Chapter 66: Seeds of a New Era
Chapter 66: Seeds of a New Era
The Senate held emergency meetings daily upon learning that Pompey’s army had left Asia Minor. Despite their efforts, they made little progress, and their primary strategy remained focused on implementing reforms to win the citizens’ support.
The citizens’ response exceeded expectations. Those facing financial ruin and the loss of their freedom expressed deep gratitude. Public opinion toward the Senate improved significantly.
Marcus found himself overwhelmed with work, leaving him no time to rest. He was tasked with preparing for the establishment of a new bank, reviewing related implementation plans and bills, and finding effective ways to promote these changes to the public. Given that the banking system was a novel concept, Marcus had to manage it personally, sacrificing his sleep to handle the responsibilities.
Moreover, Marcus had been elected as the top financial officer by an overwhelming majority, adding political duties to his already full schedule.
Amidst this chaos, something occurred that completely diverted Marcus’s attention from his piling tasks.
Seline, Spartacus’s wife, who was pregnant herself, was the first to notice. Despite Marcus’s protests, she continued to prepare late-night snacks for him. One evening, she mentioned a troubling observation.
“Lately, Lady Julia seems a bit off. She appears uncomfortable, and I noticed it resembles what I felt early in my pregnancy.”
“What do you mean? Is she sick?”
“No, it’s not an illness. It’s just that her symptoms seem similar to what I experienced.”
“Pregnant?” Marcus was startled.
Seline, having recently started showing signs of pregnancy herself, might have picked up on these clues more acutely. Recognizing the importance of the situation, Marcus quickly set aside his documents and called for a doctor.
In this era, there were no ultrasound machines or pregnancy tests. Determining pregnancy typically involved simple interviews. An Egyptian folk method was also employed: two bags were filled with wheat and barley, and the woman in question would urinate on them. If the grains sprouted, it indicated pregnancy.
Although this method was surprisingly accurate, the upper classes would generally have a doctor perform an interview before resorting to such tests.
The doctor arrived at Crassus’s mansion and asked Julia several questions indicative of pregnancy.
“Have you noticed any changes in your sense of smell or taste recently?”
“Well, the smell of fish has become quite nauseating at times.”
“Are you sure you’re not on your period?”
“No. It’s been about two months.”
“Have you felt more fatigued than usual or craved specific foods?”
“Yes, I’ve been craving fruits with sugar and spicy foods lately.”
The people around Julia, including Crassus and Teutoria, looked on with hopeful anticipation. Crassus struggled to suppress his laughter and asked earnestly.
“What is your diagnosis?”
After considering Julia’s responses, the doctor concluded carefully, “While I cannot be absolutely certain, it seems highly likely that you are pregnant. Be particularly cautious, as miscarriages are common in early pregnancy.”
Crassus could no longer contain his joy and burst into laughter. Teutoria tightly held Julia’s hand, congratulating her multiple times. Seline and Danae also clapped and offered their blessings.
Spartacus extended his heartfelt congratulations to Marcus and whispered in his ear, “You should congratulate Lady Julia too.”
“Huh? Oh…yes, of course.”
Marcus approached Julia, coming to his senses at Spartacus’s suggestion. His eyes inadvertently shifted to her belly.
Julia, her face beaming with joy and pride, gently stroked her belly with her palm.
Crassus quickly joined Marcus, giving him a reassuring pat on the shoulder.
“We’ll leave you two alone for a bit. Enjoy this happy moment together. Julia, I’m truly delighted and grateful. Take good care of yourself and try not to overexert yourself.”
“Yes, Father. I’ll be sure to rest and not push myself too hard.”
“Good. And if you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask. I’m looking forward to seeing Caesar’s reaction at the Senate tomorrow. Hahaha!”
Crassus, still laughing with happiness, left the room.
Once everyone had departed and only Marcus and Julia remained, Marcus awkwardly sat beside her. He was at a loss for words.
What should he say at a time like this? His mind raced with phrases like “thank you” and “good job,” but none came out.
“Why do you look so nervous all of a sudden?” Julia asked with a hint of humor.
