Chapter 14

At the young age of fifteen, he gained the trust of Emperor Claudius, managing the secretariat that oversaw domestic affairs, diplomacy, and military administration, as well as the financial office handling finances and the judicial office dealing with legal matters. Emperor Claudius not only personally supervised these three major departments but also occasionally sought his opinions. Furthermore, when a provincial noble wished to enter the Senate and become a high-ranking official, the Emperor would also consult him.

Literally, he was second only to the Emperor and above all others. Coupled with the rapidly developing Christian sect, which he himself vigorously promoted.

Moreover, unlike his predecessors as secretaries, he was not corrupt, nor did he amass wealth.

Everything about him filled Seneca with admiration. Of course, there was also the fact that his exile had ended because of Novia, which naturally led to him being labeled as part of Novia's faction. Moreover, Seneca himself was a Christian, albeit one who followed the original tenets of Christianity.

As a veteran official who had served three emperors, Seneca was often viewed with suspicion due to his talent. Had it not been for various unexpected events, he would have been executed long ago. During Claudius's reign, he was ruthlessly exiled to Corsica for seven years.

Initially, Seneca was greatly surprised when Novia asked him to tutor Octavia and Britannicus. After all, if nothing unexpected happened, Britannicus would be the next emperor. To think that Novia would entrust him with the honor and power of being the emperor's teacher...

However, although Novia entrusted the education to Seneca, he would actually impart his own innovative Christian teachings to the two children daily.

"What you say is correct, sir."

The old man and the young man took a sip of water from the table, then a second sip.

The sound of a gentle breeze whispered in his ears. What did Lord Novia want to see him for?

Seneca vaguely pondered this as he took his third sip.

"I heard Agrippina came to see you today."

The young man didn't look up, smiling as he drank his water.

Upon hearing this, the old man's hazy eyes blinked, not yet fully open, and he suddenly sat up from his chair.

"No, no, sir, please don't misunderstand. That woman only wanted me to tutor her child, and I didn't agree—"

"It's alright, I was just asking." Novia reached out and patted the old man's shoulder, saying, "Her child? What do you think of him?"

Agrippina's child was Nero, who, according to historical development, would ascend to Rome's throne six years later.

According to Novia's memories, the Type-Moon version of Seneca was forced to commit suicide by Nero. His final monologue to his disciple Nero before his death was as follows:

A small gem that once shone brightly, now it has become a malevolent star. The disaster that pours down is like a meteor, transforming into a fire that burns everything. I, who discovered your talent, also bear responsibility.

Perhaps due to some reservations, for whatever reason, the Seneca of the present told Novia that Agrippina's child's talent could not compare to Octavia or Britannicus.

"Oh, and Agrippina also said at the end, 'Please send my regards to Lord Novia.'"

"I see." Novia narrowed his eyes and walked towards the palace. "Thank you for your trouble, Seneca. You may go and rest."

"What are you doing, sir?"

"Since she asked you to send her regards to me, then naturally I must meet this Agrippina."

Somewhere within the Roman palace.

A woman seemed to be deeply lost in thought. Petals fluttered lightly from the branches, but she only glanced at them briefly before quietly closing her eyes. The sunlight was faint and warmed the heart.

"Mother, my head hurts so much."

Perhaps it was the sound of the young girl in the woman's arms that made her suddenly open her clear blue eyes. However, the surrounding scenery didn't change much, yet the woman seemed to be searching for someone, looking left and right.

"Because something very important for our future will happen today, please bear with it, Domitius."

The words spoken by the mother were somewhat heartless. The golden-haired girl shivered slightly like a small animal and turned to look at the ground. After a moment, she quietly replied, "Okay," appearing slightly dejected.

Domitius was Nero's original name. The name Nero was changed after her mother married Emperor Claudius I. She lost her father at the age of three, and her mother Agrippina was also exiled, so her childhood was spent with her aunt's family, the "Lepida" clan.

Agrippina was also somewhat anxious. The main reason she dared to bring her child to meet Seneca today was not to say those words, but to have Novia, who now wielded immense power in Rome, meet her. Ever since the former Empress died, she had been trying to find a way to meet this fifteen-year-old boy, but it had been unsuccessful, forcing her to resort to this method.

As time slowly passed, Agrippina became increasingly anxious. If she couldn't meet Novia today, how could she, as the Emperor's niece, enter the palace to assist with household affairs...

"You must be Agrippina. I am Novia."

The sudden voice finally eased Agrippina's mood slightly as she turned her gaze to the silver-haired youth approaching her.

"Greetings, sir. I am Agrippina, the granddaughter of Augustus, the sister of Caligula, and the niece of His Majesty Claudius."

