Times Relative: Book One - A Roman Affair

Chapter Two

I sat patiently in my small room waiting for my dress designer to come in and show me my wardrobe for my new life. Over the past couple of weeks, I had learned a lot about the Roman way of life and its traditions. The past explorer even came to welcome me and give me tips about the leader himself. I learned he had lost his father at a young age to a war within the Roman walls. He was a leader like his son, standing up for the plebeians. Since the war that had taken his father, he was the new leader of the land, his mother controlled most of it until he reached the age of sixteen. Now, at the age of twenty-three, he was in full control of the land and warriors; he was still under the watchful eye of the Roman Republic, but what could be bought was always his. The young leader was a fierce warrior, always standing up for his people, ready to put down anyone who stood in his way.

“Miss Mae?” the seamstress paused, looking up at me.

“Yes, I’m sorry I have a lot on my mind,” I said with a small smile playing at my lips. I’m not sure if I’m nervous or excited, but I can’t wait to walk through that portal today.

I pulled at my tunic, not used to wearing the pinned thin fabric. I quickly got the thick woolen toga wrapped around my shoulder, draped over my caramel hair and pinned back to my shoulder. The toga was a beautiful baby blue with gold leaf embroidering, looking the part of my fake royal status.

“This is classic Roman woman wear, well, for someone in your standing anyway” the seamstress said through the pins in her mouth.

“How will I do this alone?” I asked.

“You won’t be alone; you will be assigned a servant, who is there to help with your dressing. Your undergarment, the tunic, is appropriate to wear in your room alone. When you are outside your room you will be required to wear at the very least a toga, you will wear your toga draped on your head when in any company of men other than the leader. Your servant will help pick your garments for events that will come up that you are expected to be present at.”

“I hadn’t realized it was such a strict dress code,” I laughed. The seamstress shot her eyes up at me giving me a warning look. I stifled my laugh and nodded my head towards her.

“Mae!” Lidia’s voice rang out from the hallway. The seamstress stood and walked towards the door.

“I did all I could do” she said with a shrug and briskly exited. Lidia turned her gaze towards me and lit up in a glowing smile when she saw me dressed for the Empire.

“Oh Mae, you look wonderful!” she beamed.

“Thank you,” I spoke softly. I could feel the heat from the sudden nerves rise to my cheeks. This was it, this was the time to go.

“Hopefully the leader, Nicolai, can keep his eyes off of you and remain focused on his people” Lidia laughed, as she ushered me out of the room and down the hallway to the portal. She opened the large door and revealed a normal looking room, it had painted beige walls and brown leather couches. The walls adorned with historical portraits, then on one wall a blank frame.

“Is that the portal?” I asked, pointing to the blank frame. Lidia followed my gaze.

“Yes, your correct” she nodded and began typing on her phone once again. I walked towards the frame, looking through at nothing more than the beige wall behind it. I can’t believe this is time travel, no big machine, no crazy electrical schemes, just a frame on a wall. I heard Lidia hit a button on her phone and say, “bring him in, she is waiting.”

I froze, I heard the large door swing open once more and two pair of feet shuffle through. I wanted to turn but, I couldn't. I felt paralyzed by fear.

“Is she okay?” I thick Latin accent spoke into the void of a room.

“I believe so, Mae, would you like to meet Nicolai?” Lidia questioned; I could hear the concern in her voice. I shot my eyes to my sandals and turned on my heels, facing him, but not daring to look.

“I’m okay, just nervous,” I said slowly raising my eyes to the great Roman leader before me. He was…handsome. Not in a modern man’s way, but in a powerful way. A man who truly held power.

He had a fit figure, with small light scars flecking his smooth olive skin tone. He looked rough in a way, like you could tell his body had seen many battles, but that only improved its quality. He had a sharp jawline and straight nose that made his face look impeccably symmetrical. His dark brown hair was cut in a buzz cut fashion, similar to our modern military style, you could still see the slight curls in the longer parts, giving him a boyish charm. A smile played at my lips thinking about him as a boy with think curly hair playing in the wind. I quickly met his brown eyes, still stunned from taking him in.

“I see I’ll have to keep her under lock and key, light hair, blue eyes. Could you not find me someone more fitting to walk in Roma?” he said in mild distaste. I quickly returned my gaze to the floor.

