Marcus decided to meet Antonius at once.
A little younger than Curio, Antonius will turn twenty-three next year.
At twenty-three in Rome, he was considered a charlatan who was just gaining experience.
Curio constantly talked about how much a young man like Antonius could contribute to Rome in the future.
But Marcus knew Antonius's future better than Curio.
According to history, Antonius becomes one of the three who hold power in Rome after Caesar's death.
Together with Octavianus and Lepidus, they form the second triumvirate, bringing bloodshed to Rome for a time, and later rising to the level of dividing Rome with Octavianus.
He had a relationship with the famous Cleopatra of Egypt and tried to overthrow Octavianus, but this only led to his downfall.
Antonius was not a great strategist or an outstanding politician.
He was as brave as anyone, and his tactical command was excellent, but he did not possess the qualities of an emperor.
However, it was undeniable that he was a capable commander.
The fact that it's a big plate that's not meant for a one-man show was just right for Marcus.
The more cards you can use, the better.
Marcus told Curio that he would meet with Antonius.
Curio, who was greatly delighted, gave instructions to his slaves who came with him.
The slave quickly rushed outside.
Within a few minutes, the slave who disappeared a while ago returned with a handsome man.
He must have been waiting outside the mansion in advance because he came so quickly.
"Nice to meet you."
Antonius, a plebeian aristocrat, was the first to bow politely.
"I've heard so many stories from Curio. My name is Antonius."
Marcus looked up at him from his seat.
His first impression was of bold lines, powerful eyes, and a strong presence.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Marcus Crassus."
Marcus asked for another goblet and poured himself a glass of diluted wine.
Sitting down, Antonius politely accepted the glass.
He was not rude enough to show a stiff attitude in front of a person who sponsored him to study abroad.
Before Antonius drank the wine, he thanked him first.
"Thank you so much for doing me a favor."
"It's a Roman aristocrat's duty to support the talented, so don't be too hard on yourself. And if you're Curio's best friend, you're no stranger to me, so don't put too much pressure on yourself."
Marcus didn't bother to make Curio feel better about himself subtly.
As expected, Curio's face lit up as he listened.
"Thanks to you, Marcus, I can breathe a little easier. Thank you so much."
"What were you going to do if I refused?"
"If I had...I would have asked someone else I was close to. It's either Pompeius or Cicero."
"By the way, you're in quite a bit of debt yourself, so why don't you just worry about your friend? I could get you involved in a profitable business if you want."
"Oh, no, that's okay, I've been thinking about paying off my debts...."
Curio smiled vaguely and murmured his words.
In fact, Curio's debt was more than a little overwhelming.
He was so deeply in debt that he could have been compared to Caesar at his age.
And yet, he was laid back, as if he had somehow gotten away with it.
Knowing what happened next, Marcus had a theory.
But for others, it was just a question of where Curio's guts came from.
Marcus turned his head to Antonius again, pretending not to know.
"So, Antonius, you said you were planning to study abroad in Greece, but what exactly do you plan to learn?"
"I'm going to learn rhetoric for now."
"Rhetoric? You're thinking of going into politics?"
"...I don't know, I'm actually going to Greece because I can't stand being in Rome anymore...."
Antonius was frank about his current situation.
It was rather good to see him admit it neatly without bluffing.
Marcus decided to recommend a route that would be perfect for Antonius.
He asked with a smile.
"A talent like you shouldn't be spending your days in Greece studying rhetoric. We all have things we're good at and things we're not. I pride myself on my discernment, but I think you'd look better in armor than in a toga. Have you thought about getting some experience in the military?"
"The military.... Not that I don't have ideas, but I don't have many military connections yet, so I thought I'd try to establish a foothold in Greece first, and then apply to the army in Asia Minor."
"You don't have to go back that far. I was in Pompeius' legions, so I am quite familiar with the legionaries who remain in the East. There's a commander in Damascus named Gabinius, and I'll write him a letter of introduction, which you can take with you. He'll make you an officer in the city's cavalry and give you experience. I will see to it that your debts are moderately reduced."
"Well, are you sure? If you'll do that...…."
Antonius's face brightened.
