140AD - The Rise to Empress || [GxG] ||

Chapter 26

I just want to say big thanks for all the support and all the votes left as well as the comments. I absolutely love reading them! I hope this part is enjoyable. I've been having a bit of writer's block but I'm not even sure if I can call it a block. I have all the ideas and the timeline set in stone but I'm having a hard time putting it all into words, therefore this part took a bit longer to get out than usual.

My university classes have started again as well so my free time is down to a minimum. Because of that, the next part should be out in the next week and a half to two weeks.

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Two weeks after the arrival of the scribe from Egypt

The Senate house bustled with the few members that remained. Only the rich old men of Rome remained and the rest were all in Egypt, actively taking part in the battle. The news the scribe brought two weeks previously, spread through the capital like wildfire even though the news was supposed to stay private until it was completely confirmed.

Consul Blake paced the half-moon floor of the Senate house as he waited for all the men to get seated. The news of a child, a son potentially, made things very complicated for him. If a boy was born then he had automatic claim over the throne; essentially making Bellamy a Senator for the rest of his life. He would no longer receive the title of Emperor.

The speaker of the Senate took the floor first, a man in his seventies perhaps. His voice was hoarse already and wrinkles covered his face and age allowed him very little movement. "Let it be known that the Senate convenes today in a matter of utter urgency. Consul Blake will take the floor first."

Bellamy nodded his head in the speaker's direction in respect and a thank you. As nerves overtook him, he rubbed his hands together in front of him as he looked the faces over that sat in front of him in anticipation. Some looked truly bored and the rest already knew why they were convened.

"It has been just shy of seven months since the very first ship left the dock in Neapolis in its journey to Greece and then to Egypt. Two weeks ago, we received our first word from Egypt; a scribe baring shocking news, to say the least. In the matter of good news is that it sounds like we are conquering the battlefield but the Emperor ... I fear he has lost his way. This morning I received confirmation from the Monarch in Greece that he had received the same news from his daughter."

Not one Senator stood from their seats to protest and not even a whisper was shared among them, simply because they agreed that the Emperor may have lost his way. "The scribe brings a letter directly from Emperor Jake with great pride that he is expecting his second child. A child he has conceived with a woman without Roman blood in her veins. My fellow Senators—" Bellamy scanned the room, meeting as many eyes as he possibly could in hopes he had their favor in his next words.

"The Emperor of Rome has fornicated with a savage. A barbarian. A woman of lower status than a noble. As the consul of Rome, I have called upon this urgent meeting to discuss this matter with you because it brings me great worry. I believe you all have heard the talk on the streets between the plebs; they're outraged by his actions. If Queen Kamilah bores a son he will have a claim on the Roman throne. A barbarian will lead our people. Is that what we want, my fellow Senators? How can we possibly allow this?"

Senator Marius was the first to his feet, adjusting the red linen draped over his shoulder marking him a man of a higher standard in the Senate. "I'm sure we all agree that such will not be welcome. We do not want a half-breed on the throne. The people of Rome don't want a half-breed. However, it is too soon to act, unfortunately. We do not know if the Queen will bore a boy or a girl. If she bores a girl, there are no worries. Chances are that Caesar will toss her away like the unworthy thing she is."