The Slum: Marcus's POV

I was met with the smell of the market, a combination of fruity and foul odours that I couldn't wrap my head around. I was greeted by the shouts of the market people, who seemed occupied with speaking over one another and throwing obscenities across the street to the narrow corner of the area. I'm actually surprised that I seem shocked by these activities before me, as I have lived most of my days in this same city before I moved to Greece. I guess my living in Greece has really affected my lifestyle and way of thinking, making me greatly repulsed by the lifestyle of the people I grew up with.

As my carriage moved through the street, people parted, and little children seemed dazed to see the exotic carriage. They became carried away, feasting their curious eyes on it. it's not everyday that a carriage like mine passes through the slum part of Rome, except during a grand festival where foreigners and nobles travel far and near to attend the ceremony. It has been known to me since I was little that there are some who have to walk, no matter how long the distance is, because they couldn't afford a horse, talk less of owning one. The thought of them renting a carriage is far-fetched, so when they see one, they become enamoured by it, especially the little ones. The adults pretended not to care, but you can see them stealing glances from the corner of their eyes, while others looked at it with contempt, showing vividly on their faces. Of course, I wouldn't blame them; if I were in their shoes, I would also hate the people that have the luxury to own a carriage while I suffered endlessly to fill up my stomach.

As we moved on, the stench of the slum fillled my nose once again, and it took great willpower not to gag, I couldn't wait to leave this part of Rome. Finally, we got past the slums to the middle houses in Rome. The ground here was tilled, and it had a good smell compared to the foul stench of the slum. As the carriage kept moving, I could hear the faintest noise coming from the market in this area. I remembered to throw a thanks of gratitude to whosoever god was listening for not putting the market on this particular road, saving me from the noise I would have been bombarded with if the market had been built here.

The structure of Rome makes me realize how different it is from the scenery and appearance of Greece, where travellers are greeted with grandeur yet peaceful parts of Greece. It then occurred to me that Rome and Greece differ in so many ways.

"Milord," said the coachman, "I am about to turn onto the path that leads to the Borgia's estate."

"Go on," I told him. I decided to open the curtains that covered the side of the carriage to look outside, and before me stood the vast estate belonging to no other family but the Borgias'. Just seeing the lush flowers and the exquisite buildings made me homesick. I couldn't wait to meet my family, so I really couldn't place my thought on why I asked my coachman to change direction and go to Dune.

On getting to the brothel, my face burst into a big smile on seeing the building. Its mere sight keeps men and women entranced. This was one of the biggest brothels in Rome, and even though there were others, they couldn't simply compete with this particular one. If you want to see where the nobles and high-ranking officials spend their time when they are not busy filling their coffers and engaging in illicit activities, then you should probably come to the Dune, which I rather think is a non-befitting name, while I also couldn't think of a better name for it.

Entering the building, I knew instantly that I was home. While Greece seems to be superior to Rome in everything, it's only Rome's brothels that are an exception. Inside the building, I had to blinked several times for my eyes to adjust to the dim light of the brothel. In here, it felt like I was in another realm, and I was welcomed with drunk men that can't differentiate their hands from their legs - fools, all of them - and ladies throwing themselves at them, not to bed them, of course, but to steal any valuables they might have on them.

It was where I stood that Lady Clementina, the head of the prostitutes, came to meet me. "Oh, look who shows up to my doorstep after how many years! I daresay 6 or is it 7 years?" said Lady Clemetina. I chuckled at the thought that she hadn't really changed in her demeanor, but that couldn't be said towards her appearance. My gaze fell upon her, a figure I hadn't seen in what felt like a lifetime. It dawned on me that time has changed her; her smooth skin now had lines, her lustrous, shiny black hair had begun to gray, and her eyes, which once sparkled with life, were now dull. Yet, her smile still retained its captivating quality, and she still carried herself with the same effortless grace as when I last saw her. I bent down to hug her, and a sweet, woody aroma wafted up my nose.

"I don't think it's up to 6 or 7 years, Lady Clemetina," I replied, smiling as I looked at the small tavern in the small corner of the brothel. There, I spotted the Prince Imperial and two of my friends drinking heavily. "What else will I expect from those lazy fools?" I muttered to myself.

"What are you muttering about?" Lady Clemetina asked, raising her eyebrows as she followed my gaze to the tavern.

"I can see you have found other companions to replace me, and you don't need my presence anymore," Lady Clemetina said, feigning annoyance before I could reply. She has briskly walked away, heading god knows where.

I walked over to the tavern, but they seem oblivious to my presence. "Ahem, ahem, ahem," I cleared my throat in an attempt to catch their attention. It was only Lucas who noticed my presence first.

