Augustus Road

"In the bedroom, when Andno was pressed against Hector, her slaves were hiding outside the door, pressing their ears to the door, and kept licking." - Ancient Roman satirical novel

————————————————————————

Luculas's banquet was held in two halls at the same time. A semicircular hall with columns was reserved for the city's dignitaries. Everyone in the hall had a couch, a dining table next to it, and a special Slaves and high-ranking ladies (or men) serve, and the dining tables are filled with eels, oysters, fine pork, hazelnuts and other high-end foods, including Tyrannion; in addition, in the general large dining room, all The free people under his protection gathered around the long dining table, holding huge glasses in their hands, drinking rough but adequate wine, and munching on vegetables and refined bread. Calabis gave Paluma was given a small ball and set free to play with the other freedmen's children in the yard.

Just as he was chewing a piece of pork strips, he saw Luculas's younger brother Marcos walking anxiously around the cistern in the courtyard. He immediately felt that something was wrong. He had heard that Marcos Si was slightly mentally retarded, so he immediately walked over and asked Marcos: "Can I help you in any way?"

"No, no, it's nothing." Marcus tried his best to maintain his dignity in front of his brother's free people, but after walking a few more steps, he sighed, shrugged, and said, "Yes, I was holding the wine cup and lying down. I was talking with other people on the couch, and then the lights went out. I didn’t like the atmosphere inside, so I walked out and enjoyed the breeze.”

"Forgive me for being abrupt, but you can't find your way to your room?" Karabis asked with his hands down.

Marcos winked awkwardly and tried hard to hide something, but finally revealed it: "Free people, you win. No woman was willing to talk to me at the cocktail party. They perfunctory me just because I am the elder brother." My brother, I am not happy. As a result, I can’t even remember where my room is. It’s hard to believe that someone like me has served as a governor of the province of Macedonia.”

At this time, Kelly came out. He walked up to the two people and asked what happened.

"No, it's nothing. Marcus thinks there are too many people, so come out and be quiet." Calabis covered it up quietly. He understands nobles of the same level as the Luculas brothers, even if their flaws are common to everyone. I know it, but I don't want to be exposed in front of the house slave.

After asking two female slaves on his behalf, Calabis, who knew the path, took Paluma and sent Marcus back to his room. It's no wonder that Marcus, Luculas's mansion has countless rooms. . Entering Marcos' room, Calabis's eyes were opened. It was a room of a forty-year-old man. It was full of various cages containing precious birds. Some of the cages were extremely exquisitely designed and had two floors. Birds can step on the lever and tilt it up and down to play.

This was simply a children's room. Paluma was running around in it, looking at so many weird pet birds in amazement. Marcus bent down and took out an ivory Egyptian bucket from the cabinet shelf. In dog chess, it's a showdown with five-year-old Paluma.

"Hurry, Marcos, work harder, and you will be two rounds ahead of the little pigeon." Karabis was behind Marcos, massaging the acupuncture points on his head (he once learned the technique when he was a volunteer at the university) A bit of nursing massage), it is said that this is somewhat effective for mentally retarded patients, he encouraged.

Marcos, who was eating big oysters and enjoying the massage, seemed to have become much clearer. He smiled like a child, "Okay, okay, we have to finish this dish with Little Pigeon as soon as possible before my brother sends someone to find me." Chess, your name is Calabis, right? You are such a good guy - soon my brother is going to build a unique villa on the seaside outside Rome... Oops, Calabis, maybe! Your hands are stronger."

"Yes, I'm sorry." Calabis immediately calmed down. Just now, Marcos said that his brother was going to build a villa in Prema. He couldn't help but think of the compliments Cames had given him in the Municipal Department, which mentioned: If his patron allowed him to take over a business or run a building, he would have hundreds of thousands of sesterces to earn!

Taking advantage of the moment, continue to trick Marcos, "Marcus, you are so favored by your brother, I guess there must be a place to take care of your interests in this Prima Villa."

"Oh, this is a secret thing. I won't tell anyone, including you Karabis - I hope to have a small pond, surrounded by soft sand and gravel, with two real Nile crocodiles in it - —But I wonder if my cunning and dissolute sister-in-law Claudia will laugh at me like she did last time in Campania. She will say, Hey, Luculas, you have to take care of your brother and don’t let him. He has disgraced the three families of Metra, Licinius, and Claudius. This woman, she did not come to Lucius’s party this time. My brother and I both hate her.” Marcus. He was two rounds ahead of Paluma in the dog-fighting chess game. He was very happy lying on the couch. He laughed for a while and then shouted, "I'm tired." Karabis immediately carefully helped him lie down and covered him with him. After getting a soft fur blanket, Marcos went to bed as soon as he said he wanted to sleep. Karabis pulled Paluma and then walked out quietly.

When he came out, Luculas was standing nervously in the General Restaurant, with a self-blaming expression on his face, as if he was looking for Marcus, but he was too embarrassed to ask everyone loudly about the whereabouts of his brother, fearing that Marcus Will be hurt by the gossips of servants.

"Lord, your brother said that he was too drunk and had gone back to his room to rest. I sent him back." Calabis quickly walked to Luculas and whispered.

"Thank you, Calabis. Maybe you can tell me what's going on with Marcos. I heard he was unhappy when he left the party. Damn it - I only talk about battlefields and politics with other people, and I shouldn't. Invite these prostitutes to help, they are hurting Marcos!"

"Marcus was very happy before he went to sleep. He played dogfighting with Paluma and won three games in a row." Calabis's words made Luculas' heart fall to the ground. He mixed gratitude and Appreciating it, he nodded to Calabis, "What job will the Municipal Secretary give you?"

"Service at the Temple of Vesta, Your Excellency. Start work in a leap month for twelve sesterces per day."

Luculas said with satisfaction: "This is a good job. I will make arrangements right away so that you can become the supervisor of the sacred weapon warehouse in the Temple of Vesta. In this way, except for the sacrificial ceremony, you don't have to spend time anywhere at all. I can rent you out from time to time." Just give him the key, but you have to be careful, stay away from the virgins of the Temple of Vesta, or you will be in big trouble if you get into trouble with them. During your free time at work, maybe you can come and accompany Marcus and take your little pigeon with you."

When the banquet was coming to an end, Calabis dragged Bodie out the back door excitedly and said to her: "Go to Delferro immediately and rent a high-end apartment near the wealthy area of ​​Palatine Hill. I'm going to make a big deal. By the way, how much savings do we have now?”

"Even the five hundred owl silver coins this time, there are still nine hundred in total." Potty was dragged a little unable to keep up. She didn't know what Calabis was so excited about. "I heard that in Paladin's apartment, each room has one The annual rent is 500 to 800 drachmas, which will take up all our savings."

"Even so, we have to give it a try. By eating these rewards, we will become paupers sooner or later. I have to become rich and strong, and gain a foothold in the city of Rome. We will be the richest freedman couple who can live in Rome." It’s always worth the effort to own a small villa with a rooftop hot spring pool on a certain hill, and then send our children to enjoy a high-level education!”

;