In fact, he also knew well that he was not very talented in rhetoric or anything.
I would have preferred to gain experience in the military and earn military honors rather than study abroad.
The East may have fallen into Roman hands, but that doesn't mean the conflict is over.
Many small and large skirmishes were still going on nearby in Judea and Egypt.
It was the best place to work for hands-on experience.
Having received an unbelievable opportunity, Antonius suddenly wondered why he was doing this to himself.
Even if it's a favor from Curio, there's no reason to do this much for a stranger.
But it was also true that deceiving Antonius wouldn't do Marcus any good.
Antonius asked as politely as he could without giving away his suspicions.
"But if you don't mind, where do you look at me and give me this kind of support?… May I ask why?"
"Think of it as an investment. I may have taken a seat in the Senate, but I still judge people with the eye of a merchant. And as I said before, I pride myself on being a good judge of character. I see you as a man capable of greatness, and it is in our mutual interest to extend grace while we can."
"But what if I don't grow as much as you expect?"
"Then I'll just neatly admit that I had bad judgment and move on. In return, I have one request of you. If I find myself in need of your powers in the future, I will contact you, and you must not refuse my call. Of course, I'm not asking you to be my henchman forever, just once when I really need you. Is that acceptable to you?"
"Of course."
Without a second's hesitation, he replied.
For Antonius, it was much less anxiety-inducing to put conditions on it.
Because there's nothing worse than a favor you don't know why.
In particular, he was more cautious because he had often seen the dark side of society since he was young.
This caution on Antonius's part pleased Marcus even more.
He's boisterous and cool but with an animal instinct for the crisis.
He might not be as good as Pompeius or Caesar, but he was better suited to be less than both.
A long shadow fell beneath Marcus' face, who lifted the glass of wine and took it to his mouth.
The smile that spread from the shadows was hidden from Curio and Antonius.
* * *
There were some minor movements, such as Antonius' departure to the East and Clodius' daily criticisms of the Senate, but nothing major.
Clodius constantly got on the Senate's nerves but never crossed a red line.
Cicero, the restless one, also settled down.
As time passed and September approached, Rome's full attention was focused on Pompeius's upcoming triumphus.
At this time, neither the Senate nor Clodius fought a war of nerves.
The entire city is buzzing with excitement for what will be the most spectacular and large-scale triumphus in Roman history.
Everyone stamped their feet with the desire to see the triumphus as soon as possible.
On the other hand, Marcus was nervous in an entirely different sense.
For the majority of Roman citizens, September marked the triumphus of Pompeius, but not for Marcus.
This is because Julia was due to give birth in September.
After Sextilis (August), Marcus was so worried that he couldn't even get his hands on it.
At first, he was sure that Julia would be okay if she prepared thoroughly, even if she died of labor in history.
But when it was time for Julia to eat, she noticed something was wrong around her.
Cellini, a fellow pregnant woman, was the first to feel discomfort.
Julia remarked that her stomach seemed to be filling up strangely faster.
At first, he thought it was just a feeling, but after a while, he could definitely see with his naked eye that something was different.
The bump on Cellini a month early, and Julia's belly, already almost too close in size and shape so far, seemed to signal it.
There was only one answer.
"I think you're pregnant with twins."
When the doctor's diagnosis came down, Marcus' worries literally doubled.
He wasn't sure if Julia could handle having not one but two babies.
Eventually, every two months, Marcus gained knowledge of childbirth and maternal health care and informed Julia.
At this time, there were so many wrong folk remedies that Marcus had to look at everything from one to ten.
"Julia, when you are pregnant with twins, it's especially good to drink more water and eat more food, and you also need to take folic acid and iron.... No, I don't know what it is anyway, but you should eat fruit, which has a lot of good stuff in it, and you need to stay active at a reasonable level, so go for a short walk every day and...."
In addition, special attention was paid to hygiene, and Julia's items were disinfected with boiling water and soap.
The twins were said to have a high chance of being born prematurely, so doctors and midwives were stationed at the mansion in August.
Despite all this preparation, anxiety reached its peak in September.
Not even the heat of the streets could be felt as the upcoming triumphus approached.
Rome in early September was still hot, albeit with a slight break in the scorching heat.
