"The dagger of Brutus cuts deeper than steel—its blade is the sharp edge of liberty." — Anonymous Roman poet 🖋️⚔️

: While the Latin is "easy," the phrasing and dialogue patterns are modeled after classical authors like Plautus, Terentius, and Petronius.

The dagger of Brutus is a paradoxical artifact. To his conspirators, it was a symbol of libertas —a tool to excise the "tyrant" Caesar and restore the old Republic. To the followers of Caesar, and to subsequent imperial propaganda, it was a symbol of ungrateful treason and brutal murder. The dagger represents the violent transition from Republic to Empire, a tangible reminder that Roman democracy ended not with a whimper, but with a bloodbath. In literature, Brutus’ dagger is often contrasted with the "dignity" of the senate, highlighting the irony that to save the Republic, they had to destroy its norms.

: The dagger is rumored to be the very weapon used by Brutus to assassinate Julius Caesar. Terentia must navigate the dangerous streets of Rome to uncover its secrets.