Rekindle your friendship with Albina

After dinner is over, you go looking for Albina. As you expected you might, you find her in the garden.

"Albina," you say cheerfully, nodding at her as you approach.

{if Albina <= 5}"Gaius," she says coolly, giving you a nod but then looking away.

You sigh. "What is it, Albina? You seem...dissatisfied with me."

She frowns, turning to you. "I never really realized this when we were children, Gaius, but there's a massive gulf between us. I'm just a young girl from the country. My ambitions are simple: live a good life, out in the open air, find a little bit of happiness and preserve my family's name. But you - you're a man of Rome, now. One with power, and influence. And...sometimes I don't think you care who you hurt to get your way."

You sit down beside her. Even though you knew she was unhappy, her words still hurt. "I'm...Albina, I care very much about who gets hurt. In fact, everything I'm doing right now is because...because I want to make sure you don't get hurt. Not just you: your parents, everyone who lives on this estate, gods above, the whole region! I suppose that maybe I'm callous sometimes, but I...I feel a sense of duty to the people who live here. And of course, it's the whole way I earn my living. I need to protect this area, and I admit that I'm willing to break some rules of decorum to do it."

Her expression softens slightly. "I suppose I can't fault you for wanting to defend this place - both what's yours, and the people here. I am grateful that you've taken an interest in our plight. Not many people have done so." Her lip quirks wryly. "And I suppose I can't blame you for growing up to be a man, with a man's appetite."

"Did I eat too much?" you ask, faux innocently. She snorts and swats you. For a few minutes, you sit in silence. Then, with a sigh, Albina stands.

"Well, it's late," she says. "Thank you for seeking me out, Gaius. I'm sorry if I was cold. I do appreciate what you're doing." She gently rests one hand on your shoulder. "Just don't lose yourself in the process. Understand?"

You nod silently, and give her hand a press, then watch as she departs back into the house.

{elseif Albina > 5}"Gaius!" she says cheerfully. "It's a beautiful night. Come look up at the stars with me."

You sit down next to her on the small garden bench, gazing up. "Do you know their names?" you ask. "I never paid much attention to astrology."

She chuckles. "I can imagine that wasn't an urgent topic of your schooling. But it's not too hard. Look there - that's Cassiopeia, the queen chained to her throne in heaven."

You nod sagely. "Just like her beautiful daughter, Andromeda, was chained to a rock by the sea. I always envied Perseus - coming upon a beautiful woman chained up like that. One who needed rescuing, too!"

"Gaius!" Albina laughs and swats you. "You're bad."

"True," you say with a grin, "but I have a good time. And by the standards of Rome, I'm positively tame."

"I believe that," she mutters. The two of you look at the sky for a few more minutes. "Do you ever think of moving out here to live?" she asks. It's phrased idly, but you suspect it's a loaded question. "You could oversee the estate yourself. With my father's help, of course."

You pull at a rosebush next to the bench. "I...hadn't really thought of it. I don't think so, though. I'd miss Rome - the excitement, the hustle and bustle. And I want to be more than just a provincial landlord...and to rise in the ranks of Roman society, you need to be in Rome. You need...access to all that it offers." Albina nods. "What about you?" you ask. "Would you ever consider moving to Rome?"

Albina stretches and looks up at the sky. "Well...maybe. I'd always thought I'd live out here. But for the right person? Perhaps. Perhaps I might."

You smile, and the two of you sit in silence for a few more minutes. Finally she rises, stretches, and nods to you. "I should go to bed. And you should, as well, Gaius! Good night."

You smile back at her. "Good night to you too. Sleep well." She gives you another nod, and departs. You watch her go with a faint smile still lingering on your lips.

{endif}