Chapter 105: Berenice The Roman delegation, led by Marcus, arrived in Egypt without any hindrance.
The soldiers' morale was high.
The 12th legion, which had spent two years in Gaul and completed winter training, now radiated the atmosphere of a victorious army.
The two newly formed legions were also unable to hide their excitement and expectations.
Thanks to the extensive publicity from the Senate, Marcus's military reputation was almost on par with Caesar's.
A hero who had won a great war could boost the soldiers' morale simply by his presence.
The defenders of Alexandria did not dare interfere with the landing of the Roman legion.
The citizens were no different.
They were weary of Berenice's tyranny and showed no hostility toward the Roman army.
Had the Romans been mere invaders, the citizens would have fought to the death, but the Roman army had Auletes with them.
The citizens of Alexandria gladly accepted the former king they had driven out.
Auletes, stepping onto Alexandria's port for the first time, took a deep breath, his face showing gratification.
"I didn't know the air of my homeland would feel so refreshing."
Marcus, standing beside him as though on a casual stroll, nodded in agreement.
"I understand. I felt the same way when I returned to Rome after my eastern campaign."
"Is this your second time in Alexandria?"
"Yes. I remember the welcoming party sent by Pharaoh filled the port when I first came. But now…" Marcus glanced around the empty port with a smirk. "There's no one here. It seems Alexandria isn't exactly rolling out the red carpet for Rome's visit."
"They must have forgotten how to greet guests while I was away…"
"Or maybe they're still hesitating. The Alexandria palace is sturdy enough that they could hold out for a few weeks if besieged."
"Berenice may be a fool, but her servants aren't incompetent. They won't foolishly follow an order to fight a hopeless battle."
Auletes glared at the palace in the distance, continuing his thoughts.
"If they hesitate, it's because they don't know how to lure you in. Honestly, I can see through her plans. She only has her beauty, blessed by the gods, to use, so she'll likely try to seduce you."
"Is she that beautiful?"
"Not to brag, but all my daughters are exceptional beauties in Alexandria. Berenice may not want to be recognized as my daughter anymore… but any man would be moved by her. Of course, I trust you won't be swayed. After all, you have such a beautiful wife by your side."
Marcus nodded slightly.
Having always kept Julia and Danae by his side, he had developed a high resistance to beauty.
He was confident that no beautiful woman, no matter how she threw herself at him, would sway him.
He glanced back at the legion lined up behind him, ready to storm the palace the moment they received orders.
"Let's send a messenger and wait for a day. If there's no contact by tomorrow, we'll consider Egypt's silence as a rejection of Rome's visit. Oh, and Pharaoh, if they send an envoy, I'll represent the negotiations. Please understand."
"…I trust you."
Auletes, despite trusting Marcus, couldn't shake off his anxiety.
If Marcus fell for Berenice's temptation, Auletes's life would end that day.
He wanted to suggest they attack immediately, without negotiation, but showing too much impatience would hurt his dignity as Pharaoh.
Marcus instructed his soldiers to show Auletes the utmost respect, trying to ease his nervousness.
The Roman army set up camp on the outskirts of Alexandria, awaiting the other side's response.
Meanwhile, the palace of Alexandria was thrown into turmoil.
The preparations had been made, but when the news reached them that the Roman legion had set up camp nearby, they felt helpless.
Berenice clenched her fists and bit her lip as a servant knelt before her, delivering the Roman army's message.
"I will report. The commander of the Roman army is Marcus Licinius Crassus. He is the same man who represented the Senate when he visited Alexandria before. The three legions he leads are fully armed, assembling siege weapons, which suggests they're willing to destroy the palace if necessary. If we don't respond by tomorrow, they'll act on their own judgment."
The room was filled with fear and confusion.
No one knew the Roman army's strength better than Berenice.
Even she could feel the pressure.
How much more would the other servants fear, knowing that three legions were at their doorstep?
One of the eunuchs who served Berenice lowered his head.
"Did Rome decide to side with Auletes…?"
They could guess how furious Auletes must be.
If he were restored, the high-ranking officials here would be doomed.
Especially Berenice—there was no chance she'd survive.
Berenice, already on edge, snapped.
"What does it matter if Rome takes sides or not? I am the Pharaoh of Egypt. Hmph, Marcus? He's just a man. I've already made a plan; I just need to execute it."
The servants bowed their heads in silence, hoping Berenice's plan would succeed.
The servants who led the rebellion dared not suggest surrender.
They knew too well that death awaited them either way.
Those who had no choice but to follow Berenice spoke up one by one.
"First, we need to appease the Roman army. We should have arranged for people to greet them at the port. Who is responsible for this?"
"They came faster than we expected, so we didn't have time to prepare. They said they want an answer by tomorrow, so we should send an envoy."
Berenice nodded and turned to the servant who had brought the Roman army's message.
"Tell the Roman army that I'll send an official envoy to invite them to the palace. The gates will open tomorrow, and Marcus can come to speak with me. That should satisfy him, right?"
But the servant hesitated, not moving to deliver the message.
