Free Mistress of Rome, Book Three of The Emperor's Obsession by Alex Carlsbad

Prologue
    Ten days before Saturnalia.
    City of Rome, Circus Maximus.

    "I find what you are telling me very troubling, Majordomo," the lord of the treasury said. “The Roman people must know that their emperor is ruthless, not a simple boy in love."  
    "A good emperor, I'm sure you'll agree Julius, is much like a slave-owner: He can only succeed if no one doubts his ability to be decisive and without mercy. I'd say it is a requirement for the position. Don't you think?" For an instant he tore his eyes away from the action in the arena and shot the Majordomo a dark stare. "What does it tell Rome's enemies, when they hear that Commodus has grown soft; that he has developed feelings for some slave woman? A married slave at that!"  
    Julius, Lord Majordomo to Emperor Commodus, nodded thoughtfully. Perhaps he shouldn't have agreed to meeting here, in the Colosseum. Too many prying eyes and curious ears. He glanced sideways at the people seated nearby. How many of them were on Aviscena's payroll? Maybe all? Julius sighed and tried to commit their faces to memory. It never hurt to know at least some of his companion's spies. Lord Aviscena had to have made sure that only trusted minions could be seated within earshot. It simply wouldn't do that their treasonous words fell upon the inquisitive ears of an imperial snitch.
    The Majordomo sipped on his wine and feigned interest in the gladiatorial combat down in the arena.
    "At first, I considered it simple lust, Milord," said the Majordomo leaning into Aviscena's personal space, "but recently it has started to look like our young master has developed a serious affection for the little slut. He takes her everywhere he goes, even on inspection of the border garrisons. Most troubling of all — he is planning to spend the entire festival of Saturnalia ensconced with the little bitch in a mountain villa. No matter the rumors of barbarian hordes prowling in the north or the terrible situation with this year's lost harvest. Not to mention," he scoffed, "the fact that she is indeed married after all…" He shook his head in disgust.  
    Truth be told, Majordomo Julius couldn't care less about any of the emperor's so-called sins. He even liked Myra. After all, he was the one that had brought her to the emperor's attention in the first place.  
    Whether he had done it out of respect for her recently deceased father, or whether because he knew that Myra would never be able to pay him back the debts her family now owed, he wasn't sure. However he did know one thing, the Emperor of Rome always paid his debts, and if she was accepted into the imperial household as a concubine, Julius wouldn't have to worry about collecting.  
    His plan had worked out better than expected — the emperor had fallen head over heals for the little beauty. The Majordomo had almost felt good about himself. Not only had he secured the outstanding debts that were owed to him, but he had done the unimaginable — an actual good deed. Myra's future was secure — her estate, her sickly brother as well as her young husband would all now be generously provided for.  
    As far as the Majordomo was concerned all was perfect.
    Except that soon after Myra's arrival in Rome, the Majordomo had started hearing rumors.  
    His elaborate network of spies indicated that Aviscena, the powerful Lord of the Treasury, second only to the emperor, had developed a strong dislike toward young Commodus. The Majordomo suspected it had little to do with any faults of the latter and a lot to do with the financial needs of the former. It appeared that the emperor had somehow come up with novel and meddlesome ideas of reform, and worst of all — had started acting on them. As a result, he was now being watched keenly and closely by men of power and ancient connections. Apparently some of them had even concluded that the time had come for young Commodus to be removed from power.  
    When, a short time later, the Majordomo learned that general