Chapter Ten, For You I Would Cross The Line.
"WHY DO YOU CARE?"

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     The stiff silence that hanged in the air was harrowing, and obnoxiously cruel.

In the centre of the room was a long and grand table that stretched out across the room through several feet. Laid across the silk dining cloths was an assortment of fruits and cheeses, cured meats, and warm toasted bread — a golden and crusted jug containing the finest wine Rome had to offer being dished out between the three individuals seated at the grand table by the servants. And while this was considered a normal daily routine, there was something different in the air to make it unlike all the other times before.

Seated in a grand chair fit for a king in the centre point of the table, was Emperor Caracalla, munching carelessly on cheese and bread, pulling the delicacies apart in his pale and skeletal hands and shoving them in his mouth with one bite at a time. At the head of the table was his brother, Emperor Geta, who did not care for his morning breakfast as he continued to sip from his cup of enriched spiced wine, his darkened eyes laser focused on the woman sitting opposite him, on the far end of the table, keeping an incredible amount of distance between Geta and herself.

And that person had been none other than Octavia Amulius herself.

Octavia, who used her fork to poke at the fruit pieces on her plate, continued to avoid Geta's prying eyes with every chance she got. Not because she couldn't bear the thought of looking into his eyes after their altercation last night, because while that was true, it wasn't the reason she chose to avoid his gaze like the plague. It was because she couldn't stand the way his eyes glared into Caius' very soul, watching disconcertingly while the guard stood close to Octavia. In fact, whenever the woman left the comfort of her chambers since the incident, Caius never once left her side, now shielding her from the violence the emperor was just itching to inflict on her.

     She also couldn't stand the way Geta would glance over at her. More specifically, the way he would glance at the harsh bruise glazed across her left cheek, an abnormal tint of red and blue shaded into her skin.

     Octavia would've preferred that Geta's violence hadn't left her skin bruised, and her lip split. Not even Augusta had the ability to cover up such damage, and now the entire city who laid eyes on her would know the truth about her relationship with the emperor. And maybe a part of her wanted them to know. The people already disliked his existence, and this revelation would only add fuel to the burning fire — to know the mad emperor placed his hands unfavourably on the Realms Delight — but if that fire was to burn down the entire empire, costing Octavia her life, then was that a risk worth taking? She just hoped the Roman people wouldn't be able to put two and two together.

However, regardless of her feelings about the situation that may or may not unfold, on top of everything, Octavia could not bear the thought of looking at Geta right now.

The man has hurt her before, but never like this, never in such a blinding fit of rage that he drew blood.

So, the mere thought of looking into his eyes, looking for forgiveness after what he did, it made her feel sick.

     "Brother..." Octavia lifted her gaze when she heard Geta speak, addressing his brother who was seated a few seats down from him. "Would you give Octavia and I a moment alone? Maybe you could tend to that monkey of yours?"

     Caracalla was surprised by his brother's stern tone, and was left feeling confused and bewildered when he saw his intense stare not on him, but on Octavia. Caracalla liked the Lady Octavia. She's very pretty, he always thought. He always saw his brother mistreat her, and judging by the large bruise imprinted on her left cheek, he had done it again. While Caracalla came across as a mad man, he had moments of clarity, where he could collect his thoughts, and for a moment, he could be himself again. These were one of those moments. And while he was aware of the crude and unfavourable mistreatment of the woman, he didn't dare speak up against his brother.

     Why would he?

     He loved his dear brother, and would never speak ill of him, even if it would've been the right thing to do.

     And although to go against his wishes and stay would've been the right thing to do, madness and ignorance was quick to creep back in, forcing Caracalla to rise from his seat and leave the room. Once his brother was gone, Geta then turned and glanced up at Caius. "You may leave us, too, Caius," He instructed firmly, his eyes staring daggers into the guard who stood close to Octavia.

     And Caius did not dare obey.

