‘How could you?’

‘This is the way forward’.

‘Don’t be so ridiculous. This is *not* what we agreed. Not in any shape or form!’

‘Join me in this new quest. It will be far more glorious!’

‘You stupid man! It will ruin everything that I dreamt of – and I thought that you wanted as well: you and me, ruling a great empire. We were crowned in the forum just a few days ago. We were hailed as Imperator and Imperatrix. We took the purple. Remember? Did that mean nothing to you? Nothing at all?’

‘It meant a lot. I thought it meant everything’.

‘It meant everything – really? And now?’

Germanus turned to Sevira. She looked different; no longer beautiful;...

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