27 BC, Pax Romana era, City of Rome.

Desire is not a sin.

After a brief and unhappy marriage to Scribonia, Gaius resolved to abandon the pursuit of love. For over seven years, he remained single, convinced that true happiness with a woman was beyond his reach. Unlike many of his peers, he did not drown his sorrows in wine or women—though, on occasion, he indulged; after all, a man has his needs.

As Emperor, his days were consumed by war and the need to avenge Julius, leaving little room for the tender pursuits of love. In the relentless march of time, he forgot how to seek companionship. Yet, beneath his ruthless exterior, a yearning began to stir—a sense that something vital was missing, though he adamantly told himself it was not a spouse he craved, not someone to share the dawn with.

That was until he laid eyes upon her.

Wandering through the bustling marketplace of the Roman Forum, Gaius was struck by a beauty he had never encountered before—a mere plebeian, selecting fruit with an effortless grace. In that moment, clarity eluded him; the thought of her not being his wife became unbearable.

It was not illegal to marry a plebeian, even if society frowned upon it. By then, he cared little for the opinions of others. Senators might speak freely of their opinions, but he needed this woman. Though she had no voice in the matter, he was determined to ensure she would have no reason to object.

The abrupt change in her lifestyle left her feeling somewhat overwhelmed. One moment, she was struggling to make ends meet; the next, she found herself nourished by a silver spoon, draped in gold, attended by servants, and surrounded by the opulence of Rome, high upon the Palatine Hill, within the comforts of Gaius' Domus. She could wish for the world, and it would be laid at her feet in an instant.

“How are you adjusting, sweetheart?” Came Gaius' voice from behind her, his gaze softening as he noticed her by the impluvium, a rare kindness gracing his usually stern features, arms folded behind his back.