The tart smell of lemon filled Livia’s nose as she pulled the hot pie from the oven. She got a tip from Alia that Ancus’ favorite pie was lemon meringue. So, Livia made her best version, taking care to bake the recipe perfectly.

After that, she helped Caecilia prepare the rest of the dinner. The doorbell rang as she finished setting the table. Livia turned to find Corvin approaching.

“Evening, Liv,” he greeted. He dropped a soft kiss on her forehead. “How did your day go?”

Livia smiled at him. “I cooked all day.”

“Sounds exhausting,” he commented.

“Usually, I don’t mind, but I was nervous about getting the lemon meringue perfect, so it was a tad stressful.”

Corvin grinned. “I’m sure you did amazing.”

“Let’s hope.”

Ancus entered with his lyre. He greeted everyone politely. Hyrum invited everyone to the table, and dinner began.

“This is quite an intimate gathering,” Ancus said.

Corvin lifted his head and locked eyes with Hyrum, seeking to support him. Hyrum gave him a calm look and remained confident.

“That’s the way I like things,” Hyrum said. “I’m not one for much noise and bustle.”

The topic turned to school plans. Ancus wasn’t enthusiastic about leaving Caesarea to go to school. So, took online classes to complete his first year of school. Next fall, he would go in person to finish his engineering technician degree. After that, he set his sights on joining FORMICA—the engineering division of the Legionnaires.

Corvin grinned. “We always were equally ambitions in opposite directions.”

Ancus laughed. “Good thing, right? Or I’d win everything.”

Corvin scoffed. “Only half.”

Livia carefully watched this good-natured ribbing between them, looking for any signs of animosity. If there was, it was too well hidden.

“We do hope you’d be willing, competition and all, to help Corvin out of a rough spot and help my House in the process,” Hyrum said.

Ancus looked surprised and then covered it well. “Politics, so soon,” he murmured. “Well, go on then.”

Hyrum explained how the deal between him and Lars would reduce the budget burden of the welfare crisis for the Senate. Then, he asked Ancus if he’d vote for the adjusted budget to pass during the first legislative session in January.

Ancus looked thoughtful. “I’m not against it.”

“But you’re not for it?” Hyrum pressed.

Ancus leaned back in his chair. “See, helping Corvin will make me some enemies. So, I’d like to know that I’m making new friends.”

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

“How does one become your friend?” Hyrum asked.

Ancus twisted his glass and answered smoothly. “Maybe one could listen to some suggestions on how to develop newly created public lands.”

“One is listening,” Hyrum looked at Livia and grinned. “Maybe two.”

Ancus laughed. “It’d be nice to build an interesting indoor space, something technical that will bring work to an engineer as he gets out of school”

“What about a theater?” Caecilia suggested, eyes bright with enthusiasm. “I keep telling him to build a theater.”

“We need a hotel more,” Hyrum argued.

“I mean, why not both?” Ancus grinned. “The more work, the merrier.”

Corvin laughed.

Hyrum and Caecilia locked eyes. Their lips quirked up in mutual smirks. It appeared they quite liked Ancus’ suggestion.

“If one could depend on certain factions to favor the interests of FORMICA to fund such extravagant plans?” Hyrum paused. “I think we could be good friends.”

“Excellent.” Ancus clapped his hands together. “This is the most pleasant negotiation I’ve ever experienced. Quite enjoyable.”

Hyrum lifted his glass into the air in Ancus’ direction for an impromptu toast. “See you on the Senate floor.”

Ancus returned the gesture with a smile. “As friends.”

“As friends,” Hyrum agreed.

When dinner ended, Livia served her Lemon Meringue pie. Ancus took a bite and melted into his seat. “Hmmm, this was definitely made today. It’s so fresh.”

Livia nodded. “I made it this morning.”

“You made it?” Ancus asked, surprised.

“Yes.”

“Truly?”

“Yes,” Livia repeated.

“It’s amazing. I feel spoiled. It’s my favorite,” he said.

“I might have been told that fact in confidence,” Livia smiled.

He looked pleased. “You made my favorite pie for me?”

“What are friends for?” Livia quipped.

Ancus laughed, delighted. “Indeed, Livia, indeed. I might hire you to make my birthday pie every year. This is better than ordering from Melimelum, and that is impressive.”

Livia looked at Corvin and whispered. “Is Melimelum Latin?”

He nodded, leaning in close to speak low. “For sweet apple. It’s a popular bakery on the other side of the legionary practice fields.”

After dessert, they gathered in the front room, and Ancus played the lyre. Caecilia sighed and rested her head on Hyrum’s shoulder, eyes closed as she listened.

The soft music made Livia relax too. She rested her hand over Corvin’s on the couch, tentative, light. Corvin’s hand curled around hers in a hold that was just as tentative and gentle as her own. Her heart swelled with affection for him, and she tossed him a happy smile. He reciprocated by pressing a kiss to her temple.

“Apparently, I’ve been misnamed,” Ancus joked. “I’m really Cupid in disguise.”

Corvin laughed. “Play your lyre but hold the bolts.”

“No promises, Cor.”

“I’ll tremble in my boots,” Corvin teased.

Ancus drawled after a dramatic scale on his lyre. “I don’t recommend heels.”

Livia responded in a similar tone, “Pity. I was expecting another heel-dropping performance.”

Ancus belly laughed. Then he strummed his fingers along the strings of his instrument. “Let’s try this song, then?”

The sound was pretty. Then he opened his mouth and started to sing. He had a resonant bass voice that filled the room with warmth. Chills ran down Livia’s arms as Ancus truly delivered a “heel-dropping” performance for them.

Ancus played for a half hour and then excused himself for the evening. Livia told him that she enjoyed his performance and appreciated him accepting her invitation for dinner. “We’ll do it again, I’m sure,” he said.

“Corvin,” Ancus shook his hand. “I hope we do something together soon.”

“Let’s plan on playing music together the first Friday night after the Senate vote. My parent’s library.”

Ancus’ face lit up. “I’d love that.”

“I’ll ask Epiphany and Hortensius to join us. The girls will get a new piano for the family Christmas present, so…it will be exciting.”

“I won’t miss it,” Ancus said. “See you then.”

After he left, Corvin clasped Hyrum’s forearm. “We have the votes.”

“We have the votes,” Hyrum said.

“I can’t thank you enough—”

“You don’t have to. I didn’t do it for you. Someone needed to step in so the right thing could happen. This time, it just happened to be me. Next time, it may be you.

Corvin grinned. “You underestimate your goodness, Hyrum. I’ll remember this. Thank you again.”

Corvin kissed Livia’s cheek. “Hun, you coming with me to the TARP Saturnalia party?”

Livia frowned. “I thought you already had a Christmas party.”

Corvin grinned. “We did. This is the Saturnalia party. It’s less formal and more silly.”

“Alright, what time?”

“Tomorrow. Late. Starts at 9:00.

Livia nodded. “See you then.”