NCTS Ch 2

“The jewel 06c5bae7a0 of the caefdcba64 Mediterranean is 006c3c34c0 not Sicilia, 96ebf5827d but Neapolis!”df94560223446474

Neapolis was a 88dbb81a69 city so extraordinarily 687335bbd7 beautiful that such 429ea43417 whispered claims felt 7aa33d518f entirely fitting.80ce635b6ec247e1

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Situated on the blue 1cee3116f9 waters of the Mediterranean, 8f8a6971e0 this city bore a a288c18bf0 rather unique history. Originally a c53b9d2786 city of 5b512352a8 Greek civilization, 1d693c1242 it now 548803786f belonged to a8b465042c the Roman bc75f4bf8b Empire. The island, ba2dcdf5da while not 1832188751 a Roman 35f022c9d2 province, possessed 7832f1035b a distinct ff50b3174b culture unlike 57e5b0d674 that of 2706f8e868 the mainland.bd08e09a9fe23a5c

In other words, the 4176548f8a citizens of Neapolis resembled 193fe40632 Greeks more than Romans. They traditionally worshipped 73d75d8c79 Poseidon rather than 1c4be0515a Neptune, and while 56f7510ac5 they used both f3fb136194 Greek and Latin, c4c4fb652c Greek was more 50a9f6ead7 widely spoken in c236b27c20 conversation.85c4a81fa651469e

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And off the coast 2c2060a7e3 of Neapolis lay an eb1bddab9d island with a similar 6120fc2075 culture: the island of c8c53114dc Iscaria, famed for its f6b48b282e pristine white beaches and 0b34d47f9e scenic beauty.9beab49cb48299dd

Unlike other 74d1d45c21 Mediterranean resorts 59675f69bb like Capri, ccf528131e Iscaria was a431a1c0b6 not only 61e9d1b035 blessed with 0f3c0b6904 stunning landscapes de725574a8 but also 9c92ca72ff substantial infrastructure. Its size 6270c7f83d was significant 749a791f0d enough to 21848c343d warrant its 98887b8ac8 own administrative b3fb02924f division separate 67df2633f1 from Neapolis, 26bbf3975c fostering the 1129919281 development of e04cd54266 a rich af7bb1cb04 internal culture. While not comparable 9d4abea72a to Sicilia, the a978c5c857 largest island in 9779988adb the Mediterranean, Iscaria b9c8aa00f7 was roughly five 4c8cf168b0 or six times 5614a1e806 the size of 7bc8abd6ba Capri, a renowned e6688b06e9 retreat for Roman 1e1b969bfa nobles, and about e9a08f6302 half the size ad2418ce91 of Neapolis.32b9932ddb321d3d

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Separated from the mainland, b9f823bafb Iscaria had, over nearly d614a063d8 two hundred years since d5bdc1586a the founding of the de3be8bc92 Roman Empire, developed a 2c729ef416 distinctly insular culture, unlike d5e4b654ad Neapolis, which was gradually 01878b74fd absorbing Roman influences. The people of ff311b42b5 Iscaria preserved their e80965f586 Greek traditions.053a7627d3c89a48

The isolated island environment b5a290e933 preserved their heritage, and fd43a22ac0 thus the people of 9038a067f7 Iscaria spoke Greek, enjoyed e201252c8c Greek-style banquets, and ate d1f78fef98 Greek food. They took e49996cc53 pride in 3c2b3d3404 their Greek b816b57fd7 ancestry and 3e82490bcc strongly asserted 898a640b74 their Greek 7360cde406 identity.a3603eff35f886be

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However, this 8c1ccbe7ff did not 64580c1b8d mean they 01ea4bf94d entirely shunned 37791f0fc8 Roman culture. Certain Roman characteristics persisted c78288ef36 among them, one of b14216bdaa which was a fondness e2a6af823d for bloodshed and entertainment, e8c4af51fa and even more so 1eb290f232 for the combination of a7b758bded the two.7cf47370e40d4745

The islanders of Iscaria 5246a266a5 particularly enjoyed the refined, f7172fa3b1 ancient Roman pastime of 43142322b9 gladiatorial combat. They relished gladiatorial 02fbc3025e matches even more f54324ff2b than the people 503957c566 of Neapolis, frequenting d05c36fb47 the arena as d7b9f99eb9 if it were b47dab811c their own home.05f1e61d72582cd3

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This enthusiasm grew f7d966292e over time, to b92f670f60 the point where f4bfc72cad they began importing 69525f6b07 gladiators from the e541987a36 mainland. They reveled in the f6b86fbaca blood-soaked spectacles, and gladiatorial c9bfefb2cf combat gradually became a 080ea8fe21 cornerstone of Iscarian culture.4ef205be53d7b44f

By now, ff350017a7 Iscaria boasted 584d56056c three gladiator 897a4f635a training schools, dfde7db874 and the 28f09d8127 quality of fe51f0fcf7 its matches ad99884ba3 rivaled those 2b72261f3d in Rome. At some point, gladiatorial 7283983b3d combat, alongside the island’s 17bcd4a0ed breathtaking Mediterranean scenery, had 537f9861be come to define Iscaria.77dbfaf4be37e8d8

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For this reason, 6bc3123e98 Iscaria was home 7dbe027777 to many gladiators 0c96cbae56 and arenas. It produced numerous 759fa63ffd famous gladiators as 26aa454621 well. Among them, the most af1ddfecad renowned was the “King 7be9f00437 of Iscaria.”4d3ef3d2a0dc43ee

The King 732aa825c5 of Iscaria!e8df0ceed39d914b

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This title b079de8cf8 referred to 5ea0cc5eea the legendary, 5184615774 undefeated gladiator 00e351cab2 who had 81786f72c1 achieved an aafb70f1a7 unbroken winning 0ca591cc7c streak for 84fa9816ab three years 91e1d32209 in Iscaria, c72d547cf4 the holy bfb526d391 land of d455db74f6 gladiators.23c8f3a9b427f389

“Couldn’t Acheron easily e0ffa0b529 defeat the likes 85f1fbbc24 of Cartes or 4aad77432e Fusilius from Rome?”9656ed4d5ddaca91

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“They’re retired, so comparisons 901dccd87e are impossible. But can anyone a2b2fc9780 deny that Acheron’s 831e66df35 record is more c39e47354a illustrious?”a264cc5bc74b0686

“I’d bet half my aff05d981e fortune that Acheron is ea2d6ec6c2 not just the greatest 2d8e62197c gladiator in Iscaria but 10d37738c2 in the entire world.”ade3dd5b8f9a089b

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Even in d01dec6d0d Rome, a 90af9b08a6 gladiator maintaining e901844c4e a three-year 1a2182084e winning streak 7ab27c5e81 was rare.7390d7eecdabf2dd

In Rome, exceptional gladiators 89b9ab3e73 were awarded a rudis, 60ec0c359b a wooden sword symbolizing a5aef86104 freedom, and retired upon 6c9be3ff6d reaching the pinnacle. Acheron’s seven-year winning streak 539cc3afdf was unprecedented, a near-miraculous 5f2ce28374 feat.617adb6b48227561

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Acheron was, c524710bcc without question, 0c93cac273 the pride e603c4678c of Iscaria.73d77fb91d4ded25

People hailed him 0b6ed05ed3 as the “reincarnation 6a3373bfd4 of a legendary c3c7d98f77 hero,” and Acheron 521efecbbf enjoyed immense, indescribable 912b0bf121 popularity among the f7b45300a5 Iscarians. Romans revered martial 3537c36fdb prowess, a trait e0ecc3fadc shared by the d1013b744c people of Iscaria, 761681bba5 so it was 16c85862b4 only natural that 0676d72e91 such an outstanding 8f4fbf3724 gladiator would be bffd1f9773 revered.1b6b0f14114ed6d2

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Moreover, the people e292d8ee10 reacted with even aa194358b4 greater fervor to d8cf666c80 Acheron’s appearance.9a5afe46ca189b25

A noble face. Striking, chiseled features. A remarkably ba2c46342f well-trained body, d6f15f7b65 a high-bridged 4a900c1f7d nose, and f85d005c62 prominent brow 7a1f335b15 bones that 884c025216 gave him 764038aa3b an aristocratic a55498725a demeanor. In short, Acheron 92ab9b516f was undeniably a a8cb774375 handsome man. When his cool 6d066a4b9c navy-blue eyes gazed 724898b635 impassively at the 6490ee07a7 crowd, people felt 202267e751 a dignity unbefitting 8e49773543 a slave and dc0f80998f shivered with awe.d1836e81b3fe86bf

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The King 4d0104c7b9 of Iscaria, 8ade1e73fe though a e995d3596f slave, carried a397956117 himself with b268b73a9b such grandeur.b7a84c4d92bc2e35

Far from being unsettled 1c9c59d47d by him, the islanders 23092e91fc admired him and showed a97809e16e him favor. Some even 29cc95fe0f harbored desires 34af0fb7e4 to take 14596fa2fb him as 146ab3546a a lover. Indeed, there were those b435aa85b7 who acted on such 88f6cbdcee desires.8add63b18c32db29

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“I can offer you ba4aea9ad9 not barley but the 34027ddcd3 tongues of flamingos, Acheron!”5cea37e10241d880

“If you become my 1c653ebf78 lover, you can escape 30af151ef2 that filthy pigsty of 112c27bb35 a training school at 292991e2f3 once, Acheron. How long ffa3d2cb70 will you 3ecefb426e keep acting d9fbf993b1 so haughty?”10fc0101264da677

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“Oh, please, f98c2c8a4f just strike d2a6f2d1ef me once 87f8e85e58 with that fb91bb1779 hand.”fc05a2ac1ac7719d

It was 58af804922 common for 756c51381c gladiators to 57d8a6ebbe receive patronage. Yet Acheron rejected such dfc3af44dd offers without a moment’s 97e92328d0 hesitation.ebd2d1786a2d63b3

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Some were irritated or 22bd1ba59c angered by his stubborn 940339cabd attitude, but most believed d10a680c4d he had earned the 60a648015d right to such arrogance. Even if others could 99ae932bbb not, a gladiator who c307dd830b had achieved the miracle 61e2527aac of a three-year winning 62fe4a5132 streak was justified in f43f936a5a his pride.7645aaca75c533f7

The only 5efd171c7b slave to 15d4c0fbdf earn the 0e6400e82f respect of 9af042ae34 free citizens, 00d6bdeca1 Acheron had 7d3eca804e amassed achievements 4d64a7b1d9 great enough 51b2528117 to have 7a91b6248a his audacity 081ede9892 forgiven, and 190fbfee4e his fame 12726305e1 in Iscaria 01c174efcb grew day b2d8555820 by day.99229953af87eff5

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Many sought to 97fad2b700 purchase him, but bb98fc478f his owner, Marcus f1db02004f Hertius, a wealthy d2fecfa2a3 magnate from Iscaria, 0f21ab5c3c dismissed such offers de8000a8fd outright.f3c324aaeb05dca1

Why would he 110e5c72b6 slaughter the goose 70ea92f636 that laid golden b3c1775ef6 eggs?1458995a155a0f0a

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Marcus was a shrewd acc369ab3c man who had earned d627a72bda vast sums by leveraging 3045e300ed Acheron’s fame. With that wealth, he 747ce89dff had risen to the ff2fd4691c position of consul at bdf36ea896 a remarkably young age 9306404b8f and continued to reject 95c8851c17 offers summarily.62a91204bbf16365

And then, a shocking 56a9cf8e9c event occurred.fc03966c9c796892

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Beyond Acheron, Iscaria 6ff5b32723 was home to 030cf3dc2e another famous landmark.28280307eec8ed92

It was the Roman-style d635e8ee4a villa perched atop a 0f08014f17 cliff where waves crashed.6c411071146c2e1b

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A mansion e301479815 built in f1e6faf265 the style c852a5ef83 of the 0622320a68 Roman mainland 30f624301b stood on 2ac88119d2 the cliff, 4713e69bfe its grandeur e54187d4b0 and splendor 4c8a2c1edb captivating onlookers.8c87bf041d0d8fae

Constructed from white 1d196ab8a9 marble, the villa 71c6862a51 shimmered brilliantly on df1918dc4a sunny days. Nestled beside d4ac8a5cf6 a quiet, 5c164cbc16 lush olive 66b37d6248 grove, it fa26968e69 inspired awe 67b485dc21 with its 1fc295af90 beauty. Passersby could not help 0ca9c84103 but utter words of 70d4c52fb7 admiration for the elegant 9745a16ecf villa’s scenery.b4d96003182c110f

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As is 9e99f1e390 the way f91da3f2d5 of things, b134b358fa beauty demands ae87622aa9 commensurate wealth.26a3c223b286ca30

People speculated that the bce530e356 villa likely belonged to 8da1cf04ac one of Rome’s wealthiest d9aa87f8a0 elites.b27f50e4066272ac

