Juli liked a short booklet that only showed the significance and usage of the common wreaths instead of giving a detailed backstory. She liked that book because it was easy and short.
She realized that it was a kid's storybook after the librarian asked her if she was already thinking of teaching Flavia's kids. Then she realized that it must be a kids' book. But her knowledge of this world was limited and even poorer than the kids living there.
She somehow felt second-hand embarrassment. But she was the thick-skinned person to feel it properly. After all, she was a regular job person with an iron shield to bear all the criticism and insult.
She was only able to recognize the faces of the people around Livia, but she was not able to remember all the details about her life. She took that book and came to one of the gardens in the giant palace. She sat on a bench and started to read that book.
There was a picture of the beautiful wreaths on the cover of the book. The cover was brown, and it showed a variety of wreaths with different colors.
The first page of the book had a table of contents. She turned the pages and was stunned to see all the detailed pictures and simple descriptions. She was happy because it was easy for her to understand all these things.
She stood up and started to search the garden. She had collected different leaves from different trees. She assembled those leaves and compared them with the pictures given in the book. She had also tried to make crowns with them, but she failed.
She took a long and tapered leaf with a glossy upper surface. It was as long as her index finger. Juli compared it with the sketch drawn in the book. It was the bay laurel leaf. It was used to make the "Laurel Wreaths".
The same laurel wreath Lucius was wearing. It was given for triumph and victory in the war. It represented achievement, strength, and success. These leaves are aromatic.
Juli took another leaf, it was an oak leaf to make "Oak Wreaths", they symbolized courage and selflessness. She thought that this wreath would be perfect for Livia. Because she had sacrificed her own life for her friend's happiness.
Then she took a leaf from her leaves collection. It was smaller than her index finger having an egg shape and pointed tip. It was myrtle leaf to make "Myrtle Wreaths", which symbolized love, and beauty and were mostly given for victory in poetry and games competitions.
She examined that leaf closely it had both upper and lower glossy surfaces. It had a light sweet herbal scent too. Juli knew that Quintus also had Myrtle's wreath. But she wanted to know how did he achieve it? Whether he is an athlete or a poet.
There was also one last leaf left. It was an olive leaf. It symbolized civic virtue and was also given for athletic victories.
There were two pages left in the book. There was an "Ivy Wreath" or "Funeral Wreath", because ivy represented mourning and hope for the afterlife. She thought that she should have known about it so she could also write it in her will to present her an ivy wreath at her funeral.
The last wreath was the "Golden Wreath", worn by the Emperor only. It was made up of gold with a sun on it to signify the divine connections and power of the emperor. It also represented the good relationship of the Emperor with the Sun God, Sulla.
The emperor's surname was also Sulla. Juli was still thinking about it when she closed the book. "Livia, I've been calling your name, but you didn't reply.", Lucius said.
Juli turned her head. Lucius was standing there. He sat with the Juli on the same bench. He looked at her amusingly. But then his face got dark. Juli realized that he must have made the same mistake as the librarian and thought that she was reading and collecting these things for Flavia and his kids.
Juli wanted to change this topic. She asked him, "Why did you visit me?"
Lucius said, "I'm here to ask you something. As you already know about me and Domitia." He sounded guilty.
"And...", Juli asked and thought "So what does he want from me?"
"I want you to tell Flavia about it. Because Domitia wants it.", Lucius said while his face was turning pale.
"No, I'm not going to tell her. It's your task and Why does Domitia want it? Moreover, what do you want?", Juli said.
"Domitia didn't know that I was engaged, and she came to know about this when we came to Dacia. She acted like my lover till then. But she didn't want me to betray Flavia and wanted me to tell her the reality. As there is already lots of gossip about our unnatural friendship.", Lucius told her.
"I didn't want to betray anyone. I know what I did was wrong. But I love Domitia, and I respect Flavia." Lucius continued.
"But you did end up betraying everyone. I think so you should consider your feelings and tell Flavia everything as soon as possible.", Juli said.
Lucius was dumbfounded for a few moments. Because it was not the answer he was expecting from Livia. He was expecting that she would request him to never tell this to Flavia and he had to convince her. But the situation was different here. She was already convinced because she was not Livia. She was Juli.
At first, Juli thought that it would be better to keep this a secret from Flavia and force Lucius to marry her without telling her anything. But she realized that by doing these three lives would be ruined. Flavia, Lucius, and Domitia and Flavia would suffer the most out of them. Also, an unhappy marriage would have some direct and indirect effects on the people around them.
She had also taken a liking to Lucius. She had liked him and promised herself to give him a happy life without any regrets of Flavia's death.