Chapter 316
“Absolutely not.”
“The decision has already been made. Why bring this up out of nowhere?”
The sister and brother stubbornly refused to yield an inch.
Nothing like this had ever happened before.
Achilles had always followed Sophia’s wishes, and Sophia had never refused any of Achilles’s requests.
This first real argument between the siblings had taken on a remarkably serious tone.
It was a far cry from indulging a child begging for a toy or a card.
This was no trivial matter.
“Leaving Rome? What exactly went through your head to reach that conclusion? I won’t allow it.”
“Father has already given his permission. Even if you refuse, Sister, nothing will change.”
“I can just persuade Father. And if you tell him you’ve changed your mind, he won’t say a word. Why on earth did he agree to such nonsense...?”
Her final mutter was laced with sheer disbelief.
Achilles closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them.
He carefully voiced the true feelings he had kept hidden until now.
“I cannot achieve my dreams here. I don’t want to remain a man who accomplishes nothing.”
“Why would you accomplish nothing? There are plenty of stages for you to shine on, just like in this recent war. If you simply keep proving your abilities like you have been, I can put you in a fitting position—”
“Could you place me at the absolute peak of the Military Command?”
“...What?”
“I mean, assuming I proved I had the necessary ability. But it would be impossible, wouldn’t it? Those seats belong to Agrippa and Brother. I have no intention of pushing Brother aside to take that position, either. After everything you’ve both done for me, no decent person could do such a thing.”
Achilles calmly pointed out the reality.
Even Sophia, who normally unspooled logic like a flowing river, could not offer a single rebuttal this time.
It was true.
She had promised to give him a position matching his abilities, but she had only ever envisioned him as a legion commander at best.
Achilles was a unique case—a member of the House of Julius-Licinius who shared none of the Julius blood.
While it wasn’t unheard of in Rome for an inheritance to pass to an adopted child without blood ties, that only happened when a family lacked a proper heir.
It was a tragic thing to be denied the treatment one’s abilities deserved simply because of one’s birth.
If Achilles had been a complete outsider with no connection to the family, he might have been able to climb to a position like Agrippa’s.
Being Marcus’s son was a heavy shackle holding him back.
“I understand how you feel. I’m a little hurt that you didn’t tell me sooner... but shouldn’t we think this through together a bit more? This isn’t the right way. There’s a problem, so you’re just going to leave? When I get back, I’ll have to have a word with Father about this. Sending you off like this is basically driving you out.”
“Sister...”
For the first time during their conversation, Achilles’s expression wavered.
Still, his resolve remained unbroken.
“Even if I have to tear down and rebuild the entire power structure, I’ll make a place for you. So please, reconsider.”
“You can’t do that. It is completely irrational to suffer so many losses just for me—”
“You’re my brother!”
Sophia’s voice laid her raw emotions bare.
She wasn’t just blaming her brother for making a hasty decision; she was blaming herself.
If she had only noticed the conflict brewing inside him earlier, she never would have let things come to this.
“You’ve always been like this, ever since we were young. I am truly grateful. If you hadn’t looked after me, Sister, I might have been crushed by the expectations around me.”
“Right. And I’ve always managed to work things out, haven’t I? I’ll find a solution this time too, and for the future. Just trust your sister. How do you think Mother will feel if you just up and leave like this?”
The ‘Mother’ Sophia referred to was not Julia, but Danae.
She had always called Julia ‘Mom’ and Danae ‘Mother’.
Unlike Achilles, Danae was not strictly a member of the family.
Yet Sophia had never failed to address her as Mother, a gesture that both Danae and Achilles were deeply grateful for.
“I’ve already spoken with Mother. She said it was fine since she has Father. I know it’s a shameless request from a failure of a son, but... please look after her, Sister.”
“No, I’m telling you I can fix this. You don’t have to go this far.”
Achilles closed his eyes again.
He had expected this.
Knowing the sister he had grown up with, he figured she would react exactly like this.
If Achilles had truly laid bare all his ambitions to her earlier, Sophia would have devised a way to make it happen, no matter what it took.
But she shouldn’t.
There were social conventions to consider, not to mention the limits of the practical system.
She was already slated to become the first female leader in Rome’s history; he couldn’t burden her further with his own dead weight.
“This is exactly why Father permitted me to leave. To prevent you from feeling a false sense of responsibility and overextending yourself for my sake.”
“That’s ridiculous... You’re basically saying he drove you out for my sake, or for Trajan’s. I won’t accept that.”
“I’m not being driven out. I made a bet with Father. A test to see if I truly had the caliber to establish my own domain. That’s why I was allowed to lead a legion in this war, and why Sir Surenas accompanied me to evaluate my abilities. Though I suspect you had already guessed that part, Sister.”
She had thought he was simply running away in despair because his environment wouldn’t let him fully utilize his talents.
That was why she believed there was a way to keep him here.
But Achilles was looking at a much bigger picture.
Sophia realized that her once-little brother had already grown up enough to look out for her in return.
He wasn’t leaving like an exile being chased away.