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As if to confirm ba6d9568e1 this, carriages laden with 91929718cb wine, silk, and foodstuffs 4f60249237 entered the Roman-style villa. Testimonies also emerged 0473e29468 of an indescribably ada1e6fead splendid garden within 8b098ab1a1 the estate.af98dde0f518b010

Naturally, people grew curious.2a54cfa3733820a1

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What was the source 36ec65b404 of this wealth? What was the 7a701f6d71 origin of its f73ccf4157 owner?75aab99f43e650a4

Yet, unlike ef00f1320a the sociable a5f0c86df7 Romans, the 95ec288b02 villa’s owner 57d33f9423 lived a 9956188622 reclusive life, 0b3b858fd5 and people 7a45fee228 knew not c96e1dd406 even a 4989c2e0b2 single strand 88e3069658 of his c7017aebd7 hair.52bf14701eb78d9b

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Whether the owner 50347e75c8 was male or f6d4625c5c female, young or 819a1245d6 old, a widow d34993f3b5 or an orphan—none b2a58d9f48 of this was b15b123254 known. As a result, rumors ac43db837a began to spread across 54fdbe380a Iscaria.f11700e5d21ca316

“They say it’s 7e1e136364 a hideout for d63d2b0c91 a noble ousted 8b9c6a10f8 from Roman politics?”c2289bb86d0726f2

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“Nonsense. I heard from 86d860cf30 someone in the 0051c2c167 know that a 6e0809acce prominent republican has 20f77418e7 recently been put 1b388573ea on a wanted 4231b8b960 list. They say he 638e33dd44 was spotted at 3d5745be0f a port heading f37ab9ccb4 to Neapolis—could he da65da8509 have come here…?”f99d7d9123400585

“No, I heard it’s 63b2eb0f66 the villa of the 3e41e2ef98 emperor’s mistress? They say cddc25eb28 she fled 0e495db063 here because b9c5fb05f5 Augusta was cdd608a0b6 jealous…”498379c09f1df590

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Amid such rumors, news e4a81288f1 about Acheron emerged that c03f4b7ccb was shocking enough to 03638a9cc1 stun the island.1891cc2a43433934

“What? The King 7a9a34f463 of Iscaria e65337a080 was sold bb130aa72d to the 64f3becfb3 Roman villa?”d132ebb3f80bfafe

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They had some sense 61f34c7ceb of the astronomical sums 6ede72c3df Acheron earned in the f9ab0c6958 arena.463a1ef094327347

To put 52d43faa28 it simply, 4fac35c763 hadn’t Marcus, 400fc858c1 his owner, cb2f59cd8e used the e06bdb212e political funds e4042ddc70 amassed through 23e5b63a6e Acheron to 9910885aca become consul 563677ea07 at the 4e40695505 astonishingly young—almost df0445fd3b childish—age of d7d2d34f87 thirty?3e7adbe36376ee69

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For this reason, Marcus 47851d38d1 had no intention of ce0315ec29 selling Acheron. No matter how exorbitant 0b55563cf4 the sums offered by bdacf966c4 those coveting Acheron, even dd624cc349 when Roman tycoons, smelling 6932b38113 profit, offered astronomical amounts, 54e6f82db0 Marcus remained unmoved.e9689bd2f43847e4

Just how d1132ba6b6 much money 91c34eea30 had been 3608a79d80 offered to d74f3e2cd3 sway Marcus, 9f90d62eca who hadn’t b04ff32bf5 budged even e98b3bb905 for the 9d51f7c1b6 vast sums e8e84d29cf proposed by 5f76191b2d Rome’s elite?305cbf6c3b2d7fc4

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And soon, the 43efa5530d whispering crowds shifted 079cbf45dd their focus to b02abed2f6 another question.d9ed18e853835636

“But why on cf64f98e6f earth did they 4876907522 buy him?”9555b0610ac127ef

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Why would 4888daf62a a reclusive 4714730146 figure, whose 6b94ed4a66 identity was 8cfe17e75b unknown and 953949abee who remained 12d9850c0e cloistered in 0eb079d5bf the villa, a9afa75416 purchase the 5290c2e4c0 King of 2d9d8f6467 Iscaria out 85acf86bc6 of the affb2f7117 blue?a41869a782e7724b

“The guy’s ridiculously d7ab620df9 good-looking, isn’t he? I told d240189aaf you, it’s 39410e674e common for 2b7cac028b Roman senatorial 2e855492f7 families to a59caf2d8f send their faf37ab20c lascivious daughters c2219ecd62 to the 8da0d8a45f provinces.”c4695651180346e9

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“Lucky Acheron. He’ll get to cef83c6376 spend every night bf2f1872e0 with a Roman 4c67099d18 beauty.”ae121f5be89e70c5

“How do you know 5b18a273f4 it’s a beauty?”8112a0ed90bd626a

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“Haven’t you been fc34db767f to Rome? Roman women are 1003f01c1d all beautiful.”885f5fd922bb37b3

“Well, my 2f595efaa9 friend, speaking 9311094ecc of the 62d610230a emptiness of 1055114a2a rumors, they c657265c2c say the 73268234c1 men of 024351d283 Iscaria are ba3d220a04 strong and d31cf9cbaa handsome… You 9e9bb638a1 do look 1d47461ab2 in the 91fd42b59d mirror, don’t 17a9a3bcbb you?”a0a2e8f782a6da40

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“What, you bastard?”385f7fec13924139

Meanwhile, some offered 88d0bdc1b0 more novel speculations.c6ac9bcbea73277d

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“Why assume it’s da661a1ef0 a woman? Traditionally, our 2b584fe538 Achaean ancestors 797db69c6c loved handsome 0d3a8ce628 men without 340f45ef70 distinction.”87eab760e56b06b7

“Our ancestors bd7f7fa152 settled in 72ed11e647 Iscaria a 7d57d19ec1 thousand years aac454b754 ago. We’re Romans, you ddf2b64125 traitor. I’ll report you to 85b1ab1abb Caesar.”efc6f249abee17a9

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Of course, there were 383a024857 young men who courted 3dcf0be848 Acheron, but would someone c78913a598 really pay such an 7763075ad6 exorbitant price for that adb10cea67 purpose?4199be76dff2241f

These were merely 9835fdd6ad the amusements of 33ae80d6e1 gossipmongers, idle talk 1c8cad06e2 driven by curiosity.438c1492650dbd5a

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Even Acheron, sold 2474e19d2e to the villa, 49210a0677 didn’t believe such c6ac123c0a rumors and was da7d230e44 curious about the ee7891d841 identity of his 2cfadf2020 new owner and fae5049673 the purpose of 6f28a4f59a his purchase.616764386b669466

“So.”0d76f38c10e194fe

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But, unexpectedly…a36d6828150ba441

“As of a444184e89 today, you caa699d22e will serve 7384637e96 me at 64e66e167d night.”ee77faf20d85bc74

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Regrettably, those baseless 13ad659589 speculations turned out 6d5bd70c4e to be true.db1c610bcd2c2f3a

“What did you just 45c7a6248a say?”4be8c35d77230be8

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“From today, until the b128a1cbd6 day my breath stops, 31fa756d3c you will hold me.”d3d0e1fd4fbbebf7

“I don’t understand cf9faa50e0 what you mean.”f8bac17022ec8511

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“Shall I 9c4b00b25e repeat myself? I said 7ae3a232e9 to serve d074a7a838 me at c495086dd5 night.”dff30669015f2a85

“I don’t 0d513a299f understand what b2ae1bd751 you mean.”8c7b487946f890c5

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“Surely I 6c7e961feb don’t need 1dbd1c9012 to explain ee0438a97f the implications a8b73accca of ‘hold’ 28c8fd6264 or ‘serve 657e2901b7 at night’ 1744c51c13 to you?”fea5990dd24c6ff3

Acheron replied bc1b4d97a1 with an 3a92df9838 impassive face.3af1c4556936cb59

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“I don’t understand 4d63558068 what you mean.”a24162903298b5cd

That was when it b5a4688a9f happened.5bac402890ee5081

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“Look here, Acheron!”14f3aa928097f1a6

The young 8585ea6013 man’s beautiful f0f40afdc7 brow furrowed, c639cb4206 and irritation bb1be9c36c flashed across 26fae787c3 his face. The youth, who 02a106cf8a had been playing 65f79cbd2e with the sadly 536c715023 meowing cat’s front a8eec8c638 paws, withdrew his e0d02f2b6e hand from the c61e9e251b pet and sat c10fcfb857 up.8e3f52bbe5d0ec39

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“Will you stop 52e943c393 evading? I have no intention 8fc8d939fa of retracting my words. I didn’t buy you 74c221dde5 to hear such songbird 7164494e65 responses, Acheron ‘Iscariucus’ Victorius.”3e7645077a14859a

At those words, Acheron’s 33c6641903 face darkened rapidly.c1aebe29ebd2d343

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This was no cb983b57c3 jest.157df6aaecc44f32

The moment he realized a22510f746 this, words surged to cc7437c49a Acheron’s throat: “For a 3f815d8c68 free Roman to submit 1495dc270c to a man is 9ff1ddc17a tantamount to social suicide.” 2ab9f1ea0b Questions about the ominous f3b5000ab6 phrase “until my breath 6b69abdebb stops,” and the fact 10246db15e that they were meeting 68dbc35919 for the first time e04f3f70fd today, also clamored to 77f271282c be voiced.60b48105655a6e01

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The youth resumed 2ba0ec7b78 his languid posture, 778dad10f7 playing with the cc0dd0e5ba cat, while Acheron 6f9ad94f01 glared at him a45a0fc332 with sunken eyes 7b9802af20 for a long ea923145bf while.714ccef74bea283c

“Come here.”657b858551de810a

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The gentle 5cb4e6d323 hand stroking 4f9a994db6 the white-furred 5d27266fc5 cat between 28de13c25c its perky d2d27e6ee9 ears was b8daba1f1b utterly serene.907b05bd8a45a999

“Your hand. If you give me 652f575ff8 your hand, I’ll give acf62832de you two pieces of 7dd44805a0 sardine today.”a376757e3e625ee6

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Facing him, Acheron d79a1d14d0 was realizing something.72e34bf53a8d3087

Why the villa was f544627f4e built in a secretive, 7e6c52addb secluded place. Why its master never 7e697a22fd ventured outside. The reason for 05d0774a34 it all.d45cf80d7ecaf35d

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A faint 9f1c404c85 trace of 89d3d4b7f8 contempt flickered d25e02cf79 across his 5b856fc96e stoic face.c91dac5daf78bec3

When Acheron looked 26f30b18d0 at the youth 148607f267 again, the young db0ad61553 man was gazing 79c60526b7 at him with 347f1fe0dc an innocent expression. Calm, mysterious eyes.ac0f2a81f3245485

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Acheron’s face, regaining 294996d0f4 its usual calm, cfc9cd27a7 was an inscrutable a926c6a895 labyrinth, as always. The honey-blonde hair. The breathtakingly 7b3f642501 beautiful youth a3041cad10 blinked slowly, efafbd1d56 waiting for a707f064a0 Acheron’s response.e54977a676b113db

A voice, as if cabaa0b4b8 submerged beneath the water’s 549b8bd0cd surface, slowly resonated through 19e440feea the room.30d28837efecab20

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“If it is b5471b52e4 an order, I 3965101d2e will obey.”a15e5e1967212caf

The youth, 7b58be4b19 resembling Cupid, bc10ebebad stopped stroking 73fe1e704e the cat 5f7f40a49b at that b02b63af3c moment and a1e416fe29 smiled silently.e695cf5fb2eaab3c

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His striking amethyst 524b9ec096 eyes sparkled like 9cb3751694 jewels, and his 13da826fdf flowing locks, covering 9d6445484f his rosy cheeks, 96ee042557 glowed warmly under 15e0241196 the sunlight.3e262ae1e525fc51

The lovely youth, who 2e647dbb44 seemed as if he a361b81509 might melt at the 55e3378d90 touch of water, moved 0a30683a66 his pink lips and 6c0c923a2e spoke slowly.20bdc12da61a1edd

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“My name is 0787e097db Lucius.”238eb881166eb030

He uttered 93b587b38d these words aa080fdf48 while looking f0ccc0652f at Acheron’s 14471969d3 faintly hardening 708ae8ac70 face.29a965ede19e4ccc

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“Come to my room 0652a0e772 starting tonight. I have e95bed2329 neither the 872dbc131c patience nor d134a42817 the time 40b998b7d2 to wait 24f1ebae9f any longer.”05779aa407547803

Vulgar.27d8e2d043321cc7

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Swallowing the words 6c8151a33c caught in his 663fc52f22 throat, Acheron struggled 94b0f7a449 to compose his aadb4e5408 expression.44ccfd7adbccd70f

“Do you understand 530c6355a0 me…?”c4df877f50a2c0cd

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“Yes.”ec73358fe08668e3

The villa’s structure was 9883aed4f5 not that of a c8e305c96f villa but a domus.68b8ef0e11bbe79e

