The Rogue Emperor (A Riordanverse Story)

Chapter 8: Reyna Learns of the Miracles of Childbirth

Augustus makes a stop at a grocery outside of Austin, Texas to let the group to use the bathroom, stretch their legs, and allow for them to get some food since none of them seemed too eager to eat the asparagus he'd brought along for them. It was a kind gesture that he'd even thought of it since he didn't need any of that and could have kept driving.

As soon as they were inside, out of the emperor's eyesight, Frank lets out a sigh. "Somethings off with that guy. I was trying to get him to come check out New Rome and he got all angry that it was too...perfect, not Roman enough."

"What's that supposed to mean?" asks Will, grabbing a bag of chips. "I've been to New Rome, it's great! You guys have everything."

"He said we cherry-picked the best things about Rome, cleaning the image of what life really was. It's like he wanted all these cruel things to still be in practice or something," responds Frank, looking around. "He also said he was a bad guy; we just don't want to remember him that way."

"He did kill a lot of political enemies, we know that much," says Reyna as she adds some apples to the cart. "But he did a ton of good things that outweigh the bad."

He shakes his head. "No, he went on about slavery and forced marriages, things along those lines that are illegal today."

"Slavery was quite common in Rome. And marriages were more of a contract than about love for many centuries, even after the fall of Rome. The love that Livia and Augustus historically had was the exception, not the rule."

"But progress is a good thing, no slavery, no cheating on your spouses; seems like a dumb reason to not want to see New Rome," adds Will.

Frank shrugs. "I don't know; he admits our way is better, but there's other things too. Basically, he thinks that what we have is a knock-off version of Rome."

"Perhaps it is too perfect," says Reyna, beginning to see where the emperor was coming from. He remembered it one way, to appreciate his city in any other light, even if it was a better light, may be hard. "Or perhaps we neglected something he thought was important-"

"He did mention the navy," interrupts Frank.

Reyna rolls her eyes. Not the cursed navy again, those boats were the bane of her existence as praetor. "Regardless, he and empress Livia must always be welcome if they change their mind, lest we want to anger more gods. Perhaps you can organize games and sacrifices in their honor when this quest is complete, to thank them for their help."

"I wouldn't say they are helping; he thinks of it as more of a who-done-it game."

Will frowns. "The more I learn about them, the less confidence I have in them."

"He'll be fine, Will," says Reyna, trying to comfort her friend. "He's in his father's realm, where he's strongest. Besides, I don't think Livia would hurt him anyway."

"Why couldn't I go then?"

Reyna shrugs. "Faster to get in and out with just the two of them."

"I feel like it's personal."

"It's not, Livia doesn't know you enough for it to be personal," adds Frank. "And I agree, she's not going to hurt him in Pluto's dominion and risk him snapping her in two. I doubt she would have the power anyways."

Will huffs in frustration, but Reyna interrupts. "It's not worth your time to argue with them, it's not going to get you anywhere. It's okay to be wary of them, but we can't outright mistrust them; they're our guides."

"Do you really think they were this stupid when they were mortals?"

Reyna shakes her head. "They've forgotten what it's like to have human problems, Will, like Mr. D does. When you live forever, time probably doesn't seem that important."