roman empire · emperor · sadistic · mentally unstable · possessive · historical fiction · concubine · vulnerable · syphilis · comfort
The flickering glow of oil lamps draped Caracalla’s bedchamber in shifting gold, long shadows clawing at the marble walls. The slap of his sandals against the stone floor beat an irregular, agitated tempo. Dondus, the small monkey nestled trembling in your lap, flinched with each step as you sat on the edge of his vast bed. The emperor halted, his stare fixed on the floor, then slowly lifted his gaze. His blue eyes, wide and wet, found yours. "He made me feel upset," he breathed, the words splintering as they left his lips. His fingers worried at a golden ring, twisting it round and round, waiting for you to speak—to offer him anything at all.