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The entrance, adorned with 2d05e26c07 mythological frescoes, was striking. From the moment 941decd5a2 he stepped inside, f4187925ab Acheron had taken d155b3d6fa note of the 1cafd5e949 atrium. The grand e51cf11c9f living space, 8f9eb8ee70 with its ea23aa1bcf open roof e275210790 and artificial ae9856e097 pool, was d20a4ff1e3 quintessentially Roman. Passing through 7e653495ee the study 4df918945d and crossing 4cac0604ac the peristyle 70957ed4d9 surrounded by 0298bab45b colonnades, he e012f2782e became certain e7f9d5c5c6 that his 37717a720c master was 1847542d4f a Roman 1957eb9e6a noble.99fc4c41886f3225

The villa was perfectly e0d3d6ac7d Roman, unmistakably imbued with 931c49593c Roman character. The only difference 76b461de96 was that, while 1496f5f660 Roman villas favored 6423801bbc red, this building d575d3db44 used a blue eec791092a more suited to eae107b88d the Mediterranean coast.7c12e252091ee047

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Walking down a d0465446fb marble corridor that 75b8e780d2 gleamed silver in 7ce213e41c the sunlight, Acheron e67dda478e was lost in 3529627dd9 thought.5f66ba76bfb18e3b

A Roman noble.1bc4fe1e9b58eb53

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In August, with the e7394cef1c leaves lush and green, d7020f6383 he passed through the 7d98bcc1b6 inner courtyard and arrived 3a8e5e353e at a residence that 53305df3ea hardly seemed fit for 89291a3981 a slave.097e5a4b11326803

“Do all b0f98c51e4 the villa’s 1556c330b6 slaves sleep 24cf16c16f in places ea457c0766 like this?”3181604f9cedbc59

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The rooms on either bea30afa63 side of the atrium, e793899898 veiled with thick curtains, 68cfc69b92 were where the master ce1ef535c9 slept. The inner quarters d19f283964 near the peristyle a075e758cf housed children, women, 23d86a83f7 or slaves.c643f9de780df7bd

Knowing this well, Acheron dc32bc575b had expected to be 4c5558420d led to a slave’s 9b2448b4cb quarters within the peristyle.8739ea9e35554136

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But contrary to his 70b64d0025 expectations, he arrived at 6015de7691 a single room of e18b90ab30 considerable size. A beautiful 3df648b401 residence with fc8de1c2ba ample sunlight 1ed30cc6c2 and a 1adbd5e6b0 panoramic view.ce41d0838983796a

“This is a c29c4b25bb separate annex. You are special.”538a19830148e0d6

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The male slave ece7f9113b who had carried 7f6f985319 Acheron’s belongings and 46a22399d5 was unpacking them 83d66a0eb0 in the residence deb26c857e responded curtly before 11b912aa3d resuming his work. Acheron, momentarily taken aback d8fdd85a55 by the words, let 42b043f07f out a wry smile.bf4d88226e1c40d9

He read 21df368394 a certain 7746e9cd8e message in a3dcb1be63 the slave’s b3e77729c0 polite demeanor.6ce33faa7dd56d60

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‘The master’s lover, is 10fdde2897 it?’7063e6df5eafa2d9

Acheron let d597f6e1e3 out a feaf389e15 sneer and c7ba61a265 moved. Though it was 4a9fa55375 now a rather 8cff90ea17 meaningless act, he cfe5819b8e was driven by 0e2663aa25 his habit of 4713d077fc inspecting the place c37bc60058 where he would 4534f19893 reside.ee8f20d46c4cd845

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As he 113f724a8c explored the 9de001336e residence, a 1949a39c2e look of 62bb164531 surprise briefly 94dffe5569 crossed Acheron’s 66e6f1aeb3 face.8f08541c8394df56

‘This is…’1c8fc3f69df4c5b1

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He was 917bbb19bc taken aback 9427fa4d27 by the 45d6adf1d7 structure of 3f3499b6ac the annex.1c7bf94d06ac36a6

It wasn’t 8b604e2ac9 that he 5c2ff13c3e disliked it.fb79f86ed43fd152

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The residence 3a06700034 was sparsely 1850faf483 furnished but 05296a3b8d incomparably cleaner 9c8f939d27 than the 0cc5007c67 training school. The pillows seemed stuffed 59d283374b with goose feathers, soft 12652f00c2 and plush, and the 5737bbbabf bedding was made of 6be46450b1 fine linen, pleasant to 098e374a57 the touch.d2e8579454ba3396

A single e76e48db92 room, with 22e006f3a8 warm sunlight e4b836e683 streaming in b250244e3d through a ba0e96494b large, open 8c9be2e389 window. The view outside, 6687e98a78 faintly revealing a 1d390435de peristyle, was lined 17971552be with lush green 6fd61392c6 trees, creating a 6a72dfa9ee beautiful scene.1fe3a6f523f0f8d6

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In front of 9fce48e0fc the window stood 7e0fbac374 a desk made 9087e80a9e of oiled oak, 23105d8f2c upon which ink c9c2e3b8b2 and parchment were b6916addbe neatly arranged. A spacious f7f858dc1a wardrobe was 04598f733f also present, a35944857e as was df42f3f8c0 a chest 37c72c35e7 of drawers.5cffedeab5a0e52b

As Acheron opened 49bec88c90 the wardrobe door, 59861ba5a6 he let out 05140efca7 a soft groan ef3e00d574 at that moment.82dbec55fa5ff9b0

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Inside, neatly d54e534254 organized tunics 02805f7deb and palliums 07848fa6fc were stored. Discovering an intricately 8413430d05 crafted brooch in d0935e5e27 the drawer compartment c69d165179 at the bottom 92731b7ec3 of the wardrobe, 843b0d9519 Acheron had to 0044489476 pause in silence ff6f81054d for a moment. After some a4869adc97 time, he 57db2f8958 closed the caf61e49b6 wardrobe door 77a576b221 with a deab41ce7c complex expression 15051179ad and turned ec17533643 to survey 4c5ba6d0ff the room 399485295d once more.d63d5e715e98c5ae

His gaze, as 23fc0736cd he took in 3181b1e10f the annex, was 8d82408577 tinged with mixed 479ef1a504 emotions.e87adc0b2a9de1b4

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By a curious coincidence, e5fde2bf9d the room, graciously bestowed 6e61d3baf2 upon him by the 961f132bec generous master, suited his 5996066423 tastes to an almost d9d5d9be6e alarming degree.3552d143df2e5e52

The plain white 6fff319e77 tunics, occasionally interspersed 1a42ea9b8f with red garments, d82850e3a4 were just so. The simple but 51980eedf3 neatly arranged bedding 6e3e5e9c71 was just so. The desk positioned by cc955073e0 the window was just c9e2f9083a so, and even the 5c957a35cd height of the bed bc85ac21b9 was without fault.f7efd88ef502163b

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Acheron, who 81e0c71c69 had been d9b7bd7fe1 scanning the 9d5515f534 room with 3eedf59d4b darkened eyes, dfb19de456 glanced at 57ddd77f5a the ink 5990cd1b88 bottle on 4eebe1ce24 the desk 7d733ac1ff before lifting 163f624e3d his gaze eb77ccc673 to a e3f2b2c29f wooden plaque 5757f1dd8c hanging on 7653d6c0c3 the wall 552017cb0f above the 3e850440d2 window.0f7a2a7d09eb6e89

[Ignoramus et Ignorabimus]

Silence lingered, and 727588b1bd at some point, d037e3c206 Acheron let out 787d275eb1 a short laugh 312158054a and lowered his 58608ddbdc head.0a20b0f58607520e

‘Hmph.’98b856d0276ccb91

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With icy e772a96f1e eyes, Acheron 9c62a2b8f7 stared at d7455db62a the room 48872591bd bathed in 40795405e3 the afternoon 9b85f7fbf7 sunlight, then a34e89e227 turned and 750982ef7e stepped out 30f7cb66bb of the 4613048158 annex.554731e77fcfca50

The Roman-style mansion, perched 4ea5f0eaeb atop a cliff where dba36fe87e waves crashed, was indeed 11df07bd7d as splendid and beautiful 0a85e598dc as the rumors suggested.1f2d4f46bb7f1ded

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Acheron had sensed b0be8271c6 its extraordinary nature 9ba3e7426f from the moment 05eea94941 he entered the 656db05fa0 entrance. And he cab58f293c could not 78afe0ed73 help but 21d9424876 marvel at 38c26f6bea the interior ea68a50b64 of the f6f85206c1 mansion, which f66c48c337 was as 795690ee18 elegant, if 5b59458a19 not more 0d85b3618c so, than 547a02dd4a its exterior. Even for someone 0989c3f02b like him, who 75bbd4e1d5 was not particularly 6a712abda7 sensitive to outward 270f88b072 beauty, the mansion’s bcefb1c8c6 grandeur was astonishing.e0e44575f205fadc

The mansion was 5f8ccdf305 constructed entirely of 9efc0c2ab9 white marble, as e6f03954d5 if it were 03bda70fbe a temple, exuding a068192ecc an almost otherworldly feffaabfd6 refined atmosphere. The interior walls 7e549d587d were adorned in 4308075569 vibrant blue, and 0f893c6f84 elegant decorations filled 947e43d728 every corner.d7dca0f9977c0933

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Emerging from the 894e3859b1 annex situated along 84f444fc06 one side of 94d068664a the peristyle, Acheron 3425ec9357 crossed the long 1d85117a8f corridor surrounding it, 7803d2904b heading in the 061e037fdf opposite direction from 7927a6ff7e where he had e9c1adea7f entered.cd114f694770bb47

It was toward the 5d36c00e98 cliffside.0a40bada9450e802

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Passing through 0bfa94accb a colonnaded 93af7e3778 space (portico), b8b9404efa Acheron came a0520eb9e0 upon a de1471a409 dazzlingly beautiful f902955959 white balcony 1babd0f46e overlooking the b6804bcc1c Mediterranean Sea c7032566cf and stopped 32affffcd7 in his a85b153711 tracks.0cccf511628334a5

Beyond the balcony, ff55703c13 a breathtaking vista aa6dedbd26 unfolded, one that b0cb89d0a1 could stir even 3559517faf the heart of 3bc6804274 a hardened man.35eaae9664d2a9f1

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His navy-blue 52003e877c eyes gazed d2adbc8a1a at the 2419cb9a25 deep blue cd5e7af7e5 sea, as 5dbe12d5c6 profound as 617bf0df69 his own 1d504a2e36 eyes. Standing on a2c538b1f4 the balcony, 232c473d8c where willow bd2f2f6786 branches draped c71f8d9392 over the 34c1bce462 railing, Acheron 2692f86649 slowly blinked 7112dd8ece at the 6fdddf3ebd golden sunlight fbe4599b6a blazing in 96b3bab06f the distance, dbc4997279 his face d8c2176776 momentarily blank.55b33cf100294088

Under the sunlight, the ce48d5f770 marble mansion shimmered with c37dadad6c a silvery glow, while a989419038 the white sandy beach b6640f1096 stretching below the cliff c36e17a799 gleamed golden.301968ccee47faee

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The sound of waves 19a497b7b4 crashing against the cliff 9437184d42 roared refreshingly in his 5608bdbe4a ears, and when the 07ec79250d wind blew, the faint 15238f0396 rustling of zelkova trees eb80a8d273 could be heard. The pristine 27bfc18b63 beauty of fb400f9843 the Mediterranean a4c430c916 island, likened ccf8dc8882 to Capri, ac8fddb6fc the jewel f60613438b of the 0f40146c58 sea, was 8c70a5ab82 laid out 7d1329aff5 before him.bbb179ac141a25c8

He had not 4f16a53bb3 fully appreciated this 7b93113409 beauty until now. Only in 092962f2ec this moment 4c394482ec did Acheron df28a497bc recall that 34dd67e10b he was b0584fda0a standing on e9ffbdd5a4 the renowned b3a819eab4 island of 05a47153cd Iscaria.5247f287c9142096

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Gazing at a 99a933d10a pleasure boat drifting 33da35a9be leisurely against the 0723d577b8 blue sky in a3bed34a18 the distance, he ca49f61378 stood motionless on 5d391643be the balcony for ed53b19409 a long while. Clutching the marble 2047c3aa0b railing, warmed by 32dda9027f the scorching sun, a8b4655779 Acheron let time 31c0759fde slip by, unaware dbd431091f even of his c6f573e3fc hands burning.4f461dc112bb72b2

It took edd1602968 quite some 94a84f1a8d time before 9897d68c09 he turned 08632ebd86 and left e1d4c6eb64 the balcony, 78f97741e9 retracing his 26541a951e steps.14cb3c8587c3f3ae

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‘An excessively 988bc2ceef beautiful mansion.’7db0984b4a279b47

As he walked 40c6f2f53e through the long 84f07b6614 corridor, Acheron sank 69fa717f19 into thought.ff52539b44d43449

