Claudia gave her father a small smile in return, not one that was strained but one don't quite show her white teeth. Her father, she knew, did love her as many fathers loved their daughters, maybe even more then some, but he could be overbearing at times and was over-protective towards his daughter. With each party came more possible suitors Claudia would meet the deeper his brow furrowed and the more Claudia could see frustration written on his face as clear as the paintings on the wall. 

Claudia knew she wasn't making it easy for him but none of them seemed [i]right[/i] and even though her father had the final say on who she was to marry he wasn't going to force her to marry a suitor she disliked... was he? Claudia wasn't completely sure. Her father was quite a deceitful person, a good father but some of the lower class citizens and those of the empires he had conquered definitely wouldn't have the same view. Ceaser needed an heir married into the line, empress was a title Claudia couldn't take until she married. An empress ruling the empire alone? That was unheard of and most probably not an idea anyone would be willing to try out. Her father was also awaiting heirs, she expected him to want to keep the throne for his descendants and not his sibling's. 

'Ah, here you are, my dear. Isn't she beautiful, General?' Her father says. [i]Beautiful [/i]the one thing she was known for over the Roman Empire, sometimes she wondered if she'd ever be known for something other than her looks. Her thoughts were soon momentarily pushed away from her mind as she turned to the general who nodded, keeping his eyes on Claudia. She felt her cheeks going red, unsure on whether she was blushing from the compliments or because her hazel eyes found themselves drawn to the soldier. She had heard of his bravery and kindness among his soldiers, her father held him very high. Her eyes continued to look over the general, his dark muscular body and sweeping black hair. It was as if Venus herself had given birth to the general then placed him on earth to grace its people with his looks. She had heard of his handsomeness from other noblewomen but never did she imagine the human embodiment of handsome to sit before her. She felt her heart flutter inside her chest, it's quick-paced rhythmic beating pounding inside of her head but at her father's word, however, Claudia allowed her eyes to tear away from the general.


'Now, since the pair of you are alone tonight, I think it would be a crime should the two of you not share a dance together, don't you think?' Ceaser says seriously. To Claudia it was quite obvious he was instructing the pair of them to dance but Marcus, however, seemed a little unsure. No one, not even those who dined with emperor often, knew his ways better than his daughter and his wife.

Her eyes wandered back to the General who then stood and held out a hand Claudia.

"I think that can be arranged," she says to her father before taking the General's strong hand and allowing him to lead her into the crowd of dancers. 

She cherished every step, every twirl. One of her hand rested willingly on his shoulder and the other held his strong, capable hand, a hand that had men begging for mercy and built an empire, sending a tingling sensation up her arm. Her heart seemed to be doing flips in her her chest and, for that one song, it was just Claudia, Marcus and the enchanted music.