     This only infuriated Geta even more as the man lifted his hand and rubbed his chin, sniffling disapprovingly before he laid back in his chair. "Maybe you did not hear me. I asked you to leave—"

     "Actually, I would prefer if Caius stayed with us," Octavia interjected, cutting Geta off. To silence the emperor was a crime in itself and she knew that if Geta decided to show no restraint, he would hit her again. He was still angry since the discovery that she had killed their unborn child. There was no telling the lengths and depths that his anger would go.

     Geta's gaze flickered wearily between Octavia and Caius, a quiet scoff leaving his lips in the process. "That isn't necessarily, is it?" Geta asked, sounding almost amused. "I only want to speak with you in private," He added. His sickly grin tried to paint this facade of innocence, but Octavia knew of the sins that lied underneath that smile, and she wouldn't be left alone with him again.

     Octavia dropped the silverware in her hand, laughing bitterly. "The last time we spoke in private, you bruised me." The woman's words were enough to make Geta's smile falter, replaced by a look full of discontent. Octavia saw she had struck a nerve, but proceeded nonetheless. "So, if you don't mind, I want Caius to stay incase you attempt to put your hands on me again," She spoke through gritted teeth.

And Geta did not like that at all.

"Very well," Geta sighed in defeat, watching her from across the table. "I just wanted to know if you were going to attend the next round of games in the colosseum this afternoon?"

"Of course. I was under the assumption that I had to attend to show there was an united front between us," Octavia assumed, placing her hands in front of her on the table and clasping her fingers together. "Or would you prefer I didn't show my face? Wouldn't want the people to see what you do behind closed doors?" She pushed, knowing this time she could speak her mind freely without the fear of being punished, not with Caius at her side, his hand clenched tightly around the hilt of his blade.

And for once, the emperor didn't dare to respond.

     "I have to check on the gladiator I've been tending to and check his wounds are improving. So I should be leaving, and after, I will be attending the games," Octavia explained, standing up from her seat and making an attempt to leave.

     However, this time, Geta was quick to protest. "If you wait a moment, I will ride with you to the colosseum," Geta insisted.

     "I would rather ride alone...without you," Octavia snapped at him.

     She knew he was trying to make an effort to make amends for last nights events. But nothing would erase the violence he inflicted on her, nor the hatred she still felt for him burning deep within her beating heart. So, without even looking at him, she left Geta alone at the table and made her way out the room with Caius following close behind her.

"Just say the word, My Lady, and I will cut him into two," Caius whispered to her.

"While I do share your wishes, Caius," Octavia replied gently, faring in comparison to her vicious tone towards the emperor. "Killing the emperor is unfavourable. I will not have you executed for my wants."

     When Octavia and Caius reached the exit, there was already a carriage waiting for them, followed by a few commoners wanting to catch a glimpse of the empress to-be. Octavia forced a smile and politely waved at them before she turned to see Augusta standing some distance away. Octavia's smile faded for a moment before she let out a sigh, and approached the woman. "Would you like to attend the games with us today?" She offered.

     "I better not. I am needed here," Augusta replied, avoiding all and any eye contact with Octavia.

     And Octavia Amulius understood why.

     "You do not need to feel any guilt for what happened last night," Octavia reassured her, allowing Augusta's gaze to meet her own, a pained expression finding Augusta's face when she noticed the bruising on the woman's cheek and split on her lower lip. "It was not your fault, Augusta—"

"But it was," Augusta cut her off, tears forming in the corners of her eyes. "You entrusted me with a heavy secret, and I betrayed that trust. He hurt you, Octavia. That is my fault," She elaborated further, forcing Octavia to shake her head in response.

"You were protecting your son. That is your duty. I will never resent you for that," Octavia retorted, an emphatic tone laced in her voice. She then reached out and grabbed both of Augusta's hands with her own, holding onto them with a gentle touch, grazing her thumb across the roof of her hand. "Augusta, I should've never put you in that position. I was wrong to ask that of you in the first place. You do not need forgiveness, for you already have it."

Octavia's words were enough to make Augusta crack a small smile, a glimmer of appreciation twinkling in her dark eyes as she continued to look up at the woman. A thought then crossed her mind. "You would make a great ruler, you know..." She spoke up freely, and Octavia couldn't help but chuckle in response to the woman's words. "I'm serious, Octavia. You would have made a fine empress. The people would've always been in safe hands with your empathy and strength," She insisted, a serious look washing over her tanned features.