And finally, the day came when he had waited so long and didn't want it to come.
When Julia began to go into labor, the midwives, who had been waiting in the wings, quickly took her to the bedroom.
"...."
Marcus didn't even attend the Senate meetings, instead wandering up and down the atrium in front of his bedroom.
"It'll be fine, Master, because Cellini had a child last month, too."
Spartacus, who stood by his side, tried to console him, but Marcus clearly remembered his behavior the previous month.
"I remember you were more nervous than I was."
"Yes.... That's what...."
"Besides, Julia's giving birth to twins, what if something happens?"
Marcus muttered, his face a mixture of anxiety, impatience, and a certain helplessness.
Seeing this, Danae grabbed a towel and held it out to him.
"Master, you're sweating too much."
"Oh, yeah?"
Marcus, who was not even aware that he had become sweaty, picked up a towel and wiped his face.
"I said the same thing to Spartacus last month, and your restlessness here isn't going to change anything. I think you should take a break, even if it means waiting."
"Oh, yeah, right, why don't we take a break and wait?"
Taking Danae's advice, Marcus was just about to turn around.
Marcus's steps stopped at the sound of the baby crying from the bedroom.
"Hey, are you born?"
As he turned red in the face, Danae gently grabbed the edge of his robe as he reflexively made his way to the bedroom.
"Master, the birth is not over yet."
"Oh, I see. Because they're twins...."
Still, knowing that at least one baby was delivered safely eased his nerves, even if only slightly.
Usually, in the case of twins, when one comes out, the delivery of the other proceeds quickly.
In some cases, it was over in a few minutes if it was short.
He couldn't wait to get into the bedroom and tell his wife that she'd done a great job.
Marcus paced the atrium, suppressing his impatience, until he heard the second baby's cry.
Even after the delivery, Marcus could not enter the bedroom immediately.
As soon as the doctor, who had been watching the situation, granted permission, Marcus entered the room and saw Julia lying on the bed.
Her face was pale as if she had been through all the hardships in the world in one day.
All the while, the most dazzling smile he had ever seen graced her face.
"Julia, how are you feeling, are you okay?"
"Mr. Marcus...…. You don't look so good."
Drenched in sweat, Julia smiled faintly and joked.
Marcus patted his chest, relieved that he had even that much energy left.
It's different from history.
Neither Julia nor the child was harmed.
Only then did Marcus, who was able to look around calmly, give a look to the baby held by the midwife.
"Are those children...?"
"Yes. They are our children, the children of the two of us."
"Did I really become a father...."
As Marcus approached, the midwife slightly turned her arms forward so that the children's faces could be seen well.
"Congratulations. They're both very healthy, and surprisingly, they're twins, but with different genders. The first one was a girl and the second one was a boy, and I've taken a lot of babies in my life, but I can count on one hand the number of times they've been different genders."
"Fraternal twins?"
Marcus' eyes widened at the unexpected result.
He was only thinking about two daughters or sons, but he didn't realize he would have both.
Marcus washed himself and his hands and took his daughter from the midwife.
It was such a light and incredibly soft touch that he could hardly feel the weight.
Now that he has a son and a daughter, the thought of succession planning hasn't really crossed his mind.
The child in his arms and the other child closing his eyes in the midwife's arms are just lovely.
Especially with his daughter in his arms, he wasn't confident that he could discipline her if she misbehaved.
"Is this how you become a Talbabo?" (Note: Talbabo = A father who loves his daughter so much)
Unable to believe he was thinking such a stupid thing, Marcus smirked and handed the child back to the midwife.
The doctor told Julia to take absolute rest for a day.
He told her to get help from the people around her if she had to raise her body.
It was so obvious that both Marcus and Julia immediately nodded in agreement.
Marcus generously whispered words of love and appreciation to his wife, who had suffered twice as much as the others.
He'll be back to his normal self tomorrow, but for today, he wanted to indulge himself with the emotional rush.
Eventually, Marcus gazed longingly at his two children and then at Julia until the doctor said it was time to go.
Congratulatory gifts arrive from all walks of life when the Crassus family announces the birth of twins of different genders.
