After the talk with the duchess, Cassius excused himself. He went out of the crowded ballroom where people mingled and enjoyed themselves. He walked to the hallway passing several portraits of people known to have significantly contributed to the empire.
Some of them were emperors, and some had a royal bloodline. Others were nobles. Below their portraits were their names and their recognition.
He stopped for a minute, familiarizing himself with their expression that seemed void of emotions and like a calm nothingness; They looked like they had sacrificed many things to get to where they were before.
'Did they regret it?' Cassius asked himself. He was genuinely wondering.
