They moved down the vast ornate halls to arrive back at her room. She wanted some time alone with him to assess his state of mind and discern quickly if he would be able to remain be her side or need to be sent to the slave quarters. She’d not be waking up to his hands around her throat as he pressed the life from her quickly. She was intelligent and cunning if anything. She felt a small twinge of guilt at leaving her own birthday party midway, which was short lived.

Her father loved to find a reason to gloat and her birthday was a perfect platform for his to invite the countryside to come and see the beautiful spectacle that was his only daughter. She would be betrothed to someone of noble standing, most like the prince of Spain as her father wanted, no needed, an alley of that strength and military cunningness. The thought alone made her sick, but she swallowed it down with her guilt.

The guard at her quarters opened the door, then stepped forward and grabbed Verus, one on each arm. Claudia turned and sat her gaze firmly set on the guards as they awaited her command. “Remove your hands from him. He’s a man, not an animal. You may leave us. Thank you for your time.”

Both of them looked rather confused as they released the criminal, one speaking up out of concern for the beautiful young woman.

“Princess, you don’t mean to have him in your room alone, do you?” His gaze was piercing as he stood tall with his chest bowed out.

“I most certainly do. If you are worried about my safety, I’ll remind you that I am no wall flower and can defend myself against most of your men, including both of you. If he tries something ignorant, I’ll call for you. Post a man outside my door and bother me not unless I scream, which isn’t going to happen.” She scoffed at them and pointed at the door, turning her back to them all until the door shut. 

The sound of his voice gave her pause and his questions were reasonable and yet still somewhat ballsy for a slave. She was glad to see that perhaps he had not bought into the subservient part to the core of its destruction and there might be some salvaging him to be a man of honor if she could find a loop hole of sorts. She turned to him and nodded at his first question, the strong commanding woman that presented herself to the people of Rome as one of their leaders let her guard down as she reached for the chains that bound his hands, carefully removing them as she spoke to him.

“I am Claudia. I am so sorry about all of this. I shall make it right as soon as I am politically able. I’d rather play the part with you here than have my father send you to your death, which would be such a waste.” She stopped in front of him and took a small white cloth from the small stone table beside him, dabbing sweat from his temple. “Your name is Verus? Did I hear that correctly in all of the insanity earlier?”

She took the cloth and handed it to him before backing up just a little to look him over. "You knew before I did that you were to be a gift to me. I am at a loss for the situation placed before us and have no plans other than to keep you alive and hopefully set you free."