed, and winter retreats for spring, the beginning of January celebrated once more the lives that were birthed in its month - and based on the Julian Calendar - it has been eighteen years since the infant it has watched as a full moon cried loudly that night. Now watched on the horizon at the same infant who was now a woman with astonishing beauty.
With rumors and unbound prophecies circulating the woman, who was told to be blessed by the Goddess Selene - the personification of the moon; Luna - and the sun God, Helios. It would explain the woman's vibrant and ethereal beauty.
However, just as she was a woman with exceptional beauty, and with enticing charms that would allure married men. Her character was strong and upheld a great sense of virtue, that would repel the lust and seduction of the greed for money, pride, and the corruption of power. Although it was simply ironic when she was born into a place and a family that had all these temptations.
Though, despite the wealth, the fame, and the status, even they - related by blood - her family wasn't so easy, and naive to allow to be consumed by these 'effects' to bewitch and change them.
No. Especially when it was these people that took charge in her upbringing, to be humble and noble, yet strong. Strong to resist and remain virtuous, it was them that she could be thankful to be who she was and how she has become. A scrupulous woman with principles.
Estelle Julia Cornelius.
"My lady, shall I accompany you to the marketplace?"
A man wearing a cloak - a vibrant rich red - with a sword sheath underneath inquired, as he looks at the woman who was taller than most maidens turned to meet his gaze. Her sweet scent became enriched as he looks at her chestnut-colored eyes, and he stopped breathing for only just a second before he collected himself.
"You are welcome to join me, Urbanae." Estelle voiced.
Unlike most maidens, who were sweet and submissive, easily frightened, and had poor posture, she was all that others were not. Nonchalant and yet constantly up to date with subjects that revolved around Rome and its economics, all the while as she carried herself with confidence.
At the lady's permission, he soon followed behind the woman as they made their way out the palatium - a grand palace; an imperial residence to Rome's elites - and to Rome's lavish road that led to the central marketplace to where she was headed, as per her usual routine.
Although the Cornelius was a prominent family and had servants and slaves, Estelle in certain cases would make, or go out in her own effort to get something she'd like. Some things that could not be simply be told to a servant or a slave to get the right and exact thing she'd asked for.
Like the fabrics and quality.
The marketplace was loud and crowded, people push and bump against each other, but that wasn't the case for a woman who belonged to the family named Cornelius. Within a crowd with various colors of clothes, while others were dull and most were brown or dark. The rich cloak of blood red was easily seen even among a crowd, and its signature - of standard and profession - effectively parted the dense marketplace to make a way.
While some eyed the woman and her guard - either with envy or awe - she had no thoughts on the plebeians, or have any prejudice against them. Unlike many elites that made the same bold moves to flex their authority, and status to soothe and satisfy their pride and ego.
As she neared the market stall in which she had heard from another elite woman over at a feast some nights ago - hosted by the main family of Julius; the Caesars - she proceeded to caress and feel the fabric and its quality.
'Such fine silk…'
Her fingers feel the smooth texture and its suitability, and with that she came to a decision, "I shall buy a crate, two or three of these silks."
With such a great sale, the merchant had the biggest smile as he got into it. While the man cheerfully prepared a crate as he load the last one with the finest silks, a commotion interrupted the lively marketplace. "You bitch! Did you really think you could escape me - your master - did you, slave?"
The man aggressively pushed the woman to topple to the ground, before he reached for his whip that was attached to his waist belt. Knowingly, the slave woman brought up her hands to brace herself for the whip that came.
A lash, and another, then another.
She didn't cry out for help, nor did she weep so pathetically as she took the lashes. Instead, she could only cry, and weep in silence as she secretly hoped for a non-existing help would come. Hope.
"You cow! Making me chase you! Take this! That!" The man wheezed out of breath.
A lash, and another, then…
Nothing.
While some eyed the woman and her guard - either with envy or awe - she had no thoughts on the plebeians, or have any prejudice against them. However, despite having no thoughts or prejudice against the common people or slaves. Unnecessary violence was something she dislikes.
With cuts beginning to show, and blood beginning to bleed from the cuts, she nervously opened her eyes as she found herself in a peculiar situation. Her master - her slaver and her owner - had his hand stopped from letting another lash by another man; who's much more endowed by physical appearance and clothes than her master.
"H-how dare you?! How dare you-"
"You are causing a disturbance, plebe."
Albeit interference with an owner and their property was not allowed by the law, causing a public disturbance was and therefore within the Urbanae authority, who now stood towering over the man as he held the slaver's hand.
As the scene unravels, with the situation centering around her - a slave - it was rather shocking to the audience as well as herself. It was simply unimaginable, since who would bother in a conflict when it revolved around the lowest and unworthy of people - slaves.
Estelle Julia Cornelius.
"Would you like to be my servant, slave?"
Her voice soothes the troubles of the slave, who watched her with an eye in disbelief and a mouth opened agape. Furthermore, despite being called 'slave' it did not hurt the woman to be called such but rather surprised by the proposition. 'Would you like to be my servant, slave?'
With a voice without malicious intent, or twisted pleasure for the woman's suffering, and a voice that sounds to hold at least concern over her. The former slave replied with a stutter.
"Y-yes… Yes! Yes!"
The stutters turned to a firm response as tears flooded her eyes and her mouth shakes from being freed from it; a being that could hardly be called a man, nor human.
As the former slave wept messily into the arms of her new master, who knelt and gently embraced her dirty and horrible state - mud-stained smears onto luxurious clothing - nonetheless, Estelle showed no disgust nor the mind to throw the woman away for ruining her clothes.
But while the scene unfolds, and the former master of a former slave watched on the side the loss of such a fine and eye-catching slave, he grew wrathful. His lust for a good sex that night was simply snatched away, and with such heavy emotion he planned to ruin that 'noble' woman - he'd rape her he would - that would be his revenge until…
Other Cohortes Urbanae arrived at the scene. Without a second wasted, he yelled;
"She stole my slave! The wench did! Seize her!"
But instead, the Cohortes Urbanae looked to the man who matched their uniform who had the man's wrist held with iron grip. Then, without explanation, the group of Urbanae took the man on both sides and dragged him away as the realization dawned on him. Gradually, as he was pulled away his screams faded and the marketplace returned to what a lively marketplace sounded - the bustling of life and trade.
As she gently pulled the former slave away, Estelle took a close look into the woman's features.
Then, with a small smirk, she caressed the cuts on the woman's cheeks with gentle care, before she spoke. "Will you warm my bed tonight, dear?"
| TOTAL WAR ROME |
Author's Announcement
Read the Author's Thoughts. Also, Character analysis.
P.S - Estelle is not morally good, but reasonable enough that it'd avoid nearly anything that would make her horribly disgusting. Like, she saved the slave, but she's doing what the man was going to do anyway.
