The Last Emperor of México and Other Stories

Your Home (Historical Romance)

A noblewoman named Lucia found herself sitting at her friend, Aelia's table in the early afternoon on a mild spring day in Rome. Their conversation was following the usual gossip form until Aelia changed the subject to the recent murder of Emperor Julius Caesar.

"Did you hear, my dear?" Aelia began, "they've finally apprehended the Emperor's murderer."

Lucia narrowed her eyes, "Did they?"

"Oh yes, and I cannot say that I am surprised at who the culprit is."

"Who?" She sounded intrigued.

"It was that scoundrel Dejen. I knew the Emperor would have been better off not having an Ethiopian in his inner circle."

Lucia tilted her head. "Whatever do you mean?"

"My dear, it is a well-known fact that such people are not to be trusted—they are not like us..."

Lucia's mind wandered off at that last remark. Dejen was not like the most Romans, this was so. For one thing, he would not have stabbed his friend in the back. Such falseness should be left to Brutus and his two faces. But how clever of him to blame Dejen, knowing the public would believe it because of his complexion...

"My dear," Aelia said, interrupting Lucia's thoughts, "are you well?"

"Forgive me," Lucia replied, "I am a bit weary—when did you say they were going execute the Ethiopian?"

"The day after tomorrow. They've delayed it because of tomorrow's Bacchanalia."

"I see—Aelia?"

"Yes, my dear?"

"Where can I procure some sleeping draught? I've not been sleeping well, you see..."

Following Aelia's directions, Lucia obtained the sleeping draught and paid Brutus a visit later that night. She lured him to an inn near Dejen's prison. And while he was not looking, she flavoured his wine with the sleeping draught. A few minutes later, Brutus was as limp as a corpse. Lucia spat in his face before continuing with her plan.

At the prison, she took more of the flavoured wine and gave it to the remaining guards. "A gift from Brutus," she added. They made a toast to his health. Lucia then obtained the keys and opened Dejen's cell.

"Lucia? What on earth are you doing here?"

"Rescuing the innocent man, whom I love."

"You love—" Lucia kissed him before he could finish. He smiled, "I assume that's a yes."

"Come, my love, we haven't much time. Help me get that into the cell."

"Is that Brutus?"

"Yes, the true murder—I saw the whole thing."

"What is that?" asked Dejen, referring to the parchment Lucia dropped outside of the cell.

"It's a letter detailing everything I witnessed. I wrote as though it was Brutus' confession stemming from a guilty conscience—I left another copy in the Senate. Come, we must go directly to the docks. A ship is waiting to take us to the East—"

"And where will we go from there?" Dejen asked with a confused look on his face.

Lucia smiled. "To your home—I've always wanted to see it."

Dejen kissed her, "Come then, my love. Let us not delay."