Chapter 2
THE TWO MEN AVOIDED THE MAIN ROADS, AND THEY let their horses rest midway. The journey took more time than they expected, but they managed to reach Croude while the sun was still high in the sky. It was a small city, but it was blessed with a large lake, making it a picturesque spot for citizens. Many nobles and wealthy people had a villa by the lake, and Anela’s beautiful manor was also erected near the water.
It’d been six months since Lucianus last set foot in Croude; he’d gone to visit Anela, who had been sick and bedridden. She was close friends with Lucianus’s late mother, and every time they met, her eyes would grow damp with tears.
“You take after your mother, Maurya,” she’d say.
Lucianus viewed his kind aunt as his other mother. As always, Anela greeted her nephew warmly despite his sudden appearance. She didn’t seem surprised by Dominatus’s presence and instead smiled at the two men.
“How rare it is for you to bring a friend with you, Lucianus,” she said.
She showed the two of them to the sunroom which provided a fabulous view of the lake, and had one of her servants bring posca, a drink made from water and vinegar mixed with herbs and spices.
“You made this posca, didn’t you?” Lucianus asked. “It’s delicious.”
After quenching his parched throat with the refreshing beverage, he introduced his partner to his aunt.
“This man’s name is Dominatus, a gladiator,” he said. “Do you know of him?”
“I do,” Anela replied. “I’m not too fond of the colosseum, so I’ve never seen his matches, but I’ve heard of his name. Dominatus, was it? You’re rumored to be very strong.”
Dominatus bowed his head to the lady.
“It’s unusual for you to have a gladiator for a friend, Lucianus,” Anela said.
“He’s not just a friend,” Lucianus replied. “He’s, well… I’m not quite sure how to say this. He’s my b-beloved, so to speak…”
Lucianus fumbled over his words while divulging his relationship. This must be how it feels when your face is ablaze, he thought.
“He’s your lover, I take it?” Alena replied frankly.
“C-correct,” Lucianus nodded.
“I didn’t take you for a gay man, Lucianus. Not once did I notice that you had such tendencies.”
“I didn’t notice it myself until I met Dominatus. After much worrying and agonizing, I ended up falling deeply in love with this man to the point where I cannot live if he’s not by my side.”
Anela gave an awkward expression, but she understood Lucianus’s heartfelt words. She nodded and smiled.
“You used to only be interested in studying,” she said. “The fact that you’ve fallen in love with another person for the first time in your life is something to be celebrated. It’s proof of your maturity.”
“Thank you. But there’s actually one more thing you should know about us, my dear aunt.”
Lucianus spoke of Dominatus defeating Grucos, earning the ire of the emperor. As Dominatus was now a wanted man, Juliana had recommended the two to head for D’Aleppo.
“My goodness,” Alena said somberly. “Azerius has grown more tyrannical with age. His wife, Oltavia, had mentioned that she couldn’t stand his recent autocratic attitude. She only chooses to see him during public events.” She clutched Lucianus’s hands and said, “I agree with Juliana. You must head for my older brother in D’Aleppo. I’m sure that he’ll help you. This manor is safe for now, so spend a night here and leave early in the morning tomorrow.”
“Thank you, Aunt Alena,” Lucianus replied.
The two men were guided to a guest room to spend the night, and they were left alone. Lucianus gazed out the window as he breathed a sigh of relief.
“The red leaves look beautiful,” he noted.
The red and yellow trees were reflected in the surface of the clear lake, creating a gorgeous view.
“I’m sorry, Lucianus,” Dominatus said. “I dragged an innocent man like you into my problems.”
Lucianus whirled around and saw the gladiator staring at him, a gloomy shadow in his gaze.
“Innocent? This matter has everything to do with me,” Lucianus replied. “Your problems are mine as well. If the emperor aimed for my life, what would you do?”
“I’d risk my life to protect you, of course.”
Lucianus leaped into the arms of his partner, who embraced without a moment of hesitation.
“And the same goes for me,” Lucianus said. “I’d like to protect you, no matter the sacrifices that I make. Don’t you ever apologize to me again. Is that clear?”
“Lucianus…”
Dominatus wrapped his arms around the noble, his embrace so painfully tight. Lucianus entrusted his body to these strong arms.
“I love you,” the noble whispered into the gladiator’s ear. The words spilled out of his mouth like it was only natural. “I love you from the bottom of my heart.”
Upon hearing Lucianus’s confession, Dominatus changed his tune.
“You finally said it,” he said, a wide smile stretching across his face. “I’ve been waiting for you to say those words. I’d been a bit anxious, believing that perhaps you’d never tell me.”
“I-I’m not one to break a promise. But you know…”
“Know what?” Dominatus grinned.
“You know, timing. I was waiting for the opportune moment. There’s a time and place for everything, isn’t there?”
Dominatus hugged Lucianus and laughed jovially. He couldn’t stop laughing, finding this scene quite humorous. Lucianus couldn’t hide his annoyance as Dominatus continued to guffaw.
