Chapter 23 - Plan II

"Well, Lucius is my best friend, but I don't love him. Our marriage is a political strategy. You can never fall in love with your opponent.", Flavia told Juli.

"Opponent?? Am I missing something here?", Juli asked.

A maid came and informed Flavia that a priest had come. Flavia ordered the maid to fetch her cane. Flavia left while saying, "Quintus will explain the rest."

Flavia took her cane and left. Juli realized that Flavia only used a cane when she went out. Hey, Quintus, why does Flavia fake her leg injury? Why is pretending to be hurt?", Juli asked.

"So, you've noticed it already. Livia still had not figured it out. She is so innocent.", Quintus replied.

"I'm not asking how you bewitched Livia. I'm asking you the reason.", Juli asked again.

"What do think could be the reason?", Quintus questioned her.

"Maybe to free herself from the political war.", Juli answered.

"Yes, that is the reason. That horse riding was also a preplan but unfortunately, Livia had chosen the wrong horse. But Flavia had still managed to find a good excuse.", Quintus told Juli.

Juli was shocked, "How much cunning these siblings are?", she thought. If you want to escape from war. Then injure yourself and run away. Flavia must have used this strategy, but it failed.

"So, that was why you told me that she would never kill herself because of Lucius. Now, I understand. But Livia is not lying as well. There must be a gap. We have overlooked.", Juli said.

Quintus was also thinking. "Hey, can your uncle murder Flavia to reach his goals?", Juli asked.

Quintus covered her mouth and said, "You shouldn't be careless with your words, but it is not impossible. He loves us but some people around him can convince him or put the blame on him?"

"But why did Flavia call Lucius her rival?", Juli asked while remembering Flavia's words.

"It's because Flavia was going to be the commander of the military and Lucius was her rival but later on, she changed her mind.", Quintus enlightened her.

"Why did she change her plan?", Juli asked again.

"I don't know and I'm busy.", Quintus replied.

"Do you truly don't know or are you pretending not to know?", Juli kept asking but Quintus didn't reply.

Juli had more mysteries to solve now. She called a maid and asked her to bring a sandbag. She started to punch it. Quintus was working and she was punching the bag.

"Stop it, Juli. You'll hurt Livia's body.", Quintus warned her.

"Yeah, you're right instead of punching this bag. I should squeeze my beautiful boy's beautiful and red, red cheeks.", Juli said and started to pinch his cheeks.

"You are indeed something else.", Quintus said with irritation.

"I had a plan in my mind to solve everything. I thought that I would make Flavia get over that traitor Lucius and find a beautiful boy for her. I had even ordered a list of the most eligible bachelors in the empire.", Juli muttered.

"What about the legal documentation of Flavia's previous marriage?", Quintus asked.

"I also had a plan for that. I was going to use you. I had done top-class research and found out that You had won the senate elections with a ninety-nine percent majority. The only people who didn't vote were five. One was pregnant, one was sick and blah...blah...", Juli explained further.

"But what was your plan exactly?", Quintus inquired.

"It was a simple plan. You had to present a new law about the annulment of engagement and divorce. According to that law, everyone had a right to get a divorce and move on officially. But sigh... It is a big failure now. This world doesn't deserve a genius like me.", Juli said with her crocodile tears.

"Wow, you are a genius.", Quintus appreciated her.

"I know, I'm a genius. I graduated with Honors. I also received the best employee of the year award in my company.", Juli explained.

"How many days do I need to bear you?", Quintus inquired.

"Huh??"

"Miss Genius and employee of the year! Your research is incomplete. We have full senate sessions twice a year only because our senators live far away and there are two months left till, we have a full senate meeting. So, this plan was already a failure.", Quintus mocked her.

"So, what do you do? If you must pass a law on an urgent basis.", Juli asked.

"We are never in so much hurry. Our all laws are reliable as well. If we have any emergency, the emperor issues a temporary law.", Quintus explained to her.

"Then what will we do now?", Juli asked.

"We will wait.", Quintus responded calmly.

"But we have twenty-seven days left now. How can I be patient?", Juli mumbled.

"We...", Quintus was going to say something when someone knocked at the door. Quintus allowed them to enter. There was a messenger.

Juli whispered, "Did he bring the list of the most eligible bachelors of the empire."

"No, he is the messenger from the empire of Publius.", Quintus whispered back.

"So, your parents sent you a letter.", Juli asked.

"I'll know after reading the letter.", Quintus answered while receiving the letter.

He ordered the servants to take care of the messenger.

Quintus read the letter and said, "Perhaps, our problem will be solved."

"Why do you think like this?", Juli asked.

"Our parents are coming in five days with Prince Eros to attend Flavia's wedding.", Quintus responded.

"How is this going to solve our problem?", Juli asked again.

"Which parents brought the most eligible suitor for their daughter on their daughter's wedding? There are chances they know something, and they have a plan.", Quintus answered while grinning.

"Prince Eros, that prince of the empire Cyrus?", Juli inquired.

"Yes.", Quintus nodded.

"Is he handsome?", Juli asked.

 "I'm not familiar with your definition of handsome.", Quintus responded.

"Hmm... Well, he is going to come. I'll decide after meeting him. He is the only prince of the empire Cyrus he should be handsome. But you said that he is the most eligible suitor for Flavia. Why is that?"

"Because he is the prince and future emperor and Flavia will be the empress.", Quintus responded.

"How can you say that? Is high status a merit of being eligible? Shouldn't we think about Flavia's happiness?", Juli was furious.

"Now, you are talking like Livia. Well, yeah, we should consider Flavia's happiness as well. Prince Eros is not a stranger to her. They were good childhood friends.", Quintus explained.

"When?", Juli asked.

"When they were kids. It was before Flavia's engagement.", Quintus responded while pushing Juli out of the room.

"Hey, but that was ten years ago. Flavia was only seven years old. How old is this prince?", Jui shouted and tried to resist him.

"Prince Eros is my age fellow. Now, get lost.", Quintus said while shutting the door loudly.

"But how old is Quintus?", Juli wanted to know.

So, she moved to the library to plan a new strategy after her first plan was a complete failure. She was more concerned about Livia's innocence.

"That innocent girl must have thought that Flavia had sacrificed herself for love but there are lots of more skeptical factors here. I can't believe Livia's fantasy now. She is not a very reliable storyteller. I need to investigate more."