Chapter 1 - Shy Glances
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I heard her before I saw her.
The sound of her laughter; soft, bright, and full of life. That echoing sound left my heart thrumming against my insides, making me halt in my steps and instinctively search for it.
In this calculating world in which I was born, her laughter sounded through with a freedom which I could only yearn for. And with that said laughter of hers bringing light into my boring world, she became my undoing. And I, hers.
“Who is that?” I asked. Having been walking the length of the colonnade on my morning stroll as I enjoyed the sun from the shade, I found myself halting mid-step at the sound of that wondrous laugh which cut through this sweltering heat like a cool breeze.
One of my generals, Tiberius, who had been walking with me, answered my question. The situation was rather fortunate as Tiberius is a curious man who knows something about everything, and this time was no different.
“That would be Valeria, she is the younger sister of Julius,” His curious eyes were focused on me as he answered, but having gotten her name, I now wanted more than that. “If I recall correctly, you had met her a number of years back,” He added on. I did?
But the longer I gazed at her, the more familiar she seemed.
“Right, I do remember Julius having a sister, I did not pay much attention to her then as we were both young, but now...” I drifted off at a loss for words. How was it possible for someone to grow so beautiful? As a child, I may have thought her to be cute, but there was nothing out of the ordinary about her.
Now, however, it was all different. Was it because we were both older now? Or was it because my attraction stemmed from the sound of her laughter over anything else? I could not say.
“Why have I not seen her before? If she is the sister of the head of my guard then she should be visiting this palace more often than not.” There would be no way that someone as enticing as she could walk around without my notice in my very own palace. It would be impossible for me to not notice her.
“I assume it is because she is a sheltered child who does not stray far from her Domus, but it seems that today she was running an errand for her mother,” He explained.
“An errand?” I echoed.
“Her mother is in poor health, and Julius has not returned home in a few moons, so she must have taken the task upon herself to visit him.” I hummed, leaning against the pillar with crossed arms as I silently continued to watch her laugh with her brother as they talked about something in my garden.
This beautiful garden which was brimming with life where the fountains and birds made it seem like a place right out of heaven held nothing in comparison to her person. She stood out like the brightest dove, and nature itself humbled in her presence.
“It seems that the brother and sister share a close bond.” Tiberius observed, and I couldn’t disagree. Julius is the head of my guard, having taken over the spot his father left him a few years back. He was good at his job, so much so to the point where I would consider him a friend. Yet even as his friend, he rarely spoke of his family, and I was starting to regret not having asked about them, or rather, her, specifically.
“Is there anything you wish for me to do, your imperial majesty?” Tiberius asked. And in my entranced state, focused on her and only her, with the rest of the world fading into white, I spoke without much thought. But I spoke the truth.
“I wish to make her mine.”
“Pardon me, your imperial majesty?” He said, surprised, snapping me out of my daze.
“Nothing. You may go.” I waved, dismissing him, and after a reluctant pause, he bowed a deep bow to me before striding away, leaving me alone with a few slaves and guards.
I stood there, leaning against that pillar for a few moments, lost in thought as I gazed at her, realising that the more I saw her, the more I wanted her- needed her. And for the life of me, I could not figure out why?
But the more time I wasted asking myself these questions, the closer I found myself to the brink of insanity. So, not wasting another moment, I pushed myself off the pillar, striding towards where she was stood. After all, one must ask questions to find answers.
Julius was the first to notice my figure approaching, and the small smile which had been resting on his face instantly disappeared as he quickly dipped down into a respectable bow.
“Your imperial majesty,” He greeted me to which I waved him off, watching as he stood up once more, a confused look on his face. Now that I looked at him, I saw the family resemblance that the two shared, but she was worlds more captivating than her brother. At least, that would be more obvious if I could at least see her. Was I so intimidating that she was forced into hiding behind her brother’s back?
“Valeria, it is rude to hide from the emperor’s presence.” Julius awkwardly coughed as he whispered to his sister behind him. Thankfully, she took heed of his words, and with some slight hesitation, she stepped out from his shadow, dazzling me blind with her presence.
If perfection had a physical form, it would certainly be her.
The first thing that caught me were her eyes; they had so swiftly struck me still. Large, hazel, and wide as a fawns filled with a gentle curiosity, but more than any of that, those eyes stared right into my own. No fear. No flattery. Only a quiet, simmering strength.
If she hadn’t spoken first, I might have just spent the rest of eternity in that dazed state.
“Hello.” Her voice was soft yet strong, a thrum of laughter dancing along her words.
I caught the sun smiling upon her, kissing her warm skin, and her hair which was a light brown, gleaming like polished bronze, was gathered into an elegant knot, the kind favoured by noblewoman, with a few loose strands curling at her temples. She wore a simple white sleeveless tunic, a golden armilla wrapped around her upper arm.
Never before have I felt a desire such as this; The sheltered life Tiberius said she was living is all making sense now. Her family must know of the power she holds; this beauty which could start wars was almost dangerous.
“...Your imperial majesty,”Her brother leaned down to whisper in her ear. She looked confused for a moment until realisation seemed to dawn on her.
“Oh, of course... Hello, yourimperialmajesty,” She greeted once more, this time correctly. Holding the skirt of her tunic, she dipped down into a perfect curtsy. And just like that, the tense atmosphere immediately dissipated as I let out a chuckle which I didn’t realise that I had been holding.
“There is no need to be so formal. I do not believe that I have had the pleasure of meeting you before... I would not be unaware of such a beautiful woman wandering around my palace.” Linking my arms behind my back, I leaned in towards her and she gulped, taking a hesitant step closer to her brother as a shy blush painted itself across her cheeks.
