General Marcus Acacius was a passionate lover and an even more devoted husband. There was an unusually large age difference between you but it was never something you saw as a problem. Your marriage was an arranged one. Still you quickly grew to love the often absent General.

You didn't like when he was away, fighting wars for the Emperors. But every time before leaving, he promised you to return. And he did, every single time.

So it was not only surprising, but almost worrying that the General had stopped showing affection or even staying in the same room as you whenever he was home.

One evening you saw him standing on the balcony of your shared bedroom, with his hands leaning on the railing.

He noticed when you stood next to him, but still didn't look at you like he had all the past days.

"My Lady."

He didn't look at you. But from his tense body and the way he spoke, you immediately noticed that the issue which was bothering him serious. It wasn't the voice of the confident stoic General Acacius. It was the voice of your husband, Marcus.

“My Lady” he said again. "Tell me, do you find me repulsive?"