Forbidden

Chapter 12

Aeliana found herself wandering through the Palace's wide and polished walls, searching desperately for amusement. She walked the whole way to the far East wing and suddenly heard quick, light footsteps. Looking to her right, she saw a profile she had comitted to memory. Atilius was walking through the hall also, a confused look on his face told her that the man had found himself lost. He was too engrossed in opening random doors and peeking inside to notice the princess. Aeliana looked around herself quickly, checking for wandering bodies much like herself and the gladiator or servants dashing to their assigned work. Remembering how inebriated and careless he had been yesterday, Aeliana decided to take a cool approach. "Are you troubled with your findings?" Atilius' head jerked around to meet Aeliana's gaze.

His eyes softened for a moment before returning back to their guarded orbs. "I am searching for the Study..I was sure it was in this wing." He said, glancing up and around as if observing the walls and ceiling. "So you would say that you are lost then?" Atilius abruptly brought his gaze back to hers and scoffed "I am not lost, Aeliana." The princess crossed her arms. "You are very much so lost." The pair locked eyes for a long, silent moment. "Follow me, I shall lead you." "I do not need a guide-" The gladiator was silenced by Aeliana's doubtful glare.

She moved forward at a quick pace and waited for Atilius to fall in step with her. When he did, she looked sideways at his face and assesed his features. His eyes were rimmed with dark circles, making him look older than what he was. A purple bruise danced its way across his left cheekbone, ending just before his temple. "It is never nice to stare, Princess." Snapping her gaze forward, Aeliana decided to ignore his joking comment. "It would seem you enjoyed yourself last night." She said in a biting tone. Atilius looked down at her with a raised eyebrow. "Is that a jealous tone?" "No, you utter fool!" Aeliana started in a loud voice but remembered that others might be crossing the same path as the pair.

They were a mere right turn away from her Father's study before she lowered her voice. "You wouldn't ever take me seriously, would you?" Alas, the massive decorated oak doors loomed over them and Aeliana was forced to stop. "This is your desired location, goodbye Atilius." She whispered in a final tone and turned to leave. Her right arm was grabbed in a warm, firm hold. "Aeliana.." She heard before quickly spinning around. "Do you know how embarassing you were?! For the God's sakes Atilius, all of Rome was watching!" With incredulous eyes, Atilius said "Let them watch!" "You do not understand do you? My people are suspicious now! Wondering why a gladiator is talking to his ruler's daughter as if she were a friend! And then asking if I were to see you in the night! You did not want to even see me that other night! And then once-"

Angrily, Atilius grabbed Aeliana's hand and crossed the hall to the opposite room of the Study. He led her into the room, and turned around to quietly shut the door behind them. Aeliana recognized the room as her Father's own parlour of sorts, decorated in masculine ottomans, couches and chests. "What are you doing?" She whispered violently. "Oh so you wish to whisper now?! Before you were shouting clearly into my face! You were so loud I am surprised those in the Study did not come out!" "Loud?! I have a right to be loud!" The princess spat. "What right would that be?" Atilius clipped back. "The fact that you do not even care for me!" There was a long pause between the two, Aeliana's chest rising quickly and Atilius standing tensely. Aeliana let out a breath and shook her head. "What caused you to act this way Atilius? Something I had said? Terentius?"

Atilius was silent for some time, looking away from Aeliana. "I was scared." He said gravely. Finally, he met her gaze. "Scared for you, not myself." "Why?" He shook his head "What we are doing is dangerous, Aeliana. So dangerous that I could be dead and you be damned from this kingdom." She found herself staring at the blonde in front of her, and pursed her lips. Atilius moved forward then, and took her face between his two hands. "I do not want to see you hurt because of my rash decisions." "Atilius, I made that decision with you. When I decided to return your kisses, when I chose to flirt back at you. I am doing this because I want too, damn the consequences." He smirked at her last statement. "I do need you to clarify one thing for me." He quirked a brow and slid his hands from her cheeks to the curve of her neck. "Well, I am no philosopher or teacher, but I shall try." She shook her head. "The whore..Livia-" "I did not touch her, nor did I let her touch me."