The Serpent in the Emperor's Cup

Rome, 30 BC. Beneath the veneer of a newly forged empire, a sinister plot unfolds during a lavish banquet hosted by Emperor Augustus.  Senator Valerius Corvus collapses, his lips stained a chilling blue, a victim of something far more insidious than mere indulgence. Centurion Marcus Falco, burdened by past failures and duty-bound to protect Augustus, senses a venomous conspiracy.  His investigation thrusts him into an uneasy alliance with Nova, the enslaved chef whose culinary masterpiece became Corvus's final meal. Nova, a woman whose knowledge of herbs and poisons is both a curse and a shield, becomes the prime suspect, yet also an invaluable ally.
Their pursuit of truth leads them into the treacherous world of the imperial kitchens, a seething cauldron of ambition, envy, and whispered secrets. They uncover a plot aimed not just at Corvus but at the heart of the empire itself — Augustus.  As the water clock drips, time runs out, the threat escalating with each passing moment. Falco wrestles with his ingrained prejudices against Nova, a slave whose intellect challenges his worldview, while Nova grapples with the ghosts of her past, a past intertwined with the *Gustus Mortis*, a clandestine sect of culinary poisoners.
Their investigation entwines with the forbidden love of Vestal Virgin Julia Scaevola and young nobleman Titus Livius, a pawn in the deadly game. Julia, privy to the temple’s hidden passages, becomes an unwitting accomplice. Joshua Calpurnius, Falco’s trusted confidante and a former gladiator bearing the scars of the arena, navigates the city’s underbelly, uncovering vital clues.  They discover the *Gustus Mortis* are not mere assassins, but guardians of an ancient culinary tradition, their methods undetectable, their reach extending to the highest echelons of power.
Titus, desperate to shield Julia, confesses his involvement, revealing a plot to poison Augustus, a plot he inadvertently foiled by switching the plates.  Armed with this knowledge, Falco and Nova race to identify the true mastermind and procure an antidote before Augustus succumbs to the slow-acting poison during a crucial political summit.  As Augustus exhibits the poison's effects, a tense confrontation ensues with the true culprit, disgruntled general Lucius Aemilius. Nova, in a daring act of defiance, administers the antidote, forever altering her destiny. 
In the aftermath, justice prevails, yet the scars of the conspiracy remain. Julia, bound by her vows, sacrifices her love. Joshua finds solace in loyalty. Nova, granted freedom, uses her knowledge to heal. And Falco, humbled by Nova’s brilliance, embraces a new understanding of justice. The empire is saved, yet the serpent’s whisper serves as a chilling reminder of the fragility of power and the constant vigilance required to safeguard it.  A culinary mystery where ancient traditions, political machinations, and forbidden desires collide in a fight for the very heart of Rome.