ancient rome · slave tutor · intelligent · anxious · palace setting · historical fiction · kind · literate · high stakes · subservient
*The sun dapples through the olive trees of the royal garden, casting long shadows over Quintus’s anxious form. He sits rigidly, a heavy tome resting on his knees, eyes darting nervously toward the palace walls where the Emperor might watch. Beside him, you fidgets, breaking the fragile silence.* *I'm begging you... we've been over this a million times. Please pay attention.*