"M-Marcus, is that you?" he asked, bewildered, as he try to stand up properly but failed as he kept falling down. This bought a smile to my lips; Lucas was still the clumsy being he had always been and hasn't changed.

I had to walk over to him, steady him, and hug him. "Hello to you too, my good friend," I greeted him.

While still hugging him, someone hit me on the back. When I turned to look, it was the Prince Imperial. "You son of a bastard, why didn't you tell me you were coming back to Rome? I almost had a heart attack seeing you," he slurred, pulling me to himself.

"I've missed you dearly," he said.

"I'v missed you too, dickhead," I replied, smiling as I smacked his shoulder.

"Come and drink with us; the costs will be borne by me," the Prince Imperial said.

After settling down, Gaius, who hadn't spoken since I arrived, asked, "what business brings you here?"

"is returning to my place of birth considered treason?" I replied sarcastically.

"Whether you've committed treason or not should be determined by the Prince Imperial," Lucas said, laughing wildly at his dry joke.

"So, you're here to stay?" Gaius asked, ignoring Lucas.

"Of course, he is," the Prince Imperial said, cutting me off entirely.

"I hope so," Gaius said while pouring wine from the amphora.

Where are all this ladies? I need someone to cool me off," the Prince Imperial said.

"I too," Lucas chimed in.

"Lady Clementina, Lady Clemetina!" the Prince Imperial shouted to get her attention.

"Send us the best of the best among your harlots," Gaius said after Lady clemetina arrived. "And you can put yourself among them; you know I have been waiting to taste you, Lady Clemetina."

Gaius emphasized the title "Lady" with a sneer.

"Gaius has always been like this - the beast among us all," I thought to myself. "I was hoping he would have changed, but I guess he's gone from bad to worse."

"I have no ladies to give you, Lord Gaius," Lady Clemetina replied calmly.

"What do you just say? Are you disobeying my orders?" Gaius thundered.

"I'm sorry, but I won't send my girls to you just for you to beat them up again. I won't tolerate that in my house. You're a brainless old cargo, how dare you talk to me in that manner?"

"Lord Marcus, Lord Lucas, Prince Imperial, please permit me to take my leave," Lady Clemetina said, bowing to the prince.

As she was about to leave, Gaius immediately stood up and pulled at her clothes, attempting to undress her. People began gathering, curious about the commotion.

Realizing the situation, Lucas and I stood up to pull Gaius off Lady Clemetina and put an end to the nonsense before it escalated further. After several attempts, we managed to detach him from Lady Clemetina, who had become disheveled.

As soon as we did so, Lady Clemetina's anger boiled over. She turned to face Gaius, her hands flying out in a swift double slap. "You're an impetuous brat," she spat.

'Don't ever set foot in my brothel again," she said, turning on her heels and walking away.

Gaius, stunned into silence for a few moments, was ushered out by Lucas, while the Prince Imperial who had been silently observing the scene, finally spoke.

"I would have said it was the wine taking it's effect, but I know my cousin - he's alway been vile and arrogant," the Prince Imperial said. "Why don't you follow me to go check on him?"

By the time we got outside, the crowd had dispersed, and Lady Clemetina was nowhere to be found. Gaius, who had been tongue-tied moments before, was now shouting and gesticulating wildly.

The prince imperial walked up to him, grabbed his arms and tried to pull him toward their carriage. However, Gaius quickly jerked his hand away.

"Do you see what that harlot did to me? that low-life slapped me - me, the cousin to the Imperial Prince! How dare she,"

"You have to punish her; she has to be imprisoned," Gaius demanded.

"I was there, Gaius, and the only person that deserve punishment is you," the prince imperial said as he walked angrily off to his carriage, not even bothering to bid us goodbye.

Gaius, realizing the prince imperial wasn't going to indulge him and might leave him stranded, quickly ran after him, leaving Lucas and me behind.

"I never expected this night to end this way," Lucas said, laughing. I didn't know when I started laughing too.

'I have really missed you, Marcus," Lucas said as we walked to our carriages.

"I have missed you too. I think we should meet up soon, just the two of us, without any Prince Imperial and cousin distractions," I said, and we burst into another round of laughter.

"Of course, of course," Lucas said. I fear this is where our journey ends, Mi'lord," he added, bowing jokingly as he got into his carriage.

As his carriage moved out of sight, I got into mine also. "Are you ready, Mi'lord?" my coachman asked.

"Yes, I'm ready," I replied.

As the carriage rattled down the cobblestone street, horses' hooves echoing off the buildings, I lay my head on the carriage seat has it made its way to the Borgias' residence.