Pompeius sent a statue of the goddess Juno, who oversees childbirth and childcare.
Cicero wrote a congratulatory message on 10 parchment sheets that he hoped the children would grow up healthy.
But when he read it, he realized that it was mostly about how Cicero wanted his son to be as smart as he was.
The celebration was so Cicero-like that Julia held her stomach and laughed.
And so, while Julia was tending to her postpartum care and Marcus was tending to the newborn twins, the Triumphus for Pompeius began.
Marcus didn't participate in the triumphus because he had to take care of Julia and the kids.
While Crassus and Julia were very regretful, Marcus didn't care.
"This is Pompeius's triumphus, not mine, but it's not a loss, because one day I'll be able to do it with my own hands."
"Really? If you think so, I can't argue with you."
Unlike Crassus, who was neatly convinced, Julia was discouraged and blamed herself.
"Isn't it because of me...."
"No, I don't, and besides, the triumphus is nothing compared to your merit, which has produced not one, but two healthy children, don't you think, Father?"
Crassus loudly nodded as if he agreed.
These days, the high point of his life was watching his grandchildren sleep after Senate meetings.
He wanted a grandson to carry on the family name, and now that he has a granddaughter, he is more than happy every day.
His fondness for his daughter-in-law, who gave him such pleasure, deepened with each passing day.
"Of course, of course. There's no point in having a Triumphus that you don't participate in as commander of your own. It's a hundred times more productive to stay here and take care of grandchildren than to go to such a meaningless event."
"Thank you, Father."
Crassus' loving words brought a smile to Julia's face.
As Marcus listened to the lively conversation between father-in-law and daughter-in-law, a tremendous shout came from the direction of the Forum Romanum.
Crassus murmured with a subtle expression.
"The triumphus must have come near."
Although Crassus kept his emotions in check as much as possible, Marcus could feel the subtle hints of envy and jealousy.
Unlike Crassus, who wanted to do it for his entire life but never got around to it, this is Pompeius' third triumphus.
In addition, he enjoys the highest honor of having a triumphus on the day he was born.
For Crassus, it was just plain envy.
In retrospect, he's earned every honor a Roman can earn.
He has been a consul, has a strong influence in the Senate, and has seen excellent children, wise daughters-in-law, and even cute grandchildren.
Now, if he could try the triumphus, he would have no regrets even if he died.
Marcus, who saw through Crassus' thoughts, calmly comforted him.
"Cheer up, Father. There's still time, and I'm sure you'll be able to have your triumphus one day."
"I wish that day would come, but I don't know...…. Now that I think about it, I think that the triumphus is to avoid me forever. Maybe I'm not much loved by the god of war."
"Father..."
"Ah, but that doesn't mean I don't regret giving up my own triumphus when I put down the slave rebellion. The Senate wouldn't have granted me a triumphus anyway."
At the cheers on the wind, Crassus gave a self-deprecating smile.
He wanted to see what the most spectacular triumphus in Roman history would look like.
But at the same time, he knew he never wanted to see it.
So he didn't go with a plausible excuse to take care of his grandchildren.
Crassus was genuinely grateful to Julia for giving him an excuse to do so.
By now, Pompeius is climbing Capitoline Hill, home to the Temple of Jupiter.
He couldn't imagine what it was like for Pompeius to go through three triumphus.
He was madly envious at the same time.
What would he do if he had the opportunity to make a triumphus?
It wasn't even something to ask himself.
Although they are playing it cool now, they will rush in to seize the opportunity when the time comes.
Crassus' gaze lingered for a long time toward the site of the temple of Jupiter, the final point of the triumphus. The lingering desire that had not yet been shaken rose in both eyes.
As he looked at his father, Marcus realized that there was nothing he could do to change the future.
He wants a triumphus like that, so even if Marcus stops him, it will be difficult to break his resolution.
'I've still got eight years to go, so if you want to.... If I can't stop him from running, I might as well be prepared.'
Sighing heavily, Crassus turned and walked back into the house.
Marcus's eyes caught the sight of Julia as she walked over to console her distraught father-in-law.
He stepped away only after the two of them were completely out of sight.
It was a step that came with a firm determination not to repeat tragic history.
