Chapter 427: Licinia at night?

After Nathan had finished his hushed conversation with Aphrodite and Khione regarding the troubling matter of Pandora, he chose—against his initial intent—to remain a while longer with Khione and their precious daughter, Nivea.

The child had awakened not long after their discussion ended. As soon as she opened her bright, drowsy eyes and caught sight of Nathan, she leapt into his arms without hesitation, clinging to him with the desperate strength only a child could summon. Her voice trembled as she pleaded softly, "Don’t go again, Father."

Nathan’s resolve to leave crumbled instantly.

Though pressing matters awaited him beyond this quiet realm, he chose to remain. For Nivea. For her innocent warmth. For her tender fingers wrapped tightly around his shirt as if he might vanish the moment she let go. He lay beside her, allowing her to curl up close while he told her stories—some from children’s books, others from his own life on Earth. Tales of the world she had never seen, of city lights and rainstorms, of buses and snow, of crowded streets and silent libraries.

Oddly enough, it wasn’t just Nivea who listened with rapt attention. Khione, ever poised and ethereal, sat beside them silently, watching him as he spoke. There was curiosity in her eyes—a rare vulnerability. She, too, wanted to know what kind of life Nathan had lived before their fates had intertwined.

Time passed unnoticed, the moments stretching out gently as sleep tugged at both mother and daughter. Eventually, they succumbed to it—Nivea first, her breathing soft and even as she rested against Nathan’s chest; then Khione, who had quietly nestled against his side, one delicate hand resting over his heart.

Nathan lay there, unmoving, absorbing the warmth of their presence.

For a brief moment, he wished the world would stop.

This—just this—was enough. No battles, no gods, no masks or secrets. Just the steady breath of his daughter rising and falling against him, and Khione’s peaceful presence by his side. This simple serenity made everything he had to face bearable. It reminded him why he fought.

But he couldn’t stay forever.

With a sigh that barely stirred the silence, Nathan slowly shifted his body, lifting Nivea gently into his arms.

"Father..."

The whisper was barely audible, slurred by sleep, but it made him pause and look down. Nivea’s eyes remained closed, her voice coming from some dream-woven realm. She looked so small, so fragile. It was easy to forget she was, by far, the strongest of his children. Yet in this moment, she was only a child, longing for her father’s presence.

Nathan stroked her arm gently, then pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. He lowered her carefully back to the bed, ensuring she remained close to Khione.

Then, his gaze shifted to Khione.

He reached out and brushed a strand of white hair from her cheek, his fingers trailing through the softness before leaning in to place a lingering kiss on her lips. She didn’t stir—but the slight movement of her lips made him wonder if she had felt it, even in her sleep.

With one final glance at the two most precious souls in his life, Nathan turned away.

A soft pulse of mana enveloped him—and he vanished from Khione’s sanctuary.

He reappeared on the rooftop where he had been lying before, the chill of the real world immediately replacing the warmth of their bed.

Night had fallen completely over Rome, a heavy darkness blanketing the city. The stars above were faint behind veils of cloud, and the streets far below whispered with quiet life.

Nathan took a breath. The cold air bit his skin.

Had Caesar grown suspicious during his absence?

He doubted the old conqueror would let such a disappearance slide unnoticed. Caesar was many things—ruthless, brilliant, cunning—but patient he was not. He expected loyalty and vigilance from those who served beneath him. And while he knew Nathan was not one to be controlled, he still demanded some show of cooperation.

Nathan clenched his jaw. He couldn’t afford to raise suspicions—not yet.

He needed time. He needed trust. And then, when the moment was right, he would ensure Caesar’s fall.

"I should ask him how I can help," Nathan muttered to himself, his voice blending into the night breeze.

Of course, he already knew what Caesar wanted. The death of Crassus. But Nathan would delay that as long as possible. He’d been given time to think—and he would use it.

Rising to his feet on the rooftop, Nathan narrowed his eyes and tried to reach out with his senses—searching for Scylla’s presence.

But there was nothing.

She was gone from the city, it seemed. Out "hunting," most likely.

He wasn’t worried.

After all, he had granted her full freedom to do as she pleased, so long as she respected one clear condition:

no innocents

. Especially not children. That line was never to be crossed. Aside from that, the soldiers of Rome were fair game. They had sworn to protect the city—what better test of that vow than to face a predator like Scylla?

If they couldn’t fend her off, then they didn’t deserve to wear the armor of the Roman guard.

Descending slowly from the rooftop, Nathan landed lightly in the darkened streets of Rome. The night air was cool against his skin, tinged with the scent of dust, sweat, and lingering incense from late temple offerings. Above, the stars were veiled by scattered clouds, and yet the city pulsed with life.

Even at this hour, Rome refused to sleep.

He cast a glance toward the looming structure of the Senate’s fortress-palace—a massive and ancient edifice of stone and authority. Its towering silhouette dominated the skyline like a watching titan.

Maybe I should finally rest...

he thought. He had been offered a private chamber inside that place by Caesar himself, a room he hadn’t yet used.

With a quiet sigh, he began walking toward it. The streets bustled with late-night activity—merchants shouting from dim-lit stalls, drunk soldiers laughing in alleys, whispers of deals and pleasures being exchanged in shadows. Rome was never silent.

