The grand halls of the Severan Palace were alive with the hum of the evening's festivities. Candles flickered along the marble columns, casting soft shadows on the faces of the courtiers who had gathered for the banquet in honor of Emperor Geta's latest victory. The air was thick with the scent of roast meats, spices, and fine wine. Music floated from the corner of the room, played by musicians dressed in rich silks. It was a celebration fit for royalty.

Yet amid the revelry, one figure stood apart from the crowd, her fingers nervously tracing the hem of her gown. Y/n, a woman of humble origin who had been granted a place in the palace as a trusted companion to Emperor Geta, felt out of place in the midst of such splendor. She had always been told that the nobility lived lives beyond reach-lives filled with power, beauty, and grandeur. And here she was, caught in the bright, dazzling world of Roman royalty, but she felt as though she were the most unremarkable figure in the room.

She stole a glance across the chamber at Emperor Geta. He stood with the grace and poise expected of an emperor, his dark eyes scanning the room, his every movement imbued with an effortless authority. Geta was admired by all, a man of charm and strength, adored by those who knew him and feared by those who didn't. His presence alone commanded attention, and as he caught her gaze from across the room, she quickly turned her face away, her heart quickening in her chest.

She felt so small beside him.

"Is something the matter, my lady?" a familiar voice interrupted her thoughts.

She turned, her heart nearly stopping at the sight of Geta himself, standing before her with that ever-approachable smile. His presence seemed to fill the space around them, and for a moment, she was lost in the depths of his warm brown eyes.

"I-I'm fine," she stammered, feeling the heat rise in her cheeks. "Just... lost in thought."

Geta raised an eyebrow, his smile softening as he took a step closer, his gaze never leaving hers. "Lost in thought, or perhaps lost in the company of someone you find... difficult to understand?"

She faltered, unsure how to answer. Her insecurities bubbled up, the doubt in her mind making it hard to focus on anything other than the difference between them. He was the emperor-powerful, accomplished, admired by all-while she was nothing more than a simple woman, unsure of her place in such a world.

"I-I don't belong here, Emperor," she murmured, casting her eyes downward. "These halls are filled with greatness, and I... I am just a mere woman. You are too good for me."

Geta's eyes softened, and for a moment, the bustling sounds of the banquet seemed to fade into the background. There was only the two of them, and in that instant, he saw the uncertainty that clouded her thoughts, the self-doubt that hung heavily in her every word and gesture.

"Too good for you?" he repeated, his voice quiet but filled with warmth. He stepped closer, his presence enveloping her in a comforting way. "You do realize, don't you, that the idea of greatness is fleeting and relative? People's perceptions change with time. What the world calls 'great' today might be forgotten tomorrow."

She looked up at him, surprised by the earnestness in his tone. Geta's eyes were unwavering, and she could see the sincerity in his gaze. It was not the casual glance of a ruler to his subject-it was something more, something deeper. Something that stirred a feeling in her chest she couldn't quite explain.

"You are more than enough," Geta continued, his voice growing softer, more intimate. "In your heart, you carry a strength that many people will never understand. You possess a grace that doesn't need to be flaunted to be seen. You are here, standing beside me, not as a subject or as a woman in need of validation-but as a person who deserves to be seen as an equal."

Her breath caught in her throat. She didn't know what to say. His words were so kind, so genuine, but they contradicted everything she had ever believed about herself. She couldn't see what he saw in her-how could she? She had always been told to know her place, and her place was not beside an emperor.

"I... I don't deserve your kindness," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I've done nothing to earn your affection. You're the emperor, and I... I am just a simple woman. You could have anyone. Why would you choose me?"

Geta took her hands gently in his, lifting them to his lips in a soft kiss. The simple gesture caught her completely off guard, and her heart skipped a beat. She had never been treated like this-so tenderly, so reverently. But it wasn't just the gesture that moved her; it was the sincerity in his touch, the way his eyes never left hers as though she were the most important person in the room.

"Because," he said quietly, "I see something in you that no title, no crown, no empire could ever replace. Your heart, your kindness, your spirit-these are the things that matter most to me. And I would be a fool to let them slip away, simply because the world thinks I should marry someone of higher standing."

She shook her head, tears threatening to spill from her eyes. She was overwhelmed-by his words, by the depth of his feelings, by the vulnerability he was showing her. No emperor, no powerful ruler, had ever spoken to her with such understanding, such honesty. It was as though he truly saw her- her-for who she was, beyond the palace, beyond her insecurities.

"I don't know what to say," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

"You don't have to say anything," Geta replied gently. "But know this: You are more than enough. And if you would have me, I would be honored to spend the rest of my life by your side."

Her heart raced, and she felt as though the world around her had stopped spinning. Was this truly happening? Was Emperor Geta, the powerful ruler of Rome, asking her to marry him? The woman who doubted her worth at every turn?

"You want to marry me?" she asked, her voice shaking.

"I do," he said with a smile that was both gentle and sure. "And I would spend my days reminding you of just how deserving you are of everything this world has to offer. But only if you'll allow me to be the one by your side. Will you marry me?"

Tears welled in her eyes, and for the first time in her life, she felt truly seen, truly valued. It wasn't her title, her wealth, or her beauty that mattered to Geta. It was her. And somehow, he had managed to make her feel worthy of his love, even when she had doubted herself for so long.

With a soft smile, she nodded, her voice barely a whisper.

"Yes. Yes, I will."

And in that moment, Geta took her hand in his, his heart full of quiet joy. He had not only won her heart-he had shown her, in the most tender way, that she was more than enough. And together, they would face whatever challenges the future held, side by side.