"I am a woman," Octavia argued. "I would not be able to rule even if that was what I wanted."

Augusta smiled again, "Maybe, but if you were to ask me what I thought, I know that the empire is falling apart, and I believe you would be the only one who could save it."

Octavia let go of the woman's hand, her eyes softening. "Perhaps in another life."

Augusta offered her another smile in response. "In another life."

Octavia spared the woman one last glance before she turned around and they went their separate ways, with Augusta making her way back into the palace, while Octavia stepped into the carriage. Caius shut the door behind her and joined the driver at the front of the carriage before they began to move swiftly through the busy streets of the Roman city. Octavia settled comfortable in her seat and peered outside the window of the carriage, her heart beginning to race as they neared closer towards the colosseum. Not because she was feeling a sudden burst of excitement for the games today. She would rather they didn't go ahead at all.

But because she would see him again.

     And that feeling that weighed heavy in her chest made her heart begin to skip a beat as they neared closer to the colosseum during the short journey. The bigger the distance became between her and Geta, the closer she became towards Hanno, and that feeling was one she never wanted to stop, the feeling of her bones becoming electrified by the mere thought of him. It was strange how one man whom Octavia Amulius had met only a week ago could make her feel a way no man had made her feel before, and yet, Hanno had her in the palm of his hand. In some way she had become his without either of them really trying.

And when the carriage slowly grinded to a halt, Octavia peered outside to see they had already arrived at the arena, a quiet sigh of relief leaving her lips. Caius then opened the door and held out his hand for the woman to take. Octavia gladly placed her hand in his as she stepped outside, the warm sun beating hard against her skin. "This way, My Lady." Caius let go of her hand before guiding her through the colosseum, moving further and further underneath the arena floor. Octavia continued to follow her guard until they entered the gladiator cages.

Once again, the fighters were all inside their allocated cages and would remain there until Octavia had left. Only this time, they did not allow their lustful gaze to linger on her in an unflattering manner, not did they holler at her. They were very respectful, and chose to ignore her presence altogether. Octavia wondered why the sudden change in behaviour from the men, who only a few days ago, stared at her like she was skewed meat waiting to be devoured.

     Octavia then stopped for a moment outside Hanno's cage where Ravi waited, he bowed his head to the woman and unlocked the cage, allowing her to enter while Caius waited for her outside. When Octavia lifted her gaze, she saw Hanno staring up at the crack in the wall, basking in the smallest rays of warmth piercing into his cage, his back facing her. When Hanno realised he was no longer alone, he turned around to face Octavia, and she could've sworn she noticed tiny glimpses of a smile on the man's lips, hiding in the shadows to try and keep that smile hidden, but it was too late as Octavia had already spotted his grin the moment he laid his eyes on her again.

     "What do I owe the pleasure?" Hanno was the first to speak up between them, taking a seat down on the makeshift bed made of stone.

     Octavia hummed, smiling down at the man for a moment. "I wanted to check the healing process on that arm of yours before the second game," She answered, taking a few steps forward before she took a seat in the empty spot next to Hanno.

Octavia then reached up and pressed her fingers around the tender area of Hanno's skin, feeling around the sutures and hoping she didn't find any signs of an infection. And while the area around the sealed wound was still a little warm, everything else appeared to be normal, which caused the woman to breathe out a small sigh of relief. She then noticed that the stitches she put carefully together were already beginning to heal, which she knew was another good sign. Really good actually. And the arena appeared to be clean, nothing indicating towards an infection. Soon there would be nothing more than a faint white scar where the wound once was, and after a few years (if he was lucky enough to live that long, and she hoped he would) even then, that scar would fade with time too.

"Any symptoms I should be worried about?" Octavia asked, her sole focus remaining on the wound. "Fever? Abnormal feelings of pain?"

