Chapter 99: The Women of Egypt 2
Chapter 99: The Women of Egypt 2
Cleopatra and Arsinoe sat across from each other, their expressions serious.
In recent years, they had met more often, which allowed them to hold a meeting like this without arousing much suspicion.
On the table between them were several stacks of papyrus cards. They still enjoyed the card game that Marcus had taught them during his time as an envoy.
The original game he had introduced them to was chess. Cleopatra had quickly learned the rules, and with her clever tactics using forks and pins, she had never lost a game. Arsinoe, no matter how she played, could not win a single round. It became frustrating.
So Marcus had designed a new card game, one that involved both skill and luck. He had roughly modeled it after an online game he played in his time, and to their surprise, both Cleopatra and Arsinoe had become quite absorbed in it.
Even after Marcus had left, they continued playing, making new cards to keep the game fresh.
Arsinoe carefully moved her hand over the deck, looking like she was making a move that could decide the fate of the world.
“Oh, Horus, oh Serapis, please…” she muttered, then flipped over a card. Her face fell as her eyes widened in disappointment.
She threw the card down and slammed her hand onto the table.
“Ugh, why didn’t I get the Guardian of Osiris? If I just had one more, I would have won!”
Cleopatra raised an eyebrow. “You always rely on luck, that’s why you keep losing. You never think about probabilities. You might win a few times by chance, but after enough games, the outcome will follow the odds.”
“Ah… it’s so frustrating. How can I always be so unlucky? Wait, Marcus once said something like this when he lost…”
“You mean ‘unlucky trash game,’ something like that?”
Arsinoe snapped her fingers. “Yes, that’s it! Do you know what it means?”
“From the context, it sounds like he was saying he was unlucky or that the game depended on luck. Maybe it’s a Roman saying?”
“Oh, I see. So that’s how Romans describe games of chance.”
Arsinoe was pleased by the explanation and began to rearrange the cards in front of her. She didn’t realize no one here would point out her misunderstanding.
Cleopatra couldn’t help but chuckle as she watched her sister still sulking.
“Well, at least you’re better than most. Our dear sister and current pharaoh didn’t even know how to strategize.”
“Ha, that’s why she came up with such an absurd plan and bragged about being confident. How could the pharaoh of Egypt try to solve things with her body… body…”
Cleopatra smirked. “Well, I think it’s worth trying, as I said before. Only if her goal is to get close to him, though.”
Arsinoe frowned as Cleopatra poured herself a glass of juice.
“You think offering your body in exchange for a negotiation deal is worth it? The pharaoh of Egypt?”
“It’s not about being the pharaoh. If necessary, she should do more than that. But she shouldn’t act recklessly without certainty.”
“Do you really think her stupid plan could work?” Arsinoe asked, disbelieving.
“I think the chance of failure is much higher, but I can’t say it’s guaranteed to fail. He might choose her if he thinks she’s a better option than our father. After all, making an agreement with her wouldn’t be a big deal since she’s from the Ptolemaic bloodline.”
Arsinoe’s eyes widened in surprise. Cleopatra was right, but it felt awkward to admit it.
“I can’t believe you think Marcus would choose our foolish sister as a good negotiator. I’d bet everything that he’d say no.”
“Who knows? Maybe Rome is trying to make Egypt fall apart by placing an incompetent woman on the throne. Egypt’s an important grain source for them, so they could justify intervening if things go south. They’ve annexed countries like this before.”
“He wouldn’t do something so cowardly,” Arsinoe muttered, shaking her head.
Cleopatra sighed, her tone softer now. “Do you really think he’s some kind of kindly elder? He’s a senator. At the top of Rome’s elite, representing the Senate at a young age. Do you honestly think someone who’s reached the center of power in Rome is a hero?”
“He was kind to us because we were children, but a ruler must act based on political judgment, not personal feelings. A ruler who’s pure-hearted is nothing more than an easy target for exploitation.”
“…I understand. But why are you advising me like this? Aren’t you the one who doesn’t see me as a rival?”
