Mad Tycoon of Rome
Chapter 72: Birth (1)
Marcus decided to meet Antonius immediately.
Antonius, who was a bit younger than Curio, would turn twenty-three next year. In Rome, twenty-three was considered the age of a novice commander just beginning to gain experience.
Curio spoke highly of Antonius, praising his potential contributions to Rome in the future. However, Marcus knew more about Antonius’s future than Curio did. According to history, Antonius would become one of the three men who held power in Rome after Caesar’s death. He would form the Second Triumvirate with Octavius and Lepidus, ushering in a period of turmoil, and later become a key figure in dividing Rome with Octavius. Antonius also had a relationship with the famous Egyptian Cleopatra and attempted to overthrow Octavius, which ultimately led to his downfall.
Although Antonius was brave and tactically brilliant, he wasn’t a great strategist or politician. His lack of ambition for the top spot was actually appealing to Marcus. The more useful allies he had, the better.
Marcus informed Curio of his intention to meet Antonius. Curio, delighted, gave instructions to his slave, who promptly ran outside.
Within minutes, the slave returned with a well-built man, presumably having been waiting outside the mansion.
“Nice to meet you,” Antonius said, introducing himself politely. “I’ve heard a lot about you from Curio. My name is Antonius.”
Marcus, seated, looked up at him. Antonius had a strong presence, powerful eyes, and an aura of strength.
“Welcome. I’m Marcus Crassus II,” Marcus replied, pouring some diluted wine into a glass and handing it to Antonius.
Antonius accepted the glass courteously, not acting stiffly in front of his sponsor. Before drinking, he thanked Marcus.
“Thank you very much for accepting my request.”
“It’s the duty of a Roman nobleman to support talented individuals. Don’t worry too much. And if you’re a close friend of Curio, you’re not a stranger to me. Don’t feel too burdened.”
Marcus subtly praised Curio, and Curio’s face brightened at the acknowledgment.
“I’m relieved, Marcus. I truly appreciate it.”
“What would you have done if I had refused?”
“Then… I would have asked someone else I know, perhaps Pompey or Cicero.”
“But don’t you have a lot of debt yourself? How can you worry about your friend when you’re in such a situation? If you’d like, I can offer you opportunities in some profitable ventures.”
“Oh, no, thank you. I have plans for managing my own debts…”
Curio gave an ambiguous smile. His debt was substantial, comparable to Caesar’s among his peers, yet he seemed relaxed, as if he had something to rely on. Marcus, familiar with Curio’s future actions, had a hunch about it, but for others, Curio’s confidence remained a mystery.
Marcus chose not to pursue it further and redirected his attention to Antonius.
“By the way, Antonius, you mentioned planning to study in Greece. What specifically do you want to learn?”
“I’m planning to study rhetoric for now.”
“Rhetoric? Do you have any political ambitions?”
“…I’m not sure. Actually, I’m going to Greece because it’s difficult to stay in Rome…”
Antonius candidly explained his situation, without boasting or lying, admitting his true reasons for going to Greece.
This made him appear more likable.
Marcus decided to suggest a path that suited Antonius well. With a sly smile, he asked:
“Why would someone like you waste time studying rhetoric in dull Greece? People have their strengths and weaknesses. I pride myself on having a good eye for talent, and I believe you’d shine better in armor than in togas. Have you ever considered gaining experience in the army?”
“The army… I’m not opposed to it. However, I don’t have many connections there yet. I was planning to build a foundation in Greece and then apply for the army in Asia Minor.”
“Is that really necessary? I was also in Pompey’s army, so I have friendships with some of the legion commanders who are still in the East. There’s a commander named Gabinius in Damascus. I can write you a letter of introduction. He’ll make you a cavalry officer right away and give you valuable experience. I’ll also try to help you reduce your debt a bit.”
“Really? If you could do that for me…”
Antonius’s face brightened. He knew he lacked talent for rhetoric or similar pursuits. Rather than a boring life abroad, he preferred to gain experience and advance in the army. Despite the East having fallen under Roman control, there were still many conflicts near Judea and Egypt, providing ideal opportunities for practical experience.
Antonius, amazed by this unexpected opportunity, wondered why Marcus was so generous. Even if it was Curio’s request, such kindness to a stranger seemed unusual. There seemed to be no benefit for Marcus in deceiving Antonius.
Antonius tried to mask his suspicion and asked politely:
“Excuse me, but could you tell me why you’re sponsoring me like this?”
“Think of it as an investment. Although I’ve retired from the business world to join the Senate, I still judge people with a businessman’s eye. As I mentioned before, I pride myself on spotting talent, and I believe you have great potential. It’s beneficial for both of us to build favorable relations while we can. However, I do have one request. When I need your help in the future, I’ll reach out to you. I’m not asking for lifelong servitude, just assistance when it’s truly necessary. That should be acceptable, right?”
“Of course.”
Antonius answered without hesitation. For him, having such a condition was preferable to an unexplained favor. Having seen the darker side of society from a young age, he was particularly cautious.
Marcus appreciated his cautiousness even more. Antonius was cheerful and straightforward but also had an instinctive sense of danger. While he wasn’t as accomplished as Pompey or Caesar, this made him a more suitable ally.
Marcus lifted his wine glass, casting a long shadow over his face. The faint smile spreading in that shadow was hidden from Curio and Antonius.
※※※※
After Antonius left for the East and Clodius continued his relentless denouncement of the Senate, there were minor shifts, but no significant changes in the overall situation. Clodius was a constant annoyance but did not cross any decisive lines.