Hanno shook his head in response, but little did Octavia know, while her attention was focused on the gash she had tended to a few days ago, his attention had fallen onto her face. More specifically, his eyes seemed to focus on the cut carved into her lower lip, and the harsh bruising seared into the skin of her cheek. The sight was enough to make chills run up and down the man's spine, knowing without even truly thinking about it, where those wounds had come from. He was no stranger to the violence expressed by those in power here in Rome, and the women were always the ones at the brunt of every brash word, and violent action. Although Octavia stood at the top of the empire, she was no stranger to that violence either, and deep down Hanno knew that.

Hanno didn't even know what possessed him to do it, but without giving it a second thought, he lifted his hand and slowly reached out for the woman's face. Such a delicate action was enough to make Octavia flinch and retract herself from the touch of a man, not because she was afraid of Hanno, it was because the only man who had ever touched her, only did it to harm her. When she remembered Hanno was nothing like Geta, she allowed him to trace this thumb over the harsh bruising across her flesh, and Octavia released a shaky breath when she looked into Hanno's eyes, and only saw rage — rage that came from knowing what had happened to her — what Geta had done to her.

     "Did the emperor do that?" He asked, his jaw clenched as he lowered his hand back down to his side.

     "It is nothing." Octavia shook her head as she muttered the words underneath her breath, avoiding Hanno's prying eyes altogether.

     "It doesn't look like nothing," Hanno corrected, his tone serious enough to make Octavia lift her gaze to meet his own once again. It was silent between them for a moment, nothing else being exchanged other than a few lingering glances, before Hanno parted his lips to speak again. "He hits you, doesn't he?"

     Octavia knew she couldn't lie to him, not when the truth was there for the whole world to see, and the evidence was the bruising that lingered across her face.

     "It isn't anything that hasn't happened before, Hanno," Octavia replied in a deadpan manner, almost like it didn't phase her, and that only seemed to infuriate the man even more.

"It doesn't make it right, either." Octavia knew he was right. Nothing about what Geta had done to her in this last year had been right. Harming her, leaving her shaking in fear, trying to force the aspect of motherhood onto her to the point where she killed their unborn child out of fear of raising a child that would be just like him, none of it was right. However, it had become her new normal. It was all she has ever known since she signed her freedom away.

A sigh left the woman's lips as she parted them to speak once again. "It does not concern you, Hanno." Octavia leaned back, retracting her hands from the man's bicep. "Besides, regardless of how I feel about the emperor, I probably deserved it," She added, swallowing thickly soon after she had spoke. While killing her unborn child was the right thing to do for herself, she still harboured guilt for her own actions.

     "It doesn't matter what you did," Hanno corrected. "No man should ever lay his hand on his bride the way he does to you."

     Octavia hated that he was right. Out of everyone in her life, it was the gladiator that has managed to shake up her entire world just by being near her. The thought was enough to make the woman shake her head. "Well, it's actually none of your business either. So..." Octavia paused before she stood back up onto her feet, staring down at the man with a tense stare. "Good luck today. The games will be much more difficult than the last. The emperors are counting on most of you dying. I hope you're not one of them, Hanno." She offered him one last smile, but it was felt more forced than genuine this time around.

Maybe because the everlasting facade of her relationship with the emperor was being pulled apart at the seams.

Or maybe because she knew she could lose the one person who seemed to understand her pain.

Regardless, Octavia spared Hanno one last glance before she turned and made her way out of the cage, the cell door slamming shut behind her. Octavia then exhaled, letting go of the breath she had been holding in from the moment her gaze left Hanno's. And all she could think was how it could be the last time they saw each other.

     She just hoped that the gods were on his side.

━━━━━━━━

     "In the name of Poseidon, we celebrate the glory of naval war."

     The bellowing voice belonging to the master of ceremonies stretched across every inch and crevice of the Roman colosseum.

     Octavia Amulius remained in her seat located right next to Geta's throne, shifting uncomfortably where she sat, shuffling as far away from the emperor as humanly possible. It was safe to say she still held a grudge and would continue to do so until she found it in her heart to find forgiveness for the man she would be forced to spend eternity with. Until then, she was pretty adamant on keeping her distance from her husband to-be, while also maintaining a forced facade — a united front for the entire empire to see. Even if she herself did not believe in it — a unified marriage to bring together the people — she would continue to force a smile and give the people what they wanted.

