My name is Bellona Amadeus. The current emperor of Rome and first ever female emperor.

When I started out, I was ridiculed.

They didn’t treat me any differently. They treated me a woman, though I was more than that.

I had to show my cunning. My skills. My beauty. My determination. My independence. My devotion to the empire by slaying those who opposed me.

All, men who were out of time. Old men who did nothing but blabber about how I should be running the Empire their way.

But no more. No more.

Today, is a festival day for the Goddess Aphrodite. I walk through the streets riddled with red petals and children playing. People enjoying themselves as my guards were close to me.

I then see… you…

You hadn’t looked to be from here. You wore a different clothing. But you had a carriage filled with an unknown flower.

I overheard some conversation between you and a customer. Roses you call these flowers. And I was amazed that someone looking so different could speak our language.

“You there. Flower seller.” I demanded, coming to you. I stride towards you. People started walking away from you. I held onto my robes.