Page 112 of Cleopatra

I did not need a crown to prove myself a queen.

I levelled my gaze at Antonius as he followed me in, his footprints leaving wet marks on the wood. There was no chair for him; it was why I had chosen the north stateroom.

“I have granted you an audience, so speak: what do you request of this queen?” I asked.

“Serapion—” he began.

“Serapion was a traitor of Egypt,” I interrupted. “He was in league with my sister, the outcast Arsinoe.”

Antonius’s expression was grave. “The fact remains he was still a citizen of your country and, by your own reckoning, taking orders from your family. I cannot play favours. The politics of Rome are more tenuous than you think. You must pay the traitor’s levy to remain an ally of my nation.”

I scoffed. “I will not pay your taxes, Marcus. I am no longer an ally of Rome; that ended the day Caesar died.”

Antonius shook his head. “You cannot mean that, Pharaoh. Ending our partnership will lose you the security of our armies.”

I turned to Faunus. “Remind me, how many soldiers did Rome lose in the battle against Brutus and Cassius?”

“Twenty thousand, Pharaoh.”

“Twenty thousand,” I repeated. “I think perhaps it is you who needs my armies.”

“We won the war, though,” Antonius said, the merest hint of a snarl on his lips. “Pharaoh, I urge you to reconsider your stance.”

“If I am an ally, I must pay a fine for the traitor Serapion’s indiscretion. If I am not, then my coffers remain untouched. I believe my stance to be the only one possible.”

Antonius looked troubled. “Octavian—”

I cut him off once more. “Is all the more reason for Egypt’s relationship with Rome to end.”

“He is but a young man whose fortune was changed in a night. Do not condemn him.”

“Do not underestimate the ambition of youth. I tell you from experience. My brother was fourteen when he laid siege to Alexandria, and my sister seventeen when she began to call herself Queen.”

Antonius smiled, seeming to appreciate my ferocity. “Yet you overcame them.”

“Not entirely.” Arsinoe was still out there, plotting.

A servant brought in a tray of hibiscus tea, sweetened with honey. Antonius watched me as I brought the drink to my lips. He seemed to be considering his next words.

“Ignore the tax. I will explain Serapion’s treachery to the senate. But you must remain an ally.”

“Must I?” I said coolly.

“Yes, you must. For how else can we keep company like this?” He gestured towards both our attires, and I couldn’t suppress the laugh he coaxed out of me.

“There must be more benefits.”

He raised one eyebrow in enquiry.

But I did not let his flirtation unmoor me from my purpose. I regarded him levelly. “Proclaim Caesarion as Caesar’s heir, and my armies will be yours.”

All mirth left Antonius’s face. “You know I cannot. Together Octavian and I rule the senate. To oppose his birthright is to declare war.”

“His birthright?” I hissed.

Antonius dipped his head as my anger washed over him. When he looked up, his face was full of remorse. “You know the love I had for Caesar. He called me son. But what you ask of me will bring more death than the toll your administrator reports. I cannot do that in Caesar’s name.”

I turned my head before he could see the tears in my eyes. I heard him step forward, and then his hands took mine.