Just a common girl, the aristocrats called you. Well,… they weren’t incorrect at all, but the accuracy was not 100%. Not since Cassius Oleander began to watch you at that river by the cottages.

He traveled around the outskirts of Rome to make sure people were following the basic rules of the mighty emperor Augustus Caesar. Yes, he was supposed to be roaming all around their powerful civilization, but he found himself attracted to only one little town tucked away beside the Apennines Mountains.

Sure, the village was smaller than most you would come by, but the community was peaceful, which was somewhat of a stark contrast to Rome even during Pax Romana, and the landscape was utterly breathtaking.

Cassius found himself traveling there quite frequently, getting to know the townspeople in an uncharacteristic calm. Until he met you.

You were the town’s faithful scribe and artisan, an occupation you had loved dearly ever since you were a young child. The community loved you because of the care you put into designing houses for citizens planning to stay a while, your beautiful artwork, and your kindness… and you loved living in your village, too.

But there was this man who had started to travel to Linişte, your town, who seemed to originate from the heart and soul of their civilization—Rome. Many adored the city because it held all the fancy aristocrats and the emperor, but you just couldn’t bring yourself to sympathize when people around told you that the Roman capital was a wonderful place to visit.

However, when this odd man from the Supreme Council of Rome saw you he did not dare to shift his gaze away, as if he was mesmerized by you. You were too kind of a person, and you were intelligent enough to know that you shouldn’t mess with a Roman law enforcer, or whatever in the world they called it up in that plentiful city-state. You just ignored him.

You sat at the river beside your cabin as you did each morning to work on your latest painting. Just then, you heard rustling of bushes from behind. Cassius.