If his resolve was this firm, perhaps supporting his challenge was her duty as his family.
“...If you’re truly set on this, I won’t say anything more.”
“Thank you.”
Her previously rising voice had gradually softened.
Sophia asked in a much steadier tone.
“Have you thought about where you’ll go? Don’t tell me you plan to just wander aimlessly outside Rome’s borders.”
“I have no choice but to head east. The west is already Rome’s domain all the way to the ends of the earth. Have you ever seen the world map Father made?”
“You’ve seen it too?”
“So you have seen it. That makes this easier. Rome is vast, but it is by no means the entire world. There is still so much of this earth left to tread.”
“East... that’s nomad territory right now.”
“A nomadic life doesn’t sound too bad. Honestly, I prefer meat over wheat anyway.”
Sophia let out a small chuckle at his casual joke.
“If things don’t go as planned, don’t be stubborn—just come back to Rome. Promise me that much, and I won’t try to stop you anymore.”
“Understood. I promise I won’t let pointless pride keep me away.”
“And even if you do settle down out there, don’t think of me... no, don’t think of our family as being too distant. No matter where you go, you are a member of our family and my brother.”
Sophia’s voice carried genuine worry for her brother.
Achilles couldn’t help but feel profoundly touched.
Rome was full of half-siblings, but bonds like theirs were rare.
There were as many cases of people cutting down their own family for getting in their way as there were grains of sand on a beach.
And it was even worse among siblings born of different mothers.
If Sophia or Trajan had wanted to, they could easily have sabotaged Achilles to prevent him from receiving a proper education.
It was no exaggeration to say that the greatest blessing Achilles had ever enjoyed was having an older brother and sister who cherished him.
Feeling the weight of that truth all over again, he slightly bowed his head.
“Then... I’ll take my leave and handle the rest of my tasks. I need to write a report for Father and prepare for what comes next.”
“Go on, then. I should look into what more I can do on my end, too.”
Sophia gladly escorted Achilles out of her room.
No matter how their paths diverged in the future, they would always be sister and brother.
Feeling the deep trust and affection in the eyes watching him leave, Achilles made a quiet vow to himself.
He would absolutely repay the grace he had been given.
It was a vow that would not waver, no matter what position he eventually reached.
※※※
Achilles left Satavahana and returned to Rome ahead of Sophia and Trajan.
The two of them still had many issues to resolve and would only be able to return next year.
This was much easier for Achilles.
Grand farewells didn’t suit his temper.
He apologized and expressed his gratitude to his mother over and over again.
Though she shed tears, she understood his decision, wishing only for her son to unleash his full potential and grow even greater.
She was far too wonderful a mother for such an unfilial son.
His teacher, Spartacus, encouraged him, telling him never to lose his confidence that he was the best, no matter where he went.
Next was Marcus’s turn.
He respected his son’s wishes, just as they had discussed previously.
“I have read Surenas’s report thoroughly, several times over. However, you have merely cleared the absolute bare minimum. Do not let this go to your head. Never forget that everything you have enjoyed up until now was only possible because you had Rome and me backing you.”
“I will keep that in mind.”
“Also, Sophia sent a letter requesting that I fully support your departure, even saying I could empty her own coffers to do it.”
“Sister went that far...?”
“As I told you before, I can only provide material support. You must gather the people who will leave with you yourself.”
It was a given.
Achilles wasn’t going on an expedition in the name of Rome.
He had to be grateful he was receiving any material support at all.
“I have already secured my people. I’ve also made preparations so we can set out the moment I return to the East.”
“I see... You’ve left no loose ends. I will provide armor, weapons, and agricultural tools in case you need them. However, you may not take anyone who knows top-secret manufacturing methods. I hope you don’t find that too cold of me.”
“Not at all. I know perfectly well that simply providing these supplies is an overwhelming courtesy.”
The rest of the final conversation between father and son remained strictly rational and businesslike.
It was better this way, keeping their emotions in check.
Because it wouldn’t do to shed unsightly tears on his way out of Rome.
Rising from his seat, Achilles offered his final farewell with the most respectful tone and posture he could muster.
“Thank you once again for everything you have given me. Please forgive me that words are the only thanks I can offer right now.”
“Right.”
Marcus gave a curt nod.
It was a very fatherly farewell.
Achilles gave a bitter smile and was just about to turn away when a calm yet somewhat sorrowful voice called out, stopping him in his tracks.
“Achilles.”
“Yes?”
“Take care of yourself.”
That single phrase, packed with so much emotion and meaning, finally broke the dam of his tears.
Achilles dropped straight to his knees, bowing and thanking him over and over again.
For accepting him, the son of a mistress, into the family. For letting him call him ‘Father’ proudly in front of everyone else. And above all, for bringing him into this world.
‘It has been an honor to live as your son, Father.’
As Achilles marched outside, his eyes shone with the will to face the future, and his strides carried his conviction to forge his own path.
Achilles Licinius Crassus, son of Marcus and Danae.
He had left the vast embrace of his father and Rome behind, crossing the threshold into the immense outside world.