The room fell silent, the air thick with tension. News from Rome could only mean one thing!
War was on the horizon!
Yet, Victor knew that the preparations would take at least one or two years to materialize, meaning that whatever the messenger carried was urgent. If it had been important enough to disrupt this meeting between two powerful houses, then the news could only be grim.
Victor stood still, his expression unreadable, though the storm inside him was evident. Lucius's gaze lingered on the man before him, his demeanor cold but sharp, waiting for the right moment to speak.
The messenger, visibly nervous, cleared his throat before bowing his head. His voice, when it came, trembled slightly, betraying the weight of the words.
- Lucius Cinna, Dominus of the Cinna Household, the Senate sends word… The Rorwin Kingdom has been amassing an army. The reports are clear and irrefutable. Rome has already begun assembling the First Legion. The Senate has commanded every province to conscript at least one Centuria of new soldiers for drills at Ariminum by the year's end. Another Centuria is to begin drills in Ajaccio by mid-next year. All houses must gather their naval ships in Ajaccio by winter's start, preparing for departure. The Senate extends its regards, signed by Consuls Marius Jullius and Tiberius Cornelii… Rome Aeterna.
The silence that followed was deafening. The room seemed to grow colder, the implications of the message sinking deep into their minds. One by one, the men in the room responded with a solemn, unified declaration.
- Rome Aeterna.
The man placed the decree on the table, his hands trembling slightly. The weight of his presence seemed to have faded, leaving behind only the decree and the invisible force that held them all in place. The room was filled with a storm of unspoken thoughts, racing through each of their minds.
Victor's thoughts were sharp, cold. "What's the Rorwin plan?" he mused silently. "Why rush to assemble an army so suddenly?" His mind ticked, the pieces of the puzzle spinning in a thousand directions. "Who would leak our plans?" he thought, his eyes narrowing at the unspoken question. The room felt thick with suspicion, but it was Lucius who finally broke the silence, his voice like a blade cutting through the tension.
- Victor, will you go to the front?
Victor paused, his expression a mask, but his eyes betrayed a flash of something deeper—determination mixed with a touch of uncertainty. The weight of the question settled on him like a physical force. His lips parted slowly, but he hesitated, carefully choosing his words.
- Most certainly, yes. Though I'm not certain if I'll be with the first or second batch of soldiers…
His voice was steady, but there was an undercurrent of something more, an eagerness for the fight, tempered by the realities of his situation.
Lucius nodded slightly, as if he had expected this. He knew well that Victor's reputation demanded his participation. Unlike Lucius, whose house had only one heir, Dominatus House has many, But none of them was as good as Victor, so he had no choice but to lead by example. The Dominatus family had made its mark on the battlefield many times, and now it was Victor's turn to hold the tradition.
- I understand.
Lucius murmured, his gaze thoughtful, yet his voice betrayed a hint of admiration for Victor's resolve.
- But let us leave those matters aside for now. The news is, no doubt, shocking, but we'll have time to prepare. I suspect the messenger did not interrupt us without reason, perhaps he believed there was something fruitful to come from this meeting. So, Victor, what brings you here today?
Victor took a step to the side, his gaze still heavy, but now he turned to the man accompanying him. He had known this moment would come, and with a gesture, he introduced Vesperus. The man stood straight, a quiet but confident presence beside him.
- This is Vesperus.
Victor said, his voice steady, but there was an unmistakable weight to it.
- He manages my financial matters. As you know, my skills lie with the sword, not with the coin. I'm not ashamed to admit that I leave such things to those who are better suited for it. Recently, I learned of a navicularii in debt to your household. Coincidentally, I've been seeking a shipyard to purchase. However, the market in Mariana is... challenging.
Victor's eyes flickered with a hint of frustration before he continued.
- I'm aware that House Cinna is also in need of a shipyard. I can see the broader objective of your actions. That's why I'm interested in acquiring this one, but I don't wish to stir tensions between our houses. I came here to offer a proposal, one I hope will be acceptable to both sides.
Lucius raised an eyebrow, the slightest hint of a smile playing at the corner of his lips, though his eyes remained calculating. He took a long, deliberate breath before speaking.
- Your house already possesses several shipyards within the city.
Lucius mused.
- Why would you seek another, especially so far from your own lands? Surely you could use one of your family's to meet your needs, without causing a stir between our houses. Why come all this way?
His tone was more curious than hostile, but the question was clear. He wanted to understand the motive behind Victor's actions.
Victor's lips pressed into a thin line, acknowledging the validity of Lucius's point. He paused for a moment, but when he spoke, his voice was unwavering.
- You're right. he began, his tone calm but purposeful.
- I could use my family's shipyards, but that wouldn't give me the freedom I need. Anything I do there would belong to my family, not to me. I have... ambitious projects in mind. I don't wish to burden my family with them. But when I saw the opportunity here, I knew I couldn't let it slip away.
His eyes met Lucius's, and there was a quiet intensity there, an unspoken challenge in the words.
- i couldn't ignore it.
Junius, who had been silent until now, couldn't resist. His voice cut through the conversation with a sharp edge, laced with mockery.
- Oh, ambitious indeed.
Junius sneered.
- War, business, perhaps love as well? You're spreading yourself thin, Victor. Shouldn't you be focused on commanding armies and fighting? Isn't that what you're trained for? Why meddle in business? What makes you think you can do better than the navicularii, when you don't even know the first thing about managing a shipyard?
Victor's glare could cut, Junius would be without his head right now, but he held his composure. His fist clenched at his side, but his voice remained calm, almost measured.
- I don't think I can do better.
he said, his voice low and firm.
- But I know people who can. I understand my worth. I don't need lessons in that.
His gaze hardened, and the room seemed to grow quieter.
- But I do believe I can bring better results. So I ask you, Dominus Lucius, to hear what we have to offer.
Lucius's eyes shifted, the slightest spark of interest flickering in them. He gestured to Vesperus, giving him the floor.
- Our proposal is simple.
Vesperus began, his voice steady, with a confidence that came from years of experience.
- Our first offer was that we would cover the first interest on the debt and pay a third of the total debt each year. But given the current news, i think on something else to offer. something more.... We could agree to produce three biremes at production cost for House Cinna over the next three years. However, given the looming threat of war, we're willing to accelerate the timeline. We can deliver those ships in a year and a half, enough time to prepare for the coming conflict. Of course, the ships will be of the highest quality.
Lucius sat back, his expression unreadable, but his eyes narrowed in contemplation. The offer had substance, but it lacked something vital. He weighed it carefully, his fingers tapping lightly on the table.
- Your proposal has merit.
he finally said, his voice calm but assessing.
- But I see a glaring lack of guarantees. If you fail to deliver these ships with the quality you promise, not only would I lose money, but I would fail to fulfill the Republic's orders. That would stain the Cinna family's reputation, something I cannot afford. As much as I find your offer appealing, controlling the shipyard would offer my family the security of ensuring both the quality and the timeline.
Lucius's gaze sharpened, his voice taking on a more commanding tone.
- Let me offer you a counterproposal...