Chapter 7

  Livia was in the peristyle of the imperial palace in Rome, exchanging words with her slave Fanesa, who was both her best friend and spy, when she suddenly heard loud shouts from the atrium. A voice that sounded all too familiar to her. With a joyful squeal, she jumped up and ran like lightning into the entrance hall, throwing herself into her brother's outstretched arms. She had to flinch briefly in pain, as her injury had not yet fully healed.

  "Tiberius, you're back!" she sobbed into his shoulder.

  "I am, my little sister." He soothingly stroked her head and felt tears welling up in his eyes, which he struggled to suppress, especially when he saw all the scrapes and cuts covering her delicate skin. At the sight, he would have liked to destroy something out of anger and guilt, even though the doctor he had spoken to shortly before assured him that the worst she had suffered was a broken rib. He put her down.

  "You are unbelievable!" he said to her, still astonished by her action.

  Guiltily, she lowered her head, but Tiberius could clearly see the cheeky grin she was trying to hide. No wonder she, Teres, and Fanesa got along so well, he thought to himself. They were remarkably similar, especially in their disobedience and their crazy plans. At that very moment, he saw her wink at Teres, who was standing behind him with a broad smile and was thoroughly enjoying himself.

  "Alright, that's enough," he said sternly, but he couldn't help but chuckle slightly himself. Then he took Livia by the hand and led her towards the cubiculum.

  "You owe me some explanations, little one," he said upon arriving there and flopped onto his bed. "I want to know everything. And make sure you don't leave out any details," he warned threateningly.

  So Livia sat down next to him and began to tell the story.

  Two days later, the triumphal procession finally took place. Her brother had surprisingly well processed her story, as Livia thought. He had indeed imposed a two-month book ban on her, but that seemed quite harmless to her considering that she had disobeyed his orders and put herself in great danger. Tired, she stretched and, with a sigh, threw off the warm blanket. Shivering, she went to the small bell hanging on her wall and rang it. Only a few seconds later, Fanesa came running to help her get dressed and to do her hair.

  "What would you like to wear, Mistress?" her slave asked gently.

  "The blue silk dress, please, Fanesa." Nodding, she fetched the dress while Livia went to her table to have her hair done there. Only then did she notice the package that was lying there.

  "Fanesa," she turned to her friend, confused. "Since when has it been there?"

  "I don't know, Mistress. Someone must have come last night and placed it there. When I left you, it wasn't there yet, I would have noticed," she replied. Livia stepped closer and pulled on the ribbons, causing the envelope to open. A long purple toga with a golden trim and a matching suffibulum, a veil, came to light, as well as a golden diadem adorned with diamonds. In astonishment, Fanesa and Livia stood with their mouths agape.

  "Purple!" the former whispered in shock. "It must be a gift from your brother!"

  "But why would he do that?" Livia said, frowning in confusion. "This color is reserved solely for the Emperor. Not even my mother wore purple!"

  "Well, I suppose someone is extraordinarily proud, my lady," Fanesa said.

  Gently, Livia ran her fingers over the dress and lifted it up. A letter fell out, which she hadn't seen before.

  "To my brave sister!" it said, and inside was a short message from her brother. "These clothes are my reluctant acknowledgment that you have acted like a true ruler and have more than proven your extraordinary abilities! I wish for you to wear them today, along with the most beautiful things you have, for I have a surprise for you, dear sister! Come to the atrium when you're ready.”

  With a big smile on her face, Livia set the letter aside and examined the gift.

  "Alright then," she said to Fanesa. "I better get ready.”

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  Two hours later, Livia was finally done and examined herself in her small hand mirror. Fanesa had intricately braided her hair and adorned it with gold and gemstones, which beautifully complemented the diadem. Over her dazzling white tunic, she wore the purple toga, while the equally purple veil covered the back of her head.

  "Beautiful!" Fanesa whispered, clasping her hands in delight before her mouth.

  "Thank you so much!" Livia exclaimed, spinning around once. Then she clapped her hands. "Now it's your turn, Fanesa," she called out.

  "But Mistress..." she protested, but was interrupted by Livia.

  "How many times have I told you to only call me that when we are in public," she scolded her slave lightly. "Livia is perfectly sufficient. And as for your concerns that it would be inappropriate, my brother is taking Teres with him too, so it shouldn't be a problem. Besides, you are my best friend, I would love to have you there."