I want to see more of these expressions on her face. Yet something tells me that no matter what expression is donned on her face, she will always enchant me more than I, her.
Her eyes broke free from our staring contest as she turned her head up to look at her brother who smiled in assurance at her before her eyes shifted back unto mine, trying to figure out how to act in my presence.
“This is my younger sister, Valeria, she does not visit the palace much.” Julius explained, sparing a small smile towards her when she clutched onto the end of his shirt.
I hummed, tilting my head to the side as I continued to gaze at her, not looking away until she picked her eyes back up to look at mine, growing more and more confident with each second that ticked by.
“Valeria, you say. Tis a beautiful name.” I complimented, feeling satisfied as I watched her lips pick up into an enticing smile.
“Thank you... And, it is nice to meet you.” I could see the cracks forming in her shy self, giving way to a more confident woman. All I needed to do was to converse with her, and eventually, I’ll be given the privilege to see her real personality.
“I could say the same to you.” Not being able to hold myself back, I stepped forward and grabbed her hand, leaning down to kiss her knuckles, succeeding in catching another blush.
“Say, if I were to ask you to accompany me for a stroll around my garden, would you say yes, or no?” With a teasing smirk playing at my lips, I raised a brow as I patiently waited for her answer.
Catching onto my teasing, she surprised me by mirroring my actions when she leaned forward and whispered back, a mischievous smile on her own lips. “Well, you will have to ask me first before I can give you my answer, no?”
I blinked, taken aback by her blunt reply but nonetheless, I felt a laugh break free from my chest as I stood back up straight, respectfully linking my arms behind my back.
“Julius, will you leave us alone for some time? Do not worry, I will ensure that she is safe.” He seemed hesitant at first, but eventually gave in with a firm nod before leaning down to kiss the side of his sister’s head, and after bowing to me, he turned to leave.
Now, it was finally just the two of us.
“Miss Valeria, will you please do me the honour of taking you on a tour around my garden? I believe you shall like it very much.” I requested, tilting my head to the side as I met her waiting gaze.
“Well, you did not leave me with much choice when you sent my brother away.” She mumbled through pouted lips, but quickly reminded herself of who I was before coughing to herself, and slowly nodded her head.
“Also, please just call me by my name. Adding a miss to it makes me feel much older than I am.” I chuckled at that, nodding in response as I gestured for her to walk beside me so that we could begin our tour.
“So long as you call me by my name too then. Call me Anastasius.” She halted in her tracks, snapping her head up to look at me with wide eyes.
“I am aware that I lack tact when it comes to being in your presence, it is a consequence of running away from all my classes, but even then, I am still aware that calling you by name would be very, severely inappropriate.” She quickly spoke, having to look away from me once she was done while tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
Feeling the smile widening across my lips, I stepped forward and outstretched a hand, tucking her loose strand of hair behind her ear.
“Dear Valeria, I have known you for but a few minutes, yet it feels as though a few years have already passed. You say you ran away from your classes yet I can tell with one look that you are undoubtedly smart. Beauty is only one of the many gifts that you possess, I believe.” Pulling my hand back to my side, her eyes didn’t waver in looking at mine.
“While I should thank you for the compliments, I should also like to ask why?” See, smart. She saw right through me, and questioned it. Well, if she asked the question, then it is only right that I provide the answer.
“I think that you are very well aware of my intentions towards you. Now, the question is whether you are really that oblivious or if you are simply good at teasing a man? With beauty like yours, you must be quite used to turning men away, am I right?” My blunt words shocked her, although it did not last for very long.
Her eyes narrowed into slits as she stared at me and once more, I felt my heart thrum against my chest at the new, interesting look that masked her face.
“As you have said, I am very well aware of your... intentions. However, I am not in the least bit interested in them. Rather than teasing a man, I prefer to steer clear of them and because of that, no, I am not used to turning men away... Your imperial majesty.” Her words were biting with coldness, yet I only felt my insides warming in comparison.
In this world of fake people who were constantly sucking up to me, I was beginning to question what was real and what was not, but she has shown me. She is real. And she knew how to play with me. It would be a lie if I said that I was not enjoying it.
Smirking, I leaned down towards her and she gulped, leaning back. “Valeria.” I called, loving the sound of her beautiful name slipping past my lips.
“...Yes...” She unsurely replied.
“I wish to make you mine. And I promise you that I will succeed.” Because in this boringly drab life that I was living, she appeared like a warm ray of sunshine, and I would be a fool to ignore it.
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KEYWORDS:
Emperor -An emperor is a monarch, and usually the sovereign ruler of an empire or another type of imperial realm.
Domus -A type of townhouse occupied by the upper classes and some wealthy freedmen during the Republican and Imperial eras. It was found in almost all the major cities throughout the Roman territories.
Tunic -Also known as chiton, was worn as a shirt or gown by both genders among the ancient Romans. The body garment was loose-fitting for males, usually beginning at the neck and ending above the knee. A woman’s garment could be either close-fitting or loose, beginning at the neck and extending over a skirt or skirts.
Colonnade -A row of evenly spaced columns supporting a roof. Commonly used in Roman architecture.
Armilla -Also known as armlets, or arm bands. Typically made of gold or bronze and typically worn on the upper arm, both as jewellery and status symbols.
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AN/ I temporarily took the Possessive Series down as I believed the books were all in dire need of editing. I wrote this book when I was 18, and my writing style has changed a lot since then, and this specific book, more than any of my other books, means a lot to me.
I hope that in this improved version, Valeria’s strength will shine through, and Anastasius will become more likeable, even if by a little. So, with that said, I look forward to republishing the improved version for you all to read, and will try my best to publish regularly. Thanks for the support in advance.
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