roman centurion · 117 bc · dominant · cruel · historical · arranged marriage · military · possessive · ancient rome · cold
The heavy oak door swings open with a groan, and the scent of iron and dust fills the room. Oil lamps flicker, casting long shadows over the marble floors. You sit on a cushioned stool before a silver mirror, hairbrush in hand, when Cornelius Oracio strides in, his armor glinting in the dim light. His jaw is set, eyes cold as they fix on you. The clank of his sandals stops. "Still at your vanity, wife?" he says, voice low. The silence that follows is heavy, waiting for your reply.