For hours she had to throw daggers at this stupid straw man. When would Vespasian finally realise that Aurelia was simply not a good thrower? With him, she had learned all the parts of the human body where a clean thrust was enough. She could also handle a sword, even if as a woman she was never allowed to carry one herself. She could also handle a bow and arrow, although not as well as a dagger. She understood that a well-hidden knife could save her life. Nevertheless, he had once again dragged her out of bed before sunrise to humiliate her with her lack of marksmanship.
Frustrated, she threw another dagger without really looking and hit right in the heart. Vespasian, watching at a safe distance leaning against the barn wall, applauded mockingly.
"Can I stop now, please? We were supposed to go to the sea today," Aurelia whined and Vespasian eyed her seriously.
"You wanted me to teach you how to defend yourself," he replied implacably and collected the knives. Unresisting, Aurelia accepted the knives, hitting everything but the marked areas. An hour later, Vespasian finally released her from this torture and ordered Persius, one of his freedmen, to fetch the horses. In the meantime, Vespasian's steward Ambrosius brought her a cup of grape juice. In the past weeks, the grapes in Vespasian's vineyard had finally ripened. They had not left a small part of the harvest to ferment but had immediately put it into amphorae without treatment.

Before the third hour of the day, they rode side by side over the rolling hills and reached the secluded stretch of beach that Vespasian had shown her at the beginning of the summer. Like Aurelia, Vespasian loved being by the sea. For hours they could sit on the sand and watch the gentle swell of the waves while talking quietly about anything.
While Vespasian prepared the picnic, Aurelia strolled barefoot through the surf and enjoyed the gentle caress of the sea. Shortly afterwards Vespasian called for her and reluctantly she sat down next to him on the blanket. For a while they just ate in silence as the waves lapped peacefully against the land.
"Aurelia, what do you say you and I get married?" asked Vespasian suddenly and she choked on her piece of cheese. Snorting, she reached for the water hose and took a deep gulp. Surprised, she returned his gaze.
"Why, by all the gods of Olympus, would we do that?" she asked back, aghast. To which Vespasian grumbled how unfair it was to answer a question with a question. Thoughtfully, Aurelia popped a grape into her mouth.
"I don't think we can make each other happy," she began carefully, and Vespasian started to contradict her, but Aurelia raised her hand. "Please let me explain. You are to me like the brother I never had. But I intend to marry only once in my life, and only for love. I just don't love you that way, Vespasian. Besides, what about Caenis?"
"What about her?" he wanted to know worriedly, and Aurelia turned to the sea, sighing.
"I know you will never give her up because she will always be your true, great love and I simply cannot chain myself to a man who loves another. It would destroy me," she admitted softly. Hesitantly, Vespasian offered to give up his beloved. Aurelia looked at him in wonder.
"The right woman would not ask that of you, Vespasian," she said firmly, squeezing his hand gently. "I promise you that you will find this one soon. But I am not"
This time Vespasian was the first to avoid her gaze and nodded gravely.
"You still love him, don't you?" he asked softly. Confused, Aurelia frowned.
"I will never stop loving him, even if he is gone," she murmured gravely and stood up. Determined to go swimming now, she trudged off immediately in the direction of her usual bathing spot without waiting for his reply. Not twenty metres from her ceiling was a cove lined with high rocks where she could bathe unmolested by a soul. Hastily she stepped out of her trousers and threw her tunic next to it, then glided through the water. As a teenager she had been a passionate and good swimmer, but at some point, she had given it up. School simply came first then. Now she enjoyed every moment in the water.

After she had calmed down halfway, she swam back to the shore, sat down on the warm stone and wrung out her hair. Then she hastily put her clothes back on and hurried back to Vespasian, who had stowed her food and blanket by now.
"We should return slowly. I have some urgent business to settle with Ambrosius," he said kindly and helped her onto the horse. Aurelia pulled on her gloves, deftly tied her silly straw hat off the saddle and hid her long hair underneath. Whenever her rides were not confined to Vespasian's property, she had to wear it in addition to her gloves. In this way they created the image of a nobleman on the road with his slave. What Roman would also voluntarily wear trousers?
"Whoever gets there first!" she shouted exuberantly and gave Nox the spurs. Behind her she heard Vespasian swearing. He was still not in the saddle, while the world blurred around them. Highly concentrated, she steered her faithful mare through the familiar terrain. When she reached the road to the estate, she heard Vespasian behind her for the first time. Immediately she spurred her horse on. Although she heard that her pursuer was getting closer, she did not turn around. That had cost her victory the last few times and this time she was finally going to win. The wind tore her hat off her head and her hair fluttered wildly. The forest was clearing. About five hundred more metres and she had reached the gate. Laughing, she cheered Nox on. She was through the gate. Startled slaves quickly jumped out of the way as she slowly slowed her pace. Triumphant, she turned and saw Vespasian rushing through the gate. Immediately he braked his chestnut stallion. When they were level, he pressed out between his teeth that she had cheated. Aurelia threw her head back and laughed liberated. She lovingly patted the neck of her night-black winner.
"Can't someone lose?" she teased him, and he gave her such a scowl that she laughed again. In the meantime, they had reached the courtyard and some slaves hurried over to take the horses from them.
"How nice to see that my defeat pleases you so much," he replied irritably and jumped off his horse. Aurelia signalled Nox to stop and sat up straighter in the saddle. She looked down imperiously at her cousin, who scowled at her flank.
"Of course. My little victory will go down in history for all eternity as the single and decisive defeat that brought the great Vespasian to his knees," she quipped, grasping his hand gratefully. Skilfully she swung herself out of the saddle. Vespasian grinned. Humming something under his breath, he let go of her hand, trudged towards the house and stopped as if struck by lightning.
"What's wrong?" asked Aurelia in amazement, handing Persius the reins. When her mare's body finally stopped blocking her view, she spotted the witnesses to her victory. The horror in his beautiful, sky-blue eyes froze her guts.