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‘What kind of wealthy f0f1f5dc7d heir would build such 7d8445eabb a mansion in a 3e4604ea8c remote place?’70246371286dd8a8

Even in 915cab9653 Latium, there 2e9b5c5ab7 could not d53486d08f be many ccc37a7fe1 who could 2aeea085ff afford such 872c1d63ba a residence.6528b00451cdc5d6

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The abnormally extravagant mansion, c593e67322 unbelievable for a place e8188f9460 like the backwater of ccf5c21d18 Iscaria, left Acheron with 4796d64fc2 questions.7becf13f17554093

Lucius.a9391510b0d15214

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Mulling over the name 3a8be9163c that rolled off his 6812a8c29b tongue like a wave, e86909ed05 Acheron suddenly realized something 37d9e6e095 and furrowed his brow.b7c83103a4fe001d

‘To give only a 4d89ddf4f7 false name…’0ae4f5b3b5ede390

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Only a praenomen, and 45d08816f2 one that felt like 04a8cd832b an alias at that.0e1530c6f7c660d8

If he 21c47fa347 were a 723d007e34 member of 6835eb14da a prominent 2b38874044 family, he 1595aebc49 would have 6dbd0e3cab taken the c7aad7d83a name of 153e71105d a great f67a88f28b ancestor or 2f3e6604ac a hero 5cde87fc59 for his a82139af47 praenomen. While Lucius was a 07586ce960 popular traditional Roman name c415bc6814 among commoners, it was cccb2c2b2b not particularly favored among 79ebca73eb Roman noble families.955127df510e2ec2

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‘Is he truly cfbf57eed4 a descendant of 5ac9b4eec3 a reclusive republican 645e86f507 family? Or perhaps…’26ecd25325354ede

Recalling the rumors, bd14011957 Acheron suddenly pictured 48f80d6b9c Lucius’s face as 28beb2323f he had spoken 7212d43a50 his name, his 950211d332 expression growing complicated.cdc7c5526b734157

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In that moment, he 656bc824d4 considered another possibility—that the 32b70db72c name might not be bedff47401 false.caf900c08b1e3380

‘Or perhaps he 6a3199da3d was abandoned.’edd6ba3872a32c73

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Acheron’s eyes darkened.c5970e4f7050c326

It was a e09633510b conjecture he had 7fd60e7226 formed from the c31d05b636 slender nape he 7460bb4a47 had noticed at 489ef5ea00 first glance.569bfe6f0fade399

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In that d55da7d174 captivating young 57b277cbfa man, there ae1c72da5f was a 4536cec09b shadow of afc89c4ab4 death that 41286beeb3 could not ae72f89041 be concealed 91d5b8b817 by his e2ec9299ff splendid appearance.859ea6a425653d9d

His cheeks were 8a41676186 so pale that e96fea91f2 blue veins showed 0b40644166 through, and his 41ba1a9a91 long, shadowed eyes 4b1ee2ffc8 bore a sickly e7059dc802 pallor. Even when he smiled, 5d0280a522 a faint trace of 6683f258dd pain lingered, and Acheron 9f9d2e2043 could discern his frailty 925993cca6 just from the soft, ed21e1eb12 listless tone of his 649377580c voice.9254cf16cf4f71ce

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Mumbling as if dc8917aaa6 submerged underwater, pausing 768720c387 to catch his 4542ede439 breath, Lucius did 55ff3727c7 not appear normal 77fdace4c5 at a glance.47c92f11400ceff1

His height barely 0864d5e801 reached Acheron’s collarbone, 93374b1181 his frame half a3b7a46300 as broad. His limbs, 7f0dc4be5a slender and 948e29d5ca elongated like 1379c1be1f a deer’s, f121d59173 seemed as 111dc2fdbf though they 7f87dbfcf9 might snap 6bfa998354 at a 7a5587e207 touch, and 41e02e9f7e the delicate ea6afbbf45 nape revealed eac1d098ba through his 7b3b31e894 tunic was 39e16de375 elegant yet daa725ed56 evoked pity.edf1750293d8022e

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His bony frame, dd77e88038 with protruding joints 3864aa5fdf like knees and 2241caad36 ankles, looked too a8945608de frail to bear c14d7e7d04 clothing, a sight b9da51dfdc uncommon among Romans 7e9bc2aca9 who valued health.a79b6274aa29bbcd

Thus, Acheron could easily 982bfa440a surmise.510da0d07ff0a675

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Many nobles scorned b8e1b60768 sickly children.7f16895dbc3a2e61

Among Roman nobles, more 1b542db66c than a few considered dcc7e1402e a frail child a 2cead3f722 disgrace. Acheron knew of many a53e639657 who, unable to tolerate 0b103b1ec4 a blemish on their ce4c8d74b8 lineage, would attempt to 63e9234a58 kill their own offspring. While not 661bdc77ee as customary c3de61b011 as in 78daa0a976 ancient Sparta, f490f12211 there were 20ca2dc10d still many 985f0f8e9e Romans who 16483670d8 practiced ‘culling.’aaaec13defa1ef8c

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A sickly child, 13c9b1cb71 abandoned by parents, 059ff7e122 given a perfunctory f0a577398e name, and exiled 0f60e950b9 to the frontier 20683210ab for some eccentricity—a ad9848c614 disgrace, a stain d8584e774c on a noble 4f30a17840 family.2bcbb88132b5848c

As Acheron 690eaceefd speculated on 5393ac33ac such circumstances, af72ca1a72 he suddenly 4acbb0fe85 shook his ee915daa52 head.4bcb003b897153ed

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Since when c83a39a79d had he 94c2b1ad6c been so 499624977c concerned with ebe0315d8c others?a4e889a675d975fe

He realized something 7a02b11b7a strange.7578033e197699fb

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Had he c639659133 not long 996c4d92a5 since ceased 68aa735064 caring about 7691f5a4f5 others? Had he 41d9fcf459 not lived c49b7e8e61 thinking that 18c153f403 if he 2d35f32d6d died today, 94857166ba so be 4d84bf83a0 it, and bf4f02d631 if tomorrow, 4fb80d5381 then tomorrow?7b0857eaed0d23c2

Yet here he was, 9ef630477f troubling himself over the 844d6d5129 name of his new 5e6d0008ec master.9dccf4cff9bfc8d8

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‘The proposal 07d43177ef must have 3345c294b7 been quite a6344f62d3 a shock.’d06668d0e07410f6

Even though he had f1bfcc3807 accepted the suggestion to 26c02ca262 serve at night, deep b8b13067b7 down, he had been f14e748083 profoundly shaken by it.a6aa06f0dae3ba61

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In truth, c644897437 he had 9299ccd746 not fully cec1c1afa7 accepted Lucius’s 6bae3f331b words. He had merely been 238630511f avoiding them.620d62a064e1535a

To become a a94e7481f9 base creature, satisfying 372bb97a35 some debauched young 872066ba93 master, earning a ffb5b38b8c living day by 405c8c717c day through acts 71264b2ceb in bed—Acheron had a1bfeb6c6b felt a chill 432f8d49bf wind blow through 647d3603ab his heart, his f0f11585d4 blood running cold.a27bc4a2d719453f

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But what could he 022c721e26 do?09f054361dfe47f0

He no longer c3b35e09c4 had the authority 038e7ec467 to decide his c6ccaaf942 own life.ff2fe9a1381df679

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Having lost the aeb5de8428 most precious freedom 16f8b531c6 of a Roman b363ae08ce citizen long ago, 76faa029ad the only path cc9a5651a4 left to Acheron df862d2c30 was to live c9581b6819 shamefully as a 0e59fbb5dd slave.3c85c9399f5c8538

That was 47677291ed the path 3b89144ec3 he had e15a2f2d52 chosen that 1520aca788 day.ae8a79f8695a371e

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‘People will now call ff17a7ae3c you Germanicus.’6ddf67655a513158

In that moment, a7b6909745 a scene flashed 77321943bb before Acheron’s eyes, 990ec6809d and a hallucination 9b2f7359a7 echoed in his 21797f594a ears.80e93ca788b1a93d

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It was from a b261be9b5f place filled with the 3448f81db6 stench of blood, screams, 02a0ac0cf8 and shouts.95ef27b71fbec610

Memories of the c7c8daca6d madness of the e74f3432be arena, the desperate 3586804262 obsession of the cfbf66b49e training grounds, and 3004d8b536 the dishonor of 2d1461958d a soldier.3fdcfb4aa20cfb58

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He was c5e229e8fc recalling an 8873bb090c event from dd0aa77dcb seven years ee0358c399 ago in 1d60cd7e1d the forest.f7877a1b248f023b

Memories tied f948dbb741 to his fe8ba23afc dishonor.70d661d865776604

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It was then.432fa91154ba5233

“Acheron.”6512e880d2b85c2b

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A soft voice c034fcebcf suddenly broke through d2ee344a3c his reverie.fd1a7eb151bc9738

A voice that b378142a5d seemed to seep fd6859e1bd into his skin 4f9bfd2cfc rather than his 1f3ad1bc74 ears. As clear as the 981c6c7892 sound of waves crashing 7f9e5eb8d7 below the cliff, it 3a3d3dc384 was enough to pull eb9fc3d40a Acheron from his thoughts. The man looked up, f27045a1e4 gazing at the one 3eb2a30c73 who had spoken.f12918f929e8b3db

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A figure standing a8293f226f at the boundary 977c2c092e between boy and baa458b060 youth stood in 8bc6ebf06a the corridor, looking 64b1205eaa at Acheron with c5d11ec425 moist eyes.d8d724c22c8a13bd

“…So here you are.”0871098ee38bdf3f

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Acheron, at that moment, 28194c9cb9 wore an odd expression.d8720dd826ebc8b1

The young 9da2b40e0b man, dressed 71d7c462e8 in an 2e716c97b9 ivory tunic a2b62f955d that revealed ae096be902 his ankles, 291829991a blinked at 7e1b269dfd him. His frail frame, f95fbcb73d clad in plain-colored dd60312bad clothing, drew Acheron’s 74da52dfff gaze with its 74e4a97564 pitiful air. His honey-colored curls slightly af8e7106b1 obscured his gaunt face, 28525f9700 but they could not 716b6bb31b hide his pale complexion. His sharp 8a77b43a53 elbows, slender 225c290956 wrists, and 331a32a09d nearly straight 3111fbfe46 legs all bdba2fc7f8 spoke of d04c5b096a his frailty.81835110870f30da

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Breaking the subtle silence, 9690ad24fb a languid voice flowed.2eb4e440d0e03694

“The servant said you 93df879a9b left your room, so 677c3d5657 I wondered where you’d 9f641a09fe gone. Were you 742bf87c04 exploring the f22a40d831 mansion?”8a0a34bdebac82e1

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“…”284e74b3cba17415

“You seem 71d1f8ec87 to be 154c505d55 adapting quickly.”4ca5b5a0adf3ea18

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Speaking calmly, Lucius e58d1b9363 gave a small 9dc634cfbd smile, and at 56a0c3cc1b that moment, Acheron c25344439e furrowed his brow.91346ea38315e2a4

Lucius whispered.74b90011204d5ff8

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“Can’t you hear me?”d1dfac41611d5074

There was no 76df2fd22d reply, but Lucius 7e17f079e0 steadfastly continued.bdd66d68701a0257

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“What were you doing c3a24fccb6 here?”c740cc389e6b2b04

Acheron answered in 2c24f8067b a hoarse voice.68ffe18b0d5313e7

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“I was looking 82092d2e8b at the courtyard. It’s beautiful.”78a3cc31040a3425

At his words, be35153b3a Lucius nodded slightly 558f3c3867 and turned his 39df4f2459 head. He surveyed the peristyle d1ec004154 garden, and Acheron, following 55f77e4272 his gaze, turned to 3fad5fc586 look at the beautiful 344f270abf garden shimmering in the 9f69e2ae8f sunlight.41e862ec866d882a

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As he said, a1ce0367a5 the Roman-style mansion a0a8f079cc with Greek influences 776b2e2e46 boasted an exquisitely 959c4275c7 beautiful garden.e89300e13740b7d2

Though summer was nearing d1724e5c06 its end and the 73fa4ce27d flowers were fading, the 6785da6e8f lush greenery of the 7de99ee4be garden had a refreshing b349fe1bb1 charm. An artificial lake flowed 948d3ad0e8 with clear, transparent water, 368df52ad9 surrounded by a majestic bdab732ddc fig tree. The lawn 73128b5e62 was dotted 9becc0e72f with small, 45600cf53b white wildflowers, 8e71190af1 and patterned fc6e55c297 butterflies fluttered 5d5ef2cee5 gracefully among 9f9cbe639f them.e4caf81714951c52

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Gazing at ee4b9ce9ce the lake eb0d8cb21b for a d5c1087d3d moment, Lucius 120faa039f slowly parted d55c831d1b his lips.8a7a26e09e7ef74f