     However, it was safe to say that it worked on some, but not everyone.

     Octavia was finding it unbelievably hard to ignore the prying stares coming from Lucilla and Acacius from the corner of her eye. When she greeted them both, Lucilla's eyes softened with empathy, knowing the bruises were born from Geta's rage, meaning he had found out about what she had helped Octavia do to the child. Geta's kind greeting told Lucilla that Octavia hadn't implicated her in their shared treachery. Acacius, however, was filled with rage. To learn what Geta was doing to Octavia behind closed doors was one thing, but to see what was born from it again and again, it left him feeling a type of anger he didn't think he was capable of feeling.

     But little to Octavia's knowledge, Acacius and Lucilla's plan to free her from this misery was coming together.

And when the time was right, Acacius and Caius were to smuggle Octavia out of the palace, and down the path towards freedom.

"Today we relive...the Battle of Salamis!"

Octavia swallowed thickly when she heard the familiar voice continue to explain the inspiration behind today's games. Her copper coloured eyes peered down towards what was once the arena floor, and was now the crashing waves of the salty oceanic sea, the bright Roman sun beaming down as the golden rays of sunlight shimmered. The movement of the water was messy and violent, the tide moving in sync with the sharks swimming aimlessly through the water, waiting for its prey to fall in so they could feast on the flesh of the gladiators — the same ones who would surely meet their end today as intended by the emperors. The mad men wanted bloodshed, and they were ensured they would get exactly what they desired.

Octavia only hoped that once this was over, Hanno wouldn't be amongst the dead.

"The Trojans versus the Persians!"

Two boats sailed out onto the open water — one being a group of challengers hand picked by the emperors — the other was Hanno's boat, both ships filled with determined men, hoping for a chance of survival. Octavia watched diligently, her gaze darting through every fighter in the centre of the colosseum until she found him — Hanno. She listened as his voice echoed through the arena, commanding his men to follow his lead towards victory. She felt her heart jump in her chest, watching as Hanno's boat filled with Macrinus' gladiators steered to the left, trying to remain untouched and intact from the impending conflict.

And Geta laughed. He laughed. Octavia knew this game was set up to limit the chances of survival.

But Octavia knew Hanno would prove the emperors wrong. He had to.

All of a sudden, the archers on the opposing side drew their bows and let go, half a dozen arrows flying across the arena and into Hanno's boat, leaving many of the gladiators hurt or dead. Octavia gasped in horror when she witnessed a stray arrow land in one of the men's neck, crimson coloured blood spouting from his throat, before he stumbled backwards, falling into the violent waves where the pack of hungry sharks finished him off, tearing him into tiny pieces. Octavia held her hand against her chest for a moment, swallowing thickly as she laid her hand back down against the arm of her chair.

"Come on," Octavia whispered underneath her breath. It was so quiet beneath the uproar of cheers that no one heard her.

Hanno would survive, she told herself, keeping her thoughts to herself. He needed to survive.

The woman then watched as Hanno's boat steered forcefully into the other boat, without warning, rendering one side of the opposing team's boat without a set of ores to keep it moving. A loud chorus of cheers travelled violently through the arena from across the entire crowd. It was so loud that it almost shook the ground beneath their feet. Octavia shook her head as she watched with a careful eye trained on Hanno, watching as he continued to bark orders at the other men, and they appeared more loyal than most men, as they followed each and every instruction that trickled past Hanno's lips.

     Octavia has never in her life witnessed a man command this much respect since her father and Acacius fought alongside each other on behalf of Rome.

     The boats continued to circle one another until another opening was found, and with one last order thrown into the air, Hanno's boat was rammed into the other, the destruction displayed right in front of the royal box for all of them to see. Octavia jumped in her seat for a moment before she calmed herself down again, her careful eyes watching as Hanno's men charged onto the enemies's boat, and within just a matter of seconds, more chaos ensued.

