Nero and his slave, Avitus, walked back up towards
the Palatine hill. As he walked up the stairs, Nero remembered that his father
had something important to tell him. Nero looked across the sky looking at the
sun setting in the horizon. When he reached the steps of his home, he wanted to
forever remember today as being the day spent with Julia. Nero opened the door
and saw that there was a grand feast set up in the dining hall. He saw his
father, mother, and brother sitting and waiting for him. Nero’s father called
for him and asked that he sit in the chair next to him. “Nero, as you know,
there is much unrest within the republic. Caesar has declared himself to be
dictator even though there is no military crisis. With all these ongoing
events, I believe that it is best if you leave Rome to study more in Greece.
You can further your studies and grow more as a person. I, especially, do not
want you here when everything happens to Caesar.” Nero was in shock that his
father wanted him to leave his family and everything behind in order to be away
from this political unrest. Nero tried to reason with his father that it would
be better if he stayed and was able to experience the politics of Rome during
this time. He stated, “If I want to become a senator such as yourself, I should
be here following and helping you with anything I can.” However, his father
felt that Nero should educate himself in order to understand the political
aspects that go into governing an empire. In addition, Nero also did not
understand as to what his father meant about Caesar. Would something happen to
Caesar? Would the senators try to over throw him and redistribute the political
power? Nero wanted to question his father more but was too upset that he got up
from the table and left the room.
