Chapter 64 – Do I Have a Say in This?

After hearing this news, Tomyris's head buzzed, her body feeling weak and shaky, the blood draining from her face.

"I-I am a traitor? My clan... everyone I know, my kin... enslaved? Why...?"

Vilesinda took the letter and read it while Apollox spoke.

"It appears you were framed. Since you didn't manage to escape, you couldn't return to defend yourself. Did you offend anyone who might have a vendetta against you? Or did you perhaps offend the king?" Apollox asked.

Tomyris shook her head in denial.

"No... I got along well with other groups, and I don't have a feud within my tribe... And I barely met the king a few times, and we were always distant..."

By this time, Vilesinda had finished reading the letter, her face ugly to behold.

"This is pure bullshit! Someone definitely framed you."

At this time, Antia gently spoke.

"It is likely the cowardly war leader who escaped first. Even in Roman politics, shifting blame to someone else or falsely taking credit is common, and since he ran away, he needed someone convenient and powerless."

Once Antia said this, Tomyris's face contorted, turning red in rage, veins popping on her forehead and neck as she gnashed her teeth. Even the runes on her neck flashed, suppressing her Fighting Spirit from erupting.

"Ouastobalos...! You backstabbing, old snake... Cowards die many times in battle indeed..."

While it was true they were only raiding and could employ hit-and-run tactics, she knew Ouastobalos didn't choose a tactical retreat. Instead, he was genuinely fleeing in cowardice, not bothering to command his men and lead an organised retreat with cover fire.

People were not blind, and they likely saw him do just that. So to reduce his backlash and punishment, he shamelessly poured dirty water on her good name, framing her. And she could already guess that, due to his seniority and being a man, the king made a biased judgment despite knowing it was nonsense.

She hated the king for this, and she hated Ouastobalos even more. If she had the opportunity, she would have liked nothing more than to kill both.

Of course, that was just a wild fantasy, as intangible as clouds. Even if she were still free, her chances of revenge would be slim at best, let alone now. Currently, her future wasn't even in her control anymore.

She was betrayed, abandoned, and captured, fully at the mercy of the man sitting at the table.

"Now that I have lost my worth, he will likely sell me as a slave or parade me or something. Even becoming a concubine is unlikely. A swift death would be the best outcome."

Thinking about this, her shoulders slumped in defeat.

"Hah... It doesn't matter anymore. I thank you for your generous hospitality and treatment until now. Please do with me as you wish." She bowed to Apollox, her eyes vacant of the light of hope.

Antia looked at Apollox, and Vilesinda frowned.

"My love..." Vilesinda spoke with worry laced in her voice.

Apollox raised his hand, stopping Vilesinda from continuing to speak, and then looked at Tomyris, who was like a death row prisoner awaiting her verdict, and spoke.

"Tomyris, you have invaded my land and killed my soldiers with the intent of pillaging my people. As a captured prisoner of war, it is my full right to enslave you, sell you, parade you, torture you, and execute you."

Tomyris's face turned a shade paler, but she didn't refute. It was indeed the fate of the defeated, and she had no room to complain, especially as she was the aggressor. It was the natural outcome of things, and she was mentally prepared for it.

However, Apollox's next words stunned her.

"However, I respect your honor as a warrior, my wives grew attached to you, and I sympathise with your unfair situation. That is why I want to free you."

"What?! You mean it?!" Tomyris raised her head and exclaimed, looking at Apollox with wide, hopeful eyes.

Yet, Apollox's next words poured cold water on her rising hopes.

"Just because I want to free you doesn't mean that I can freely do so. Unconditionally freeing you now is foolish. If I did so, without knowing other skills or proper Latin, and being exiled from your tribe without money to your name or family and relatives, you have few choices ahead of you, and I cannot rule out that you will turn to banditry, especially with your strength. If you were in my position, would you free yourself?"

Tomyris wanted to retort, but found no words to defend herself. Indeed, in her situation, her options were very limited. Even if she was freed, she could only choose a limited number of honorable jobs, such as a horse herder, huntress, or trapper, which are not particularly lucrative. Moreover, due to the language and education gap, she would find it difficult to survive independently. As her siblings and nephews were now enslaved, she also had to take it upon herself to reproduce, meaning she had to marry... And she heard that the status of a wife among the Romans is lower than in the tribes. Antia and Vilesinda were the exception, not the norm.

And when money is scarce, and loaded merchant caravans travel like fat sheep, what stops her from turning to banditry? Honor? Does it matter when you are starving? Especially now, when the garrisons are understrength. The temptation is great.

Apollox didn't bother guessing her thoughts as he continued speaking.

"I will give you several options. You may choose one, and that would be your fate."

Tomyris gulped.

"Please speak, sir..."

"First option, I formally enslave you. I won't sell or shame you, and you will gain food and security, but your strength will remain sealed for the rest of your life, and if you misbehave, I will punish you."

Tomyris pursed her lips. Although not a good ending, it was better than she could have asked for.

