#marcus forest

[waxesnostalgic]

And so, Felix enrolls his son as an assistant to Antonius, the legion commander. Felix knew that connection would turn out to be useful.

Marcus can't wait to start learning about warfare. This sounds far more exciting than listening to the teacher at school.

[waxesnostalgic]

Marcus is getting older too. He's now a teenager.

"I heard from your teacher, Marcus." Felix pauses and sighs. "He doesn't think you should continue in your studies. You are at the bottom of your class, academically."

How did it come to this, anyway. Flavia's family was so well-educated, Felix had assumed Marcus would take after her. But he didn't.

"But it's so dull! I can't concentrate at all," counters Marcus.

"If you paid attention, you wouldn't find it difficult. However, I have noticed you have always enjoyed martial pursuits," adds Felix quickly. "It may be that you are fated for a different line of work than me or your uncles."

Marcus's expression softens. "What you you mean?"

[waxesnostalgic]

It was Lupercalia, the season of love!

But then a few months later, Felix and Flavia gather their children in the tablinium for some exciting news.

"We're going to have another baby!" exclaims Flavia.

"What? But... you're so..." Cecelia trails off, not wanting to upset her mother who is so obviously excited.

Marcus has no such tact. "How can you have a baby now?"

But it doesn't matter how incredulous they are, Cecelia thinks. There's going to be a new baby in the house soon. She should have seen the signs... her mother getting tired quickly and growing rounder in the middle.

It's not really that weird, she just didn't expect it to happen to her family.

[waxesnostalgic]

Cecelia has aged up in to a teenager. She still loves reading, and continues to study at home on her own.

After her growth spurt, she doesn't have to worry about Marcus picking on her anymore... for now.

Just to make sure, Cecelia asks her father to help her set up a punching bag in her grandfather's old woodworking shed. It doesn't hurt to learn to defend herself.

[waxesnostalgic]

Flavia gives birth to her second child with Felix, Marcus. Cecelia isn't quite sure what to make of this strange, tiny human. She's not sure she likes it being here.

Luckily, her grandmother is there to comfort her.

(Sorry for the short little posts lately. A lot of changes happen to the family all at once, and there isn't too much to say until I get into the next plot with Cecelia as main point-of-view.

Also, the bassinet is empty because this one's just a deco object. 😅)

[waxesnostalgic]

Reading is still Cecelia's favorite thing to do, even if Jocelyn doesn't think it's ladylike to read so much. There's no feeling like being alone and getting lost in another world.

Besides, Flavia reads too. If her mother does it, it can't be that unladylike.

Flavia is teaching Marcus to read too. Maybe when he's older Cecelia and her brother will have something to talk about.

[waxesnostalgic]

Though Cecelia tries to ignore her brother, time doesn't decrease Marcus's attacks on Cecelia.

One morning, Hana finds her granddaughter crying in bed.

"What's wrong?" she asks as they sit down to talk together.

Cecelia sniffs and wipes her eyes. "Marcus is always so mean to me, most of all when no one is lookin. What should I do? Mother and Father have already talked to him, but he acts like their words mean nothing."

"As you get older, you'll learn how to confront him. After all, he is younger than you. For now, I'll talk to him, though it probably won't help. That boy is too wild, like his grandfather. It will come back to bite him someday." Hana's eye gleams as she speaks.

"Why don't you ask your friend Jocelyn to come over tomorrow? That will make you feel better."

"That's a great idea!" Cecelia hugs Hana. Grandma always has the best ideas.

[waxesnostalgic]

Flavia scolds Marcus for destroying his sister's scroll. "You must be kind to your sister. She is your elder."

Marcus doesn't think any of this is fair. No one wanted to even ask him his side of the story.

He didn't have a good reason, but his mother could have at least asked, couldn't she?

Marcus decides to continue to annoy Cecelia whenever he can. As long as no one is looking, he thinks, he can get away with it.