It was everything he desired, the goddess in front of him tempting his resolve. Julian stood there, his heart racing, his mind consumed with a whirlwind of emotions.
The air crackled with tension as he and Klea stood on the precipice of crossing a line they had never dared to approach before. The soft glow of candlelight cast enchanting shadows across the room, heightening the allure of the moment.
As his hands reached out, their fingertips nearly touching, Julian abruptly stopped. A surge of conflicting thoughts and doubts overwhelmed him, causing him to withdraw a few steps back.
The Roman dictator forcefully held down his advances on her, his inner turmoil evident in his tense posture and furrowed brow.
Klea's face gracefully approached him, gently placing her hand on Julian's back. Her voice, filled with a mix of curiosity and disappointment, whispered, "Why did you change your mind? Am I not beautiful enough?"
Julian remained silent, his eyes locked on the ground. The weight of his own desires battled with the consequences of giving in to temptation. His mind raced, questioning his motives and the potential repercussions of their actions.
Sensing his inner struggle, Klea's smile grew slightly, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Did you not desire me enough? Or are you just a coward?" Her words dripped with a mix of provocation and challenge.
Julian's grip tightened around Klea's arm as he pulled her closer, their faces almost touching. His breath turned heavy, betraying his internal conflict. His voice, laced with vulnerability, finally broke the silence, "This is a punishment for what I did at the bathhouse, isn't it? This is really cruel."
After uttering those words, Julian released his grip on Klea, taking a step away. He watched as she stood before him, her gaze sharp and unwavering. She seemed to be studying him, gauging his reactions and testing his resolve.
"Yes… but not entirely," Klea replied.
Julian let out a long sigh. He moved toward a table, pouring himself a cup of wine, using it as a temporary crutch to steady his emotions. Taking a sip, he tried to regain his composure before asking, "It's a test then? What do you intend to achieve?"
Klea's voice remained calm as she explained, "I want to see how far you are willing to go, to get what you want."
"You want to see if I would betray my friend for something that I loved?"
A faint smile tugged at the corners of Klea's lips as she nodded. "Love?! Do you truly love me?"
"I do!" Julian replied with conviction, his voice filled with a mix of longing and sincerity.
Klea shrugged, her expression indifferent. "Are you just pretending, or are you just being foolish?"
Julian's brows furrowed as he listened intently to her words.
"Took me a while to remember the path you chose, the path of the Sovereign," Klea said, her tone thoughtful. "It has one major characteristic that becomes the downfall of many cultivators."
She paused, allowing her words to sink in. "The need to conquer all things."
Hearing Klea's words appear to hit his nerve as Julian takes another cup of wine, the liquid warming his throat and momentarily easing his inner turmoil. "Is that what you think? My intention for you was… to conquer you? That's absurd."
Klea leaned back, crossing her arms over her chest, and regarded him with a knowing look. "Can you truly say that it's not?"
Julian considered her words carefully, reflecting on the various factors that played into his desire for her.
First, Klea's status as the Queen of Egypt held strategic value, as marrying her would not only strengthen Rome but also bring more people to worship him. It could even open the doors to reforming Rome and creating a more inclusive empire.
Secondly, there was the matter of an heir, a powerful descendant who would further empower his path of sovereignty, and Klea was the best choice to be the mother of his children. She was the only choice for him.
"Finally, the most obvious factor," Klea continued, her voice filled with a mix of concern. "One that unconsciously becomes a thorn in your progress."
Curiosity mingled with apprehension as Julian asked, "What is it?"
Taking a moment to collect herself, Klea took a sip of wine before uttering a name that held significance for both of them. "Emery."
"Path of the sovereign requires you to be the ruler, and you have always been the second in our group…" her expression turn serious, her gaze look into him as she said "i think conquering his girl, would really help your problem there"
Julian's breath caught in his throat as memories flooded his mind. Emery, the man who had defeated him effortlessly and gone on a suicidal mission, sacrificing himself as a hero. The pain of being considered not good enough to join such a mission by Emery resurfaced, filling up his thoughts and instantly made him emotional.
"Why do I care about competing with him? The man is dead!" Julian snapped, his voice tinged with frustration.
Hearing these words, instantly change Klea's expression.
"HE'S NOT DEAD!!!" she shouted, which was followed by a powerful force that unleashed within her. A surge of energy radiated from her core, creating a blast at the chamber that made the whole palace tremble and threw Julian against the walls.
Julian winced in pain, his body aching from the impact. It was then that he realized the extent of Klea's power. The Egyptian queen had reached the peak of the crescent moon level.
It was enough to make Julian, excited and wish to see more of her, however it was not yet the time
The commotion attracted Roman soldiers and Egyptian guards, they cautiously approached the room but hesitated to enter. Julian quickly stood up and apologetically said, "I am sorry, I shouldn't have said that… i-"
Klea swiftly regained her composure, her emotions hidden behind a mask of strength. "You might have passed tonight's test, but do not think I will trust you so easily. If you dare to hurt our friends for your lust for power, you will be facing me."
With those words, Klea walked toward the balcony, her regal figure silhouetted against the moonlit sky. Her voice carried on the wind as she delivered a final warning, "It's always been Emery, and it will ever be. If you truly love me, do not come between us."
And just like that, she soared into the sky, resembling the goddess she was, leaving Julian deep in thought. "Did he really love her, truly?"
A few days passed, and there were no more words from Klea, leaving him with a sense of uncertainty and a longing to see her once again.
However, he had been staying in Egypt for far too long, and he had the cold body of Pompey and the captive Princess Arsinoe to bring home with. There was also the matter of the increasing Gauls' resistance in the north. Besides, it was probably for the best to distance himself from Klea right now.
Hence, Julian decided to return home.
As Julian stood on the warship bound for Rome, he turned his gaze back at the great city of Alexandria. Hope flickered in his heart, that the young woman would at least come to see him off. Just as he was about to lose hope, a unique glowing bird appeared on the horizon, flying toward him with purpose.
A smile spread across Julian's face as he recognized Klea's spirit bird, the messenger that could deliver her messages across great distances. It approached him, its radiant glow captivating his attention. Its ethereal form materialized before him, and words swiftly entered Julian's mind.
[The truth is, I came back to Alexandria for you, hoping to see a familiar face. Unfortunately, circumstances have turned our meeting into this. I plan to return to Britain for now. There is something I need to do. I will tell you about it when I visit Rome later. Have a safe voyage]
Julian's heart swelled with a mix of relief and anticipation. He held onto the message in his mind, cherishing the connection they still shared despite the distance between them. As the warship sailed away from Alexandria, he couldn't help but wonder what awaited them both in the future, and when will their paths would cross again.
x x x x x x x x x x x
Author Note;
I apologize if i made you worried about the situation between these two and i still hope it was a descent chapter to read.
At this moment i would like to say that i was currently on families holiday in Singapore One we finally could do since Covid. All was possible because of your support.
I will still try my best to do daily chapters, but there most likely only be single chapter a day for the next one week. Thank you for patience and your understanding.
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