* * *
Pompeius's triumphus were held over two days and was rumored to be the most spectacular festival in history.
The amount of gold and silver treasure that Pompeius had brought back from the East was so enormous that the procession of chariots carrying the goods seemed endless.
Whenever Pompeius's achievements in the East were listed one by one, the citizens stamped their feet and cheered.
And as if promised, a rain of silver coins rained down on the cheering crowd.
Pompeius's nickname, "Magnus," meaning the great man, resonated throughout Rome for two days.
Pompeius, who successfully completed the triumphus, regained his confidence.
He declared that he would immediately divorce his wife, who had a reputation for living a promiscuous life and return to politics.
The silver coins distributed to the citizens at the triumphus also generated unprecedented public support.
But it would be less than a week before the eager Pompeius would be frustrated again.
It wasn't exactly because he was incompetent.
Pompeius was not a consul, and he had no tribunes to serve him.
He had to act like any other senator, asking the consul for permission to make his demands.
The consuls, Calpurnianus and Valerius, were naturally eager to bury Pompeius' proposal.
Their words always went something like this.
"It seems a little inappropriate to discuss the matter now."
"Then when on earth are you going to seriously consider my proposal!"
"Well, we're going to have to wait for the bills to pass before we can talk about it, and as you can see, there's a lot on the agenda right now."
"Then we should discuss the agenda quickly and make a decision!"
Pompeius, who ran out of patience, screamed.
"Then let us take a look at the agenda to be discussed now, as requested by Pompeius Magnus."
Calpurnianus shuffled slowly through his papers.
The movements were so relaxed that the audience could see his outfit fall apart.
"Let's see.... Ah, I see that the demands of the Vesta priestesses from last year have still not been addressed, a request made to the Senate by Vestalis Maximas Licinia herself. Since the Pontifex Maximus, Caesar, has left to become governor of the provinces, there is bound to be a gap in religious services. But if the priestesses act arbitrarily, they will not be held accountable in the future, so she asks that we enact a law to make up for it."
"Caesar has already left for Hispania! Are you out of your mind that you haven't dealt with such an important matter?"
"Alas, that's why we're dealing with it now. Does anyone else want to speak to this?"
"Let me say something."
Cato jumped out of his seat.
"Yes, please speak. Porcius Cato."
Having been granted permission to speak, Cato was determined to stall.
He stood up, dabbed at the hem of his toga, took a deep breath, and said a quick prayer to the gods.
After that, he brushed his hair again, coughed a few times, and then again touched the hem of the toga.
In response to Pompeius' tantrum, Cato opened his mouth and began to rant.
"My dear Senators, before we discuss this matter, we must first look back at the immorality of Rome that has fallen to the ground. The faith of the people is growing thinner by the day. For gods sake, think of the sacrifice of the goddess Bona that happened last year. And the culprit is walking the streets unharmed because he was acquitted in a trial. Worse yet, that same man has become a tribune who represents the citizens and is interfering with the Senate in every way possible!"
"What does that have to do with the subject we have to discuss now!"
"It's a matter of religion. Of course, first of all, we have to take a sober look at the reality of Rome, which is becoming more and more irreligious by the day. Now, everyone, let's get back to the story. Romans are becoming less and less afraid of the gods, so they do all sorts of immoral things. It's becoming more and more acceptable to have an affair, it's becoming a kind of bragging rights, and that's why people like Caesar come along and run amok."
Cato spent another hour or so afterwards criticizing the Romans for their vileness and criticism of Caesar.
Pompeius, who couldn't stand it, pointed his finger at his neck.
"This is a clear interruption of the proceedings! Consul, stop Cato from speaking!"
Cato jumped up and protested.
"What do you mean, interrupting the proceedings, I'm strictly explaining how this happened!"
"I think Cato is right."
The consul Calpurnianus secretly sided with Cato.
After getting the signal to continue, Cato smiled triumphantly and spoke.