     Many of Hanno's men were taken down in the process, but not without a fight. Each side began to lose allies on both teams, swords being struck into the bones and flesh of the archers, while the archers managed to get some hits in by firing arrows into the bodies of their enemies, killing them instantly or immobilising them. The violence, the bloodshed, the cries of pain that echoed through her ears was enough to make Octavia squirm uncomfortably in her seat. She did not know these men, and her main agenda was hoping Hanno made it out of the arena alive, however, the ghastly sight of death still left a bitter taste in her mouth.

     The same couldn't be said for her husband to-be, whom was quick to reach out and grab her hand with his own, holding onto her fingers tightly as his eyes wondered over the scene unfolding with excitement.

     Octavia felt sick at the mere feeling of him touching her. At first she flinched at the feeling of his hand gripping her own. Then she struggled against his hold on her before she managed to weasel her hand out of his secure grip, shoving his arm away from her with disgust evident in her eyes. She just hoped no one else witnessed the discontent she was feeling sitting next to Geta in that very moment.

     However, one person did.

     In the midst of the chaos, Hanno lifted his gaze to look into the royal box. He had watched as the emperor reached for his bride's hand, the way she flinched the second his touch met her flesh, and even the way she did everything in her power to create a distance between the emperor and herself. Hanno's eyes then flickered down to the fresh bruises grazed harshly against the woman's skin. He pictured what had ensued the night when the emperor struck her. He imagined Octavia lying on the floor, cowering in fear, all while the emperor towered over, hatred in his eyes for a woman who did not deserve his rage.

     To hurt a woman was unthinkable, but to harm one as good, as kind, and as pure as what Octavia was, it made Hanno angry.

     He was so full of rage in that moment he knew he had to do something that could free Octavia from the man she was trapped under.

     And in that moment, Hanno didn't exactly know or understand what came over him, but without thinking about it, he picked up a lone crossbow lying across the deck of the boat. He held it tightly in his hand, before he raised it high with his finger hovering over the trigger, aiming it directly at the emperor in front of him. Not everyone saw what he did, but she did. Octavia watched with horror in her eyes as Hanno aimed the crossbow directly towards Geta, rage and a taste for vengeance burning bright in his bright, blue eyes as he waited for the right moment to pull the trigger.

And the worst part?

Octavia just watched. She knew Hanno was making an attempt to end her suffering by killing the monster she had laid with for the past year. The woman could stop it. She could warn Geta and push him out of the way, and yet, she did no such thing. Maybe she was in so much shock that she remained frozen in place. Or maybe, deep down, she wanted Geta dead, and Hanno was giving her a way out without her ever having to ask it of him.

What could've been, well, Octavia would never get to know, because just as Hanno pulled the trigger on the crossbow, he was pushed down by another fighter. It knocked his aim to the side, and the arrow flew through the air for a moment before the tip of the deadly weapon hit Geta's throne. It made the man flinch, but he was still here, alive, and Octavia wasn't sure if that was a good or a bad thing.

"Praetorians!" Geta yelled viciously, ordering for them to control the fighters down below before they made another deadly attempt on his life.

And all Octavia Amulius could do was allow her eyes to meet Hanno's once again, swallowing thickly as his eyes stared intensely into her own. And while she may have felt grateful for his effort to help her, she did not ask for it, and to put his life on the line for her was never something she would ask of anyone. It made her angry, and Hanno felt that anger from across the arena.

     Because why would he do such a thing?

     Octavia knew she had to find out.

So, when the games ended and the crowd dispersed, while Octavia was advised to return home to the palace for her own safety, she ordered Caius to escort her down to the gladiator cages beneath the colosseum floor immediately. She had to know why Hanno would do something so careless. She knew he was lucky that no one other than herself had witnessed him do something so reckless. If either of the emperors or their loyal followers had seen what had unfolded, Hanno would be dead, and Octavia would be alone again.

     When Octavia arrived, she walked into the gladiator cages with zero hesitation, a storm flowing through her body as a mix of rage and confusion coursed through her bloodstream. Caius followed close behind her for a moment until she turned to the man. "Wait here, Caius," She instructed firmly, and the guard came to a quick and sudden halt.