Marcus nodded, though unsure of his own feelings. “Nervous… maybe.”
It was a common reaction for men to feel surreal when they first learn their wives are pregnant, and Marcus was no different. He had previously embraced and kissed Julia without hesitation, but now he found himself cautious, even after hearing the doctor mention miscarriage.
He wondered if recent activities had affected the baby in some way.
“I’ve never seen you look like this before. You always seemed so composed,” Julia observed.
“I’m surprised and confused by this new development.”
“Really? I hadn’t realized that.”
Julia’s bright smile remained, but she kept her hand on her belly. Marcus watched her, mumbling to himself, “A child…”
He hadn’t anticipated the depth of his emotions. Although he had hoped for a child after their time together, the reality was overwhelming. He felt a mix of happiness, awkwardness, and anxiety.
Julia, too, appeared happy, but Marcus wondered how she truly felt. Being a first-time mother, she might have experienced emotions beyond what he could understand.
Julia spoke up, “The doctor suggested I rest, so can I leave the work to Danae for a while?”
“That’s a given. And let’s avoid sharing a bed for now. I’ll arrange for a separate bed tomorrow.”
“Isn’t that a bit excessive?”
“No. It’s important to be cautious, especially until you reach the stable period of pregnancy.”
Marcus vaguely recalled that the stable period started around the fourth or fifth month, but he wasn’t entirely sure.
Marcus resolved to start looking for books on pregnancy and prenatal care the next day. He didn’t trust the medical knowledge of the ancient world, especially since Julia was fated to die in childbirth according to historical records. He needed to be extra cautious.
Julia, unaware of this grim fact, thought Marcus was being overly worried but was nonetheless touched by his concern. It felt good to be the recipient of such affection from her husband.
After a moment of silent contemplation, they both voiced their wishes for their unborn child simultaneously.
“I hope we have a wise son who resembles you, Marcus.”
“I would be perfectly content if we have a daughter who resembles you.”
They exchanged surprised looks at their completely opposite wishes. Julia was especially flustered.
Although Rome was one of the ancient states with relatively high women’s rights, it was still a patriarchal society. The expectation was generally to have a son who could carry on the family name.
Marcus privately regretted expressing his desire for a daughter. His preference was partly due to modern paternal sentiments and partly due to future considerations.
Julia, with her keen reasoning, tried to understand the deeper meaning behind Marcus’s words. She looked at him with a thoughtful expression.
“Is it because of the succession issue of the family?”
Julia almost guessed correctly, but Marcus chose not to reveal his true thoughts, not wanting to cause unnecessary worry.
“No, I just thought it would be lovely to have a daughter who looks like you. Don’t read too much into it.”
“Really? But I’m sure your father and mother would prefer a grandson…”
“That’s why I said I’d be happy with a daughter, so you can announce the news proudly, no matter the outcome. Oh, and I almost forgot—shouldn’t we visit your father’s house? If you need to be cautious about your health, I can ask him to come here instead.”
“No, I’ll be fine with a carriage ride. Besides, the Bona Dea festival is coming up soon. I’ll go to my father’s residence and stay there for a while. I’d like to spend some time with him before the festival begins.”
“Right, the Bona Dea festival is almost here.”
Marcus had been so consumed with the bank’s establishment and preparations for Pompey’s return that he had forgotten about the festival.
The Bona Dea festival honored the goddess Bona Dea, who was associated with childbirth and served only women. The festival occurred twice a year, in May and December. The May festival was open to women of all classes, while the December festival was a sacred event for noble women only. Men were strictly forbidden from attending.
Even the highest priest of Rome had to stay away from the festival, with the Vestal Virgins presiding over the ceremonies. If the highest priest had women in his family, they would assist the Vestal Virgins in preparing for the festival.
Julia, as Caesar’s daughter, felt she needed to participate in the preparations. However, Marcus was concerned about her health and didn’t want her to overexert herself.
“You don’t need to worry about the festival since you are married now. It would be better if you rested.”
“But shouldn’t I attend? The festival honors the goddess of childbirth. Also, my father will be reassured if I stay with my grandmother. My stepmother… well, she’s not very reliable in these matters.”
