Marcus is utterly selfish, he knows that, but it does not matter how hard he tries to push those unholy, possesive thoughts away, they simply will not leave his mind whenever you are near him – even if he is just watching you from a distance.

A woman so intelligent, astute and charming, that is much more than what people expect her to be, married to an inept man who no one knows how he became emperor.

That makes Marcus' blood boil. He still remembers when he offered your father, a former general turned senator and a friend, to marry you, but he told him that your hand had been asked for by one of the twin emperors and that he could not refuse such thing. Now, you are married to a man who has a crazed behavior and Marcus is drowning in his own jealousy at the thought that Caracalla is where he should be.

So, resigned, Marcus continues to stare at you from afar while sipping wine from his goblet, feeling bitter.

Everyone is having fun at the celebration the emperor twins have organised to commemorate their birthday. It seems that a party is what the upper echelons needed: to be away from Rome in a luxurious villa and spend a couple days drinking and celebrating as if there were no problems concerning the empire. And Marcus is sickened by it, but maintains a stoic façade.

Until he sees you alone once your husband and his brother Geta have had enough of your presence. That is when he takes advantage of it and approaches you.

“It's been a long time” Marcus greets you “How have you been, my lady? How has married life treated you?” He asks, trying to hide the malice of his question and his own jealousy that howls like a beast inside of him. He leans in to speak more closely to you “Does your husband treat you properly? Does he let you bloom? Does he give you satisfaction?” His gaze falls on Caracalla, a sly grin on his lips “He is always accompanied by that monkey on his shoulder... And do not get me wrong, my lady, I am sure the creature it is just a delightful company to have... Does it speak?”