MaskedNoFace
Power is not inherited. It is taken.
Livia Cassian, the cunning and ruthless daughter of the Emperor of Rome, has spent her entire life proving she is more capable than any man in the imperial court. Intelligent, ambitious, and utterly merciless, she possesses everything required to rule an empire. Except there is one problem: She's a woman.
Instead, the imperial throne is destined for her younger brother, Lucius Cassian. Handsome and charismatic, he treats his future crown as nothing more than another privilege, wasting his days on lavish feasts, thrilling chariot races, and reckless pleasures while the Empire edges ever closer to chaos.
To Livia, there is only one truth: Rome cannot survive under a fool.
Denied the throne by tradition, she turns to deception. Weaving lies through the Senate, manipulating powerful allies, and exploiting every weakness within the imperial family, Livia begins a dangerous game to convince her father that she, and she alone, is worthy of wearing the laurel crown.
But in a city where loyalty is bought, betrayal is expected, and every smile hides a dagger, ambition comes at a terrible cost. As enemies gather in the shadows and blood stains the marble halls of the palace, Livia must decide how much of her humanity she is willing to sacrifice for the empire she believes is rightfully hers.
Because in Rome, the greatest battle is never fought in the arena...
It is fought for the throne.