Snippet #4983

For once, Spurius allowed a slight grin and chuckled at Vittoria's words, "But m'lady, slaves are never in want of anything." As much as she would like to play if off as his own desire, she had come to him. Spurius had to think for a moment that he was most likely unlike other men she interacted with on a day to day basis in that he was not throwing himself to her beauty or status as a princess, instead opting to show an interest and let her decided to start conversation. He couldn't be certain, of course, due to his ignorance of what went on outside the walls of his own societal status.

“I’m not sure of the particulars of your kind, but I assume I should bow? Perhaps compliment you on your beauty?” Unlike most gladiators, Spurius spoke more like that of the aristocracy than a slave. His original master’s intention was to groom Spurius into a warrior capable of leading free men against Caesar, which was why he had the slave educated. However, before the plan could come to fruition his master, a Senator, was assassinated, though details of this crime were never released.

Spurius thought back on her words from earlier, about how she was not a legitimate daughter of Caesar, but instead a slave having been brought into Royalty. Maybe there were some similarities between the two, but the limits of the confines were very different. While he was a slave to the arena, she was apparently a slave to royalty. What freedom did she seek then? Did she wish to escape royalty and own a farm? Raise cattle? Vittoria was an interesting figure to study, in that her motive was freedom even though she seemed unsure what that meant, exactly. Whatever the case, her freedom could only come with Caesar’s death. At this point, Spurius was far more likely to be freed than her.

“You told me you seek freedom,” the gladiator stated to remind her of their previous conversation. “What did you mean by that?”