Berenice grew impatient and slammed her fist onto the throne.
"Why aren't you moving?"
"Well… Your Majesty, Pharaoh. The man named Marcus who leads the Roman army may not come into the palace."
"What? Why?"
"The message said they would open the gates, and Pharaoh should come to their camp personally. If not, they'll consider it a refusal to negotiate…"
"That arrogant Roman! How dare he order Pharaoh to come and go as he pleases?"
To Berenice, as Pharaoh of Egypt, it was an unbearable humiliation to be ordered to visit the enemy's camp. It would be like a complete surrender.
Cleopatra, who had remained silent during the meeting, gently touched her head and spoke for the first time.
"Rome is deliberately provoking Pharaoh's pride. If we insist on our way, they may decide the former king is easier to deal with than the current one."
Berenice, considering Cleopatra's words, realized that now was the time to set aside her pride.
She didn't need to grovel permanently, but for now, she had to act strategically.
"Fine. I will go to the Roman camp myself as soon as dawn breaks. I will make them choose me over the old king."
"Should I accompany you?"
Even if she went to the enemy camp, Berenice, as Pharaoh, couldn't go alone.
Her siblings were qualified to attend her.
Berenice stared at Cleopatra for a moment before shaking her head.
"No. You and Arsinoe stay in the palace until I return. I'll take the eunuchs with me when I meet the Romans."
"Understood."
Berenice knew her sister was much smarter than her.
She didn't want to give Cleopatra the chance to make any moves behind her back, knowing her sister's inscrutable mind.
With that, Berenice and the eunuchs left, leaving Cleopatra and Arsinoe behind.
As soon as Berenice was out of sight, Arsinoe snickered.
"Our beloved Pharaoh is still making futile efforts. But why did you say you wanted to go with her to the Roman camp?"
"I just wanted to check something for myself. I knew she would refuse anyway."
"What did you want to check?"
"How deep our father's anger runs, and how Marcus intends to deal with it. I thought I'd feel more relieved if I checked it myself. If our father returns to the throne, there will surely be a massive purge in Alexandria. Don't you want to gauge how far it will affect us?"
"Do you think we could be purged too? Father wouldn't kill all his daughters, would he?"
"We still have a young brother who knows nothing. There won't be a break in the succession. And don't forget, for now, we've technically supported Berenice's rule. We left enough evidence that we had no choice, but if our father loses his reason in his anger, there's a real chance he could cause a bloodbath."
"Still… Even if our father does that, Marcus won't let us be executed. He was kind in his response to the letter I sent him."
"I think so too, but it never hurts to be cautious. Besides, I thought I could get to know Marcus better by watching the negotiation from Berenice's side. But that opportunity is already gone, so I have to prepare in another way. You should also gather evidence that you followed Berenice's orders under duress. Unless you want your neck on the line as an accomplice to a rebel."
Arsinoe, though skeptical, followed Cleopatra's advice and quickly left to organize the necessary information.
Left alone, Cleopatra walked to the window and stared in the direction of the Roman camp.
Even if they were the descendants of gods, self-proclaimed rulers of Egypt, they were mere driftwood in the face of the vast storm called Rome.
If they tried to confront it head-on without adapting to the flow, they would be crushed.
But she didn't want to live by simply surviving on the current.
She would make the flow her own and rule this land as a true Pharaoh.
It might only be a dream for now, but someday she would make it a reality.
Ambition burned brightly in her eyes.
She quickly shook her head, returning to her usual innocent expression, and headed for her bedroom.
Marcus had prepared his legions after receiving Berenice's message, ready to greet her.
He sat at the center of the three legions, which were lined up neatly, looking every bit the ruler of the land.
As the appointed time neared, the palace gates opened, and Pharaoh's procession appeared.
The attendants' faces tightened at the imposing presence of the Roman legion.
As they neared, Marcus spotted Berenice IV, her face slightly tense.
As Auletes had said, she was incredibly beautiful.
With a high nose, flawless skin, and eyes that seemed to beckon with a seductive allure, she captivated him.
Even the soldiers, trained to be disciplined, couldn't help but steal glances at the queen.
Berenice, usually accustomed to basking in attention, was focused this time.
She concentrated, sensing that the man before her was someone she would need to seduce.
His strong, masculine appearance caught her eye first.
She understood why Arsinoe and Cleopatra followed him around so often.
'If I had known this, I would've tried to establish a relationship with him when he came as an envoy,' she thought.
She had always judged people by appearance alone—handsome men were adored, while the unattractive ones were ignored.
It was a principle she adhered to consistently.
Marcus was indeed worth her effort to seduce.
And it made her feel a bit more at ease that Auletes was nowhere to be seen.
As they finally came close enough to face each other, Marcus greeted her with a polite bow.
"It is an honor to have you here."
His voice was softer and friendlier than she had expected.
Berenice smiled faintly, feeling less burdened. Her Egyptian eye makeup made her seem flirtatious.
"Seeing the young hero of Rome, whose fame is widespread, makes me happy. I hope this meeting leads to a beneficial outcome for both of us."