  "Lady. Livia," Fanesa quickly corrected herself. "Teres is not really a slave, but rather a hostage or a tribute, whatever you want to call it. You know that! He has a completely different position than I do!”

  But Livia remained undeterred.

  "You are coming with me, that's my final word." Thoughtfully, she went to her wardrobe and returned with a beautiful tunic.

  "Put this on," she ordered Fanesa, who obeyed her with a shake of her head.

  "The Emperor will not be pleased," she warned, which Livia dutifully ignored.

  A little later, the two finally made their way to the atrium, where Tiberius, Teres, Livia's younger siblings Helvia and Tiberius Caius Flavus, as well as some other slaves, were already waiting impatiently. The Emperor raised an eyebrow at Fanesas's appearance, but said nothing further, only smiled at her, for which she was grateful.

  "You look like a true princess!" he said appreciatively.

  "I thank you!" Livia now examined her brother more closely as well. Like her, he wore a purple toga, but with embroidered golden palm leaves, and a laurel wreath on his head. The most unusual thing, however, was his face, which had been painted red with vermilion, following the example of the clay statue of Jupiter. She had to stifle a giggle but quickly became serious again when Tiberius took her hand.

  "Are you ready for the surprise?" he asked. Happily, Livia nodded as her brother led her outside, where the triumphal chariot was already waiting. Before she could say anything, he had stepped onto it and pulled her beside him. Livia's eyes widened in disbelief.

  "Can I come along?" she asked incredulously. Grinning, Tiberius nodded his head in confirmation. Full of joy, she threw her arms around her brother and laughed. It was an incredible honor, as the triumphal procession was exclusively intended for the Emperor. A jolt went through the carriage as Tiberius urged the four steeds harnessed to the front, while another carriage took Teres and Farnesa to the grandstand reserved for the imperial family, from where they could watch the entire spectacle.

  Quickly, she held onto the edge of the wagon as they drove over the bumpy streets to the Field of Mars.

  There, the rest of the procession was already waiting. A slave stepped behind them onto the wagon and held a gold crown over Tiberius's head.

  "Respice post te, hominem te esse memento," which meant "Look behind you, remember that you are only a man," he would admonish him continuously during the procession, as was customary.

  Afterwards, the emperor was presented the eagle scepter, but when they also wanted to give him the ivory staff adorned with eagle heads, he refused and instead indicated for Livia to accept it.

  "The honor belongs to you, dear sister," he said. "You were just as successful as I was, after all." Reverently, she took the staff in her hands. She still couldn't quite grasp what was happening. Before she could think further about it, the Emperor gave a signal and the procession began to move forward.

  First officials and musicians, then representations of victory, selected spoils, and the prisoners in chains, whom both Livia and her brother had captured, a wild mix of Lombards and Chatti. Next came her triumphal chariot, preceded by the lictors, a kind of imperial bodyguard, carrying bundles of rods wreathed in laurel. The two victorious armies brought up the rear. Slowly, they passed by the Circus Flaminius and then along the Sacred Way over the Roman Forum to the Boarium Forum and finally up to the Capitol. The edges of the streets were lined with huge crowds of people. At first, everyone looked astonished when they saw that not only the emperor but also his sister were standing on the triumphal chariot, and moreover, dressed in purple. However, after the initial confusion had subsided, the clamor of the crowd grew even louder.

  With the jubilant cry "Io triumphe!" they loudly celebrated their highly esteemed Emperor and Livia. For hours, the two waved to their people. As the triumphal procession finally moved from the Capitol to the Temple of Jupiter, the shouts changed.

  "Augustus et Augusta!" the voices resounded in adoration. A feeling of boundless power surged through Livia as they passed through the people who cheered and threw laurel leaves at them. It was as if the entire country had come together specifically for this honor celebration in Rome; she had never seen so many people at once in her life.

  Overwhelmed with happiness, she couldn't help but smile, and when she glanced sideways at her brother, he was already looking at her with eyes sparkling with joy. Upon arriving at the temple, the Emperor purified Livia, himself, and the entire army in a solemn ceremony from the curse of war and sacrificed to Jupiter.

  It was the final act of the festival, and prayers, songs, and praises echoed behind them as Tiberius carefully steered the chariot back towards the palace, where the family, senators, and generals celebrated the victories of the Emperor and Empress with an extravagant feast.