The city of Rome prospers like never before. The people's woes are addressed, public infrastructure is maintained, and for the most part Rome is stable.
The East is loyal under Palmyra, Dacia is pacified, and for the first time in years, the emperor listens to them.
"I gave a form to the emperor about a pothole. That damn hole always shook up my wake. For years it was ignored, but when I sent that form, the emperor listened. A week later, engineers fixed that hole, and my wagon didn't shake."
"My sister was robbed, and instead of begging a magistrate for a favor, we sent a form. Not two weeks later was my sister reimbursed for her loss."
"These forms ensured I could trade easier. The fancy fops who investigate my cargo don't demand bribes. The moment I mention forms, they stiffen up."
The city is alight with the wondrous world of proper government.
The currency might lie; Postumus holds the west, and Gallienus has no sons, but for once, Rome isn't in free fall.
The people celebrate with free bread thrown to them from chariots.
Inside Trajan's Forum, a herald steps forward, a speech rehearsed over and over again, biting at his throat.
He raises his arms to the sky, beckoning the citizenry to listen.
Rome is victorious!
A few cheers sound out; the drunken debauchery of the city isn't interrupted by good news but merely enhanced.
"Fellow citizens, it is the year of our city's birth, 1018." (265 AD)
"Rome has finally ended the reign of barracks emperors; no more shall the blade rule our empire. No more shall we fear the men sworn to defend us."
A small cheer breaks out through the form a little louder now.
The herald prepares to drop the largest piece of news in decades.
"Citizens of Rome, you have heard that our emperor has no sons; they all died in service to the empire. That is true no longer; Calpurnia, the new wife of Gallienus, our beloved emperor, is pregnant."
The cheering is louder than ever before; stones shake, drinks fly, men weep, and veterans cheer.
The herald steps down as the people scream, "Happy New Year!"
The celebrations across the city are infectious; wine floods the streets, and couples openly sleep with one another. Inside the Colosseum, gladiators and slaves fight for the entertainment of the masses.
The celebrations halt at the steps of the Curia.
Inside Zenobia stands, much to the dismay of the senators.
Rome is a patriarchal society to say the least. Women ruling was not socially acceptable for Roman men. Much less the men who ran the empire.
When they heard a woman would be elevated to the rank of senator, they were outraged.
"Gallienus uses our office as a gift."
"How dare he! What next? Are we to expect horses and barbarians to join our ranks?"
"I don't care how rich the East is; the office of the Senate isn't a salon."
The issue of sexism is swept aside as snide Vettius rises and gives some constructive criticism.
Conscript fathers, your statements, while absolutely true, do not address the real problem. Women aren't a danger to the Senate. The idea that our offices are a political reward is the real danger.
If senatorial seats are gifts rather than burdens, what happens to our empire? Nothing good.
Soon we shall have a Senate full of sycophants and Didius Julianus.
The senate flinches at that name. The man who bought the Roman Empire from the Praetorian Guard.
The senators dislike Vettius but the man isn't wrong.
For years the senate was a trinket, consuls weren't elected but appointed by the emperor.
None doubt the loyalty of Odenathus, yet loyalty rewarded with power turns power into decoration.
Young Titus rises he didn't prepare a speech but he has something on his chest.
"Conscript fathers you speak as if the senate was always pure. I hear talk of Mas Majorum."
"Tell me, what would our ancestors say if they saw our empire. "
"They would weep, my line gens Claudia would spit at this most August body."
"My forefathers never envisioned emperors falling to Persian blades."
"We speak so highly of forms yet have they won us peace in the north? No. Have they brought us working currency? No.
"What worked, was listening to the members of this August body, who held no Roman blood."
"If we need to listen to a woman so be it. But don't pretend as if senatorial seats aren't already for sale. We just accept gifts and pretend we aren't compromised."
Titus pales and sits down he has never give a speech like that. He was a seat warmer for his family's designs until they fell to the irrelevance.
Marius, old Marius rises a man who was but a child when Elegabalus was in power.
"Conscript fathers we speak as if Rome has never been lead by women."
A few men bristle, others are dumbstruck an old man is defending Zenobia.
"Rome was lead by a cineadus. My father once moaned Rome is lead by a woman in man's skin."
Marius points to Zenobia.
"This woman wife of the great hero Odenathus has the eyes of Postumus. A man for whom if fate was kinder would be a loyal man in my view."
A few men cough and look away because Postumus is Rome's biggest threat.
"Rome has changed far beyond what our ancestors ever thought possible."
"The senate was designed to rule a city not a continent."
"We have African, Gaul, Illyrian, and even Sicilian senators."
A few men look at one another utterly confused as to why Sicilian was the biggest deal for Marius.
"My grandfather said Sicily was the first time Romans let non Romans meddle in our affair. He was a cultural purist and more importantly a fool."
"I say to you that we would be even more foolish to refuse a woman in the senate. She may rule better than the emperors my father and grandfather whined about."
Marius sits down the wisdom of the ages settling throughout the Curia.
Vettius rises and looks to Zenobia who is still silent. The man barely suppresses a grin.
"Then it is settled a tria run, have her oversee the little pets of Gnaeus. If she can handle that then there can be no argument against her appointment ."
Marius and Titus scoff, a shared expression that shock both men when they see the other is in agreement.
Gnaeus rises a bit to fast for Curia decorum.
"Don't worry Bato and Fabian won't dissapoint."
Zenobia sensing that she is about to be dragged into some nonsense, rises and looks at Gnaeus.
Shocking everyone the man stops talking about economics and looks directly at Zenobia.
"Milady, I um what do you desire."
A few senators chuckle at the bashfulness of Gnaeus.
Honorius meanwhile is terrified by the look in Zenobia's eyes.
"Oh honorable Gnaeus you would do well to explain why the senate calls two grown men your pets.
Gnaeus stutters a few words about export and animal slip out but nothing legible.
Honorius unable to watch rises and gives Zenobia all the facts.
"Honorable lady, Bato is a brilliant engineer we are debating sending him to build ports for Arabian kingdoms. Fabius is a master smith, who proposes a standardized set of stamps. Both men are young prodigies whose talents are well regarded. We wish to use them to help our economy perhaps even mint working coins."
Gnaeus grunt out. "They are brilliant men stifled by politics. Their ideas could save us all."
Zenobia suppresses her own smile. He if she figures out how to organize the talents of these men her name will reach the stars themselves.
"Conscript fathers I would be honored to accept this role."
Vettius grins as he is in the perfect situation.
If Zenobia succeeds he gets partial credit for helping the empire. If she fails he gets senators of his side for defending the values of Rome.
The consul of the senate stands the Curia turns as the man clears his throat.
"Then I would like to suggest a motion. The following senators must help Zenobia."
"Honorius, Marius, and Vettius."
The senate agrees as Marius and Honorius both give their own speeches about how they will serve the republic.
The senate tentatively accepts Zenobia.
Vettius looks at Zenobia the color draining from his face.
Zenobia's face is the perfect mask of stoic dignity. Her eyes on the other hand are a predators when they caught their prey.
One unspoken word passes between Zenobia and Vettius that day.
"If I lose you lose if I win you win."