"Because I felt myself unworthy of the title of Imperator. There have only ever been 2 that I acknowledge the Emperor of Belka and the Rose Empress of Rome. The title of dictator is an old term, and in Rome is used in times of great conflict when a final arbiter is needed. It is a role suited only to be filled for a limited time, until a suitable successor can be found, or, as I had hoped, Nero returned. I took the name because it was one that the people of Rome have found acceptable in the past, before the Emperors, and because it appealed to me as a student of history. I would not stand at the same level as the Empress, or the Emperor, but I could stand as a leader in a time of need, with the clear understanding it was only until the crisis had passed."

He pauses, exhaling and inhaling, his face taking on a more grave, and less furious cast, "I do not know where she is. When last I spoke with her, you, or someone with your face and form, had appointed Nero General of Britain's armies, and she showed no desire to return to her duties as the Empress of Rome." He halts, stopping short of offering any criticism of Nero, except perhaps for the implied stain of shirking her duty, but that was unavoidable given the facts of the circumstance. He looks pained now, obviously even speaking this much about his liege lord's possible failings pained him, and the burdensome mantle of ruling a country has weighed heavily on this warrior's shoulders.