The price of ambition

The dining room was silent. Only the sound of cutlery clinking against plates and the occasional sip of wine broke the stillness. Adrian and Victor sat across from each other, both eating in complete silence, an unusual occurrence. Normally, their conversations would flow easily—talk of training, war, and the shifting social dynamics of Mariana. But today, something was different.

Victor had made some politically significant moves recently, and the tension in the room was palpable. The weight of his actions pressed heavily on his chest. Adrian, the ever-watchful and calculating uncle, was no fool. He had eyes everywhere in Corsica, and he knew Victor well. So, there was no point pretending. The silence stretched on, uncomfortable and thick.

Finally, Adrian broke it, his voice cutting through the quiet like a sharp blade.

- I heard you visited the Cinna household. Care to share why?

Victor tensed. Of course, his uncle knew about the visit. His eyes were everywhere, and no move went unnoticed. The old man was shrewd, always calculating, always watching. Victor had known this since he was a child. Still, the words caught in his throat.

Victor paused, gathering his thoughts and steadying his breath. The dining room felt smaller now, as though the walls were closing in on him. After a long pause, he spoke.

- So, Uncle... I had this opportunity to buy a shipyard, a place to set some of my long-term projects in motion. The current owner of the shipyard is deep in debt to the Cinna family. I made him an offer, to pay off the debt and acquire the shipyard. That's why I went to the Cinna villa to discuss the deal.

Adrian listened, not saying a word, but his eyes never left Victor's face. The weight of the moment hung between them.

- Why not just ask us for a shipyard?

Adrian muttered, taking a sip of his wine. He looked Victor up and down, trying to understand his motives. 

- Oh well, I suppose you've always preferred to do things on your own. Did you reach an agreement?

Victor's expression faltered. There was a lot more to it than just a simple business deal. He couldn't avoid the truth any longer.

- That... depends on you and father,

Victor answered hesitantly.

Adrian raised an eyebrow.

- What do you mean by that? How does your business depend on us?

Victor took another sip of wine, letting the moment drag out just a bit longer. He could feel his heart thudding against his chest.

- Well, it's not just a simple purchase.

Victor began, his tone more measured now.

- When I made my proposal, it was rejected by the Dominus. But then he made a counteroffer. It wasn't what I expected.

Adrian's patience was wearing thin. He set his wine glass down with a soft clink, his face hardening.

- For Jupiter's sake, brat! SPIT. IT. OUT.

Victor flinched slightly but continued.

- He offered a partnership. A betrothal proposal, actually. In exchange for fifty percent of the shipyard as a dowry... I'm supposed to marry into their family, but not the other way around. He wants me to marry Lucia Cinna, his daughter.

The silence that followed felt like an eternity. The bread in Adrian's hand slipped from his grasp, landing on the plate with a soft thud, as though the impact had jarred his thoughts.

Victor could almost see the wheels turning in his uncle's mind, the sudden understanding dawning in his eyes. The implications were immediate and overwhelming.

A piece of land near Rome was at stake—an incredibly valuable one. The Isle of Elba had remained neutral for years, its rich iron mines and strategic position making it a prize for any house with enough ambition. But with the war on the horizon, few would waste resources on it now. The real fight would be for it after the war had ended. But if they could move quickly, if they could rebuild the island in time, it would be much harder to take away. And legally, the land would become part of the Goetia family through Lucia—she was the only rightful heir.

Adrian sat back, clearly lost in thought. The tension in the air was almost suffocating as he processed everything.

- What more?

Adrian asked, his voice clipped.

- There's no way that's all. That old fox Cinna would never make an offer like that without a catch.

Victor exhaled heavily, his grip tightening around his wine glass.

- He wants 500,000 sestertii from the taxes of the region, for five years.

Adrian slammed his fist on the table, the force of it making the wine glasses rattle.

- That damn fox! He knows that the region can't afford that, and he's trying to trap us into giving him control of the land as well. He knows you'll go to war, so he's making a move to get his hands on our pillage and gain more power while we're distracted.

Adrian's face contorted with frustration as a headache began to form. The Elba islands had too many advantages—strategic proximity to Rome, the iron mines, a natural naval base, and a vital trading hub for the western coast of the peninsula. The temptation to accept was strong. The islands could bring immense wealth to the family.

- I'll accept his proposal. Adrian finally said, massaging his temples.

- I'll send a letter to your father. Tomorrow, we'll head to the Cinna villa. But know this: your older brother is going to hate you. He's been in love with that girl since they were children.

Victor's heart skipped a beat at those words. He hadn't considered the emotional ramifications of the marriage, not yet. But the business side of it, the political side—that was his focus.

Adrian paused for a moment, then added with a glint of amusement in his eyes:

- I don't know what her father saw in you, Victor. But you've managed to acquire a good opportunity... not just for yourself.

Victor's mind raced as Adrian spoke. His uncle had always been the voice of reason, the calculating force behind their family's moves. But something about this deal... something about the betrothal felt off.

Just as Victor was about to speak again, a servant entered the room, holding a sealed letter. Adrian looked at it, frowning as he recognized the seal.

- It's from the Cinna household

the servant said, handing it over to Adrian.

Adrian broke the seal, scanned the contents, and then looked at Victor with a smile that was anything but reassuring.

- It seems

Adrian said slowly

- the Cinna family has made a formal proposal. 

Victor felt a chill run down his spine as his uncle's smile grew wider, more calculated.

- What are you talking about?

Victor asked, his voice trembling slightly.

Adrian leaned forward, his eyes gleaming with a mixture of amusement and triumph.

- if you to are marry Lucia... there's a catch. if his heir dies on the war you will be the second on line in the Cinna heritage too.

Victor's blood ran cold.