Cleopatra’s eyes softened. “Whether you become my rival or not is far in the future. It’s pointless for us to oppose each other now. We should focus on surviving before worrying about competing. What if the current pharaoh somehow gains Rome’s recognition? They might ignore us while we’re still young, but what about later?”
Arsinoe didn’t need to hear more to understand the danger.
She could have left Egypt and ruled Cyprus before, but that wasn’t possible anymore.
Cleopatra was safe for now, but Arsinoe’s position was more precarious. Berenice, obsessed with bloodlines, wouldn’t see Cleopatra as a serious threat, but she would consider Arsinoe, who had the purest Ptolemaic blood, a potential rival.
In a few years, Berenice might even send an assassin to eliminate her, whether or not she intended it.
Arsinoe, still young, understood the stakes clearly.
“I have my own plan. I don’t intend to rely on my sister’s mercy, which is nothing but a dead end.”
“What plan do you have?” Cleopatra asked, intrigued.
“I’ve already sent a letter to Rome. Secretly, of course. But I made sure it would reach Marcus, the eldest son of the Crassus family. He’ll be able to read it.”
“What? What did you write in the letter?”
Cleopatra narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
Arsinoe stood tall, confident. “I warned him to be cautious of a lowly creature who doesn’t know her place and is trying to get close to Rome’s power.”
“Really? You wrote that?” Cleopatra was shocked.
“Of course.”
Cleopatra’s eyes darted around as she lowered her voice. “Are you insane? Didn’t you think that if that letter leaks, your neck will be on the line?”
“I didn’t leave any proof. Do you think I’m foolish? Only Marcus or you would know it was mine.”
“Well, at least that’s a relief.”
For a moment, Cleopatra wondered how Marcus would react to the letter. Would he be flustered, laugh it off, or tear it up in displeasure?
It didn’t matter. Cleopatra was far more preoccupied with the first time she had met Marcus.
She couldn’t take her eyes off him—not for the reasons Arsinoe thought.
It had been... shocking. She had never met someone whose mind was so unreadable.
Cleopatra was a woman with more ambition and a greater thirst for power than anyone else. However, she didn't foolishly display these traits and invite opposition. That's why, until now, she had acted as a wise and modest princess. She wasn't pretending to be someone else; she simply kept her power and ambitions well-hidden.
After observing Marcus closely, Cleopatra had a sense that he might be someone like her. This wasn't a conclusion drawn from solid evidence, but she was sure he had noticed her hidden side in an instant. He seemed to have seen through her in a way no one else ever had. She thought that perhaps Marcus, too, was someone of the same kind. It was a weak hypothesis, but one worth testing.
To confirm this, she needed to know more about him. At the moment, she didn’t have enough information. However, if Berenice or Arsinoe could provoke various reactions from Marcus, it would help her understand him better. For now, she needed to be patient—watching and waiting, like a crocodile lying in wait in the Nile River, submerged just beneath the surface until the right moment came. Cleopatra wasn’t in a hurry. She would wait for her time.
After Caesar left for Gaul, Rome, which had been relatively quiet, faced turbulent days once more.
Clodius distributed grain to the citizens of Rome at almost no cost, funded partly by the annexation of Cyprus that he had led. Naturally, the citizens who benefited from the cheap grain praised his name enthusiastically. At the same time, reports of Caesar’s victories in Gaul stirred their hearts. The Senate promoted Marcus's accomplishments even more vigorously to counter the rising popularity of Clodius and Caesar.
For the Romans, Gauls and Germans represented a long-standing humiliation. Against them, Caesar, the populist leader, and Marcus, representing the aristocrats, stood united. Moreover, they were father-in-law and son-in-law, which further attracted attention and support from the Roman people. Young men, full of enthusiasm, declared they would gladly join the legions if additional recruits were needed for the Gaul campaign.
Crassus successfully managed this excited atmosphere in Rome. The Senate barely felt Marcus’s absence, thanks to Crassus's strong support. He opposed Pompey and Clodius while safeguarding the interests of the aristocrats and preparing for the upcoming elections. The candidates he recruited were mostly moderate figures who appealed to both the citizens and the equestrian class, though they weren’t particularly pro-aristocrat, they certainly weren’t pro-populist either. These figures typically aimed for stability, believing in protecting their own privileges without causing drastic change.
