Status Updates From Keisarin kullanmuru

Then his voice sank, melancholic again,
he was the seasons rolled into minutes.

‘We must savour every moment together.
Carpe diem, Zuleika.’ Our cheeks touched.

‘Carpe diem,’ I added.
‘Who knows what tomorrow will bring.’

‘My boy Catullus, my boy . . . ‘
‘I know he’s your son, Dad.’

‘Don’t be so impudens, girlie. I still your pater.
Show respect.’

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I thought, the father
who sold his daughter to the highest bidder.

Don’t think I’ve forgotten or forgiven, buster.
T’ain’t in my nature. I smiled affectionately.

‘I know that too, Pops.’
We had never had a proper conversation.

‘Actually, I’ve been studying poetry

with my professor, Theodorous.
I’m going to become a great poet.

I’d love to be famous for something.
Felix wants me educated, so how can he object?’

I pulled my brown shawl over my head,
‘Good,’ she said, putting an arm around me.

‘Keep you out of trouble.
Just make sure you write witty ditties about me.

I wanna be immortalized, dontchaknowit,

The haruspex ripped out the guts of a pig,
blood ran down his arm on to the pretty floor.

Ubi tu Felix, ego Zuleika: then Felix kissed me.
and the room whirled with dancing girls

exposing their breasts and guests
poured red wine into each other’s mouths,

clowns juggled knives and dwarf acrobats
did cartwheels and I entered the statue

of Minerva in the corner, alabaster and wise.
I would soon be alone with him.

the first chapter of thr book is good, i dont like how is she is forced to marry felix. But her and alba are mischievous.