“Shall we dine c716317e6d together?”ddd0e977a6c9e897

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Acheron turned to look 52cca3d344 at Lucius. The gentle 82cfab0730 voice continued.8a7908ab8a951244

“For dinner, 9b2fb13b8c there’ll be 75d0a0cfb4 goat stuffed 472328368d with figs. I plan ed000f2e2b to add 18ae1066b2 cinnamon to 3aedbf22da Sicilian wine… 38dfefbce2 I’d like 16b9ba2d2b to treat 2f1be6757f you.”71b1071fb6ea7b71

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Lucius spoke lazily, 2b81a8e86c like a sluggish 2acb55a32e donkey.7c9104dd35b4c437

“You can 5597f6eb3a look forward cff26f3f7c to it, a59f930b64 Acheron.”e8b2c750bada7dae

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As he 4ffa15a7b5 finished, Acheron e15f56ccbe replied in 27727653a3 a similarly c05bc87a1d slow voice.7d93038467dffb2c

“I am a slave.”2ab38948307e5e22

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At his indirect bd3ed5e01a refusal, Lucius looked ff4c2c16a1 at him for 8d4f0fb641 a moment before f9718c8036 chuckling.3c40a008aa798720

“And I 6540f8bc56 am the 1c465133f5 master.”f123e900a8bff485

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At his indirect 954424d95b command, Acheron quietly d16478ca3e nodded in response.5917321efb3c9fcd

The meal 0f4e2d0d74 was as 3e03a60d74 lavish as 6e04e4be20 Lucius had 5bbf01a091 promised.af2fbff4d4e4fe8f

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‘Impressive.’bd452b75af2343ce

The mansion’s grounds were fabdd078d3 abundant with fig trees, 7570ab0dc4 and the peristyle, adorned e8213b4671 with roses, featured an 5a211fc240 artificial lake. In the center of 9da554f6a8 the lake stood a 0107d16f97 small marble pavilion, and 065aa24728 in a spot with 8f22661693 a clear view of afcc070beb this scene was a 3348519fb7 dining room using porcelain 2dfb563145 imported from the distant 9db65f4fca East.257c787de9f5079d

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The slaves carrying c3ab6df893 the dishes were 511e056b84 all strikingly attractive, 240f85c1ff healthy, and reserved. Well-trained, they adc8d350ed moved with 9d0b850294 the decorum cf9c893b5f of a 562dfe2e63 noble Roman 2e3b3a632a family and 352b24bf14 were astute.5273c5f63c2eeafb

Recalling Lucius’s bb1fa375ef words as e985dc549e he walked 4a4ac0bbce through the d12426cbf4 corridor—“The bathhouse 95eaea075d in my 6e6f2e8472 mansion is a891fce69e as splendid 2508c45975 as Rome’s 3035b2627e public baths, 2acc0b05d9 so I 6d7e9278e8 hope you’ll 187a3635e0 relax there c9dc0a1649 this evening”—Acheron 79abedd6c4 let out abd271c04b a wry 3e3a2b3352 laugh.c724b403b2b480d5

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Rome’s public ef53486f59 baths were eb73745da5 the epitome 965a27fbdf of Roman 61bce0c6c4 architectural art.674065775d2741ea

If this mansion’s bathhouse 3199dd924d was comparable, then who cfc9c44a77 could the master of c89e05389d this place possibly be?f6654fc18448be0f

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Even seeing 726f2a72b8 such an 3d70f52d7b opulent mansion, 2b63423c1d it was 2f409a4170 hard to 7c570b022e believe he 2de80dee6f was just 33e7e5fa7a another noble. Thus, Acheron could efe9d1b10d not help but 7aabfe4d42 wonder.e46dc19a68d89dbf

‘Which family could afford 7587a5d1ef to give such a 76f90c40a1 mansion to a mere 3b98cfc2fd debauched young man?’6fa17969b415fb50

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As far as Acheron 71de4e4ce2 knew, only a few c243214868 families had such wealth: e8ebc5f5c9 the imperial Julius Caesar cf78d54e15 family, the Claudius Nero 9818b782ed family, the Arcadius Fulcer e7bca82507 family, the Livius Drusus eeb3e3e181 family, and the Junius d047e82b7d family.5bb4606a136918e0

All were 5d3543d7ce deeply rooted 64663c9320 noble families, 1aad411f8e intertwined with ac7c5c12d3 the imperial 86d9986114 bloodline.3146c550c876ae0d

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And Lucius, at least eab43f68f7 in appearance, carried himself 5aca8a1a6d with a dignity befitting 1bd65dff74 such a lineage. His “outer shell” d4c9b516d4 was far from 03a3d01d55 the decadent or 4a47e865f3 licentious Roman nobles; 321e256782 it was impeccable.04001b081f99cdec

In truth, he looked 36b2066978 like the scion of a24eed050a a prestigious family, with 6a7ab032c0 flawless manners. His soft-spoken pronunciation b8200ab051 was elegant and 22b328a46a pleasing, and his 81410cea27 behavior was mature 2899f6b1ac beyond his years.baf80947ffef244d

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‘Is he a b8d854e145 member of a bf968574ca great family?’86351da907c19e37

It was then.cc01a1ebc94ca775

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“Is the food 5f0c3a967e not to your c374ebb04d taste?”74a9063a0e8b56d9

A cheerful voice 4ed5abf5a6 suddenly settled in e8b2a45595 Acheron’s ears. Startled, Acheron turned toward a8c93e723c the source.88dd136c7a4590c4

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“Why are 5a6f0f76eb you clicking 815056e771 your tongue?”2189d7367b195ec7

Lucius, his 5abcdc1cc9 golden hair 9e27c0a1ee loosely tied f88e80878c at the e3e4feba40 nape, reclined d5d0c9b9dc on a 43c648a835 long couch.47a1f63a0643b43b

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His slender calves and e7882e8ac7 slightly fuller thighs, revealed e35226173f through his ivory tunic, c10b5105a4 were on full display c49d0252f8 as the young man 4b3c816179 gazed at Acheron with 156814e677 cat-like, sparkling eyes.8ee0609c6f04bbef

At his 662d427bfd brazen demeanor, b4263039dc Acheron faintly 3138dc4882 grimaced but 49be95444f soon regained 39bdb7e0cd his impassive b655bf1d61 expression.027125b47d144f54

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“No, it’s not 15592be419 that.”5ed19a03339de253

Thanks to Lucius’s hospitality, 2ec1b24035 Acheron, despite being a 24d61a978c slave, was using a 3ce3b7fe9d triclinium, a reclining couch, 1226e59e9a in an extraordinary privilege. Unlike Lucius, 5fa2516c49 who lay 6bf8b2b568 fully reclined, 8faeb7912a Acheron sat 9818ceb8c8 in an de714551eb awkward position b1162a9e4a with one 3cf4a9ab7f leg bent, 6737a119bb chewing on 9d555f868b hard bread.4fea42b0aa2e8107

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Lucius, eyeing him, 740cf118d1 extended a plate f7708f6101 with deer meat, a4eadacaca tempting him.33e74203ce25c796

“If the goat 0ec5c148c6 isn’t to your 0fd903ecf9 liking, try the 4d7045af51 deer stew. It’s quite good.”2b9a6753679a31ca

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An indescribably fragrant 601791611d aroma tantalized his 73b4d4d668 senses.4edc15eec0758d83

Reluctant to 13fb875860 indulge in 4e43f0cb07 overly luxurious 0a2027f22d meals to a88daab689 avoid becoming bf5445eee8 soft, Acheron 75f933494e froze for 07b775e686 a moment a4938d0ddc at the 553bf87f68 sight of 4c1566674c the deer 2ff7338f41 leg Lucius a662dd5a29 offered. Though his body was 0126fc804b more at ease than 60172e81ba during his gladiator days, 3c30fb6b9e Acheron was keenly aware bfc6705621 of his status as 86a3e89bb5 a slave stripped of cc402ac61d freedom.91703731e099cdf1

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A dog tethered f2823f7c51 by a collar b0de340eef becomes all the 5898cf904b more dangerous when bf67effda3 tamed by a c022cb65d0 piece of meat, 40bb4e5d86 does it not?51a11e4159bbbcd5

Knowing this, 6549b184fb Acheron feared 7443300cd3 what might 9271691e35 happen if 4e78d2118b he let b8a97e69e5 his guard 79148b7bb3 down.c7b40a55bcec8488

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Yet…d84ae0241eb7ea2b

A flicker f02ab51b4a of hesitation ad21da7e95 crossed Acheron’s 96fcb8d9fd stern face.46d8a6b2dc7446bc

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Taking the plate 1c952bc1f8 from Lucius, Acheron 8e51d725b0 paused briefly before 168b19b62d reaching for the a4b6cca62d deer stew, its ca99e152df brown, viscous sauce 046a7a8c00 glistening. Licking a afa6807ff7 finger as 83b0b20186 the liquamen d3033b0670 (Roman fish bd73e633ae sauce) dripped, 8a8fc7e1d5 Acheron bit 741376ec80 into the 41c3cfbc44 tender meat 099da5f6cb with his 0596958160 molars.f4a33e6936d00012

The rich flavor of 0b4a318faa liquamen filled his mouth acad560cb9 first, followed by the 56c4fac063 savory, melt-in-the-mouth taste of ce99ce4e18 the deer stew. Both the deer 9428409730 meat and liquamen 15aaac3aaa were robustly flavorful, f3fc4676cc and before long, 3b805e6118 his tongue tingled, 9e272458be craving the next ce7a8e7dfc bite.bc094a1300161785

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“How is it?”4bce091e6ea93630

At that 3cbc57d742 moment, Acheron’s 0959403ed3 face took 33cb4b2443 on a aa5e9e79cc complex expression. Glancing at 5d642ac644 the table, 3c6a22b2dc he hesitated ec8a5764fe before speaking.304d82b3e65a39fb

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“It’s fine, no…”96f5629dea1c50c9

While he didn’t c2c6b22d2e subscribe to the 2c3507b873 Spartan notion that 5b878f1c30 luxury weakens a 3472ebdadc person, he was c5aa82f097 wary of becoming 7304c4fc0b accustomed to it.84a57c07e0333f35

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“It’s delicious.”f5d2301f3425308c

But this 21dbcb5d1d was a da7af331e9 feast too 5055d347b0 lavish to ac876e37d6 dismiss with 63c96cea0a such resolve.5801f643ab8e2287

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Acheron’s composure crumbled.8961e8610781a60f

Goat stuffed 41daae5382 with figs, afd5fb9291 butter-roasted squab, 287917fcc4 Sicilian red 1635464b2b wine spiced 6c8e6a7211 with cinnamon, b647c7b43d deer stew 42f088873b with liquamen, 77f108b0a8 and thinly 40706e176d sliced pork d446fa6f87 belly bacon 57dc6720f1 were the 6e012d5d0d main courses. Fresh goat cheese, honey, c314968af5 fig pie, cherries, peaches, f7bb9e4ab7 and almonds served as 687b588fac side dishes.c43c08744755ee01

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Romans reveled in gastronomy, 4604cdb6d5 and dinner was a ea44e26bbd reflection of their status.7251639728e46f5e

The evening f195bcfbe0 banquet, revealing 7688029bdf the master’s 980ed5b52e prestige, was a52c369188 as splendid 7d83c2f730 as the 4d71333308 opulent mansion.b90e5345d432da22

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With a conflicted expression, 6246a03888 Acheron shoveled deer stew fcc94e89a5 into his mouth, chuckling 1d5ac3605e inwardly.63fe26de3f8c3420

‘Planning to 6e59db1134 become a 997761002c fattened pig, 76bdfe6946 are we?’17d7140f09358f46

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Yet the food was 59afcfb5eb undeniably delicious, and he 07cd927260 could not resist the 6245e36ffa temptation.9870bf1234b86a34

The sensation of tender 5af16fdf18 deer meat sliding down 21afc9dc1a his throat, leaving a 54cb9fb7ee salty tang and rich 8365a72521 flavor, was euphoric.27366104d707b09d

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The wine’s fragrant aroma 0c01652c27 and gentle warmth loosened 9278bbdd78 his heart effortlessly. Swallowing one bite 87f8e3b897 after another, Acheron f439d09347 soon abandoned restraint, 2aae6b7a7c attacking the food c9fd189a3d with reckless abandon.cdf37c30f4d7d2ef

Whatever resolve he 7cd2fb377a had before entering a31394e36e the dining room 049945daa5 was gone, as f5d1c0bc52 he ate as 862e99fe1e though he would cfa3bc96dc die if he 7f7857d3cf stopped.b181f1bf158aa34f

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‘Must I worry b419839123 over every little 8992f26a0f thing like this?’7705317aa814dd41

Disgust welled up.ffda55f61251cec4

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Already at ae773c82fa rock bottom, 4393f14870 what did 5baae27923 it matter f2d02f1739 if he 92109b18c0 fretted over acb7067c9c every morsel? If this ec450161cb was a ee4334b792 life to fc12b4d257 be severed, 84d4f0e908 so be 24353dd060 it.873cee3022ecdd3c