Crassus succeeded in regaining one of the two consul seats lost to the populists the previous year. He also secured almost half of the praetor and aedile positions, earning the praise of the aristocrats.
“As expected of Crassus. He regained the consulship so quickly,” one senator remarked.
“It seems Pompey can’t match Crassus in political skill. Hahaha!” another joked.
“Only half the seats. If he’s satisfied with this, he might lose next year,” another senator warned.
Despite the gratifying outcome, Crassus remained cautious, keeping a solid center rather than acting rashly. This approach earned him the trust of the aristocratic senators. The candidates elected this time were influenced by the Triumvirate, with both Pompey and Crassus pushing for moderate factions from both parties. With Caesar and Marcus away, they aimed to maintain the status quo and proceed with moderation.
As a result, Rome's politics remained surprisingly stable despite the outward noise. Crassus hoped this calm would last until Marcus returned next winter.
But, as always, an unwelcome guest appeared at an inopportune time. The Senate was shaken by the news that Ptolemy Auletes, who had been expelled from Alexandria, was heading for Ostia Harbor.
The senators, regardless of their political faction, sympathized with Auletes. He had been pro-Roman during his reign and had provided many benefits to Rome in return for the title of “Friend of Rome,” which had guaranteed his kingship. Yet, Rome had taken Cyprus from him and given him no recourse, ultimately leading to his exile.
This felt like a betrayal of Auletes, and while the Senate had its own explanation—that Clodius had stirred up the assembly—the senators had to decide how to handle Auletes before he reached Rome.
Cato, a hardliner, argued that Rome should send troops immediately to restore Auletes. “This is a chance to station our army in Egypt and make it a de facto province. With the Nile Valley's granaries under our control, Clodius will no longer be able to use the price of grain to manipulate the citizens,” he suggested.
His view garnered support, but Cicero, ever cautious, disagreed. “It’s not that simple. Auletes wasn’t ousted due to elite power struggles; he lost the trust of Alexandria and Egypt’s people. If we intervene as foreigners, Egypt will likely resist fiercely. While we could suppress them, Egypt’s pride and identity will make it difficult to absorb peacefully. We need a good reason for the people of Alexandria, and Egypt at large, to accept Auletes back.”
Ptolemy Auletes, as a “Friend of Rome,” was a compelling reason for some, but Cicero’s concerns were valid.
With both sides offering reasonable arguments, the decision was not an easy one. Egypt’s role as Rome’s key grain supplier made it an essential matter, recognized by both the aristocrats and ordinary citizens. However, they were wary of making the wrong decision and taking full responsibility if things went awry.
In the meantime, Metellus Scipio suggested that they leave the matter to the Crassus family. “Marcus was the one who bridged the gap between Auletes and the Senate. Since he is in Gaul, let Crassus handle this matter and devise a solution. I’m willing to follow his opinion,” Scipio said.
The suggestion was met with wide approval, and Crassus reluctantly took on the responsibility, knowing he couldn’t refuse.
Three days before Auletes’s arrival in Rome, Crassus sat in his mansion, pondering the issue, when Danae arrived with a scroll in hand.
“A letter from Gaul,” she said.
“Did Marcus send it?” Crassus asked eagerly.
Upon opening the letter, he found it was indeed from Marcus. The letter contained two main points: advice on how to handle Auletes’s arrival in Rome and a peculiar second request from Marcus to have Septimus send something mentioned in a previous conversation.
Crassus was puzzled by the second request. “He’s asking me to tell Septimus to send him the thing he mentioned before,” Crassus muttered.
He knew that Marcus was involved in military supply development but was unclear about the specifics. However, if it was a “final experiment,” that likely meant the project was nearing completion.
Crassus recalled a previous promise Marcus had made: to ensure his father received a triumph. At the time, Crassus had dismissed it as a comfort, but the victories in Gaul made him wonder if it was more than a mere gesture.
“If I go on an expedition to the East and Marcus assists me…” Crassus thought, imagining himself achieving military glory comparable to Pompey or Caesar. It reignited a long-dormant ambition in the heart of an aging man nearing 60.