“She is of Italian heritage and the only one who has the needed genes for this mission to work”, Lidia reminded Nicolai.

“Very well, come. We need to be back before my men wonder where I have gone off to.”

Just like that, he started ushering me closer to the portal. Lidia placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder.

“You will return in two years, my dear. Nicolai knows to let no harm come to you; you can always reach us through the portal if you truly need.” She smiled at me. I nodded and turned toward Nicolai, mimicking the steps he took to get through the portal.

-

I came out through the portal into a small room. The chilled air made me aware of how exposing the undergarment to the toga truly was. I felt Nicolai grab my arm and begin to pull me. I let out a sharp yelp at the force.

“What is it?” he said, jumping away from me.

“You grabbed me!”

“It’s pitch black and, unlike me, you don’t know where the stairs are” he said, in a strict tone. I quickly realized that he was right and stuck my arm back out for him to grab. He escorted me up the stairs and through a door that led to the palace hall. Much like the portal room, the walls were a beige color and had paintings of what I could only assume were rulers. Nicolai dropped my hand and took a big breath; a small smile escaped his stern composure.

“This is my home; this will be your home also, Mae.” He turned towards me, extending his arm. “Let me show you before I have to address the men of my New World prize I’ve acquired.” He spoke only in Latin, but I had full understanding of his words. I gently wrapped my arm around his and let him escort me through the house.

He showed me the dining hall and formal room. Both were decorated in a royal fashion. There were paintings hung in delicate golden frames and statues stood in every corner. The kitchen was next and the kitchen staff only bowed and looked at me in awe. I graciously bowed my head back to them as well.

“We do not bow to servants,” Nicolai said, pulling my head back up.

“Why not?” I asked.

“They live only to serve, they are here to make sure you are fed the finest of foods and only drink the finest of wine.”

“Are they not people too?” Nicolai gave me a sharp look, pondering the statement I had just said. He let out an unexpected laugh and pulled me to the next room. We toured the gardens and stables next, showing me his finest war horses, granting me access to them whenever I was bored. Lastly, he showed me my room, right next to his. My room was large and beautiful, like any other room in the house, only mine was decorated solely in shades of blue and gold.

“I had heard your favorite color was blue, so I hope you don’t mine the decorations. If you don’t like them, tell me so I can have them changed,” he said, eyeing my movements.

“No, it’s gorgeous. I can’t believe my room would look so fine and ornate.” I said, shocked.

Nicolai let out a loud huff, “I’m not sure what they told you, but I’m no monster. I wasn’t going to throw you into a cell as my prisoner. You are a royal from the New World and will be treated with no less respect than I.” I turned to explain my shock, but only found him scowling as he turned out of the room, slamming the door behind him. I sighed and found a seat near a large window. My room overlooked the city, houses and markets shot up from the ground everywhere I looked. Some ornate and well-kept, others small and abandoned looking. A small knock came at the door, and I leapt from my chair.

“Oh, c-come in” I said, facing the door. The door crept open and a young woman entered holding yet another toga. She bowed her head to me.

“I am your personal servant, Livia” she said, still bowing.

“Please don’t bow to me” I said, shaking my head to her.

“I am under orders from Nicolai himself that I must respect you as the royal woman you are,” she got up and walked towards me carefully unpinning the toga.

“What, what are you doing?” I said alarmed.

“Nicolai will introduce you to the men who lead the warriors tonight, after he explains why you’re here”, Livia explained, as she continued working on my toga. She unwrapped my toga and smiled at me.

“Nicolai was correct” she said to me. I rose my eyebrows, questioning what exactly he was so correct about. “Nicolai told me to not be surprised by your beauty. I see why he wants to make sure you are fully covered. Our leader can remain respectful when in the eyes of a woman, but the more battle-hungry men may test their luck.” She began wrapping a larger black toga around me, carefully pushing my light caramel hair beneath the toga and pinning it in place. She carefully stepped back to survey her work, then nodded and swiftly made her exit before I could ask what was next. I sighed and took my seat on the plush chair once again.

Hours later, while I was drifting off to sleep, a harsher knock came at the door. Before I could even grant entry, Nicolai came sweeping in, dressed in battle leather. His leather was carefully carved with golden lions pinning his suit together.

“Let’s go” his strict voice rang out in the empty air.