“You don’t have to laugh that hard!” Lucianus snapped.
“Oh, but I must. There’s really no such thing as an opportune moment when declaring your love to your partner. You’re so innocent and adorable. Ha ha ha!”
Lucianus simply couldn’t stay angry when he was called cute. He pounded Dominatus’s muscular chest several times to express his annoyance.
“Thank you, Lucianus,” Dominatus said. His face grew solemn, causing Lucianus’s chest to grow tight. “I’ve received your feelings loud and clear. Even when I was suffering from a horrible fever, I knew that you were glued by my side to nurse me back to health. I was haunted by nightmares, but every time your cold hands touched my cheek, my writhing heart calmed down. I’ve known it ever since I first met you. You’re a man with a kind heart.”
Lucianus gazed up at his partner with suspicion. “Are you sure? I don’t think I was kind to you during our initial meeting.”
The gladiator had been awfully rude when they’d first met, and so Lucianus angrily returned the favor, acting prideful. Truthfully, Lucianus had felt that their first impressions were horrible.
“You bought that child slave with good money, sparing him from being purchased by a brothel,” Dominatus said.
“You saw that?” Lucianus asked.
“Yeah. I then spotted some ruffians chasing after you, so I got curious and followed you into that alleyway.”
Lucianus had thought that Dominatus had happened upon them, but it seemed the gladiator had been worried about him.
“Why didn’t you tell me so?” Lucianus asked.
“Because you glared at me, implying that you needed no help.”
“I-I did no such thing.”
Despite the immediate reply, Lucianus recalled how embarrassed he was when he was injured, and how he’d been frustratingly called weak. Indeed, he had acted rather hostile to Dominatus during their first encounter.
“You were rude as well, staring at me,” Lucianus accused.
“I couldn’t help myself,” Dominatus replied. “You were just so beautiful when I saw you up close that you took my breath away. Seeing you stare back at me made my heart throb. I thought I was well past the age for such sentiments, and yet I was in a daze. I was disappointed in myself and equally embarrassed. My words came out harsher than I would’ve liked.”
The gladiator was smiling with his eyes. Lucianus couldn’t tell if those words were truth or flattery, and unsure of how to react, he silently nuzzled his face against Dominatus’s chest.
“I’m sorry for how I acted back then,” Dominatus admitted. “I’ve repented for what I’ve done, and I regret those actions.”
“Regret? Why do you say that?” Lucianus looked up in befuddlement as Dominatus gently brushed his fingers against the noble’s cheek.
“It was my fault for angering you first. Had I been kinder to you, surely you could’ve acted more true to yourself. I’d misunderstood your stubbornness as arrogance fitting of the wealthy son of a noble.”
“I don’t mind. It’s true that I’m arrogant. As the heir of a renowned noble family, I was raised without a care in the world, and I haven’t experienced any real suffering. It’s only natural for you to find me unpleasant.”
Dominatus gave a quick peck on Lucianus’s lips and chuckled. “I didn’t call you unpleasant. You’re not arrogant. You’re just prideful, that’s all.”
“It’s the same thing, isn’t it?”
“Not at all. Arrogant people think of themselves as better than others and tend to become condescending. A prideful man holds dignity in their nobility and rank while they try to maintain it. You’re a kind and virtuous person, but I was unable to see that at first and slept with you as though I was entertaining your whims. I’d been interested in you ever since we met, but I’m not a man worthy of a noble. I thought that I could only touch you by being paid. I deeply regret my first night in bed with you. I was unable to keep myself in check and treated you horribly.”
Dominatus’s amber eyes were clouded with grief. Lucianus didn’t want him to feel any sense of guilt—Lucianus was the one who’d initiated that exchange.
“You don’t have to worry about that. I was the one who provoked you,” Lucianus insisted.
“I was horribly scolded by Raifa,” Dominatus replied.
“By Raifa? You told him about what I did? You’re a horrible man!”
“I wanted his advice. I had no idea what was going through your mind. I could tell that you were in love with me, but I couldn’t understand why you acted like you were used to intercourse even though it was your first time. So, I asked Raifa about it, and he mocked me relentlessly. He said that if I claimed to only sleep with other men for fun, then surely, the only way you could have seduced me is under the guise of frivolous play. He called me dull, and Juliana also said that I was dense when it came to romance. I may be skilled with a sword, but I’m hopeless when it comes to true love. I’m just inexperienced. I’m sorry I am such a boorish man.”
He’s genuinely apologizing. Lucianus found these laudable words endearing and stroked Dominatus’s hair.
“I don’t mind at all,” Lucianus replied. “I’m not used to romance either. As long as our feelings for each other don’t waver, I see no issue. Am I wrong?”
His fingers glided across Dominatus’s lips, and Dominatus grasped Lucianus’s hand to plant a kiss on his fingernails.
“You’re not wrong at all,” Dominatus said. “Can I kiss you?”
“You can, but you can’t be so passionate you make my lips turn red.”
“I’ll do my best,” Dominatus whispered. He sweetly sealed the lips of his beloved with his own.