Bloom of Friendship

"I'm the only child of my parents. I got everything I had ever wanted. I'm loved so much. That's why it was easy for me to make new friends. I came to this city, Dacia when I was six years old. My father was vice commander of the military. That's why I came here with my parents. Here I met Flavia for the first time. We met each other in this same hallway. It is not a hallway. It is a senate building called Curia Sulla. Flavia's father was the commander at that time. We were age fellows that's why. We became good friends. Flavia got engaged with the man you saw earlier; his name is Lucius Tiberius Sulla. Everything was going perfectly until there was an accident. Everyone in our empire Romanius needs to learn basic combat techniques. I was thirteen years old when I was learning to ride a horse. But I lost my balance and fell on the floor. Flavia came there to save me and broke her right leg. She wanted to be cavalry like her father. However, due to that injury, she was unable to fulfill her dream. Lucius and Flavia had planned a trip to the borderlines, but she couldn't go due to her injury. Lucius went there alone and met that girl you saw there, Domitia Numerius. They fell in love and …"

Juli was looking at her amusingly. She thought, "What a bunch of fool teenagers, getting all excited over this fake love. They think love is fantastic and it's a light in their life to enlighten their ways. Shit, nothing like this exists. It's just a selfish and materialistic feeling which makes one arrogant and cheater."

She was thinking from her own experience. Even though she had never had a single relationship in her entire twenty-eight years old life. She didn't even find anyone attractive enough to be her lifelong crush. She had always rooted for the idols and celebrities. But she wasn't the wild and die-hearted fan. And here she was stuck listening to the love story of minors. She tightly held the hand of Livia and said, "Why don't you continue the story?"

Livia spoke, "We didn't know anything about this hideous love story. After three years, when Lucius returned from the expedition. He didn't come alone. He came with a team of five strongest soldiers. Domitia was the archer among them. We didn't suspect anything. They were like colleagues for us. The official wedding date of Flavia and Lucius was decided, and we were preparing for the wedding."

Livia's face turned dark. Juli looked at her and said, "Then you saw them together. Am I right?"

Livia said, "Yeah, this moment turned our lives upside down. One day when I was on my way to meet Quintus, elder brother of Flavia. I saw Lucius there. I wanted to give him a surprise, but I was the one who got surprised." Livia was afraid to repeat those memories.

Juli asked, "Did you tell Flavia about this?"

Livia said, "I couldn't gather the courage to do this. Nobody was on good terms with Flavia. Lucius was the son of a senator. But after the death of his parents in an accident. He was adopted by the Emperor and Empress and got engaged to Flavia. He is the most eligible bachelor and the future chancellor of the empire. Flavia was always a strict noble. Some nobles wanted to control Lucius, and that's why they suggested that Emperor Decimus Tiberius Sulla arrange the marriage between the first princess and Lucius. But the Emperor rejected it and said, "He is like a son to me. I've adopted him to be my son to my son-in-law." Still, some nobles wished to do this. Princess got married to the Emperor of the Astasia and that matter was settled.

After Flavia injured her leg, she became the victim of the nobles. But Lucius was always there with her. He had always respected her. They had mutual understanding and goals. Until he got bewitched by that serpent Domitia. Everyone always used to say that Flaiva was a witch because she was always perfect in everything. Even after breaking her leg bone. She was able to fight with the official knights perfectly and win against them. Lucius was in her comfort zone. How could I tell her this? I was a coward." Livia paused.

Juli said, "So, Flavia got married to Lucius?"

"No, Lucius is a man of his word. A week before their wedding. He told Flavia about the Domitia and told her that "He respects her, but His heart belongs to someone else." He apologized to her for betraying her. He promised her that he'd never have kids with Domitia. He will only give his name to her kids. If she ever desires any. But she can't expect any love from him. He can also leave Domitia, but he'll never be able to forget her. If Flavia hates him for betraying her and doesn't want to marry him. He will leave this place and never come here again. 

Flavia called me that night and that was the first time I saw her crying. She was so happy about her marriage. Lucius was her first and only love. I blamed myself for this situation. Because it was my fault Flavia broke her leg and was not able to move freely. She had to move with a cane. If she had gone with Lucius on their expedition. Lucius had never met Domitia.", Livia stopped again.