章節 18: Get-together
Flavia and Juli reached the gigantic white building. Flavia guided Juli towards the main garden. Quintus was already waiting outside of the garden. He also joined them.
Three of them entered the garden. Juli was nervous out of all. She was mentally prepared for the chaos ahead of her. However, she was still confused about whether she would be able to achieve the desired outcomes or not.
When they reached at the center of the garden. Lucius and Domitia were sitting there. Both were laughing contrary to Juli's expectations. Quintus spoke, "What is the meaning of this?"
Lucius and Domitia stood and greeted them. Lucius said, "Salvete!", While Domitia said, "Ave", in a respectable tone.
Juli thought, "What are the meanings of 'Salvete' and 'Ave'?"
Flavia whispered in her ears and told her, "Salvete is an informal greeting here for more than one person. Ave is the formal greeting."
Quintus spoke again, "What is the meaning of this?'
Juli said sharply, "Lucius is going to explain. He is the star of today's get-together."
Lucius was confused. He looked at Juli who was ignoring him. He then looked at the suspicious faces of Flavia and Quintus, who were eager to know the answers.
Domitia said, "Let's have a seat first."
Everyone sat on the chairs around the table. Lucius said, "I apologize."
"Why?", Flavia asked.
"I don't deserve to marry you. I performed adultery. I cheated on you with Domitia. I never wanted to return here because I didn't dare to face you. I tried my best to run away. But I failed. I don't want you to forgive me. I just want you to know the reality.", Lucius explained.
"You cheated on me? With whom?", Flavia inquired.
"It's Domita. I even lied to her. I kept our engagement a secret from her. Because I was afraid to lose her. When we came to the capital. She came to know about our engagement and demanded me to left her alone. But I'm a coward. I can't leave her.", Lucius spoke with a heavy voice.
Domita also looked sad. Quintus' expressions were also sullen. "Shuu... Shuu...Gulp...", a loud voice of someone drinking and eating broke the silence. It was Juli, who was enjoying this melodrama with the drink and cheesecake.
"Please continue. Ignore my presence.", Juli said with a mouth full of cake. She was hungry after one hour's walk.
Flavia almost laughed after seeing Juli like this. The tears fell from her face, but she hurriedly wiped them.
"Why are you telling me this?", Flavia asked.
"This obscene love tale of us is already famous in the noble's circle. I thought I should tell you this. I don't want you to hate me.", Lucius said.
"So, you were afraid that your image and reputation would be ruined. If I will ask you about you and her at the gatherings. You only think about yourself.", Flavia said in a disappointing tone.
"You're a very selfish bastard.", Juli joined the conversation after done eating.
"I thought that you'd be ashamed of what have you done with Flavia. But here both of you are laughing and acting like this. Don't you think that your actions can hurt someone? And it is not about someone. It is about your childhood fiancé and best friend Flavia.", Juli lectured Lucius.
Flavia was moved by her words. Domitia didn't utter a single word.
"I'll do whatever Flavia wants me to do. I'm truly ashamed of myself.", Lucius said.
"Can you leave Domita? Can you give the same love to my sister that she deserves?", Quintus asked.
"I...", Lucius was at the loss of words.
"I'll leave him and never come back here. I'm the one who also needs to pay for her sins. I never wanted to disrespect and hurt Domina Flavia. I'll leave this city today and never contact him again. Because Lucius was never mine and He will never be.", Domitia finally spoke.
Lucius was shocked by this sudden announcement. Quintus looked satisfied as well and said, "Yes, you should do this. You have made a wise choice."
"No, you can't leave. Why should you leave? You haven't done anything alone. Lucius is also the one to blame. Why should you only pay for these sins?", Flavia said.
"Leaving him is not the solution. Moreover, I don't want to marry a man, who fancies someone else in his heart other than me. I had never shared my things with anyone and now He is my man.", Flavia continued.
"Why did you not tell her anything about us?", Flavia asked.
"I never planned to return.", Lucius replied with guilt.
"So, you wanted to leave everything behind for her. Do you love her that much? Then why did you come back?", Flavia asked again.
"Yes, I love her so much. I came back because I was told that the emperor was sick. I must come to see him."
"Then why did you agree to this marriage? Why did you not run away with her? Tell me Lucius will you be able to forget Domitia and give me the same place in your heart?", Flavia asked.
"I... I had no other choice. I respect you Flavia but...", Lucius could not complete his sentence.
"That is the enough answer for today. We all will have another meeting. You're not going anywhere (pointing toward Domita. Huh... You didn't have any other option.", Flavia stood up while signaling Quintus and Juli to follow her.
Flavia was walking swiftly ahead of Quintus and Juli. She was walking faster to hide her tears. Juli and Quintus quietly followed her.
Juli's chest and heart felt heavy but what else could she do? Even though if she had made both marry each other. Then what was the guarantee that they would live a happy life?
Flavia was going to be happy, and she would never learn about Lucius's past and Lucius would forget about Domitia and move on. It was a selfish and rather stupid choice. But Juli had only twenty-eight more days left in this world.
"Maybe, I'll regret this choice but facing the reality is better. I don't want Flavia to repeat the same mistake as me.", Juli thought.
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