The Emperor Who Loved Me

First Chapter

Wondering around the palace garden's was the first time I had been alone since we entered Roma. Mother and Father were discussing husband prospects and asked to be left alone. I never did like the idea of being wed to a total stranger. It provided me with my first time alone in what seemed like an eternity. It was strange to imagine how differently I seemed to spend my days.

Sitting below an olive tree, I pull out a parchment and begin to read. The writing was beautiful, and the transported me away. I have yet to explore the city. Father says that beyond the city gates lye terror. And so I am not allowed to venture. I am being kept prisoner in the city of my dreams.

Resting my head on the tree I look up into the sky. Its blue colour shielding me from the twinkling stars." Cornelia!" A voice yells breaking me from my peace. I arise and spot mother walking briskly towards me "what are you doing here. There are eligible men inside your father wants you to meet. Come along now" hurdling me into the palace like a sheep by its keeper. I am shown around like a slave at the market. I didn't like it one bit.

"Hello. You must be Cornelia" a young man smiles. He stands beside an older one. Father introduces us. His name is Tiberius. Our fathers are discussing, and so mother suggests we take a walk around the gardens to acquaint ourselves. I first notice his kind eyes and bright smile.

Our parents watch from afar with grins, their attention brings me discomfort. We are told to walk around the garden. To get better acquainted. "What do you do in your free time?" He asks. His voice is softer than I had imagined it to be. Everyone in Roma had stern commanding voices, but his voice was soft and calm.

"I read. And you?" I ask back with a soft smile. He nodded and smiled back. We kept a respectable distance apart even though we were very much alone, and no one would know otherwise.

"I don't have much time. I am taking over my father's senate position soon. So I am learning. But when we are in Tuscany I like to ride" he smiles. I could see that he was an outdoor person, his darkened skin and light hair. His smile was contagious so I found myself smiling with him.

Somehow his polite smiles and the warm breeze of the day, I imagined the countryside and feeling the freedom and the rush. "I wish you the best. I would have liked to feel what it felt to be up on a horse. Men make it look fun and free. Yet strong and in control." I lift my hand to my mouth to stop my blabbering. Blinking twice I add "excuse me. That was rude of me. I am sure you are a great rider" I nod back watching our parents watching us.

"Why was it rude. Next time we meet out of the city I shall teach you" he smiles. I nod back holding back the grin.

"They are watching us" I state looking over the olive trees.

"They will always be watching us. See you soon future wife " he smiles before picking up my hand to press a soft kiss and walks back to his waiting father. My cheeks flared up. I had never been close to a man like that before.

Walking back down the path, I decided to take the long way to enjoy the breeze before going in to be integrated. When looking out over the city, there were so many buildings and so few green trees. So the small neat garden of the palace seemed to provide a little sanctuary for the birds. There were so many of them and all singing to their heart's content.

I hear a clear of the throat and follow the sound to see the emperor sitting on a stool. "My lord" I bow. Beside him is a table of fruits and a jug of wine. It does not look like he has touched either of them. I watch as he places his documents on the table and walks towards me.

"Cornelia. How are you finding the palace?" He asks placing his arms behind his back.

"It's beautiful and a dream come true. Emperor" I smile politely, it did not seem wise to admit to anything else. I watch his hand gesture to walk with him towards the palace. My mind was hyper-aware of what was going on around me that every crackle of stone beneath our feet and every breath was being processed in my mind.

"Good. Good. Walk with me" he summons a slave to clear his chair and walks with me. I glance up at my mother who is about to call for me when she notices the emperor by my side.

"Are you well my lord?" I ask as we weave through the path.

"At the moment no. But I will be." He smiles. He is walking a lot closer than Tiberius was only a moment ago.

"Thank you for the feast. My parents have accomplished their task successfully" I add feeling tension between us. No one was ever close to an emperor so this was an honour, I tell myself. But what unsettled me the most was that his expressions were so hard to read.

"And what is that?" He asks in a set tone.

"To find me a husband, my Lord. I can fulfil my duties as my fathers only child" I add sweeping my gold hair to the side before fiddling with the light fabric of my dress skirt. I look forward so my expressions won't betray me.

"Is that so." He. mumbles softly, for a brief moment I notice his nose twitch. "I have a meeting to attend. Goodbye Cornelia" And as quickly as the conversation had started he had left, A sense of pride in his strides. I follow far behind him towards my own rooms.

Entering my room I can not help but imagine Tiberius' eyes. Which reminded me of the sky. His brown locks of the mane of a wild horse. He was so beautiful. As if Zeus's had formed him himself. As I lay in bed. I couldn't help but smile. I had been so worried that the husband my parents would find would be an old man. But Tiberius seemed very kind, and a liberated sort of man.