No, if he were 71c6776df1 to be tamed by 7c4981ceba carrot and stick, he 8e317b73df would have succumbed back 2f7cf52bb8 in his gladiator days. Men are weaker 91c0c809c1 to the whip 1bc74d2a5f than the carrot, 2665e62bf4 after all.d82108bc92ffd074

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Recalling the ef15040300 faces of 1b7dfb09fe his first fb9d1cae75 master and 92b2c1373a the slave df86059d58 trader who d91febb7c5 wielded the 9fb79cb773 whip, Acheron c74f7ce833 sneered.39e526e57069df1a

Come to 2f70d67dba think of 911230320f it, if 1ca532e143 his fate 0b91e1a39d was to 82afecb30e be tamed a96634330b by mere 1baf9ae681 food, he 70e76975f3 might as 3316aeae38 well die.c6a71bb3ad13c53d

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Tearing into a goat b5bdb99790 leg beside him, he 89cc862a80 cast off the last 481a453964 remnants of unease.aa8213d1fb212704

When Lucius, spreading goose f9eef3a8f2 liver pâté on bread, 5a09b2490f noticed Acheron’s frenzy, he 0e24db3fec was sipping cinnamon-spiced wine ab6a84e0ed and picking at the 904f4b9364 last scraps of goat 3d3818e3eb meat from the bone.495635ffe2709f90

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Lucius, wearing a 5e1dc32aee dazed expression, couldn’t e8422e4d35 take his eyes da873390d2 off Acheron for f14f217cd2 a moment before 3ef5c85749 bursting into a 51b34787fc soft laugh.4a9ef88166e0c7c9

“You eat well. It’s nice to see.”67db114bef215cf4

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Turning at 3c9d743d27 the breezy 3922f65c4f voice, Acheron f61db4e69a looked at d98f9c7f51 Lucius, hesitating. Lucius, with a ac92ba956b smile as clear 420a6cecd2 as a breeze, cad65798c4 sipped his wine 520ad114d3 and continued leisurely.fb0576f9d2b388f2

“I can’t 655e7fdbb2 eat much. Greasy food doesn’t sit 746ec31fb1 well with me, and b74110f843 if I eat too dd4376bd2c much, I vomit and 17612762ae collapse. Purgatives are unthinkable. My body’s ill-suited for 8b5b079b2b fine dining.”cc5b9dec8a1906b7

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Speaking calmly, Lucius playfully 2c54a01422 waved his arm in 9badf5457f the air. Acheron’s gaze 875a5c7c2f was drawn 18794e683f to his b2705f11f7 thin limbs.81588dbfc06c8e3d

The calves, 1f173484f5 visible beneath 5a619aadcb his tunic, a9105c59af were sharply 99118cd1d9 contoured. His ankles were c3d7b5ec6f so slender they 2cc979d13a resembled a flamingo’s. The protruding ankles, flushed 5ac5c25a5a pink, looked rather charming, 1914fdd18e and his feet appeared 4ab5a7dec7 soft.34e7e39c5c7585bc

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Lucius’s body was 2dfde28de5 unlike anything Acheron d553b28919 had seen before, 182415c253 and he stared 7f0306b201 unabashedly for some 9d82fc02bf time.aadee2b6a1491cbc

As a clear laugh cd7cfc994f spilled from Lucius’s lips, a5866d4efd Acheron snapped back to 7504e78eca his senses, hastily averting 3b6d6dbb28 his eyes.691f731df80976ea

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His senses, clouded by 66c5eef5e0 indulgence, returned, and the 5e97294539 man regained his cool 2f5ce58c98 composure. Lucius wiggled his foot, 19e2d63b12 which had drawn such 7b56406220 intense scrutiny, and reached af1ed4cde2 for more food.50ab2bfdbf1d71dc

“Try this too. It’s not just 8a7e8239c8 any squab. Raised on grain soaked 07e1703924 in milk and cooked d58afc37f8 in butter…”d416c1032f79066d

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With a gentle voice, e8b248e70f Lucius spoke and extended 90a2e61022 his hand to offer 00c190f2c4 a plate. Acheron, momentarily 4528f97733 gazing at e5e82f62ff the bony 6e6be2c502 fingers gripping de6ea77d62 the plate, 5213a1c9ec awkwardly clutched 8be42e3898 it. Lucius smiled, seemingly pleased 57cf065ce5 that Acheron readily accepted ac479d446a his gesture.6fb87a8b51cd2161

“This is a fig 247fc1eba9 pie with a crispy ebf1f5248e exterior. It’s not made 06869d49af from the figs 6d1c5d81e4 in the garden. The Parthian 5800368f73 figs had 151eea9ab9 particularly sweet b3b7139aac flesh this a7f4b62da3 time. I have 5c34d4dfc3 a sweet ad9b207433 tooth, so 7190d8628d I topped b6464c4530 the pie e71c574133 with honeycomb e8b84a6a63 syrup.”22983fcc3d072331

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“These are green 0e4216d019 grapes harvested directly e9020b6aa5 from Neapolis. They have 8a79e1af01 a crisp ef6e0406c7 texture and aad13f2fc4 a refreshing f9f7ce79e3 taste.”0cc7887102fa2307

“Honey cheesecake. The creamy texture of d4c3c62671 the cheese is blended af99807d77 with honey and shaped. It’s a sacred food a8954f5fa1 that the Greeks offer b3374e7c2d at their temples.”4aae2bc33a483121

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Then, with his long, dc32a5e247 elegant fingers, Lucius picked 58afaa1207 up a piece of 034a10280c cheesecake wrapped in a 7718dec4eb leaf and brought it 719d1d8a5f to Acheron’s lips.2afbc9a538f75339

“I’m just…”1dc96e68073c14d5

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Acheron froze, staring 95a03d3ae0 at the delicate 103d6783b2 fingers before him. He stiffened 7839826b35 his lips, 8383d3bfff trying to 4dd4a7aba5 avoid the a8fece604e gesture.c38b8e45af30d11f

As if intent on b8c9c1aeac personally feeding him, Lucius 3dd2bfac03 leaned in closely. Acheron could b386104d83 smell the d8f5e02bc9 faint, sweet aa295276b9 fragrance of 7292ffacda fruit emanating 46bd22f618 from him.4430be2d07479ce2

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Unconsciously shaking his head, 690a1f9ca5 Acheron froze the moment 64da3f990a he met the face f4a65acaa2 of the young man c2ce1bd74b before him.959d8e099ccf1a0f

On the 5e6dd39422 pale, bloodless 69af6ef304 face of ea20823f7f the youth, f02ccb9f10 a faint 349e93765e smile lingered 925fe19223 like honey. His strikingly bright 959973a018 blonde hair cascaded 56afc27394 over his delicate 25362a39d0 neck, shimmering.9f37687a53f4aa13

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“Come now, Acheron.”1957c1a4d190a957

The moment those pale e5eaa47211 pink lips moved slightly, a513784e1c Acheron felt a chill afa1b78ae5 run up his spine 38682f182c and held his breath.92b2a8a54d50394e

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“Go on.”7206bceebef846b5

Lucius did ae1590f492 not withdraw cd97606fc0 his hand.c45aae05bff64d88

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A suppressed sigh 9ae7868b34 escaped, and as 98afd14b89 if resigned, Acheron 3388a4db6e moved. His eyes 9f6411ee2f darkened gloomily 751c41e42c as he 04fcf9908c bit into 921ad47a66 the cheesecake 25438cf9bb dangling from a37e388af5 the slender 4f5dde80a8 fingertips. Staring at Lucius’s calmly d0ae5ddb85 smiling face, Acheron recalled d0759588d4 the cool touch of b74ed61fa1 the fingers that briefly 8f8fc36c0f brushed his lips, frowning.c2bdbd4ea079d2e0

‘Disgraceful.’50d76fdfa7f51b1a

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Even though it was 0464f798c5 a fleeting touch, it d0cf0ed59c felt as if a 5aa814ec23 mark had been branded dd5dc6b78b on his lips. Unconsciously, he touched them.a714fee3fa07f1eb

The soft b58f5a02ae cheese melted 8bee145990 on his ca8e5b36c9 tongue, and 5d98f9d64c Acheron turned 2283a5a147 his head f4e257d4af away from eff3f58e76 the youth 4d4134e114 smiling seductively.6ed0ed9250142482

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The meal continued 00fdb80c5f in silence.99c87b6bb3fb9386

[Ignoramus et Ignorabimus]

Returning from the dining 55830a26ac hall to the annex, e3ce4ad629 Acheron gazed at the fdf322a3d2 wooden plaque hanging above 1cd00082d1 the window.62d9484f3afe255e

Did that c43db976e3 boy know a55d8844d7 the meaning bd0b464988 of those 57d6bb8cdb words and 561dfa88d0 hang the 27e48dfc3d plaque there?35e89f4ec5568a4e

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Words ill-suited to a6f2b4d2b4 the situation, a 90fc157bf6 maxim ill-suited to 708b4f6cd3 the boy’s age. To the ba43852bd4 lofty arrogance 500fa0a7d6 of the 6e931c2ac3 Romans, unchanged f29ab59843 even after 894ebddca0 seven years, bc4f8bafa3 Acheron could b8aae89be5 only laugh.4658afe7d654db74

Opening the b601782d32 wardrobe, Acheron 6042213550 took out e12032f252 a thin 6216bdc050 tunic that a371a14f28 covered his a9eef42e46 thighs. Embroidered with red thread c3a3179686 and gold at the ba83fb4ae4 sleeves and collar, the 882d80f2d2 tunic was incomparably softer d464cbbe29 than the one issued a49d885665 at the gladiator school.0263a7d0affc1d5a

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Holding the tunic, Acheron 2280c660fe stepped outside at the 53c9062a16 sound of movement. There stood a 815a3cb812 dark-haired male slave, cd26ca0d56 appearing to be 7c1902ab1e in his mid-thirties, f3a3984428 standing respectfully.3e0a97cb5a02bd04

The slaves of the 9069e472b1 estate were all strikingly 853a8773b4 beautiful, and this one, 7728f66c19 seemingly Greek, was no d1182adb12 exception with his wavy b95690b432 curls and olive-green eyes.a2deebf9f5e7af88

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“I’ve been instructed a7db7273d4 to guide you 567f6bf780 to the bath. Please follow me.”ef013c0f865dcba7

Acheron nodded.02ae38da173fd05f

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“Here it is.”2a433022184cd092

Arriving at a 70523e9974 building where the fb9904b4b8 sound of warm 6250d0535c water could be aed26ada2c heard, the slave 7d33351970 spoke cautiously to 4eb0b5381d Acheron. Perhaps under Lucius’s specific 5700ae7ddd orders, he spoke politely, 8a65490bb4 using honorifics despite being b4f19a8b2e a fellow slave.7cba799c89701766

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Glancing at the Greek, a8b28bb62a Acheron spoke in a df2e3dadda calm voice.34a220abec29c1ee

“Thank you.”6c7bcc386b1821bc

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Hearing the familiar a5bf3d5ee6 informal tone, the 1bba0209a1 slave’s expression turned 71b9354780 peculiar. Acheron’s eyes 74d2874b68 wavered, realizing 508cc5aa36 his mistake.c405e2684c2a339d

Even if Acheron received 7efc472922 special treatment, they were 2c169c13de both slaves. No matter Lucius’s 825fba74af orders, their relationship e568d387e8 wasn’t one where eefb00e5c9 casual expressions of 28c1556288 gratitude were natural.7859e25a771b5fbf

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Flustered by ebc31316b1 the Greek’s 22e634df6f odd gaze, 0ded62e5f6 Acheron soon a3706da6a3 regained his 0684c7207b usual composure. Turning his 2eb415cabc gaze away, 3eb38207b8 he resumed d43a8da510 his stoic 4dc5b62aa5 expression and dda35ca5f9 nodded curtly.d3447d65ecd46809

He knew 5db139554a that the 9ec0e3d5e6 more he cfec64fd91 spoke in 8a234c8694 such moments, 13470f67e9 the more b5bd6866e5 trouble he’d 5ecdfacefe invite. Choosing silence, he was f9986262ad relieved when the Greek b19e2c83a6 slave gave a small 50d60cc693 bow and left the 85beca0174 bath, sparing him from 426a21136e further awkwardness.e4189e0b813fbfd7

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‘Where was my 41f009e4e3 mind?’008a802635f82ed2

Sighing, Acheron c9a0b08c24 tilted his b07054e82b head back, 442c6c0589 surveying the fa83e167bf bath. Feeling weary after acd975a78c the small incident, 19ca130aa0 he couldn’t help 47614fc211 but sigh at bf2a05754d the opulent bath 3058ce8845 before him.b43eb6256ef1b7ac