     "Ravi," Octavia called out, spotting the familiar face by Hanno's cage. "Can you let me in, and then leave us," She then insisted, stopping in front of the man.

     However, Ravi was hesitant. "My Lady, it is for the best that someone is close by, just incase—"

     "I must speak with him...alone." Octavia's determined tone was enough to make Ravi bow his head in submission before he unlocked the cage and allowed her inside.

     When Octavia entered the cage, she saw Hanno standing in front of her, like he had been waiting for her all this time, like he had anticipated her presence from the moment he fired that crossbow towards the emperor. Octavia could only stare at him, anger blazing like a raging fury in her copper coloured eyes. Hanno could only watch, his arms crossed behind his back as the woman tried to find the right words. She was upset, and understandably so. But it wasn't enough to make him regret his actions.

     "You're angry," Hanno pointed out, sounding deadpanned, almost like his previous actions did not phase him at all.

     Octavia let out a scoff in response, shaking her head. "Of course, I'm angry. You made an attempt to kill the emperor in front of a colosseum full of people," She snapped.

     "You know, most people would be grateful for what I did if they were in your position," Hanno countered.

     "Are you serious right now?" Octavia replied in disbelief. She then approached the man, stopping right in front of him, their faces inches apart, but Hanno did not dare move. He stood his ground against the woman. "You tried to kill Geta. You're lucky no one saw what you did. If anyone was to find out about your attempt, you'd be executed and your body would be strung up in the streets for everyone to see. Do you want that?"

Hanno didn't respond at first, and instead, he lowered his gaze to meet Octavia's, his tall demeanour towering over the woman for a moment. That was when he parted his lips to speak. "You're not upset because of what I did," He pushed.

Octavia furrowed her brows together. She didn't dare utter a word. She wanted to hear what the man had to say, more so than ever when she noticed a hint of a smile ghost across his lips. It was so faint and only lasted a second, but she spotted it. "You're upset because he's still alive." All of a sudden, silence flooded the room, and Octavia chuckled bitterly.

"I will not speak of this," Octavia muttered underneath her breath, taking several steps away from the man.

Hanno allowed his arms to drop back down to his sides as he parted his lips to speak once again. "Admit it, Octavia. You hate him because he's the reason you can no longer see your father. You hate him for trapping you in an unlovable marriage. You hate him because he hits you—"

"If that what all of this is about?" Octavia interjected harshly, cutting Hanno off while she continued to stare at him with disbelief from across the cage. "I told you to let it go, and you just couldn't?"

"No man who leaves marks like that on a woman should get to live," Hanno snapped right back at her. Octavia was stunned at first, but she wasn't scared of him, not like how she was scared of Geta and his vicious tone. So, she allowed him to continue. "You stood there earlier and you told me that you deserved it. No matter the circumstances, what he did wasn't right. He should never lay a finger on a woman that he claims to love."

"I may not love Geta, that much is certain. No matter how hard I try, and I don't think I could ever love him," Octavia admitted out loud, her voice beginning to shake. "But no matter my feelings for him, I know that deep down in some way, he loves me, and I have to take his word for it—"

"He loves you?" Hanno cut the woman off, and this time he was the one laughing bitterly in her face. He was amused by her own words. Hanno then took several steps closer towards Octavia. "I know a thing or two about love, and that..." Hanno pointed towards the harsh bruising on Octavia's cheek. "That is not love. No matter how many times you tell yourself that he loves you, you and I both know that they're all lies you tell yourself to try and erase the fact that you're stuck in a loveless marriage with an unlovable man."

     Octavia swallowed thickly. He was angry. But not towards her. He was angry for her, because Octavia was living in a lie, and while she knew that it was a lie, she tried to convince herself she could make it work as long as she was comfortable as she believed it was her only option. Even now she still believed it was. And that was what infuriated Hanno the most, because he gave her an out, and she was still standing in front of him defending this lie she had grown accustomed to telling others. This anger he felt was nothing he had ever felt before, and he didn't quit understand where it had been born from either, but he knew why. He just didn't know how to express it with his words.

