His astute understanding of those around him makes him observant and lethally sharp in guessing the motives and intent of others .
Highly intelligent and well read , Octavian is a young man whose formidable mind marks him out even among the upper classes of Rome .
Octavian 's astute understanding of those around him makes him observant and lethally sharp in guessing the motives and intent of others .
Highly intelligent and well read , Octavian is a young man whose formidable mind marks him out even among the upper classes of Rome .