New Rome

22. A Rival for the Throne

In the blazing heat of summer, the citizens aboveground in New Rome struggled to sleep – tossing and turning beneath mosquito nets. Those below with private air ventilation were spared the heat wave but the shuttles became a death trap as the coolers kept failing. It was the biggest gripe in the news. Commuters were being forced to travel aboveground and there were fears of aerial attacks on civilians.

But that morning, the citizens awoke to a new major story. It flashed up on their Selfs as breaking news- big enough that the 'hottest recorded temperature in 20 years' got cast aside. The Imperator had completed a second adoption. The headlines were abuzz in speculation. Agrippa still hadn't been officially declared heir and now he wasn't the only adopted son of the Imperator, nor was he the oldest. Did this mean that there were two rivals for the throne? 

               Livia choked on her tea when she read the news, having had no prior warning.

"My husband adopts Kai as his own?!" She exclaimed. Kai was her son from a previous marriage, she'd never had any complaints about her husband's treatment of him. Graesen had been a good stepdad, yes, the two had fallen out in recent years - and her son had been banished. But that had been due to arguments between the two men and she'd placed more of the blame on Kai for that.

Graesen strolled into the room, a knowing secret smile on his lips. Livia wiped her mouth, putting on a front of unconcern.

"When did I sign on this?" She questioned. Graesen chuckled at her cute behaviour.

"I took the liberty as a privilege of exalted position."

"Hmph." She sipped daintily at her tea. "I suppose this means an end of his exile?"

The Imperator nodded, struggling to hide his amusement. He sat down, set about filling his plate and put a hand over hers. "Always so mysterious," Livia muttered. He barked a laugh at that.

"Speaks the mistress of secrecy," he teased.

             The gossip magazines were abuzz. Who would be the next heir – Prince Agrippa or General Kai? Opinions were polarised. One on hand Agrippa was the Imperator's blood grandson and Kai wasn't biologically related to him. On the other, rumour had it that Agrippa was a drunk and a gambler. Perhaps Kai was the wiser alternative...

              Kai's complex was taken over. It was like an invasion from the Castle of Red but Kai had to admire its efficiency. In the space of one morning he had new staff, all paid for out of his new (and very lucrative) allowance and new belongings. He stood in the doorway, watching as workers built him a new top of the range security system.

"Sir?" A new secretary addressed him. He was going to have to learn all their names. 

"Speak."

"The tailor is here."

"Tailor?" Kai questioned, raising a brow.

"For your fitting, sir."

Kai looked down at his robes. The style was, admittedly, old-fashioned but it had never been a bother before. Now it was though. The tailor was followed by stylist who insisted on applying makeup to the former general.

"We shall clear away the years, sir." The stylist promised, gesturing flamboyantly. 

"And make a mockery of my age," Kai grumbled. He was 46 years old, blusher wasn't going to mask that.