     "Why do you care?" Octavia asked him, her voice barely above a whisper. Her eyes met Hanno's again, waiting for an answer. "Days ago you couldn't stand the thought of being in the same room as me, and now you're trying to kill the emperor for me. Why?"

     Octavia could only be met with silence in response.

     As Hanno continued to stare down at her, his eyes occasionally flickering down to stare at the ground beneath them, she shook her head and let out a gentle sigh. "I'm going to speak with Ravi and request that he becomes your healer from now on. I think it's for the best that we no longer speak like this."

     Octavia watched as Hanno nodded his head, still avoiding her gaze. She did everything in her power to not express her disappointment. "Goodbye, Hanno," She whispered once again before she made an attempt to leave the cage, and Hanno behind.

     Then, all of a sudden, without even thinking about it, Hanno grabbed ahold of Octavia's face, cupping her soft cheeks and warm flesh with his rough and cut up hands, but holding her with a soft and gentle touch all at once. It was as if in that moment, he was holding the entire world in his hands, before he sealed his very wants and needs with a kiss. The moment Hanno pressed his lips against Octavia's, closing the gap between them, it felt as if everything was beginning to fall into its rightful place. Because the second Octavia felt Hanno's lips meet her own, she did not hesitate to allow her own wants and her own needs to take control, allowing her lips to move in perfect synchrony with Hanno's, a wave of fire and burning desire igniting in her bones, digging deep into the marrow.

Octavia lifted her hand and caressed the man's face, the softness of her palm grazing against the sharp ends of his facial hair before she allowed her hand to travel to the nape of his neck, her fingers gently tugging on the ends of his hair before she pulled him in closer, deepening the kiss in the process. Hanno's then moved one of his hands that was gentle to the touch, his fingers brushing against her arm before they travelled to the dip in her back, the palm of his hand pressing deep into the fabric of her dress, pushing her body closer to his. His other hand then reached up higher, and tucked some of her raven black hair behind her ear, before his fingers travelled downwards and cupped her jawline in the midst of his touch once again, all while they continued to passionately kiss one another.

     Neither of them wanted the moment to end.

     That was until Hanno broke away from the kiss first, his eyes that resembled that of the sea staring deeply into Octavia's, and for a moment, she felt herself become lost in his gaze, shaky and ragged breaths trickling past her lips. "That is why..." He breathed out, breathless. "And I do not harbour any regrets, other than one, and that regret is that I didn't succeed in the matter. If given the chance to do it all over again, I would make sure to free you from this torment..." Hanno brushed his finger lightly against the softness of her cheek. "Because it would be all for you." And that was what made her rapid heart rate skip a beat.

     Octavia wanted to say something, and yet, in that moment, she was rendered completely speechless, partially because of the fact that she had kissed another man that wasn't Geta, and for the first time, she had felt those sparks her mother had told her so much about. But because she had found peace and solitude in someone she knew, deep down, she could never have, and that thought alone burdened her with this unbearable feeling of yearning for a person that would never be hers to call home.

     "My Lady, we must leave at once." Caius' voice was enough to bring her back to reality, forcing the woman to take a quick step away from Hanno, and silently hope her guard had not witnessed anything that was previously exchanged between Hanno and herself.

     "Just coming, Caius, wait there." Octavia looked back up at Hanno, and offered him a sad smile, before she turned on her heel and left him alone.

     And this time he didn't stop her.

     Although every fibre of his body wanted her to stay.

━━━━━━━━

authors note.
SO...HOW ARE WE FEELING AFTER THIS CHAPTER???
Yes I know Lucius tries to kill Acacius during that scene but for the sake of the plot and this book we're going to pretend it was Geta, but I will highlight Lucius' need for revenge against Acacius in a couple of chapters time, and warning for the next chapter...it's going to get very steamy 👀 It's also hella wild to think that this story is so close to being over, and when I mean over, I mean 5 more chapters + the epilogue, which means I'll be updating more often leading to the finishing line.

But until then I really hope you guys enjoyed this chapter and I'll update again soon!!