Julia lost her mother, Cornelia, while Marcus was away fighting pirates, which was about two years later than in the original history.
After Cornelia’s death, Caesar remarried Pompeia, the granddaughter of Sulla. Pompeia was beautiful and well-born, but lacked intelligence. This made her seem out of place in Caesar’s family, known for its intellectual prowess. Caesar’s mother, Aurelia, often suffered from headaches at Pompeia’s shallow remarks and actions, especially during important events like the Bona Dea festival.
Julia felt she should help her grandmother with the festival preparations, but Marcus was adamant that she should not participate. He was concerned not only about the physical strain but also about the emotional stress the festival's commotion might cause her.
“If you really think it’s necessary, you could help with the preparations and return home before the festival begins. The festival can be quite overwhelming, and I’ve heard it might negatively affect early pregnancy.”
“Really? But it’s a ceremony for the goddess who oversees childbirth…”
“Bona Dea will appreciate the effort put into preparing for the festival more than the act of participating. I just want you to avoid any unnecessary hardship.”
Marcus, with his modern perspective, viewed Roman religious events as superstitions. He wanted to assure Julia that skipping these rituals wouldn’t have any negative consequences. However, Romans of the time held a strong faith in the gods and couldn’t openly dismiss religious practices. They aimed to show their sincerity through their efforts.
Julia, not as devoted as the priestesses, wavered. She felt it was important to respect Marcus’s wishes and decided to compromise.
“Alright, I’ll go to my father’s house tomorrow to help with the festival preparations. Since he’ll be leaving the mansion on the day of the event, I’ll return here with him. Is that okay?”
“Of course. Thank you for being understanding.”
Marcus gently wrapped his arm around Julia’s waist and kissed her. Julia responded by wrapping her arm around his neck and accepting his kiss.
The couple, who had agreed to share the same bed only until today, soon went to sleep. Marcus stayed awake late into the night, watching Julia as she slept beside him, feeling a mix of anticipation and anxiety about becoming a father.
‘Will I be a father next year…?’ he wondered. Despite the reality sinking in, he still felt uneasy about his ability to be a good parent.
He smiled ruefully as he remembered Spartacus’s emotional reaction when Seline was pregnant, shedding tears and expressing gratitude to his wife repeatedly.
Marcus understood his feelings, but he couldn’t respond in the same way.
He found it a bit absurd that his immediate concern upon learning of the pregnancy was the child’s gender. His thoughts were not about using the child for any purpose but rather about ensuring the child's future happiness.
It was a genuine and sincere wish to see the child live a fulfilling life. As a parent, Marcus was determined to do everything in his power to secure a happy future for his child.
‘To plan effectively, I need to know whether it will be a boy or a girl,’ he thought.
The future plans would differ greatly depending on the child’s gender. In ancient society, creating a stable political landscape was crucial for ensuring the happiness of one's children.
If the child was a daughter, planning would be simpler, as he had mentioned to Julia. On the other hand, having a son would involve many more considerations.
‘If the baby is born next year, will he/she be just a year older than the child of my acquaintance?’
He imagined a newborn boy as he closed his eyes.
Last year, when Catiline was elected consul, the Senate had held emergency meetings almost daily. The senators, feeling a sense of crisis, attended these meetings regularly to discuss countermeasures. Due to the tense atmosphere, trivial matters were largely ignored.
On September 23rd, Caesar announced that his niece, Atia Balba Caesonia, had given birth to a son. Most senators responded indifferently, offering brief congratulations. Atia had married a commoner knight, and according to Roman law, the child inherited his father’s status. Therefore, the senators saw little reason to care about a commoner boy who was neither Caesar’s direct descendant nor of notable status.
However, Marcus was different. He congratulated Atia on her childbirth by giving her a villa on the outskirts of Rome. Both Atia and Caesar were delighted by this gesture. Caesar believed Marcus's generous gift was due to their acquaintance, though that was not the case.
Marcus had another reason for his special attention. He was focused on the newborn boy, whom no one else seemed to care about. This child, born to Atia, was Gaius Octavius—who would become one of Rome's greatest politicians and its first emperor.