Novia was not easily intimidated by such an introduction. He turned his azure gaze to Agrippina. His expression, even when smiling, was inscrutable.

"Agrippina," the silver-haired youth said, uttering the woman's name calmly yet respectfully. "These external titles mean nothing. Under God, all are equal."

"Is that so? I apologize. I was merely introducing my family to you, sir, and there was no other intention..."

"Ah."

Suddenly, Domitius let out a soft exclamation and fell silent, covering her mouth with one hand as if she didn't want to be noticed. She had something to say but quickly realized it was meaningless, so she stopped.

Occasionally, she would experience moments where her self-control couldn't suppress her headaches; situations like this occurred from time to time.

"Heh heh, this child has suffered from headaches since she was little. I'm truly sorry. I've heard that Lord Novia is an emissary of God. Could you perhaps alleviate her pain?"

At the same time, Agrippina deliberately pinched the child in her arms, signaling her to say something.

"No-Novia, sir, I—"

Just as Domitius was about to speak, Novia interrupted her directly. The silver-haired youth said with a half-smile.

"No need. I imagine you, as her mother, know far more about this condition than I do."

017: Christian—Nero

"...?"

The blonde girl looked blankly from Novia to her mother, not understanding the meaning of the sentence.

Agrippina's expression darkened, but she immediately put on a look of deep apology, gently stroking the head of the child in her arms.

Novia knew well the intensity of this woman's possessiveness. Nero's lifelong headaches were caused by her constant ingestion of poison, a scheme by Agrippina, the horror of which was so profound that even after Nero became a Beast, she could hardly escape it—it was a poison etched into her very Spirit Core.

In short, Agrippina did not regard her daughter, Nero, as a 'person.' At best, she was merely a puppet.

"Indeed, Lord, you are right. This is my failing as a mother," Agrippina said, meeting the young man's calm gaze with eyes that seemed on the verge of tears. "If only I had taken better care of her from a young age, perhaps she wouldn't have ended up like this. It will never happen again."

"That would be for the best, Lady Agrippina."

Novia chuckled at this. He knew Agrippina wouldn't reveal herself so easily. After all, in the Type-Moon story, Agrippina, even as she was being purged and before her death, had watched a hysterical Nero die with a smile on her face. She was, without a doubt, a madwoman.

After that, neither of them spoke again. Silence stretched between them, not because they had nothing to say, but because they were waiting to see who would break first.

Novia, for his part, didn't mind at all. It was Agrippina who needed something from him. Without his permission, she couldn't even get close to Emperor Claudius, let alone become Empress within a year and secure her child's succession.

As expected, as night fell, Agrippina grew more anxious. Finally, she dropped all pretense—

"Lord Novia, as His Majesty's niece, I feel deeply for His Majesty's tireless efforts in governing day and night. Would you, perhaps, convey a message to His Majesty for me?"

At the same time, the woman licked her lips, revealing a pair of sharpened canine teeth on her upper right jaw. Her gaze, now perfectly controlled, fixed on Novia with a flattering, affectionate intensity.

"Lady Agrippina, the God I believe in still watches over the world."

Novia remained unmoved. His azure eyes, at any time, were as tranquil as the deep winter sea, like gazing up from the depths of the ocean. It was enough to make Agrippina calm down in an instant.

"I see."

At this moment, Domitius observed that her mother's expression was less one of calm and more one of displeasure. However, she no longer cared, wanting only to return home because her head truly hurt.

"But what about my child's future? This pain..."

The woman lowered her gaze, seemingly contemplating something.

"I believe there is nothing more to be said. Farewell, Lady Agrippina."

Beneath the cloud-filled night sky, Novia prepared to rise and walk back to his residence, his footsteps echoing with a soft crunch.

"...Wait a moment, Lord."

The voice was devoid of emotion. The woman's cold eyes fixed on Novia, who had turned around. This time, she had truly made up her mind, and Novia could feel it.

"I wish to convert to Christianity. And my child, Domitius, has believed in God for many days. I beg you, Lord, to baptize her."

Theoretically, becoming a Christian required little more than believing in "justification by faith."

For Jesus Christ once said, "I have not come to be served, but to serve, and to give my life as a ransom for many."

Novia, of course, could see that Agrippina did not truly believe. She was merely stating her position. If he accepted, Agrippina would naturally announce it publicly. However, for Novia, the most important figure was Agrippina's child, Domitius, who would one day become Nero.

If this woman, known as a tyrant for her suppression of Christianity in the original history, were to be converted... what kind of development would occur?