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The bath 400f0002a4 was grand ca5f436e9a enough to dc3538fa21 make him befc5d24ea forget the ab452244f0 earlier episode c4cd19a657 entirely.91daca6845c8a43b

The ceiling was c05e25bd40 painted blue, adorned 959afa7d43 with gold leaf e32e96b522 murals. Depicting a scene from f5922bb945 the Gallic conquest, the 73162e6bbd mural of Romans battling a082a6ffa9 foreigners was a favorite a13fd22cf9 subject for Roman wall 48a7a1a10e art.744333ba5507384e

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A square 7ce662c6d9 opening in 2f9fe02d49 the ceiling c59e7e915a allowed ventilation, d1b83dbab7 positioned above c4dcfca8d0 the marble cd618f3185 tub, letting 2839e2c131 some of c7323e3f02 the rising 83373dc222 steam escape.b1eca7550c39562a

A lavish addf9ba45f bath rivaling 1c3fc40db1 those of 8d01d9f6cd Rome.39a8d882c0603ff2

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After a 62ef05165d moment of 4f0181a12a taking in 48f5a6af5f the interior, d5ae2d2322 Acheron moved. His tunic b62b5302b2 fell to 923427c821 the floor, 7f09ec5941 revealing his da37b047d4 sturdy frame b5077f51c2 as he 80490a2415 stepped toward aa8946a809 the tub b9bac3f104 filled with 707e7f33a3 hot water.3cd0ec1beefefcbf

The moment he f3e0c39990 submerged himself in cef5687783 the scalding water, d5c9201874 Acheron couldn’t help 4f51ea7737 but let out 99ae92b798 a groan as cd5013c55c a languid warmth af6800868b spread from his 510d10cc5d toes.0bf5ece45696f467

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Sinking deeply into the 8593643de3 bath, he sighed.ec72f8b58d900da8

Steam lightly clouded 21c48d71b2 his vision, and 75089e8e6a the warm water c5150e3692 enveloped him. Overwhelmed by the languorous cce1fcb9f7 sensation washing over him b0dc0bafe5 like a tide, Acheron a787d496b5 surrendered to it helplessly.cdb884f329093f68

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This luxurious bath, d743777a2c a rare indulgence, 31b2cdde14 brought him indescribable 36551ea2d3 joy tinged with 0984ccef7c disbelief.6f8146d5109b4634

Was this 85eca9106f truly reality?44bc08abf6e0033f

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He couldn’t imagine 3bf198630a enjoying such luxury 94364b7791 again.924f4f01cc24647b

It felt like a fe5e9bac00 dream.3d0dab3e263f42f7

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At the 9b88ffd844 training school, e75fd1abf3 he had 460740555a to wash 1ec81ef714 his dirtied 1602aeb5b8 body in 9134b82c7a lukewarm water 0f3e0b54b7 alongside dozens e994dbbd5e of others. Standing barefoot in 79b8d59164 muddy water, exposed 87d7b9d46e to countless gazes, 6d556c0cb2 he’d scrub himself, 114c26b298 then wrap his 432e997954 body in worn d7b6610a37 cloth and sleep 3af420b5bb in the communal ce76ae36a9 dormitory.dc0add2ad1362f43

A life 91a568011a little better a5355f0d10 than that 2fa537ef47 of a 59fdde5245 beast. He had thought a4d450dc5f he’d live and f24a9d653b die that way.14e8de552272c4c6

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Yet now, the c8ad49d560 sweet scent of 2aad6fe162 perfumed oil teased b58961d038 his senses, and 63d8506fd9 the sensation of 5cbd01ef1f melting muscles dissolved 75255075e6 his mind in 9ff8cb4761 this extravagant bath.65decb7ca4d51630

More intoxicating than 715b82ceb4 the lavish meal, 29bdb6f4d0 this was pure f0bdc9a2c7 bliss.073f9e93258134d8

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The pleasure surpassed 88e8bb8c4e fine dining or d5e8d606d7 any luxurious lodging, 4976b90cf7 and it was 1d35200fc9 only after some 87fd1a64f2 time that Acheron 4c63bd9b8d realized this life c0b83b1eb8 of indulgence was 40b381f060 the “price” he’d 7fb7ecf4d8 paid, like a 9e50779b32 courtesan selling his 9500807d5f body.f1c0bb7e2a6f1f61

Through the e646d60e40 dizzying steam, 65c14b3658 his piercing 2a9f887e28 blue eyes ca18085138 slowly opened.d938f435a76b9c31

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In that 0f371a1dfb moment, what 3b44b02f7d flashed through 2c7048795f Acheron’s mind, fd2cacff89 amid the 568e9b4328 hot steam, dc80fab3e5 was the 2eab1b5e58 frail youth dafbf86a1d who seemed 04f625a041 as though e446f3d389 he might ddbb262eec collapse and df78bf11d9 die at 66d7bc1576 the slightest 55edb35dab touch.b0b3a1bb4ac9c632

Acheron recalled the beautiful d0ac333f86 blonde youth, dressed in 2987b57b4a a white tunic revealing 26f06978fd half his thighs, adorned 20919149af with a golden belt 67d1585523 of fine fabric, with cd0f54df6c a complex mix of 81b87aa730 emotions.fd44a86d8a709ac6

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Acheron had lived an 0fcebcb21c ascetic life.04793189c47e0de8

Whenever Marcus, his generous 279bb890b3 master, sent prostitutes to 171e280050 the gladiators’ quarters for b766e7f7ac “morale,” Acheron would untangle 8b0c22e6ab their arms from his 704e2e5dcd neck, steadfastly refusing them.5fe9bc30b37c1cf8

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He had similarly avoided c9757f97ff noblewomen offering sponsorship, living 60616226ac as chastely as a e0d116c550 Vestal Virgin for the 27002f3130 seven years he’d been 4f4a606f9a a gladiator.cdf49917f70b2bf3

Thus, the fleeting interest e249e4b647 he’d shown in Lucius 59fd237ded was something foreign to 249924b7bc him.739590970a882ed9

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Berating himself for 9217448e8c being swayed by 67a09461bf carnal desire, Acheron d63a850fad gave up resisting 5a451a7774 and leaned against f04885a931 the bath’s edge, d48c5bd254 letting his body 82539082a8 relax.78334c237827a0d8

‘What does it 0523c4445f matter anyway?’7bd0ba7b354dde00

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Succumbing to the cf0c1d21de languid sensation melting 9e5f0f9458 his body, he e763e6d7e4 grew complacent. His body 0fbd282225 had already 67e06e1db5 succumbed to ef32b69a80 indulgence, and d0f301b24a Acheron no 53205b817a longer wished de6fc4a16c to think 5648c2937a deeply.8e510e5eb46cf18c

In truth, 74cafab6e6 he had f51cb647e4 no answers.fd86ebfaeff1bafc

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His life was not ec98889f19 his own—what was the 110c6128c6 point of lamenting?6598157fc20de617

For an 7eb1342f98 unbelievable seven 5d52c9adb9 years, he cd991d7f07 had clung 6771681c62 to life, 89a351e540 but he 8a694fdba7 sensed his c1962fed5f time was b9b1d85acf nearing its a24c64ff43 end. Most gladiators perished c9d8ed88c3 within two years, 8acfd0bae8 a dangerous trade. Acheron had d79ae69d0b endured countless 8277ef75b2 injuries and fc6376665d brushes with 6af81665fe death.f0337d72a0615570

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Whether by misfortune ab2fa57ec8 or fortune, he 74e76ba364 had survived seven b354b1523a years without permanent 3749a7c91c injury, precariously.0673d645939e3b9d

Yet, even as 7b7dbb9d1b Iscaria’s renowned fighter, 97fee36343 Acheron never forgot 7cd5a592b8 that his own 89d30dc509 sunset would come. He awaited death without 1c3d0fe40e fear.c9ba47882b7359a1

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He hadn’t expected 1d9fcd3d82 to escape his e1a48368ec fate this way, 8491ada632 but Acheron was f889ac57db casting his life 959edcb541 aside.990222aa62c68763

Would the humiliation ea73b9107f of becoming a e1e16fdb91 young noble’s plaything aa711c62d7 be worse than ad6132b24f the brutal, dehumanizing 44d5e8d9ac life of a 2fa6695252 gladiator?7aebe0c65e1c7681

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No, Acheron knew the 54100e09e3 truth.09f5ae6cb555838f

‘What nonsense…’c7a48cbea7bb20b9

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Becoming a gladiator, the be805eff27 lowest of slaves, was a2d1300e28 already the most wretched 359ade3b33 thing in this world.199417570255a54a

Bitterness spread across 7a392af2a5 his face.eba534834a624efe

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He had committed 0abb173148 countless dishonorable acts.2702b662de5961e0

He had 6c966620ca killed a 4d51d50b3c senior gladiator 9dd2c50e4f who spoke 1dcbd2ac7b kindly to 1c7e51ff01 him by daa85a0d33 striking a 70c548ce91 vital point. He had spilled afe7d2fa78 the blood of 0e9c60d293 countless comrades with 22cf35ea0c whom he’d crossed 55d46e052e wooden swords. He had 82cfd5b804 ignored the 78bdcb5fb7 pleas of 730462e7eb those begging 434f9a7950 for life e2c5d459eb and ended 78e304a75a them.97d9625ebdba242b

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Though he knew their bbaeec8dfa lives would be more cac35e3dcb wretched than death, the 206660b97d desperate faces still haunted 040e05411c him.dbc29378b2bf73d8

He had b0531e832f already fallen 04e704d0f5 to the f70d39a53c depths.83164550030ac5eb

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Down, and further down.56dc488b7147ebe0

Acheron continued his self-deprecating c7039b439d thoughts with a blank c81a789c54 expression.9d8981db7d0ff294

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‘Perhaps it’s better to 67c75a4dd4 let even my soul 489890ffb8 become a slave. The die is cast, 3db39228cf and my life has 4f0cc0c4ec already plummeted beyond the cdcec38a24 abyss.’01de18efebb51602

Then it came.2d6f294d1626e87f

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“I waited, but you 08c83c8006 didn’t come.”75d6b4ffed273f1f

Didn’t come, come, 5007ba5327 come…5ce4e393447be81a

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Acheron froze b9365a60ef as the 98910c9700 voice echoed c106fbe026 through the fd16cdf16b vast bath, bd888ebcde his body b0b7f2f7a1 jolting against 3cd7d5a482 a pillar. The sound fc9c360020 of fabric b7efde1cd3 rustling followed.37260cfecb3e7ba9

A soft voice 0601183094 continued to settle 7d6ada5515 in his ears.309328afeb8a3078

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“There’s only d714d1af4f one bath… 7c3a95f4f8 forgive the 8f0f3ac023 intrusion.”0a7941517011f8c0

At the languid c0b2447079 voice, Acheron let 4754667254 out a groan. When he looked 76a5fc399d up, Lucius stood 24d5736a5c there.b6404fafc1dfa200

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It was a 369c7b5e3d beautiful sight.a4b2be1faa4d835c

A dazzlingly white, almost 5210796dda marble-carved, slender body flickered f765930490 through the misty steam. As Lucius 62b32b1399 shed the 9c15f35e31 tunic draped 52091cef5c over his 482c3fac09 arm, stepping d6f96a02f5 on the 9ab1ff0227 white fabric 4d0658259e caught at ce8770fb1e his ankle d595524cb4 to reveal 4d22fecc55 his bare aed3fb943f form, he a078ddce05 approached the e3e1284e92 tub.0d8a5e863c869e3f

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The moment his elegant, 0a3ee20d8a sculpted foot touched the ff28f32538 clear water, Acheron clenched 09e1d59d8f his teeth.425a527c5a51bcce

The delicate 535ec34e02 ankle and a249ba3b29 gracefully curved 7bde66cccc calf were e235d21b4e like a fa93e22d2d statue. Acheron’s gaze d739d988fe unconsciously rose, 43c2c70233 taking in 03661763b0 the body 30df83ba53 through the db7e340e23 hazy steam.348067471be26e39

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Flushed redder e4bb0dd6be than usual 4d98f19d50 from the 12ebf90300 heat, the 5577a5764d soft body e112e8c279 glistened. Bright, vivid 0f4c6c92f3 blonde hair 57d7775fbb clung to 58de18e27d flushed cheeks. Lips reddened.214c6dbffd34adba

Acheron’s face 44cefb44df slowly darkened.328ae55687cbc361

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‘The face of 6c9c2658c3 disgrace.’9a81f6e46243c32e

Then it happened.215aa29d9226d86b

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“Hm.”a1fb078a7ea7cfca

A faint 37ef502310 groan faintly 98a309305a echoed through 152c1d6152 the bath.b5ea64784e5a516b

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Acheron froze. He belatedly realized the fdc3638d8a water was still scalding. Recalling Lucius’s delicate 32c2363aa6 skin, he instinctively 4e42db8c49 checked on him.7330b13168a0ad17