Cicero, initially restless, regained his composure. As September approached, all of Rome’s focus turned to Pompey’s imminent triumph, which was expected to be the grandest and most splendid in Roman history. Even the Senate and Clodius refrained from escalating their conflict during this time.
The entire city was eager for the triumph. Meanwhile, Marcus was anxious for a different reason. For most Romans, September meant Pompey’s triumph, but for Marcus, it also meant Julia’s delivery was scheduled.
As August passed, Marcus’s anxiety grew, preventing him from concentrating on anything else. Although he had initially been confident that Julia would be fine if he prepared thoroughly, he was concerned because Julia had died in childbirth in history.
As Julia’s pregnancy progressed, he noticed something unusual about her growing belly. Selinie, who was pregnant around the same time, first observed that Julia’s belly seemed to be growing faster than usual. What initially seemed like a mere impression became evident as Julia’s belly was almost as large as Selinie’s, who was expected to give birth a month earlier.
The diagnosis was clear.
“It seems like you’re pregnant with twins.”
Marcus’s worry doubled instantly. He wasn’t sure if Julia could handle the strain of giving birth to two children at once.
Determined to help, Marcus delved into learning about childbirth and maternal health care, studying every two months and teaching Julia what he learned. With so many misleading folk remedies circulating, he had to verify every piece of advice carefully.
“Julia, when you’re pregnant with twins, it’s crucial to drink plenty of water and eat a lot of food. And about folic acid and iron… never mind those terms. Just eat plenty of fruits with beneficial nutrients for your body. Also, maintain moderate activity by taking a simple walk every day, and…”
Marcus also paid meticulous attention to hygiene, sterilizing everything Julia used with boiling water and soap.
Since twins had a higher risk of premature birth, he had doctors and midwives stay at the mansion from August. Despite all the preparations, his anxiety only grew as September approached.
He didn’t feel the excitement of the city, which was buzzing with anticipation for Pompey’s upcoming triumph. Early September remained hot, though the scorching heat had lessened slightly.
Finally, the day he had both anticipated and dreaded arrived. When Julia began having contractions, the midwives, who were on standby, immediately took her to the bedroom.
Marcus, unable to attend the Senate meeting, paced anxiously in the atrium outside the bedroom.
“It’ll be fine. Seline gave birth safely last month,” Spartacus, who was guarding him, tried to offer comfort. But Marcus recalled the distress he had shown last month.
“You were even more anxious than I was,” Marcus replied.
“Well… that’s… you know…”
“And Julia is having twins. What if something goes wrong?” Marcus muttered, his face a mix of anxiety, nervousness, and helplessness.
Danae, unable to watch him suffer, brought a towel and handed it to him. “Sir, you’re sweating too much.”
“Oh, am I?” Marcus, not even aware of his sweat, took the towel and wiped his face.
“I told Spartacus the same thing last month, but being restless won’t change anything. It would be better for you to rest a bit while you wait.”
“Oh, right. Yeah. I’ll try to rest.”
As Marcus turned to follow Danae’s advice, he was suddenly stopped by the sound of a baby’s cry from the bedroom.
“Is it… born?”
His face flushed with excitement, and he instinctively moved toward the bedroom, but Danae gently held him back.
“Sir, the delivery isn’t over yet.”
“Oh, right. They’re twins…”
He felt a bit relieved that at least one of the babies had been born safely. Typically, when twins are born, the delivery of the second usually progresses quickly.
In some cases, the delivery of twins can end within a few minutes.
Marcus wanted to rush into the bedroom immediately to congratulate Julia and tell her she had done well. However, he forced himself to stay calm and continued pacing the atrium until he heard the cry of the second baby.
He waited for permission from the doctor before entering the bedroom. Once granted, he saw Julia lying down, her face pale from the ordeal. Despite her exhaustion, she wore the most radiant smile he had ever seen.
“Julia! How are you? Are you okay?”
“Marcus… you’re unbelievable,” Julia replied weakly, managing a faint smile.
Marcus felt a surge of relief seeing that she still had some strength left. Unlike in history, both Julia and the babies were safe.
Only then did he notice the midwife holding the newborns.
“Are those babies…?”
“Yes. They’re ours,” the midwife confirmed.
“I’m really a father now…”
Marcus approached, and the midwife adjusted her hold slightly to let him see the babies better.
“Congratulations. Both are very healthy. And amazingly, though they’re twins, they’re of different genders. The first to be born was a girl, and the second was a boy. In all my experience, I’ve seen very few cases of twins with different genders.”
“Dizygotic twins?” Marcus asked, astonished by the unexpected outcome.
He had only imagined having either two daughters or two sons, never expecting a daughter and a son.
After washing his hands and face thoroughly, Marcus took his daughter from the midwife. She felt so light and soft in his arms, it was almost unreal.
With both a son and a daughter, Marcus no longer needed to worry about succession. He simply reveled in the joy of holding his newborns, particularly his daughter, who seemed so precious he felt he could never be harsh with her.
‘Is this what it means to be completely smitten by your daughter?’
Marcus chuckled softly at his own feelings, realizing he had not expected to feel so emotionally invested. He handed the baby back to the midwife.
The doctor advised Julia to rest completely for a day and to seek assistance whenever she needed to get up. Marcus and Julia nodded in agreement; the advice was self-evident.
He whispered words of love and gratitude to Julia, who had endured so much. While he would return to his usual self the next day, today he allowed himself to savor the aftermath of his emotions.
Eventually, Marcus continued to gaze at his two children and Julia until the doctor suggested it was time for him to leave.