What's more, she was inherently special. According to the Beast of Sodom's setting, she became a calamity only after her fated death and subsequent betrayal...

As Novia was lost in thought, Domitius's pupils flickered, revealing an anxious expression. Her breathing was likely already unsteady.

"..."

The blonde girl looked at him with eyes as if waking from a dream.

Then, with a distant expression, she nodded and said, "That's right."

After nodding once, for reasons unknown, she nodded again after more than ten seconds, saying, "Please, Lord, baptize me."

Baptism is not a mere formality; it is a testament, a public declaration to the world of obedience to commands, emulation of a role model, and, at the same time, a covenant of commitment.

"You may," Novia said, facing the woman's delighted gaze. "And her lifelong illness should end. It should also be handed over to me."

These words froze Agrippina's body. She dared to guarantee that only she herself knew that she had used poison to control her child, yet she did not understand how this silver-haired youth before her knew and demanded she hand it over... However, the woman eventually chose to nod in silence.

And before leaving, Novia saw Agrippina cradling the blonde girl's head, murmuring incessantly.

"I love you, this is for you, Domitius. I love you, I love you so much."

The mother's words of love for her child, a scene of overwhelming warmth. The only chilling aspect was the 'mother's' gaze, a gaze that seemed to want to devour everything, like a black mud.

The night was deep, the dew cold. The sky was vast and beautiful. The scenery spoke of the end of a day, yet a day was not the same as another.

The next day, Agrippina was appointed as the Emperor's secretary.

The third day, at Novia's residence within the city of Rome.

"Bishop..."

"Tell me."

Novia poured a bottle of water over the blonde girl's head. Domitius's brow did not furrow, nor did she show any surprise. She simply listened quietly, tilting her head. Then, Novia handed her the remaining half bottle and asked her to drink it.

This was a makeshift baptism, as a proper baptism required immersing the whole or half of the recipient's body in water.

"What must you do."

In fact, Novia knew exactly what Domitius was supposed to say, as he had already recited it to the girl.

Speaking of which, Novia had kept these words to himself for a long time. Domitius was the first to hear them, but when the opportunity arose, they should be publicized widely.

"People have had ideals and fantasies. People have received comfort and insults. People have stopped believing in others and in themselves."

"In the growth of years, we learn the preciousness of 'truth.' Though 'truth' can sometimes be embarrassing, a nation that faces truth is a mature nation, and people who face truth are strong people."

"Nothing can move a person easily, except the clarion call of justice."

The blonde girl read the words, so different from the Christian books she had at home, one by one. Though confused, she didn't ask any questions.

"When you face the wronged and helpless weak, when you face the overbearing and evil, when you face injustice that can affect a person's entire life, you should understand the price of justice, the courage justice requires."

"At such moments, we may be speechless, offering only blessings; to give strength to the powerless, to let the pessimistic move forward, to let those who are walking continue to walk, and to make the happy even happier; as for us, we must strive ceaselessly."

For some reason, the more the girl read, the more joyful she became, and at the same time, she developed a sense of admiration for Novia.

"There is always a force that brings tears to our eyes, always a force that will lift our spirits, always a force that will drive us to constantly seek 'justice, love, and conscience.'"

"This power comes from me, and also from everyone alive in this world."

018: Gems and Flames

"Today, we will study the 'Twelve Tables.'"

The morning sun shone through the extremely simple curtains onto his hair, glittering in the hazy vision of the blonde girl.

That radiance was like moonlight, or the gleam on ripe ears of rice, and it changed continuously depending on when you looked at it.

It was as if this person was an unfathomable embodiment of mystery, and thus, Domitius's day began.

Since Novia had already baptized her, both out of obligation and personal desire, he intended to sway this Domitius, the future Nero, towards his side as much as possible before Agrippina ascended to the position of Empress, so that he could swiftly execute her after Claudius's death.

Although Agrippina had previously displayed a humble demeanor, he had never underestimated the schemes of this woman. Once she was close to Claudius, her becoming Empress was inevitable. This wasn't to say that the sixty-year-old Claudius was infatuated with beauty and enjoyed incestuous marriage; rather, it was a rational need for Agrippina's bloodline and status as a tool to solidify his legitimate rule.

Claudius had been thrust onto the throne after Caligula's assassination. No preceding emperor had officially confirmed him as an adopted son or heir according to proper procedures, and he had never even served as consul. In terms of bloodline, Claudius lacked the blood of Augustus. His kinship with the Julii family was maintained through his maternal grandmother, Octavia, making him a "collateral branch," a "minor lineage." Agrippina possessed both of these absolute advantages that he lacked.