All Chapters of LOVE AND HONOR: The Mad Emperor (BL): Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

Ides of January 41AD"Traitors! Die!" A praetorian guard shouted—an elite protector of the imperial family.He wore a purple-dyed tunica militaris—a military tunic—reserved for a high-ranking praetorian officer, with a golden scorpion emblem adorning his shoulder sleeves. A horsehair-crested helmet rested on his head, covering his black hair.CLANG CLANGThe guard's yell sounded raw and desperate, echoing through the secret tunnels beneath the palatium—the imperial palace—a stark contrast to the deathly silence that followed each clang of steel.His gladius—a short sword—a glinting serpent in the torchlight, sliced through the air, the golden scorpion emblem—a brand of his loyalty—flashing defiantly.A discarded wooden scabbard, a forgotten promise, lay on the damp, earthen floor, amid the bodies of his fallen brothers—the brutal aftermath of their journey to the Palatine Games at the Circus Maximus.Two against seven. A hopeless dance of death. But only one of the two is fighting.The

"The naming culture of Roman Empire is a bit complicated, to say the least..."Their naming convention varied between boys and girls, reflecting the inequality where males were favored more.This was the way of that time...However, this did not mean that most women accepted it without question. No. Of course not.But we shall leave that for now... Now, let me start again...In Roman Empire, when a baby boy was born, he was given a praenomen, or birth name.If he was born into a noble or imperial family, he would also receive additional names to reflect his family connections.This was called the nomen, or family name.While cognomen was the identifier of his family branch.Together, these three were referred to as the tria nomina.They add these names to emulate past predecessors, in the hopes for these children, specifically the boys, to grow, mirroring the same respect and power that their ancestors once had.This also applied if he was adopted into a new family.In contrast, girls

17AD, still around May, Palatine HillThe emperor had sent a messenger ahead to announce their arrival, ensuring that the people of Rome would be prepared for a triumphal procession.It was the highest honor bestowed upon a victorious general."Io triumphe!" "Waaaaahhhh!"The sudden outburst of the crowd startled Germanicus and his company.Thick scent of burning incense mingled with the people's voices.They've only just stepped inside the city.CLACK CLACKPetals rained from balconies."Io io io!" "Roma victoria!"It was to be expected—Rome had long awaited the end of this campaign.Though spring lingered, the air felt heavy and warm, unmoved by even the faintest breeze.The sheer mass of people flooding the Palatine Hill made the atmosphere stifling, pressing in from all sides."Waaaaah!" "Vivas Roma!"They all come to watch. Their eyes hungry for a glimpse of glory.The scent of fresh bread, thick incense smoke, and the sweat of thousands blended into something both intoxicating an

Years ago, before Germanicus's family depart to Syria…Drusus Caesar was just a boy when he first overheard his father speaking of retirement.It was late, and the domus was quiet, save for the soft splash of water in the atrium's fountain.The torches in the atrium—the central courtyard, where all the various rooms stemmed—flickered weakly, making the marble statues around the fountain cast long, eerie shadows.He had snuck out of his cubiculum, too restless to sleep after the triumphal procession in his father's honor.Drusus wanted to see him—to bask in the presence of his source of pride, his hero.But what he heard as he stood outside his parent's cubiculum made his heart sink."I have served Rome faithfully," Germanicus' voice was steady but weary. Drusus can heard his father moving while saying this."I have fought her battles, led her legions. Now that this is all over, I wish to step away. A quiet life, a farm perhaps… far from the politics of Rome.." Then he paused.A rustlin

Earlier that morning before the funeral procession...Piso lingered at the entrance of his elevated domus on Palatine Hill, overlooking the city of Rome, gazing out into the rain-soaked night.His domus, located at the Caput Mundi Roma, stood as a grand testament to his success as a general and his influence as the governor of Syria.From the outside, his residence looked plain and unassuming, with bare white walls and a wide, simple entrance where he remained now.However, the interior revealed a different story.Intricate colorful frescoes adorned the inside walls—courtesy of a very known artist—while the polished expensive white marble floors felt smooth and cold beneath his feet.But it was dark and it was raining, so he couldn't appreciate it right now.It was a very wintry night.SHWAAAAAThe central courtyard, called the atrium, featured a large fountain in the middle of it and was surrounded by statues of orichalcum—their reddish-gold surfaces reflecting the dim light—a metal o