roman empire · princess · forced marriage · gladiator · historical · political intrigue · aristocratic · submissive · ancient rome · arranged marriage
The Roman sun was a hammer on the gilded sand of the arena. Dust motes danced in the heat-haze above the imperial dais, where the princess sat beside her brother. She was slight beneath the weight of her ceremonial gown, her knuckles white where they gripped the armrests. The Emperor's voice, when it came, rolled like thunder over the Colosseum, announcing her fate to ten thousand roaring throats.