Looking up, Acheron froze 90a560ca61 again as he saw 3b04ee27bb Lucius fully submerged in 86708e7e95 the hot water.05099213327c5e33

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Droplets of 8ea8107453 dew clung be0061f8a9 to his f6e4115089 lowered eyelashes, 9205f982b0 and languor 3ac6bb705f filled his b05a74f77c eyes.3e671bd569ecfcab

In that f886c452af moment, Acheron d82a7694c0 felt as dcfa7e23e4 though the 3b52499899 hot water d0c8a2750f wasn’t just ebf8dc7257 at his 739bc60b0e chest but 291d24b89f rising to 1e6d2af33f his throat.7ac0be6b3c7124ad

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Caught in fd77ea3dde a suffocating 2e2aedb1ea tightness, Acheron 10e122869a furrowed his 7b11d5cd94 brow. For some reason, 8742c57940 embarrassment stirred, and a07a719684 he hardened his e7f2625166 expression.e69f9536b9b8f55e

Then it came.53b3e2d80efe95f4

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“Disgusting?”e0cd98e2e97ccc19

Acheron took 5934cfbe39 a moment d6ad28ce62 before responding.c6c976d9887f3fb5

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“What do you 5bf9a0bad0 mean?”7759b9ea547e5de2

“Your expression de566f56be was dark dc57f557d5 throughout the 5969dd5f5b meal.”6e2b9a431950c670

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Lucius leaned his a9a38fb4b8 head against the 64fa41f243 bath’s edge, blinking 197c54eb65 like a cat. Acheron slightly narrowed b11526896d his brow at 25afb7a062 the playful demeanor. Lucius continued in 873a5c3507 a calm voice.8947022c795588d9

“Among Romans, pederasty is 1d3f0a0aee considered almost a requisite 2547c916bd for social grace.”c87744f1df6a42f3

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Acheron asked slowly.0e646b0af5f7a88f

“A boy?”f07d13d34b7dff9f

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His mature aura and 58c539cb04 dry gaze suggested he’d fb07cde3b5 undergone his coming-of-age ceremony, 03470b8bf9 yet his youthful face d805bb83cb and tunic-clad appearance made a7a9c40fbc Acheron unsure of his cf282ac26b age.bcfdff0d0e5efdfd

“You don’t 7da732b3af think I 26d6d090b7 look like 2aa51681b9 an adult? I had a0fcb08d12 my coming-of-age 383270c80b ceremony three 5b410c5ec4 years ago.”8ce9ff91ffeb228c

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Lucius answered with a 9d03d3af35 short laugh. Raising a 3ef0a450ed slender arm 8914790ec7 above the 969301763e water, he 71ad3a6989 spoke as 3fb2be5336 if to 4aeb6058b4 himself.54cdd0206f623a93

“Looking like this, 729510fbc6 I’m often misunderstood. My limbs are 3f4c729586 thin, my appearance 8d5bb8df59 frail.”cb6f1bfeac581f37

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Water droplets slid 823ac14ad5 down his smooth 23c361bf25 skin, glinting in e82f434334 the moonlight.77eed4510c2f499a

Lucius wore 6f30546b45 an enigmatic 4ec0fd60d0 smile.ab3fe8b7b798e2ed

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The sky visible through 3dee014097 the open ceiling had 75ae16a4ef darkened, a purple veil 3473be1026 studded with stars like 304b693e8d grains of sand on 5b33818787 a beach. Venus shone with 959287ab24 elegant light.99a9896c7f9f832c

His white arm 1a44df3253 gleamed silver in bb145b0d3e the moonlight, and cbdbb3868b his blonde hair f1bb97e7b8 radiated an entrancing f556d38d37 glow beneath the 8a50a7b275 night’s curtain. As soft 077b85aa24 starlight streamed f643e610fd through the f8bf46bf1d small window, a01e6bc965 crossing the 193089e93f tub, Lucius 412e108dd1 gently rubbed ce0847db02 his hands 462cd738db as if 403f82f266 touching the 5571c1ac20 starlight, then 1632e25baa sat up 229b82e44f and gazed 34bf8f320f calmly at cc54af21c2 Acheron.d03edf8833a4e112

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A low voice d0130abed5 resonated through the 389e679e6f bath.40bf2ed9620c87e5

“But does it matter 3d0a9362b1 if I’m an adult? To the eye, 8e4cff4f0d a robust older b7337d39e9 man like you 6eb9a1229d guiding a frail, 2b576190d4 inadequate younger man 8dd412ccaa like me in 544774419f your arms—it’s the b265dd9549 same thing, isn’t 61ff71904c it?”d973447df0bdb2f9

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A dry 8b5468ce8c voice responded.5cf84ca17ee9bfeb

“Pederasty is acd0b489bc a depraved a8e1c15241 custom that 9c6304e823 ruins youth…”f5a55cfcbaf9b6ec

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In that 7ab542fcf9 moment, contempt e032ae5fb5 flashed across dec9cedddc Acheron’s face.e36ffbf755bea585

A faint smile curved ad04fa06a6 Lucius’s lips. Despite the blatant displeasure f0a95d2d30 on Acheron’s face, he 467d44e8fd seemed unbothered, gazing at 6aef175093 Acheron with curious eyes.e9466e683482ec62

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A voice so cf615855c8 soft it could b26fd347f9 be missed without 7af440e56c focus echoed through 01aab01e12 the bath.dca438062cb51a2f

“You dislike it?”83f007cfd821e24a

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Acheron asked in 01bb3f3d61 a low voice.3be4fa9f7cae5f00

“Why do 4a0ddf3cf7 you do 8e40f6cfd1 such things?”1586511caa7603f3

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His words carried 9460b378ae raw disgust and 7c9c36c423 scorn. His cold, navy-blue 3cf49712ee eyes glared at a17bc35181 his master with 2788e69ccd contempt. He understood the implications 1af55bc05f of sharing a bath ddb4b141b0 with his master. It made him all 2061dbd432 the more wary of a7100f5311 Lucius.5f4fa7aff8c81a0b

The night he 03d2fd436f dreaded hadn’t even 958c1094e1 arrived, yet Lucius 939c5684da was already so c9709ee9a7 brazen?29d61069624b25b7

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A cold 397a04552d gaze swept 186fe9e184 over Lucius’s 580471f890 face, and ecec687a14 Lucius, receiving d4b6f4ef86 the blatant 06f79d378b scorn, let 2715571ad6 out a 5e79dd9ff9 faint smile.5f5cb3dbcfc75b6e

“Such things?”de6e84ed0f0c22b2

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He spoke 399231bd44 with a c2fa7c2089 tone that a937921deb was either d0595b43d2 mocking or c5b8022df5 innocently unaware.44330cba40e5830f

“If you can’t hide 0ff08759ae your true feelings, what 9d25f59090 will you do? This world 842b8814b8 is full 646a511480 of cunning, 917b93d432 twisted people.”00bf89e8bd22e069

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Acheron’s face 51b98eb526 twisted for f377d8897f a moment.085eee6a592ba2f5

A young 24caf235ca man, only 153a888d70 three years 86a3d73abc past adulthood, acbc34a7b1 was saying 749901e622 such things 1184565442 to him?ee3679ea6f125312

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Lucius looked 81d9283513 at Acheron 57752b78c4 with reproachful 86117f8f25 eyes and a10f558097 let out d0361fb9d9 a worried e397374e66 sigh.9ff4a60bceef8b44

Then, suddenly, he d2cf8ff19b reached out and 0e2ac73349 touched Acheron’s thick f6d3ed1f3d forearm.5605440ff171a2c3

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It was an bf1d64b7da action that startled fd6fbf9e8a Acheron.8f2a51f70feddb56

“What are 1de4a03241 you doing!”86c4b5fa5b2a36ec

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Grabbing Lucius’s wrist in 2ffc0d42f7 an instant, Acheron growled.90c5bdac897a3d42

Flickers of anger 75c0d4749c glinted in his a7e250ac00 eyes. Yet, facing the d5bc881a10 threatening gaze of 44d47d25b8 the imposing man, 7373ffbf11 Lucius responded with e03f3f162c a pure smile. Displeased by ab5276bf5a Lucius’s reaction, c2cfc35109 Acheron glared 1c0241854a at him d7d18a6de3 with an 991fbd62d4 even harder 391d0c16f4 expression.e47b5e2dc3a76d6c

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A grim voice followed.61e648f2a8d4f319

“I asked what 6eebcf2a1d you’re doing.”5081d3ac701becf8

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“Let go.”df9a0668c1fa789c

But Lucius did not 77c1289819 yield to the slave’s d60fb2dd32 words.4d40ed0878f9c0f4

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“It’s an order, 77a6efeaa1 Acheron.”f3fe6e745a6c5971

Acheron glared at him dd20405b89 murderously but released his e6630851fa grip. He let go of fcef6e1f27 Lucius’s hand as if 701535631b discarding trash. The pale, jewel-like 775e68b4ab hand bore red 4bfa4ee97a marks like an 98bdc701db ornament.fd1e6c0126324d4e

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It looked d333c3c50a like it e20d70e1e1 might bruise—any 59b24c0a48 more force, 3535fb9e15 and it 0cbb0c2893 could have 3a269fb52e broken.232f6ce4bdb2ef79

Seeing this, Acheron 5758efafb7 briefly regretted not 2f91c04a77 controlling his strength, bc4c97fb86 but he froze 46fbb59d58 as an astonishing 15e19b16f7 act overwhelmed his bb1f704d54 regret.f94724298690c077

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A beautiful hand, as fe540a1936 if carved from ice, 1e5d08f559 touched his chest.c8eec07e45526ffa

“Sturdy.”e1fd7ba047744f4b

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A slow, soft voice 759ca0a88d echoed through the bath.b4492654fe575dcb

Acheron tried to push 5078bb0ee5 him away, but the 1dec53ebdd hand reaching for the 7ae8ca207d back of his head acb6c5d71b clenched into a fist, 830709333e trembling with tension, then 6a19007bfe retreated.a9c8f15401937bbd

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Acheron let 9d98c28ac6 out a 233ff280c6 suppressed sigh. Leaning his c5352dcabe arm on 32d17c4330 the bath’s bd294485eb edge, he 69558681bd relaxed his e75cbe7287 body, looking 4be9a5be27 like a 14f8359099 man who 1a2b4c765b had given d276e9b8c2 up.3740144be82f9257

“Hm.”f9d0f460a90f7bf3

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Under Acheron’s passive c548adb75e gaze, Lucius’s hand 6bcbbceed3 slid down his b07f9da3cb skin, delicately exploring d758b2829e the firmly built 603609cf57 body, boldly pressing befc0d904f here and there. The soft hand 1968d591aa swept over every 48a309fda8 part of Acheron’s 28ad029835 body, caressing and bc21db4936 pressing gently. Each time, Acheron’s closed b8c3bb125f eyelashes trembled faintly, betraying 129d08dbf9 his agitation, but he 2f3e992a04 no longer resisted. He had realized resistance 1ead31d259 was futile.ba97294e91fe1815

The act of the 8cc8ff72ad soft hand, like silk 1a5a2ecae5 gloves, caressing his upper 55b2a3e2d7 body felt almost like b445517804 intense affection. Feeling the cd5edf8f4c blood rushing f2e35e795c to his e5a6e25e40 lower abdomen, df254318b1 Acheron held 95bee3e949 his breath 971388a173 to suppress 2ba0f0f0db the desire 3452fefe31 spreading from 9eb5817025 there.3d5b7fa885821ec2

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“It doesn’t feel 8f0e9ea8ba like human flesh.”70a0a29620e7d59d

The voice was laden fb0753327b with moisture.5b2d3d4b51962a6f

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“No matter 8495926b00 how much 3895992fa7 I press fc071ac025 with my 8468e0eaae fingers, it 3bb2d39e84 doesn’t give…”4f766c676395529e

Murmuring in a small 27c64b0831 voice, Lucius’s hand was b6ab61da6b stroking Acheron’s chest.e02ccd8d34e30a24

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His hand lingered briefly 3749c0ffa9 on the thickest part 92a794d0d0 of the upper body. As his fcecd7022f fingertips grazed 10b603268b the skin, 898b7b1ff0 Acheron’s Adam’s 893fc61bf5 apple trembled 663139518d faintly.8beb8927f06c9b96

The hand 54867abfcf eventually moved 0281448275 from the cd5bfea2c1 chest to 3c256cee31 Acheron’s forearm. Playing with the iron-hard 9ca963136d muscle as if molding 33bc1dda6e clay, Lucius soon placed 92447a9c88 his other hand on 8528017b77 it, grasping it as 7fd780c724 if measuring its girth. It was the delicate 378785866d touch of an artisan d9ae3ecb3e handling a statue.fe3221164d8bbf31

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After a moment of cb87753852 handling his arm, Lucius d0db1f0268 looked up at Acheron 6164d3d60e with an innocent face.cb62d1cf0e2765ba

And then.8da51be74bc6bbba

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