Imperator: Resurrection of an Empire

Julius had just become an emperor but at the same time while his heart still wanted to go charging across the continent like a rampaging boar ready to gore anyone who got in his way of reacquiring what was his.

But his head on the other hand told him to do something else, a distraction from all the life he had been living up till now.

Sure Carthage was his now according to his system, but would that mean he'd go racing across the city, the land itself just to bring Carthage up to the standards of Romanus proper.

Julius performed only a couple of simple upgrades around the square where his system reach could get to.

And the new polished domes, and aqueducts of the provincial capital.

Workers, soldiers, and citizens alike moved in rhythm through the streets, restoring order, clearing debris, as the crowd that had once gathered began to return to their sections of the city, bringing life back to its streets.

As the Imperial couple ascended the palatial steps Julius reached out to Serena's hand.

"When we get back..."

...

"Yes?"

...

"Let's slip out for a while."

"Slip out?"

"Yeah... a chance to get out, you know join in the peoples celebrations, without the guards, just become one of our people for a while."

"An emperor without guards?"

"What think I cant protect myself?"

"Oh I'm not worried about that at all"

"So I cant protect you?"

"Oh no you can do that too... i didn't mean... you know what yes, I'll do it. Lets go on a date in the city like before."

~

When the two got back, Julius returned to his room, and after doing a quick change into some old clothes that made him have a more ruff exterior, then fleeing from his praetorian guards he jumped out the window and like a spider, climbed on the exterior wall, sidling his way around until he reached another window, this one likewise was open.

Though he didn't enter the window, after all to enter a woman room uninvited is a sin.

So there the emperor of a grand nation hung to the side of one of his palaces, simply peering into the room.

Adorned far greater than his own current guest room, but now that the people had endorsed his ascension, it was highly likely he'd be moved over to the king's suite sometime later today.

Then from the darkness of the room, stepped a vision.

You could try to cover her beauty up as much as you want with rags, but the highborn nature of her hair, face and just general allure could not be covered up.

But for now it would have to be enough.

"You just became emperor of half-the world, capable of making every man woman and child kneel before you, and yet here you are skulking around a widows room."

"Well you know what they say... Boys will be boys."

"Hah"

Serena gave him a look half amused, half appalled, before she then laughed.

Tossing a cloak inside to help cover her up, once her beauty was shrouded further, she gave a simple coquettish wave allowing him entrace.

But after climbing in through the window, he didn't linger for long simple getting down on his knee with his back turned to her.

"Well hurry up get on."

Knowing she was smirking behind his back that the greatest man she knew in this world who'd just become emperor and made her his empress was kneeling before her now.

Choosing not to tease him, she aquiesed and positioned herself to ride him piggyback style.

Legs wrapping around his waist, and her arms wrapped over his neck.

Julius stood barely noticing the added weight of his empress pressing down upon his back.

Once more he absconded leaving their security behind, as he climbed out the window and started charting a path down the side of the palace.

The trek was almost exactly like rock climbing and thanks to his boosted stats the power level gave him higher than average strength allowing for an easy time down, as the imperial pair left the safety of the palace behind and entered the lower city.

Serena all the while had driven her face into his back, the sea was her domain, hanging off the side of a mountain was not.

Her only comfort keeping her calm through the endeavour was the warmth of Julius back radiating heat into her core.

All the while she muttered silent like a mouse.

"If the guards spot us or the palace collapses while we're out, I'm blaming you."

...

Only the final time just before they reached street level he finally responded.

"Oh course, as is tradition."

~

The pairs disappearance secretly from the palace caused the Carthaginians among them to go near crazy, but after noticing something strange to them a few stopped to question the praetorians who were simply going about their day like everything was normal even though their new emperor had disappeared.

And upon inquiring they found that while their own Queen turned empress, was the model of noble behavior the same could not be said for their new emperor, who was reported to them to have a habit of running off on his own to do... well just about everything from pretending to be a commoner, to playing at a soldier or spy.

This news while shocking did allow the palace to return to a normal state of being as the officials were still building up a mountain of paperwork for the official founding of the new empire.

~

The start of their day of hooky had only just begun.

Serena tightly clasped hands with Julius, as soon as she had alighted from his back, the newly engaged couplet started to calmly walk through the lower city.

Admiring mosaics and artisan signs painted in fresh colors, showcasing new signs of life in what was previously a burned out husk of a capital city.

Looking like an oddity but as the city was celebrating they didn't stand out nearly as much as was feared.