It was afternoon, the following day when the Emperor's and the Princess headed towards the colosseum. They quickly made their way to the royal box when trumpets were sounded and an announcement for their arrival was made.

There was a cheer from the crowd, which got louder when their princess came into view. 

"Emperor Geta!" He waved. "Emperor Caracalla!" He stepped infant of Geta. "And Princess Rhea!" She stepped beside Caracalla and waved.

The Emperor's sat down on their thrones. Rhea had a smaller seat that sat in the middle of them but still a step behind them. Of course, it was still covered in jewels, but less than the thrones. She shrugged off her light pink toga so it rested on the chair, leaving her in a light pink, halter-neck stola.

"Citizens of Rome!" The Master of Ceremonies announced. "These sacred games are held to honour the victory of Rome over the barbarians of Numidia, and to honour Rome's legionary commander, General Justus Acacius!" Acacius appears in the booth and the three siblings stand up to greet him. "And with him, Lucilla, the daughter of Emperor Marcus Aurelius!"

The crowd grew louder given they still had affection in their hearts for Lucilla. Rhea quickly moved over to Lucilla giving her a tight hug and kissing her on the cheek, doing the same to General Acacius.

"You honour us with your presence." Geta told Lucilla in a slightly cold tone, he only looked away when Rhea gave him a stern glare. Instead, he turned to Acacius. "Speak to them."

Acacius shared a look with his wife and the princess before moving towards the railing as the crowd goes silent. "I am not an Orator, nor a politician. I am only a soldier. The real heroism is not the stuff in games. It reveals itself to us only in the service of life itself. I have seen bravery from men and women during war, and even once in this arena. And if you pray, pray that the gods will deliver us bravery like that. Because Rome needs it now."

He steps away and walks past the princesses throne who muttered, "You know how to pick your moments, don't you?"

"I've had plenty of practice, Princess." He reminded her before sitting down.

"From the south gate...fighters from the stables of Macrinus of Thysdrus!" The Master of Ceremonies announced.

The gladiators walked into the arena and were met with boos and jeers from the crowd. They made it to the centre before the Master of Ceremonies announced again, "And from the stables of our Emperor Caracalla and Emperor Geta themselves: Glyceo the Destroyer!"

From the other end of the arena, Glyceo the Destroyer appeared in full clad armour, standing atop a white rhino. The gladiators in the centre of the arena readied themselves as Hanno began shouting orders at them.

When they rhino got close to them, the gladiators moved, all except one. This one seemed to think he was invincible until the rhino caught up to him and clips him with his horn, sending the gladiator twenty feet into the air before smashing into a pole. The rhino's horn was now covered in blood.

Rhea took a brief glance at Hanno who was down below the Royal box and he did something she never would have expected. He stuck his sword into the sand before picking up a handful and smelling it.

Her and Lucilla recognised it immediately. The two women shared a glance, both of them knowing. Rhea rushed to look over the railing and watch closely.

The rhino set its eyes on Hanno and began running towards him. Hanno picked up another handful of sand and when the rhino got closer, he threw the sand up, covering him. Hanno jumped out of the way and the rhino rammed into the wall, causing its horn to break.

Hanno was left defenceless after Glyceo pushed his sword aside and the two of them fought in hand-to-hand combat.

"This is the poet, is it not?" Geta asked excitedly.

"I don't remember, brother. That night was a blur." Caracalla told him.

Rhea nodded, still looking on in concern. "It is, brother."

"The gates of hell are open night and day, smooth is the descent..." Geta tried to recite it. "How does it go?"

"Smooth is the descent," Rhea continues and Lucilla joined in with, "And easy is the way."

"The Gladiator spoke them at Thraex's party." Rhea informed those in the box.

"Yes! Perhaps he can recite it to us after the games!" Geta threw a lazy arm around his sister, who had grown accustomed to it. Rhea simply ignored it and continued watching the game.

Caracalla laughed half-heartedly. "He won't last that long." he gestured down to the arena.

It was true, Hanno was taking quite the beating from Glyceo. After Glyceo struck him with his mace, Hanno fell to his knees. Glyceo unsheathed his own sword but looked to the Emperor's for their decision.

"Shall we spare his life, brother?" Geta asked Caracalla.

He shrugged. "I wouldn't mind seeing some blood." He told him as he fed Dondus.

Geta looked at Rhea. "Sister?" He longed for her opinion the most.

"Mercy." Rhea said with no hesitation.

Geta turned. "Lucilla, should we show mercy?" He asked her.

Lucilla nodded. "Mercy."

The crowd went quiet as Geta raised his fist, he studies the heavens, almost as if commuting with the gods themselves before pointing his thumb upwards. Rhea let out a sigh of relief before they all heard,

"No."

"What?" Rhea, Geta and Caracalla all asked at the same time.

"No mercy."

"Gladiator, we have spared your life-" Geta tried to explain.

"I would sooner face your blade than accept Roman mercy." Hanno defied them.

Thraex looked confused. "When has such defiance been seen n the arena?" He asked no one in particular.

"Once." Rhea whispered to herself.

This confirmed Rhea's suspicion. The gladiator defying the Emperor was the Prince she knew as a boy. The same boy everyone thought to be dead. This was Lucius Verus Aurelius himself.

Caracalla began laughing at his brothers embarrassment but stopped when Rhea clipped his ear. The crowd watched on, just as Glyceo was about to strike down Hanno, or Lucius, the gladiator lunged out of his kneeling position and knocked Glyceo down. It only took Lucius minutes to gain the upper hand and thrust his sword into Glyceo, letting the man fall to the floor as the crowd screamed his name.

All Lucius did was spit on the floor, take one last look at the royal box before walking back inside.

Rhea knew what she had to do, she had a gladiator to go talk to.