New Rome

17. A Secret Engagement

The evening seemed to Wylo, to drag on and on. The Imperator bailed early, making an excuse about work. This could have been true but Wylo caught the disgusted look he angled at Julia before departing. Julia was very drunk, clinging to Tann's lean arm and unabashedly flaunting her chest at him. Her cleavage appeared to have become strategically lower with every visit to the rest room.

"Julia, ready yourself!" Daviad eventually barked at her, heaving himself to his swollen feet.

"Please, leave – I shall not keep you. But trouble me not to attend you." Julia slurred in response, seizing another glass and not even looking up at her husband. Daviad yanked her brusquely to her feet.

"Attend woman," he snapped. "As a wife should."

Julia pouted unhappily and tried to shove him away from her, without success.

"As wife – I have done enough. Let this night be my own."

Daviad dragged her across the room, throwing a glare in Tann's direction. The young man had the sense to stutter a polite goodbye before beating his own hasty retreat.

Wylo watched the scene, a foul taste in her mouth. At least she'd been spared a marriage to Backtits, she supposed. Poor Julia had been married to the blob back when she was only a teenager. It was no wonder she drank too much. But Julia's snide parting comment to her, was enough to cool Wylo's sympathy.

"You must be thinking yourself mighty highly, to be invited here tonight. Believe me, we did not desire your company." Julia purred unpleasantly as Wylo helped her with her jacket. "I mean, whose family are you – really? No father and a mother so useless, that she had to put your brother up for adoption." Julia cackled at her own cruel comment. Wylo glared at her.

"Kaze was adopted by our uncle – your stepfather. He wasn't 'put up for adoption' as you call it."

"But, still – the truth is revealed clearly, when one looks between the cracks. Your family marries into mine, digging in roots wherever you can. You leech off us." Julia jutted her chin forward, pretending to give her a parting kiss. "You shan't have my little brother."

"Sheathe your claws, princess." Wylo hissed in retort. "I do not want him."

Julia snorted, not believing her.

Livia smiled at Daviad and Julia with acidic sweetness as they bid their goodbyes. Without the Imperator watching them, both parties were struggling to play the game of being civil.

"I wish you good fortune in the elections, Daviad. You face worthy opponents – but I'm sure you'll flatten them."

"I thank you, madam." Daviad managed, through clenched teeth.

"Indeed, how can they compete with your enormous... generosity."

If looks could kill, Daviad's glare would have knocked Livia clean stone-cold dead.

"Julia, enough of this delay." He raged, spying that Julia had snagged herself another young trophy and was engaged with trying to feel the man's bicep. The unhappy couple finally departed, with their daughter following mutely behind. Aemilia had her earphones in, reciting mathematical principles to her and drowning out their bickering.

"I suppose you need us to provide you a chariot home." Livia sniffed at Wylo – seeing that it was now only her and Elligah left of the party.