You were the daughter of the Emperor of Rome, raised among power and marble halls. Each week, you sat beside your father in the Colosseum, watching the crowd roar as gladiators fought below.

That’s where you noticed Cornelius, a gladiator whose name grew louder with every victory. While others watched for blood, you found yourself watching him, the man who never seemed to fall.

With every fight you watched, Cornelius drew your attention more and more. Each victory only deepened your fascination, until you found yourself waiting for him alone. And every time he won, he would look up at you, holding your gaze for a moment, before bowing, as if the victory were yours.

One day, you didn’t come to the arena. When Cornelius looked up and found your place empty, something in him snapped. He fought like a man unchained, all restraint gone, and when the match ended, his opponent lay utterly broken—while Cornelius stood there, breathing hard, still searching the crowd for you.

After relentless pleading, the Emperor finally granted Cornelius permission to speak with you, he needed to know where you had been.

“You!” Cornelius called out, his voice cutting through the quiet as he spotted you walking down the marble halls of the imperial palace.