"What are these guys doing? Should they not greet each other? If I remember correctly, then Livia didn't even greet me. She was talking informally in a friendly way. Maybe it's common in the aristocrats and noble class here. But again, what are they doing?", Juli thought.
"We were discussing the Ducatio arrangements.", Lucius said calmly. He continued, "Livia, I'll visit you soon to discuss this matter."
"Ducatio arrangements? Oh, I see. See, you soon Lucius. Farewell for now.", Quintus said this while dragging Juli away.
Juli thought, "What is this ducatio? But looks like it's something special what's why Lucius has used it as an excuse." Juli still had not received all of Livia's memories. She was finding it difficult to recognize a few terms, especially this foreign dressing.
He was looking angry, and he murmured, "What a serpent!"
Juli looked at him and thought, "He had the same views about Lucius as Livia. Does he know something about Lucius and Domitia? Maybe it's possible. Should I ask him?"
"Why did you call Lucius a serpent?", Juli asked while freeing her arm from him.
Quintus was stunned for a few seconds and then released Juli's arm. He said sadly, "Why do you like him so much?"
Juli thought, "Is he a weirdo or there is something else?"
Juli said, "I like him because he is Flavia's fiancé and There is no reason to dislike him."
He said, "You always favor Flavia. I.." He stopped.
Juli looked at him and said, "Yes, I do favor her. Because she is my friend." Juli thought his expressions were pitiful like an abandoned dog. She unconsciously patted her head.
"Huh...Livia??", Quintus said astonishingly. He was left speechless. Juli put her hand back awkwardly. She thought, "Maybe, Livia didn't have such a habit. How could she have? She was the only child, and I had a lot of younger cousins and a younger sister as well."
"I'm sorry for surprising you. But where are we going?", Juli asked.
Quintus was unable to speak for a few moments but then he said, "We are going home. I was going to accompany you to decide on a wedding gift for Flavia. Even though you asked me first. But still, you took a lot of time and now it's time for dinner. You made me wait for you like always."
"Huh, there is absolutely something wrong with this guy.", Juli thought. But when she looked around it was evening. They were on a road with the shops and vendors. It was a crowded area. There were no carriages and horses on the streets. Quintus held Juli's hand and said, "Don't get lost here."
Everything was new for Juli. She didn't utter a single word during their way. They walked and reached a spacious house. It was a white-washed palace. She had noticed that most things are white here. Like the dresses of most people and their buildings too. But there were no restaurants and cafes on her way.
She had only seen clothes and grocery shops. She also noticed that a few people were wearing wreaths. Lucius was also wearing a wreath which was made of long and tapered leaves. At first, she thought that it was a golden wreath like his hair. "Maybe I made a mistake because of the sunshine and his hair. But still, I need to see everything more vigilantly. I have a month only.", Juli said to herself.
Juli went to Livia's room. Her room was simple and elegant. There was a window with white curtains facing a beautiful garden. There was a bed, a wardrobe, and a study table. She was surprised to see that there was no vanity or dressing table for makeup or jewelry.
There was a single large wardrobe or chest only which had a large mirror embedded in the center and had a separate section for footwear, jewelry boxes, and makeup. The room was spacious, but it had minimum furniture. It has a single chair in the room only. That chair was for the study table only and can be moved if you want to sit and get ready.
She was amazed by the simplicity and practical multipurpose furniture of this room. When she was done examining the room. She sat on the bed which had a white bedsheet. She couldn't understand the love of these people for white color. She lay there and fell asleep.
She was sleeping when a maid wearing an off-white dress woke her and said, "Domine Quintus is calling you for dinner."
Juli looked toward the open window. It was dark out there. She stood up and the maid offered her a pitcher of water, a bottle of olive oil and a white cloth, maybe a towel. She looked at the maid for a few seconds and then the maid poured olive oil on Juli's hands and face. Juli's body automatically applied it on her face and hand then washed her face with water and dried it with a towel. Juli's body did this whole process in a very natural way like it was routine work.
When Juli reached the dining hall. Only Quintus was sitting there. She asked, "Where is Flavia?" Because she wanted to see it personally.
Quintus was taken aback this time as well. He asked her, " Are you truly alright?"
Juli didn't know what she had done wrong. She just sat on the chair on the dining table. There were lots of different dishes. But she just swallows them silently after all she was hungry after a long hectic day. She had died and came to this mysterious place.
Quintus said, "She went to the temple for the sacrificial ceremony before her wedding. She will come back tomorrow. That's the reason we decided to plan a gift for her in her absence. After all, it was your idea to give her a surprise."
Juli simply nodded her head. Because she was embarrassed, and her brain didn't know how to respond to this situation. She also wanted to ask him about his parents. But she thought that it was enough embarrassment for a day. She can't look any more fool. They both ate silently. Quintus dropped Juli to her room and said good night. Juli shut her room door.