"In these times of self-indulgence, greed, and lust, it is no wonder that a man like Caesar has been elected Pontifex Maximus. We live in a Rome where morals are missing. I always set the standard of my life to my great-great-grandfather: he never coveted another man's woman, he was more religious than anyone else, and he burned with all the passion of his life for the good order of the republic; I want to live like that, and if he had seen Rome turn so ugly and filthy, he would never have stood idly by; but I have failed to stem the tide. Alas, I am so bitter and ashamed of myself! If Rome could return to the way it used to be, I would drown myself in the Tiber right now; nay, that is Cato's only wish!"
"Now I have a strong wish, Cato!"
Pompeius jumped from his seat and shouted.
"This is your wish coming true right now, do you understand? Right now!"
Cato continued to roar, not caring about Pompeius' reaction.
"This can't be, our Rome can't keep falling down the path of corruption like this! Of course, it's not completely late yet, so the first thing we need to do is...."
Cato's spectacle did not stop until the sun, which had risen in the clear sky, set in the west.
Pompeius, whose anger rose to the top of his head, jumped out of his seat.
"Let's see how long we can run state affairs like this!"
As he left the room, the other senators yawned and walked out.
By the time Cato finished his speech, the sun had completely set, and it was time to adjourn the meeting.
The only people left at the end were Calpurnianus, the consul; Cato, who gave the speech; and Marcus, who was eager to maintain his image.
At the next meeting, and the next, and the next, Cato's rant continued.
Initially, he was not very popular with the public because of his bluntness and overemphasis on integrity. As a result, he was never elected to more than a certain level of government.
t was because of this steel physical strength that he was able to be considered a central figure in the Senate.
With his tireless stamina and constant vocal cords, he was able to speak nonstop for days.
Therefore, it was meaningless for Pompeius to press the consul to deal with the bill.
This is because Cato paralyzed the Senate by not stopping speaking until the sun went down.
Ordinarily, the consuls would have interrupted Cato, but Calpurnianus, who was in cahoots, had no intention of doing so.
This delaying tactic by the Senate ultimately prevented Pompeius from doing anything.
It was a struggle for Marcus, who sat through every speech.
Cato would ramble, ramble, ramble, ramble about things he didn't even want to know.
Now it seemed that there was no senator who didn't know how many dishes and glasses were in his house.
Everyone also knew that the slave who cleaned the yard in the morning was named Porcio.
'It's just image management, I'll just jump in the middle of it....'
Even Marcus shudders at the sight of Cato's long rant, which continues today.
Pompeius is not seen because he left as soon as Cato's speech began.
In less than an hour, half of the Senate seats were empty.
Marcus's eyes filled with envy as he watched the senators leave the hall like a tidal wave.
Seriously, he wanted to get out of there.
That evening, when he returned weary and exhausted to his villa, Marcus received a letter from Caesar, who had made himself known in Hispania.
'Balbus... must have been a Phoenician financial expert.'
It was necessary to have the talent to play in the bank that would open in earnest.
It would have been a great welcome for Marcus if he could attract another talent.
He immediately began to devise a plan to bring Balbus into his camp.
Of course, it's not pleasant for Caesar to have his talent stolen, but perhaps he'll be persuaded if you give him the right compensation.
Excited by the unexpected discovery of talent, Marcus continued to read the letter.
Marcus carefully folded and stored the letter to give to Julia later.
The area Caesar conquered was part of the modern-day equivalent of Portugal.
Bringing the local tribes to their knees was enough of an accomplishment to warrant a triumphus.
Of course, the Senate is not going to give in to Caesar's demands, as it has in history before.
This time around, a particularly large number of senators will feel that they need to trample on Caesar.
Maybe they're trying to prevent him from running for consul at all.
However, either way, there is no obstacle to the trend.
This time, it was the Senate's turn to take a shot.
That's enough to make Pompeius pay for ignoring Marcus' advice.
Most importantly, Marcus wasn't sure he could handle Cato's lengthy ramblings for much longer.
'The main characters are all ready to go, now we just need to wait for the curtain to rise.'
Caesar, Pompeius, and Crassus.
The influences of the people who will lead the way have gathered at one point in time, waiting for the right moment to ignite their brilliant flame.
It will be Marcus, and no one else, who will ignite the flame.
In December 61 B.C., when cold raindrops wet the dry ground of Rome, an idea was born in a place that the Senate could not imagine.