Forbidden Passions at Sea

"I can't believe you did this."

"You have to trust me." Diana said, grasping my hand. "There's nothing to worry about."

"It's not that," I replied, as we walked through the busy forum. "You're the one who should be worried."

"Trust me," she repeated. Her voice was a whisper in my ear: soft, but urgent. All around us were people going about their business - bargaining with the shop owners, buying food and drink from the vendors, laying money down for slave girls, slaves and animals being sold and bought. A bit further on was the public fountain where I had washed yesterday morning before going to meet her.

...

We continued walking towards the forum gate that led out into the streets beyond. I had an appointment to meet with a merchant at noon today - a man named Helerios who wanted to buy some of my father's old coins - but he would have to wait until after I left Diana at the house of one of her regular clients. It was risky - even dangerous - but that wasn't what worried me so much. What worried me was how different Diana's behaviour seemed from earlier today when we met at dawn by the Vestal temple on the Palatine hill overlooking Rome and sat together on the stone steps leading up to it.

...

After our time by the Tiber river, we continued on with our day, visiting various places and carrying certain items given to us by Cicero. Soon, we found ourselves discussing the plans for Cicero and Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus' trip to Egypt. They planned to travel eastwards along the Mediterranean coast, stopping first at Cyrene followed by Leptis Magna, where they would cross into Egypt via the Syrtes Sea. Their first stop in Egypt would be the capital district, Alexandria, a historic city that was founded more than 300 years ago by Alexander the Great, King of Macedonia.

Over the years, Alexandria was ruled by a lineage of pharaohs who called themselves god-kings under various titles, bearing the Ptolemaic bloodline and occasionally adopting the name Thoth, Neper, or other epithets, as they traced their lineage back to Alexander the Great himself. This impressive history, dating back over 150 years, showed the prowess and influence that these rulers had in developing Egypt, particularly Alexandria, into a bustling, influential city.

Now, as Diana and I walked hand-in-hand through the streets near Quirinal hill, I couldn't help but wonder what adventures awaited Cicero and Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus in this ancient land, with its rich historical background and captivating stories of powerful rulers. Little did I know that this would be the beginning of an incredible journey for myself and Diana, as well.