Chapter 311
The siblings’ conversation lasted late into the night.
Escorted by soldiers, Sophia and Trajan returned to their estate.
Achilles parted ways with them, heading home lost in thought.
‘Is this really how it turns out?’
The meeting had run long, and the streets were already steeped in darkness.
Still, walking alone through the dark didn’t bother Achilles in the slightest.
The area was regularly patrolled, so there was no real danger. Even if a few thugs were roaming about, they wouldn’t pose a threat to him anyway.
Inside, however, Achilles’s heart was burning into ash even blacker than the night around him.
‘Will I ever find my purpose if I stay here?’
Achilles had barely spoken during the meeting.
It wasn’t that Sophia and Trajan had excluded him.
If anything, Sophia had consistently asked for his opinion.
He hadn’t answered simply because there was no need to.
Right from the first topic—the issue of Satavahana’s succession—Sophia had proceeded without a single hitch.
She had clearly discussed it with Octavian beforehand.
With Trajan adding his own input, there was practically no room for Achilles to interject.
Besides, he simply wasn’t equipped to come up with better plans than Sophia or Octavian.
In fact, the final decision on how to handle Satavahana was exactly what Sophia had proposed.
‘It can’t be helped. That was never my field anyway.’
He had known for a long time that he could never match those two in terms of intellect.
That fact didn’t particularly alienate him.
His own abilities lay strictly in military matters.
Riding into battle on horseback, charging the enemy, and trampling their lines.
If he didn’t go to war, he couldn’t prove his worth.
Of course, at this rate, an armed conflict in India was inevitable.
But even when that time came, Achilles knew it wouldn’t necessarily be a purely good thing for him.
Walking with these complicated feelings, he arrived at his estate before he knew it.
Spotting him, a servant approached and bowed in greeting.
“Have you just returned, young master? The lady of the house is looking for you.”
“I understand. I’ll go right away.”
There was only one person on this estate called the lady of the house.
Achilles’s mother, Danae.
His filial devotion was so deep that if she called, he would run to her immediately, even in the dead of night.
Danae’s residence was a luxurious mansion that rivaled those of the wealthiest elites in Rome.
Achilles was led not to his mother’s room, but to the large garden in front of the house.
It was her private garden, a gift from Marcus eight years ago.
“You’re back? You’re a little late.”
Even as she aged, Danae remained a great beauty.
Her charm did not fall short in the slightest when compared to any noblewoman in Rome.
The elegance naturally radiating from her actions and speech had only deepened with the passing years.
“I walked back. I had a lot on my mind.”
“Did you have some kind of issue with Sophia or Trajan?”
“No. I’m hardly in a position to cause trouble with my sister or brother.”
“Or perhaps they are leaving you out...”
“Nothing like that. If anything, they always pay close attention to ensure I don’t feel intimidated. You know this, Mother. They’ve been like that ever since we were young.”
Danae gave a slight nod.
As her son said, she knew this well.
Naturally, within the household, Achilles was in a position where he had to be more mindful of his standing compared to Sophia or Trajan.
Understanding this since childhood, Sophia had taken special care to ensure her half-brother never felt diminished.
She had even severely punished a servant who once spread rumors about Achilles.
Danae had always been grateful for the eldest daughter’s thoughtfulness.
“Then what is bothering you? I’m asking because you seem to have had a lot on your mind recently, not just today.”
There was no escaping his mother’s sharp eye.
Perhaps it was because she had spent her entire life by Marcus’s side.
Her gaze was distinctly different from that of the noble matriarchs who had lived idle lives of luxury since childhood.
“It might just be my own inferiority complex. No matter how well my sister and brother treat me, I am different from them. Can I really continue to stay here... That thought has been growing stronger lately.”
“So that is why you so readily volunteered to go to the East.”
Achilles did not deny it.
The deep-seated anxiety he had carried for a long time naturally spilled from his lips.
“I don’t really know how my sister feels about me. Whether it’s just pity, or genuine family affection, or both... honestly, I suspect it’s both.”
“Wouldn’t Sophia be hurt if she knew you thought that way?”
“Probably. She might even think she should have treated me better. I believe her feelings are completely sincere. But I also can’t deny that she can afford to be kind precisely because her position is so secure and free of ulterior motives.”
That was exactly where his dilemma deepened.
As previously mentioned, Achilles’s standing was different from that of his half-siblings.
Though they were all Marcus’s children, Sophia and Trajan possessed the flawless bloodline of the House of Julius-Licinius.
They were the only two in all of Rome who directly inherited the blood of both Marcus and Caesar.
Achilles had been adopted into the family, but he had absolutely no connection to Caesar’s lineage.
The same was true for the daughters of Cleopatra and Arsinoe, but they had the solid foundation of Egypt, making their situation entirely different.
“Right now, it’s not a problem because I have no connections and no background. And of course, I’m sure my sister wouldn’t completely mistreat me even if she becomes the supreme power later. But there will definitely be a ceiling to how high I can rise. Going past that would only sow the seeds of discord.”
