My Wives Of Simulation

Chapter 5. The Daughter Of Destiny, Imperial Nero

____

[In 44 AD, Claudius IV executed Messalina, marking the climax of the power struggle between the emperor and the Imperial Senate.]

[You observed the intense conflict but chose not to intervene. It was not yet time for you to act. After all, while you were a prince, even a genius 14-year-old prince could only do so much in such a volatile environment.]

[Understanding that the Roman Empire of this era was a web of complex power struggles—where the emperor, Senate, nobility, religion, and commoners mutually restrained one another—you decided to carve a new path. This path involved securing the allegiance of the Guards.]

"After the second emperor, Tiberius, died on the island of Capri, the Guards facilitated the rise of the third emperor, the tyrant Caligula."

"Later, due to Caligula's tyranny, the Guards assassinated him and installed my so-called father, Claudius IV, as the fourth emperor of Rome."

"It's undeniable that in this era, military power reigns supreme."

[Recognizing the critical importance of the Guards in the current Roman Empire, and understanding the ambitions that motivated these arrogant warriors, you began a long-term strategy. Over the years, you trained promising young recruits for the Guards while using your position as a prince to cultivate relationships with key figures among them.]

[Your efforts bore fruit. Bruce, the commander of the Guards, Seneca, the advisor, and over a dozen generals were now firmly in your camp, bound to you through a shared community of interests.]

[Your identity as a prince provided you with significant advantages. First, the balancing act between the emperor and the Senate created an atmosphere of mutual distrust, ensuring that neither side could directly interfere with your recruitment efforts without risking retaliation from the other.]

[Second, no one anticipated that a mere teenager would focus on securing military power so early.]

[Lastly, it was beyond imagination that the fiercely independent warriors of the Guards would swear loyalty to someone so young. The outcome was nothing short of astonishing.]

["Warfare is the way of deception," you murmured to yourself.]

[In addition to your status as a prince, you found ancient wisdom handed down from your ancestors to be invaluable. These teachings helped you win the allegiance of soldiers who once seemed untamable.]

[Sun Tzu's Art of War, The Thirty-Six Stratagems—although these texts were theoretical, they proved to be exceedingly effective in the current Roman Empire.]

[If the conqueror king who once dominated the known world had ventured as far as Kyushu, the Seven Heroes of the Warring States might have had far more tools to counter his advance.]

[Shaking the latest intelligence report from the Guards in your hand, you reflected on your achievements thus far. You had employed a simple yet effective combination of strategies:

The allure of your title as a prince.

Exploiting the constant power struggle among major factions.

Applying military tactics from the Empire Of your memories.

And cultivating loyal confidants from a young age.]

[These elements had coalesced into your current power base, making you a formidable force in the empire's political landscape.]

"Then... next, it's time to meet the girl of destiny from this era."

[In 45 AD, at the age of fifteen, you had successfully secured control over the Guards. With only three years remaining until your coming-of-age ceremony, you set your sights on meeting Nero.]

Domitius Ahenobarbus—the cousin of Claudius IV and the biological father of Nero. In other words, Elric had to address him as...

"Uncle."

"Your Highness Rhine, absolutely not. I am merely an ordinary noble; how can I accept such etiquette from you?"

Seeing Elric approach and bow slightly, Ahenobarbus stiffened. Though he shared a familial tie with the current emperor as his cousin, he was no fool. This was Rome, after all—a place where relations were as intricate as they were numerous. Here, the title of "cousin" could be thrown around casually, with new ones popping up at every corner.

His familial connection to Claudius IV had not granted him any notable status. So, faced with the emperor's only son and heir apparent, Ahenobarbus maintained a façade of deference, even if he bore the pride of his lineage.

[Greeting Ahenobarbus, you could see the uncertainty in his eyes. He did not know the reason for your visit, but as the likely future emperor, your presence demanded respect.]

"Uncle."

Elric fixed his gaze on Ahenobarbus, forgoing pleasantries and going straight to the point.

"I heard you have a daughter. I wish to meet her."

---

---

"Daughter? Are you referring to Nero?"

Nero Ahenobarbus, born in 37 AD.

She should have been sent to live with her aunt at the age of three after the death of her father. However, due to the butterfly effect of Elric's presence in the Roman Empire, the timeline had shifted. She was now eight years old and still living with her parents.

"Your Highness, if Nero has caught your interest, I will summon her immediately."

Agrippina the Younger, Nero's mother and the granddaughter of Augustus—the first emperor of Rome—entered the conversation at that moment.

Yes, you heard correctly: Augustus' granddaughter had married the cousin of Claudius IV. Such tangled familial connections were typical in the Roman Empire. Here, if you threw a brick on the street, you were likely to hit a royal relative.

Agrippina, infamous as the poisonous queen of history, would one day play a pivotal role in securing Nero's position as emperor. In every sense, she was Nero's most influential benefactor.

[To Agrippina, your visit was an unexpected boon. She assumed you were drawn to Nero's beauty. Though only eight years old, Nero had already begun to garner admiration from nobles for her youthful charm. To be favored by you, the prince, was an unparalleled honor in her eyes. Without hesitation, Agrippina "presented" her daughter to you, seeing this as a golden opportunity.]

---

---

"Nero. Claudius... Ahenobarbus."

When Nero appeared, Elric studied the young girl before him and sighed internally. She was undoubtedly the girl of destiny.

Though still a child, Nero's skin was as flawless as porcelain, her delicate features accompanied by a pair of striking green eyes. Her gaze held a mix of curiosity and timidity as she regarded Elric.

She neither recoiled nor approached but seemed unsure of what to do in this unfamiliar situation.

"Go on, Nero. Greet His Highness," Agrippina urged gently, patting her daughter's small shoulder.

"Hello?"

Though born into nobility, Nero had never truly known her parents' love. With Ahenobarbus and Agrippina more focused on their personal ambitions and pleasures, Nero had grown up more as an afterthought than as the cherished daughter of a prominent house.

Except for ceremonial occasions, her presence in the household felt more like that of a passerby than that of a family member. So, being brought before Elric by her estranged mother felt surreal. Yet, all Nero could see was a handsome young man, exuding warmth she had rarely encountered.

"Nero, I am your brother. Call me Rhine," Elric said warmly, crouching to her eye level.

Reaching out, he gently patted her head, his affectionate smile brightening the room.

At that moment, the full effect of Elric's unparalleled beauty and charm took hold. If Nero's feelings could be measured, her favorability score would undoubtedly be rising exponentially: +1, +1, +1, +1...