The situation in Rome was tense due to the political actions of the consuls and the severe repression against the nobility of Sulla's faction.
In a luxurious residence located on an imposing hill in the center of the city of Rome,
The great consul Lucius Cornelius Cinna was known as an important figure in Rome who sought greater rights for the Roman people; he was currently on a terrace looking at the city of Rome in the distance.
The greatest problem for Cinna was the health of the consul and good friend Gaius Marius.
Gaius Marius was an excellent military strategist and his influence among the Roman soldiers was considerable.
It can be said that for the populist faction led by the current consuls, Marius was in charge of directing the military and Cinna handled political matters.
The current headache for Cinna was the advanced age of Marius; if his good friend died, his faction would lose the spiritual pillar of the military.
Cinna was looking into the distance with a slight unease in his eyes because of the possible political and military consequences of the death of his old friend Gaius Marius.
"Consul, Senator Scipio Nasica is in the resting area," a slave informed Cinna humbly.
Cinna frowned; his subordinates had already informed him in advance about the topic of conversation to be addressed with the patriarch of the Scipio family branch.
The news of the death of the prefect of the city of Capua had arrived days ago in Rome by fast horse messengers. It was a disgrace for Rome, and added to that, the recent disgraceful news, known by only a few people, of the devastating defeat of the admiral of Campania.
To erase the disgrace, Consul Cinna ordered two Roman legions to prepare to depart from Rome and suppress the rebellion in Capua without paying much attention to the matter. Now the greatest concern for Consul Cinna was the vacuum of influence that the possible death of Consul Gaius Marius would leave.
Gaius Marius was 70 years old and was lying in bed with severe pain caused by age. It was only a matter of time before his life came to an end.
Cinna went to the resting area of his residence, giving a cordial welcome to the neutral leader of the Scipio family.
"Let us be direct, the crimes committed in Capua are unforgivable for the Republic, and adding the possible collusion with Sulla, there is no way to make Rome spare the life of that young man," Cinna said with an expressionless face.
"There is a great misunderstanding in Capua that caused the incident of the prefect's death and the subsequent consequences," Scipio Nasica said with an unconcerned expression, downplaying the matter.
"A misunderstanding? Taking up arms against Rome is a misunderstanding?" Cinna replied with contained anger.
Although Cinna was a veteran politician, he was a political dictator who attacked his enemies by all means; he would not tolerate compromise if the rebellion was related to his mortal enemy Sulla.
"A young Roman citizen who built himself up until reaching the elite social class and, as a result, attracted the greed of a prefect because of his wealth," Scipio Nasica spoke in a calm tone.
Cinna calmed his fury upon hearing Scipio Nasica's words; he was not naive or easily manipulated by rumors or anger. If it were not for the deterioration of Marius's health, he would have paid more attention to the Capua incident.
Senator Scipio Nasica began to recount Septimus's situation and the cause of the incident of the prefect's death, emphasizing his young age that motivates his impulsiveness and his social origin as a Roman citizen, highlighting his charisma to lead soldiers capable of facing Rome.
The more Cinna listened to Scipio Nasica, the more his perception of Septimus subtly changed. It was unlikely that Septimus was part of Sulla's faction based on his background.
Septimus's life trajectory was similar to that of Gaius Marius; both were Roman citizens who achieved their status through their own talent, the difference being that Septimus had risen to prominence too quickly, attracting the greed of a prefect because of his enormous wealth.
From that point of view, Cinna considered attracting Septimus to his faction; if he could recruit this young talent, his faction would gain another advantage over Sulla's faction.
Cinna's expression relaxed as he thought about Septimus.
"Very well, from what you tell me, that young man is very interesting, and I would like to meet him," Cinna said calmly.
Scipio Nasica did not know Cinna's intentions but relaxed upon seeing that Septimus's situation had a solution.
"There is no problem; that young man named Septimus will marry a noble lady from the Scipio family, and it is likely that he will settle in Rome," Scipio Nasica said naturally.
Scipio Nasica did not care about Septimus's opinion regarding his own marriage; if that young man refused, he would be considered a criminal of Rome.
"Although the death of the prefect can be justified as an impulsive act of a young man defending his property, it does not change the nature of being an atrocious crime," Cinna said, thinking again about the situation in Capua.
Scipio Nasica became tense at Cinna's words; he knew that this old fox would state his demands.
"He must pay 5 million denarii as compensation for the death of the prefect of Capua and also restore the soldiers of the admiral of Campania," Cinna spoke in an unquestionable tone.
Senator Scipio Nasica frowned slightly but nodded; he did not know whether Septimus would have that much money to meet Cinna's demands, but he accepted anyway.
Throughout the negotiation, both influential figures in Roman politics were not interested in the deaths of the soldiers or in the opinion that a young man like Septimus would have about his own marriage. In the opinion of both elders, politics is an exchange of interests played among people of the same status.
After exchanging polite words, Senator Scipio Nasica said goodbye and left in his carriage.
That same night, Lady Cornelia Minor, in the same bed as Scipio Nasica, learned about the conversation with Cinna.
"Thank you, uncle, you have truly helped me a lot," said Lady Cornelia Minor, moving her mature figure.
"Hahaha, it's fine. In two days we will go together to Capua to visit that young talent and welcome him into the family," said Senator Scipio Nasica with a smile.
"Uncle, which young lady will marry that young man from Capua?" Lady Cornelia Minor asked curiously.
"I have not yet thought of a suitable young woman; my only daughter is already married, and the female relatives of my brothers are either married or simply too young," Scipio Nasica replied calmly.
The Scipio family had many collateral relatives, and it would not be difficult to find a suitable woman to marry to Septimus. In an extreme situation, they could even divorce a married lady of the family to remarry her to another man.
"My older brother has a daughter of appropriate marriageable age," Lady Cornelia Minor said in a tentative tone.
As the wife of the admiral of Campania, Lady Cornelia Minor was aware of her husband's abilities; the admiral of Campania was not a genius, but neither was he mediocre. Losing disastrously only meant that Septimus was a true military talent with a promising future.
Lady Cornelia Minor would benefit greatly if a young, wealthy talent were connected to her direct family through her brother's daughter.
"Very well, you decide which noble lady of the family will marry the young man from Capua," Scipio Nasica said magnanimously while holding the lady's buttocks.
Scipio Nasica did not find women from his direct family suitable for the marriage, so he decided to leave the matter to Lady Cornelia Minor.