How carefully the little one has dressed herself, Malricus thought, yet he did not dare stare openly at the girl in Livius's presence.
Now that Fvlvia was kind to him, he did not wish to frighten her away with foolish gawking. He followed her movements only from the corner of his eye, discreetly.
If only she had dressed so beautifully for me, he sighed inwardly.
Once again, his thoughts grew tangled—this time around a single desire: he wanted the girl for himself.
I will make it so that she adorns herself like this only because of me.
Why he wanted this so fiercely, he could hardly say anymore. He still clung to the notion that through this he might wash away the shame his grandfather had brought upon the family. His grandfather had saved a man. And that man had been this very girl's grandfather.
He caught himself staring at Fvlvia once again.
No! If she knew what her lips are doing to me!
He imagined himself sitting beside her, taking the fresh red strawberry from her hand, and kissing her.
A powerful urge seized him—to use his demonic power and hold the girl in his arms that very night.
But he did not wish to win her this way. Not through demonic manipulation of the mind. The true victory would be a genuine conquest.
After that, he looked at her only rarely. Whenever he did, his thoughts wandered dangerously far.
After dinner, he and Bato once again wandered the city. That night, too, they failed to find Maximus. They did not even encounter anyone in the Subura who could tell them where the man most often appeared.
"Perhaps we are searching in the wrong place," Bato ventured.
They had already spent too many nights uselessly in the taverns of the Subura. And lost too many asses at dice.
"We could ask merchants, orators—perhaps even meretrices," Bato listed his ideas. "I can imagine Maximus in places like that."
"You've only left out the patricians and the thieves," Malricus laughed.
"I doubt he is either a patrician or a thief," Bato replied, laughing with him.
"Let's go into the first tavern we see," the orator suggested, "and simply drink something to one another's health."
Once again, he decided suddenly. They had never drunk while searching for Maximus. And perhaps tomorrow they would not continue the search in the Subura at all.
This tavern was just like the others—simple, bare, foul-smelling, and loud.
"Pro salute deorum!" Bato proclaimed solemnly, pouring the first sip of wine from his jug onto the ground.
Malricus was surprised that Bato performed the libation.
"I would rather drink to one another's health," he replied flatly.
"What grievance do you have with the gods?" Bato asked in surprise.
"That would be a long story," Malricus deflected.
He gave the boy no time to insist. Never mind if it is long; I will listen, Bato might have said.
Malricus quickly added,
"Everyone grows angry with the gods at least once in their life."
"That is true," Bato agreed.
He thought bitterly of the days when he was passed from one master to another.
Malricus knew exactly what the boy was thinking of.
"How long have you served in Livius's household?"
"Five years now. They treat me decently here."
"Do you have a betrothed? A lover?"
Bato shook his head. He stared stubbornly ahead.
"No. And there never will be. Women want children, and I will not pass this fate of slavery on to anyone else."
They were silent for a long time.
I could buy him and free him, Malricus thought.
Then he thought of his grandfather, who had saved a man and brought shame upon the family. Weakly and uncertainly, he made his choice.
Ah! Why do I concern myself with such human matters?
After the third sip of wine, he admitted to himself:
"Perhaps I resemble my grandfather more than I thought."
They did not linger long in this tavern either. They were already walking through the more respectable parts of the city when Malricus noticed two figures approaching.
"Just what I needed," he sighed aloud.
Bato looked at him in confusion. Then he understood exactly what the problem was.
"Well, well!" came Thalvia's mocking voice from afar.
Malricus knew a torrent of insults was coming. He did not relish Bato hearing them.
"So now you're leading boys astray! I didn't know that," she began her far-from-delicate speech.
Malricus glanced at Bato, then turned back toward the demoness, ready for verbal combat.
Thalvia examined Bato closely as well.
"At least you have good taste when it comes to boys!"
Malricus noticed that her companion wrapped an arm around Thalvia. Perhaps a more formidable demon had crossed her path.
He was relieved—at least she would not follow him. And she would not cause trouble between him and Fvlvia. Still, he struck back.
"I didn't know you had become a meretrix!"
Thalvia's companion and Bato exchanged glances. Neither of them enjoyed this ordeal.
"I hope you received both of my greetings," the demoness said wickedly as she departed.
Only then did it dawn on Malricus that on his first day in Rome, both ut fellate messages had been meant for him—and that they had come from Thalvia.
"You have very poor taste," she added, casting one last glance at Bato.
"Pleasure meeting you," Bato said, thoroughly shaken.
The pleasure is not mutual, Malricus thought.
He was glad Bato was discreet enough not to question him about Thalvia on the way home.
♡
The next day, there was great preparation in the villa. Livius had his finest toga inspected. Tullia ordered fresh flowers. The house shone in festive light, just as it had when Malricus first arrived.
"What happened?" Malricus asked Bato upon waking.
"Aurelius—Fvlvia's betrothed—will dine here tomorrow."
Malricus did not like this. Seeing someone else beside Fvlvia? Seeing Fvlvia kiss another man?
He did not wrestle long with helpless thoughts. His plan was already complete.