“I have heard that you possess extraordinary talent. It is only natural, seeing as you share his blood...”
Danae could understand the root of her son’s worries.
The reality was that no matter how hard Achilles worked, he would never surpass Trajan, let alone Sophia.
In truth, he would be lucky to be handed any real authority at all.
“A war will break out in India soon.”
“...Is that so? Much blood will be spilled again.”
“I realized it for certain today. My sister is fundamentally kind, but she is not so weak as to rely purely on appeasement. Perhaps it is Octavian’s influence. Either way, Rome’s policies will not change from what they are now. It could be that Father is already training his successors in that direction.”
“So what do you want to do? Participate in that war and unleash your abilities to the fullest? I wouldn’t recommend it. If you hone your skills at the military academy in the East, you would certainly play a massive role in the upcoming war. But then, just as you said, your position might become even more precarious.”
“I know. That’s why I plan to speak with Father.”
The dizzying mess of thoughts in his head had largely settled into place.
This conversation was simply the process of solidifying them.
Ultimately, the frustration he felt would never be resolved unless he spoke with the man who held all the decision-making power.
The time was approaching to untangle the knotted threads of fate that had begun to twist the moment he was born.
*
“You have something to say?”
“Did Mother tell you?”
“She did. She mentioned that you had a lot on your mind and asked me to hear you out. It’s rare for her to make such a request, which is why I set up this meeting right away.”
Marcus’s response had been immediate.
Fundamentally, he loved all of his children deeply.
He was, of course, fully aware of Achilles’s internal conflict.
But that didn’t mean Marcus could just step in and fix it for him.
He knew exactly how Sophia and Trajan would react if he did.
Giving even the slightest impression that Marcus favored Achilles would bring absolutely no benefit to the boy’s future.
Maintaining an appropriate distance was the best approach.
By strictly observing that rule, he had ensured that the relationship between the half-siblings remained harmonious to this day.
“Did you receive the report from our recent meeting?”
“Octavian submitted the report this morning. It was absolutely flawless. Well done.”
“I didn’t do a thing. My sister handled almost all of it.”
“Does your current dilemma have something to do with that?”
Marcus’s insight was truly remarkable.
With just a subtle shift in Achilles’s expression and tone, he seemed to peer right through his heart.
In a situation like this, there was no need to beat around the bush.
Achilles directly stated the conclusion he had reached.
“When the war with Satavahana breaks out, please make me a legion commander.”
“...You mean you want to establish merits on the battlefield?”
“I know well that I am severely lacking right now. But the war won’t break out for at least another few years. In the meantime, I will hone my skills in the East. So please, when the time comes, give me the chance to prove my capabilities.”
Marcus did not answer immediately.
War was on a completely different level from the mock battles his son usually experienced.
With a stroke of bad luck, even the most brilliant commander could lose their life. The risk was ever-present.
Anyone would be reluctant to send their own child into such a place.
It would be a different story if he were in a position to solely command from the rear, but Achilles was not that type of commander.
Receiving regular reports on his son’s tendencies and tactical achievements, Marcus understood this better than anyone.
“It is true that the Roman army operates on a completely different level of superiority compared to Satavahana. Our weaponry, as well as our strategy, tactics, and overall systems, are beyond comparison. But that doesn’t mean there is no threat. No matter how much steel you wrap yourself in, you can still fall from your horse, and you’ll be killed instantly if trampled under an elephant’s foot. Frankly, I am quite reluctant to permit this. Unless, of course, you promise me you won’t charge in like Spartacus and will instead command from the rear.”
“If I die like that, it simply means that was the extent of my worth. Father, I am not underestimating war. Naturally, I fear death, and I will do everything in my power to stay alive. But war isn’t what truly terrifies me. There is something I dread far more than taking my last breath on a battlefield.”
“Something more terrifying than dying?”
“It’s slowly wasting away here in Rome, unable to prove anything. I’m afraid that no matter how much power I build or how high I elevate my skills, I will end up with nothing, without even getting a proper chance.”
A trace of bitterness and sorrow surfaced on Marcus’s face.
How could he not understand his son’s feelings?
“I do want to grant your request. But think this through. Even if you lead a legion and achieve incredible feats... it will only quench your thirst for a moment. Later on, it might become a shackle that binds you.”
“I know. I don’t care. Because the person whose acknowledgment I seek isn’t my sister or brother, it’s you, Father.”
“But moving forward, it is those two you will have to live alongside, not me.”
This time, Achilles did not answer immediately.
Instead, taking a deep breath, he shook his head with a resolute expression.
When he finally spoke, his voice was lower than before.
“The reason I said I want to prove my abilities to you is to earn your backing. If... if you judge that I am capable enough, please lend me your strength.”
“What do you...”
“I will absolutely never do anything to harm Rome’s national interests. Nor do I have any intention of causing trouble for my sister and brother. If you will just do that for me...”
With a slightly trembling voice, he finally confessed the secret ambition he had harbored for so long.
“I will leave Rome on my own feet.”