Contents
Chapter 8. Before: Luca
Overview
Luca recalls his debut at Magistrate Casperia’s First Feast, revealing his adoption by Kastor and the political expectations placed on him. He publicly defends Philosopher Vitrasian, provoking Kastor’s fury, then asserts his independence. Luca’s charged first encounter with Casperia’s daughter exposes mutual attraction and shared captivity within Forum politics.
Summary
Sixteen-year-old Luca, adopted by his ailing uncle Kastor Matius to secure an heir, arrives at Villa Casperia for the prestigious First Feast. Kastor coaches Luca on political marriages and image, anxious about losing ground to his rival, Magistrate Casperia. The villa’s lavish display of godsblood and wealth sickens Luca, even as he searches for his friend Vale amid the Magistrates’ crowd.
Kastor parades Luca through introductions, presenting him as his son. Luca notices Casperia’s daughter, striking in emerald and gold, and learns who she is from Vale. When Magistrate Casperia greets them, she needles Kastor by predicting the fall of Philosopher Rhea Vitrasian. Luca, provoked, declares he would open his veins before denouncing Vitrasian, startling both factions and exposing Kastor’s vulnerability.
Kastor drags Luca to the terrace and strikes him, raging that Luca jeopardized his legacy. Luca, now stronger, calmly warns he will cast votes by his own mind and will hit back if struck again. Kastor storms off, leaving Luca bloodied and seething.
Casperia’s daughter approaches, witnesses the aftermath, and gently tends Luca’s split lip. She coaxes him to slip from the terrace, and they share wine overlooking the Lower City’s feast lights. Their conversation reveals Luca’s roots and love of the sea, her inability to swim, and the shared sense of being caged by their families and roles.
Suspicious she was sent to probe him, Luca challenges her motives. She counters that neither of them is free, but hints that Luca’s defiance means he may yet be more than a pretender. She vanishes into the night, leaving Luca with the echo of her accusation: that he is no good at pretending.
Who Appears
- Luca MatiusAt sixteen, adopted heir to Kastor; defends Vitrasian, is struck, vows independence, and connects with Casperia’s daughter.
- Kastor MatiusDying uncle and adopter; obsessed with legacy, engineers alliances, publicly charming but privately violent toward Luca.
- Magistrate CasperiaKastor’s rival and feast host; taunts about Vitrasian, wields power and allure to undermine Kastor.
- Casperia’s daughterUnnamed, alluring and sharp; tends Luca’s wound, slips away to talk, reveals feeling caged, challenges his pretense.
- Vale SaturianConsul’s son and Luca’s friend; warns that the Consul is judging Luca’s worthiness for Kastor’s seat.
- Consul SaturianConsul of Isara; observes the feast, quietly assessing Luca through Vale’s reports.