And yet—something caught his attention.

Or rather,

someone

.

A veiled figure walking briskly, flanked by two guards. While her identity might have remained hidden to any other, Nathan’s eyes, honed beyond human limits, pierced through the veil effortlessly.

Licinia.

The daughter of Crassus. One of the Emperor of Rome.

His interest immediately sharpened. Anyone else, he would’ve ignored. But the daughter of one of the Triumvirs, walking the streets at night in secrecy?

That was something worth investigating.

Keeping his presence perfectly erased, Nathan began to follow her. His steps made no sound; his body flowed like a shadow through the streets. He kept a respectful distance, though his senses never lost track of her. Eventually, Licinia arrived at a small, unassuming building tucked away in a narrow back street. To any outsider, it would appear like a simple shop or perhaps a healer’s hut. But Nathan noticed the guards posted discreetly outside—alert and tense.

She’s cautious,

he thought.

Whatever she’s doing here, she doesn’t want it known.

He didn’t attempt to enter. That would have been reckless. Instead, he vaulted silently onto the adjacent rooftop, then lowered himself softly behind the building, landing against the outer wall. He pressed his back to the stone, closing his eyes for a moment and focusing his senses toward the voices within.

They weren’t shouting. But to Nathan, they might as well have been.

"I hope you have it prepared," came Licinia’s voice—calm, but edged with urgency. "It’s been three months."

A dry, rasping chuckle followed. "Hehe... yes, yes, of course, Lady Licinia. I have it ready. You needn’t worry."

A pause.

Then the rustle of cloth—perhaps something being unwrapped.

"Will it really work?" Licinia asked, her voice lower now. Doubtful. Hopeful.

"Indeed, indeed," the old woman replied. Her voice dripped with confidence. "It’s powered by the essence of the Goddess of Love herself. None who drink it will resist its spell. Its aphrodisiac effect is absolute. Your beloved will be bound to you... heart, body, and soul. He’ll never leave your side again."

Nathan’s brows furrowed.

Aphrodisiac.

That one word was all he needed to understand what kind of exchange was taking place. A love potion, supposedly divinely empowered. Dangerous, in the right hands. Pathetic, in the wrong ones.

But who was the target?

He didn’t need long to guess.

Licinia... the daughter of Crassus. Nathan had already observed the way she looked at Caesar—the subtle glances, the nervous pauses in her speech, the yearning behind her polished words. That alone had suggested a crush. But this... this was something deeper.

Is it just love? Or is it something more calculating?

Was Licinia a naïve young woman, hopelessly in love with the most powerful man in Rome? Or was she her father’s daughter—cold, strategic, and playing a deeper game?

Either way, Nathan was skeptical.

He didn’t believe for a second that such a potion could work on Caesar. The man was ruthless, obsessive, and tightly coiled with ambition. Even if Aphrodite

had

lent her divine magic for this absurd scheme—a notion Nathan immediately dismissed—Caesar’s will was forged in something far stronger than lust and Nathan believed he was protected by some Gods as well though he didn’t know which ones.

Still, it was curious.

And more than a little dangerous.

Nathan’s fingers tapped softly against the stone wall as he considered what to do with this information.

From Nathan’s perspective, the entire situation was nothing short of absurd.

Truly ridiculous.

If Licinia genuinely wanted to share a bed with Caesar, she could’ve simply asked him. Caesar, as far as Nathan could tell, was not the type to turn down such advances—especially not from a young noblewoman of high status and beauty. The man had a history of indulging in pleasures when it suited him, and restraint had never seemed to be one of his more prominent virtues.

So what was this elaborate scheme for?

That’s when it struck him—

maybe it wasn’t about seduction at all

. Maybe Licinia’s goal went far beyond the physical. She didn’t just want Caesar’s attention... she wanted his power.

Maybe she wants to become Empress,

Nathan thought, narrowing his eyes.

She wants to secure her place beside him—not just in bed, but on the throne.

And perhaps Crassus himself was behind it, using his daughter as a pawn in his greater ambitions. That wouldn’t surprise Nathan in the slightest.

He leaned back against the wall and exhaled, his breath vanishing into the cool night air.

Regardless... if she has the potion tonight, she’ll likely make her move on Caesar tomorrow.

That gave him something to think about.

On the off chance—no matter how slim—that the aphrodisiac

did

work... would that be a threat to him? Or could it possibly be an advantage?

He closed his eyes, weighing the possibilities.

If Caesar fell under Licinia’s spell, it might mean Nathan would lose the opportunity to manipulate Caesar directly. But if Licinia gained influence over Caesar,

she

could be exploited instead. A new angle. A new crack in the Triumvirate’s armor.

The thought slowly brought a smile to his lips.

Yes... this could work in my favor.

If nothing else, this entire situation presented him with the perfect excuse to finally seek out a meeting with Crassus himself. Whether Licinia was acting on her father’s orders or not, Nathan could use this opportunity to feel out Rome’s wealthiest man, gauge his ambitions, and maybe even sow the seeds of chaos between him and Caesar.

Tomorrow,

Nathan thought,

might be even more interesting than today.

He smiled and disappeared.