064: Being Nero's Teacher Is Reason Enough
"A gift from Shirley."
Novia, having returned to Rome from Harmagedon, soon received Shirley's gift from Lucuis. He now toyed with the stone in his hand, rubbing it repeatedly.
Unlike the journey there, Melusine insisted on returning by ship. Novia understood her intention and indulged her.
"Shirley? That purple-haired human?"
Melusine remembered the name quite well. Initially, she had seen Novia carrying this weak human, which had slightly alleviated her dissatisfaction at having her head forged into a weapon. After all, she appreciated those who showed kindness to the weak.
But her feelings had now done a complete one-eighty. She was only concerned about one thing—
"Does she like you too?"
"Don't worry, she and I are just friends."
Novia affirmed naturally, reaching out to pinch her cheek.
"Mmm, I believe you."
Melusine was confident that Novia would never lie. He might withhold things, but he would never speak falsehoods.
"Speaking of which, what's this stone for?" Melusine continued. "Though it has some magical energy attached, it's minuscule. Could there be some principle I don't understand?"
"I don't know either. But no matter what, it's a gift. Regardless of its purpose, the sentiment alone is enough. I'll take good care of it."
Although Novia knew this was a gift from Shirley, no matter how he looked at it, it was just a stone with a faint magical aura... Probably symbolic of some blessing from Shirley.
What he didn't know was that while Shirley had asked Lucuis to deliver the stone containing her words to him, she hadn't explained how to use it. Whether she forgot out of shyness or assumed it was something that didn't need explaining, Novia, for now, had not heard Shirley's message.
"The day is getting late, it's about time—"
Before Novia could finish, Melusine, who had been pressed against his face, immediately moved into his arms, her golden pupils blinking as if seeing something novel. She seemed eager yet foolishly kept her mouth half-open.
The dragon was asking for a kiss—a habit she had developed on the return voyage. Every night before sleeping, she would ask Novia to kiss her, and she wanted him to hold her tightly. It would be even better if Novia could gently bite her long tongue.
Since she hadn't yet obtained a physical body, after the kiss, Melusine would cling to Novia and sleep with him until dawn, when she would ask for another kiss.
Tonight would be no exception.
The next day, since Nero was still on the Greek peninsula and wouldn't return for a while, Novia, having learned the contents of the Sibylline Oracle, went to see Nero's mother, Agrippina.
"Your Highness Agrippina, it's been a while."
"It's you, Novia."
The last time Novia saw her was at Nero's coronation. Since then, they had hardly met, and Nero didn't allow her to participate in political affairs.
The sunlight streaming through the windows of Agrippina's residence was swallowed by the boundless darkness inside, not a single ripple reflecting on the snow-white walls. The place was like a coffin tucked away in a remote corner, filled with oppression.
"No matter how you look at it, Novia, you're actually quite pitiful."
Silence stretched. Rather than ignoring her, Novia seemed to be waiting for what the woman would say next.
"Ahhh, because that child, that doll-like child, is now the master of this great empire. Such a lovely child, my child." Agrippina cupped her face, wearing a sickly smile, as if talking to herself. "I truly love her."
"Ever since I returned from exile, I decided to make my lovely Nero the emperor. For that, I can do anything, I will do anything. I can persist endlessly. To think she had such all-consuming desires from such a young age... Truly, such a lovely doll..."
Novia watched as her expression shifted from gentleness to madness to terror.
"After all, you are still her mother."
"That's right, I am her mother. She shares my blood, the blood of Agrippina the Elder, and the blood of Julia. That's precisely why you are the most pitiful, Novia."
Agrippina the Younger laughed maniacally.
"The so-called emperor exists to rule all things in place of the one in heaven. They hold everything in their grasp, are granted everything, and are permitted to do anything—a god on earth!"
Then, Agrippina gave Novia a mocking look.
"Nero... cannot possibly be changed. Look—prosperity reflects upon the empire, ultimately summoning her. Right now, she is merely misunderstanding her own madness and desires because of your actions. She only likes you."
"And precisely because I understand this, you are the most pitiful, Novia. When the time comes, either she will kill you, or you will kill her. Hahahaha, I have always, always been waiting for that day."
Julia, daughter of Octavian, exiled for debauchery and adultery.
Agrippina the Elder, daughter of Julia, exiled for treason and sexual misconduct until she starved to death.
Agrippina the Younger, after her husband's death, attempted to seduce her brother Caligula and, failing that, tried to assassinate him. When exposed, she was exiled. After returning to Rome, she enchanted the wealthiest man in Rome, made him marry her, and soon after, he died. Finally, she seduced Emperor Claudius.
Judging from the experiences of these three, each was profoundly debauched, each surpassing the last.
Therefore, generally speaking, the current Nero should also—
"You're thinking something you find rather amusing right now, aren't you?"
A voice laced with laughter spoke up. Novia suddenly said.
"Agrippina, in truth, it's a very minor fact, something almost anyone might overlook. Nero had indeed lost her smile once, that's all."
"Your words did make me wonder for a moment—could it be that as your child, Nero must inevitably be like this? But no, she is not Julia, not Agrippina the Elder, and certainly not you. She is Nero, that's all."
"She will choose her own life. Even if her past cannot be changed, I will accept it. I will bear it all. That's all."
"I am her teacher. That is reason enough."
Note: I'm new to translating so please be kind and tell me any mistakes you all find, I will try to release a chapter a day but don't expect much
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