"Second option, I will enslave and sell you as a concubine. Although I will try to find you a good master, it is still likely that he will mistreat you."

Tomyris immediately rejected this. She would never choose it.

"Third option, you will be publicly executed. I won't shame you, and you will be given a swift death via beheading."

She was also against this option... But at least it was a way out of suffering.

"Fourth option, exile. I will give you some money and supplies, but you shall swear an oath to never return to Roman soil again. However, I will at least let you keep your realm."

That was arguably even worse than death. But at least she was given the option to leave, which was something.

However, the final option made her widen her eyes.

"As for the fifth option... You die on paper, but you will remain my loyal retainer of foreign origin in reality after swearing an oath to not raise your sword against my household and Rome. You will receive a decent salary and live with honor. If you choose, I can also help introduce you to a man, or you can choose to remain single. Additionally, I will undo the seal on your Fighting Spirit, and you can enjoy relative independence. Consider it a fresh start. But if you betray my trust, you won't get a third chance." Apollox solemnly said.

Tomyris blinked, not expecting such a proposal.

"You can do that?" She asked, baffled.

"It is the frontier. I can say you died from a disease or infection. Who can prove otherwise? And why should they?" Apollox shrugged with a grin.

"And... are you really alright with that?" She asked, looking at the man and two wives.

"I am fine with it." Antia softly said.

"I am also okay with it." Vilesinda nodded.

Tomyris, having nothing to lose, stood up and deeply bowed.

"I, Tomyris, daughter of Bagês-"

But mid-sentence, she was cut off, a hand grabbing her arm.

"Wait! I have a better proposal." Vilesinda said with a mysterious grin.

"???" Tomyris was confused.

"???" Apollox was also confused.

However, Antia seemed to realize something, looking Tomyris up and down with interest, as if evaluating her. This made Tomyris feel uncomfortable. She knew that gaze, one that aunts in her group used to evaluate prospective men and women who wanted to marry into their group.

"Why is she looking at me like that?"

Soon, she knew the reason.

"How about becoming my good little sister? I noticed how you look at my man~." Vilesinda asked with a sly, playful look.

The air suddenly froze. The solemn atmosphere was completely thrown off track.

"Hah???" Apollox gaped, his head full of question marks.

"How did it suddenly shift into getting a new wife? Not that I am against it..."

Tomyris instantly flushed, understanding what Vilesinda meant, glancing at Apollox's handsome face and powerful body. And remembering the two wives' affection for him, his good treatment toward her, and his dedication... She was secretly smitten with him.

Striking while the iron was hot, Vilesinda continued tempting her.

"As a concubine, you can enjoy a high standing, legal protection, financial security, wealth, education, luxury, and freedom. Your children won't need to worry about being hungry, and can have a noble upbringing. And you have seen how good he is to us. If you have any reasonable request, he can fulfill it."

If it were before, she would reject the idea due to her familial obligations. After all, she was an Iazyges, while he was a Roman. They were just not meant to be.

But now that her very people turned her back on her, while her enemy actually gave her a way out...

"That... surprisingly doesn't sound like a bad idea?" She thought, struggling.

And just as she was teetering at the edge, Vilesinda went next to her ear and whispered something she couldn't refuse.

"And if you become my sister, we can give you power..."

"P-Power?" Tomyris softly mumbled back.

"Yes... power. Much power. Don't you want the same power that defeated you?" Vilesinda whispered sweet poison, like a devil.

If anyone else said this, Tomyris wouldn't believe it. However, in her nightmares, she vividly remembered the feeling of terrible oppression that forced her into a state of fear and suppressed her Fighting Spirit, as if facing divine monsters. And she remembered the ease with which they were defeated, and the terror that the arrogant Ouastobalos had when he fled like the coward he was.

"I... can have that power?" Tomyris dazedly said.

"And more... Much more. Enough to have your revenge on those who wronged you." Vilesinda narrowed her eyes and said.

That sealed the deal.

"I will be under your care, elder sisters." Tomyris solemnly said to Vilesinda and Antia.

"Glad to have you, younger sister~." Vilesinda smiled, almost cheering.

"Hm. Nice to have you, younger sister." Antia curtly nodded.

Vilesinda then turned to Apollox, who was still stunned at the turn of events, and winked at him.

Apollox's lips twitched.

"Do I even have a say in this?"

Of course, he wasn't complaining about it. He wasn't being wronged, and he did need more partners.

However, he had a more crucial question to ask.

"System, is this considered rape?"

She might be your captive, but you didn't force your will upon her. You gave her options that allowed her true freedom, and she chose to become your concubine, even if for impure reasons.

Welp... GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME!!!

Have fun~ ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

"Well... that's reassuring, at least." Apollox sighed and thought, looking at his impromptu concubine.

Noticing his gaze, the 28-year-old fierce war leader blushed like a little girl and lowered her head.

"I will be in your care, my husband."

"... Nice to have you," Apollox replied, feeling a bit helpless.

If you find any errors (non-standard content, ads redirect, broken links, etc..), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible.