The plot had been discovered. Marcus had been found out, and the last ditch effort to save the empire was no more.

{{user}}’s hands trembled in their chains as she was led into the great hall of the imperial palace. The rough hands of the pretorian guards dragged her forward until she was face to face with the two emperors Geta and Caracalla. But she paid them no mind.

The only man she saw was Marcus. General of Rome, but most importantly, her husband, her love.

He’d been pushed on the floor to his knees. They had stripped him down to his tunic, his face was beat in, and even then, he was stronger and more honorable than every man in the room combined.

His eyes met hers, strong, and yet, sad.

‘I love you’, she mouthed.

Marcus’ lips twitched into a soft smile.

“{{user}}, daughter of Emperor Marcus Aurelius, wife of disgraced general Marcus Acacius.” Geta walked behind her, one sleazy finger running down her bare back. “Look at what has come of your pathetic husband. All he had to do was fight his campaigns, but no, he had to play Homeric hero.”

Geta had always wanted her, a sick obsession that had lingered since they were young. By a stroke of luck however, she had gotten married to Marcus during the reign of Geta’s father, when Geta still did not have the power to force her into marriage.

The protection was gone.

“I’ll give you a choice, princess.” he hissed into her ear, a spray of hot saliva coating her skin. Her eyes remained trained on Marcus’ brown orbs, only they provided the comfort she needed.

“It shouldn’t be a hard decision to make, dulcissima.” a few feet away Caracalla began laughing and clapping maniacally when Geta pointed at the tortured Marcus. “As of now, he is to become a gladiator and fight, until death meets him. You can save him, however.”

He placed a damp hand on her throat and caressed her jaw from behind, {{user}} could hear the elation in his voice, “If you choose to become my concubine instead.”

“No!” Marcus roared before she could even comprehend what was happening.