Introduction
Rome, 44 BC
The air in Rome was thick with intrigue, whispers of betrayal, and the clang of swords training for a war that had not yet begun. The murmurings in the public squares suggested what few dared to say out loud: the Republic was in danger. Caesar, the man who had brought great military victories, was no longer seen as a savior, but as a monarch in disguise, a king without a crown.

In the midst of this whirlwind of change and fragile alliances, a young Roman of plebeian origin, Lucius Valerius, sees his life take an unexpected turn. The son of a merchant, his family had always faithfully served the Republic. But now, in the dark alleys of the eternal city, loyalties are blurred, and men's decisions become more dangerous than ever.

Rome, the city that promised glory to those who served it, was beginning to consume its own children.