"I'm sure it will be the best for both sides. Shall we go inside?"
Marcus gestured, and Berenice confidently walked into the commander's tent.
She left most of her escorts outside, bringing only two attendants with her.
Marcus took only Spartacus, his bodyguard, inside with him.
Once inside, Berenice provocatively shed her ampo, revealing her body clad only in a thin, revealing fabric.
Spartacus turned his head away, coughing uncomfortably.
Marcus, however, did not avert his gaze. He smiled faintly, studying Berenice's form intently.
Berenice was aware of his gaze, and she gracefully sat, crossing her legs, her fingers lightly tracing the fabric.
The heat of Alexandria made light clothing a preferred choice in less crowded places.
"I understand. It's quite hot here," she said.
"Thank you. The men of Rome are very considerate."
"Ha ha, I'm more considerate than most of them."
It was clear he was trying to charm her with his compliments, especially as his eyes discretely took in her figure.
Berenice smirked, secretly relishing her success in winning his attention.
'What? You said you wouldn't fall for a woman easily? That's for you little girls. Men are easy—just show some interest, and they fall for me.'
She decided to bait him further.
Leaning forward slightly, she accentuated her cleavage.
As expected, Marcus's eyes kept flicking to her chest.
Confident that she had the upper hand, she asked seductively, "What kind of agreement do you want to make with me, Marcus?"
"Well, first of all, Rome has made a treaty to guarantee the royal authority of the former Pharaoh. However, he claims that his legitimate right was violated by the rebellion in Alexandria. Our Senate has decided to investigate and mediate this matter."
"I don't know what lies the former king told the Senate, but this was a lawful succession. The people and servants of Alexandria grew disillusioned with his incompetent rule, so they chose me, the rightful heir, as the next ruler."
"I see," Marcus said with a smile, nodding in agreement.
He continued, his tone slightly awkward, "But since I brought three legions, I can't just leave empty-handed. What kind of benefit can I get if I guarantee your throne, Your Majesty?"
"If you do that for me, I will express my gratitude with my body and soul. By the way, I'm not married yet."
In the original history, Berenice IV had married into the royal families of fallen kingdoms to absorb their authority.
But now, the situation was different.
Berenice had a more ambitious plan.
She intended to seduce Marcus and bear his child.
A child born of someone destined to become the supreme ruler of Rome would hold immense power.
She was confident that she could wield great influence in both Egypt and Rome.
Marcus clapped his hands lightly, as if impressed, and then asked, "So, are you saying that you want to marry me, Pharaoh? I already have a wife in Rome, you know."
"Is that a problem? A true hero doesn't care whether he has one wife or two. And you wouldn't just take any woman, but the Pharaoh. You know how valuable that is, don't you?"
"Pharaoh… It's certainly a noble position."
"It's more than that. I, Berenice, am the incarnation of Amun-Ra and the reincarnation of Isis. You can have a living god as your lover. And our child will rule over both Egypt and Rome."
It was an illusion so deluded that Marcus didn't know where to begin refuting it.
He kept his friendly smile and concluded to himself: This woman was an idiot.
He had often used the term 'idiot' for people who were short-sighted, but she was the kind of idiot that made him rethink the term.
She lacked a sense of reality, didn't understand her position, and was completely oblivious to the customs of the very empire she was trying to negotiate with.
Egypt was known for its pride, but Rome was no less proud.
The Roman citizens didn't care if a married man had an affair with a foreign woman.
It wasn't because their culture was open-minded.
It was because they didn't consider non-Romans to be equal to Roman citizens.
So, they didn't mind if their men mingled with them.
For common citizens, marrying and having children with foreign women was not only acceptable, it was encouraged as a way to assimilate them into Roman society.
But for a Roman man with a Roman wife to cheat on her and marry a foreign woman?
He would have to be prepared for social ruin.
If he was a public official, he would face accusations of tarnishing Rome's dignity and would likely be prosecuted.
Did Berenice not know such a simple fact?
Marcus didn't think so.
She probably knew it as a piece of knowledge, but she likely believed that as Pharaoh, she was far superior to the Roman citizens.
To her, marrying her would be a great honor for a Roman, not a disgrace.
She truly believed this, confident that everyone would agree with her.
Since no Roman had ever married a Pharaoh, it was entirely up to her to think as she did.
But Marcus, who understood the consequences of such an action, had no intention of doing so.
He looked at Berenice, who was explaining her plan in detail, fully believing she had him hooked, with mixed emotions.
At first, he had considered sparing her life—she could still be useful, even without her throne.
But as he listened to her, he started to think she didn't even deserve that.
Still, he wondered if there might be some use for such a refreshingly naïve idiot.
Berenice, oblivious, drank the wine with her eyes closed, intoxicated by her rosy vision of the future.
For a brief moment, a glint flashed in Marcus's eyes.
Should he use her or discard her?
He had to choose between the two.
When Berenice opened her eyes, Marcus gave her a soft smile, as though nothing had happened.
She winked seductively at him and whispered in his ear,
"Shall we clear the surroundings so we can speak more freely?"
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