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The Swan of Solleu
SOCIETY PAPERS
Dearest Readers,
What a month it has been for Naboo's glittering houses. One cannot promenade through the markets of Theed without overhearing whispers of spilled wine, shattered loyalties, and invitations most curious in their intent. The galaxy beyond may bleed, but our nobility contrives to ensure Naboo herself never suffers from a lack of intrigue. And so, it falls to your Swan to untangle the threads of this ever-delightful tapestry.
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A Storm in the Solarium
Never has marble echoed with quite such delicious audacity as when Prince
Aurelian Veruna
announced both his candidacy for Sovereign and the apprehension of his own father. The court gasped in perfect unison, some in awe, some in dismay- though one suspects the latter were chiefly irritated at having been outmaneuvered in spectacle. One might admire his cunning, were it not so gleefully cruel; yet, for better or worse, he has ensured that, at least for the present, no name eclipses his in the salons or on the lips of Naboo's nobility.────────────────────────────────────────
A Voice Withdrawn, A Torch Passed
Lady Sibylla Abrantes surprised few when she stepped aside from her candidacy- but many when she threw her weight behind Prince
Aurelian Veruna
. Ever the pragmatist, Lady Sibylla prefers to whisper wisdom in the Prince's ear rather than wear the crown herself. One might almost admire it, if it weren't such a well-rehearsed tactic of those who prefer influence without scrutiny. Still, Naboo may yet find that her voice, even unadorned by the trappings of sovereignty, carries farther than most crowns.────────────────────────────────────────
Absent, but Remembered
Lady Bastila Sal-Soren, once our brightest rising star in the candidacy for Sovereign, has disappeared from the public eye following a rather dramatic incident. Details are, of course, closely held, leaving Naboo to speculate whether this absence is a calculated retreat or simply the consequence of stepping too boldly into danger. Our erstwhile heroine's next move remains a mystery, and the polite curiosity of Naboo watches- somewhat impatiently, some somewhat concerned- to see if she will reclaim the spotlight, or if the field has already written her final scene.
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The Battlemaster's Secrets
Lossa Aureus, Jedi Battlemaster and esteemed council member, moves through the world with the poise and authority one expects of both a noble and a high-ranking Jedi. Yet even the most disciplined composure cannot entirely shield one from society's curious gaze. Her fatherless daughter, young Zeriana, is not without intrigue: Rik Perris has been observed in her company on more than one occasion. The child, notoriously selective with her affections, appears to choose her companions with care- though one wonders whether her choices are guided entirely by innocence… or by a force older and subtler than any Council chamber can command. In Naboo, whispers travel faster than a Coruscanti courier, and even the most revered Jedi may find themselves under society's unrelenting scrutiny.
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The Ballet Returns
Lady Blaire Sal-Soren twirls back into Naboo society, three children in tow and her father's disgrace left conspicuously off the program. Once celebrated for her artistry, she now performs a subtler- and far more strategic- routine: polishing a family name while keeping inconvenient truths firmly out of view. Recent sightings with Jedi Knight
Aiden Porte
, most notably at the latest charity auction, have added an extra flourish to the spectacle. Admirable? Perhaps. Calculated? Undoubtedly. One cannot help but suspect that, behind the poised smiles, every gesture is choreographed for maximum effect.────────────────────────────────────────
The Principled Outsider
Dominic Praxon, the self-styled champion of Naboo's virtue, lingers at a modest thirteen percent in the polls, proving that steadfast morality rarely dazzles at cocktail hour. While Astrona and Sorelle joust with flamboyant flourish, Praxon preaches anti-corruption and adherence to principle- a noble pursuit, if one overlooks its limited appeal to those more swayed by spectacle than substance. He decries Assembly arrests and thinly veiled slights against Lady Bastila Sal-Soren, yet one cannot help but wonder if his principled indignation will elevate him… or merely serve as a polite footnote in Naboo's theater of ambition.
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Whispers Among the Hydrangeas
Within the sunlit terraces of the Calarian Estate,
Loria Sorelle
crossed paths with Dominic Praxon. Polite, practiced, yet somehow charged- glances that lingered, smiles that weighed more than words. To the casual eye, a chance meeting; to those attuned to Nabooan society, anything but. In a world of fortunes and feuds, even a quiet moment can speak volumes.────────────────────────────────────────
Of Blossoms and Beneficence
Ravion Corvalis's Calarian Estate's gardens never looked lovelier than they did beneath last week's lanterns, nor the lilies more fragrant. And yet, for all their beauty, they were quite outshone by the shimmer of Naboo's most generous purses. The Defence for the High Republic Fund could scarcely have wished for better patrons- though some were rather more eager to be seen giving than to give. Still, if smiles and polite applause were currency, then Naboo's defences are surely impregnable.
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Whispers from the Moonlit Hollow
An invitation has drifted like perfume through our salons, promising peace and wellness in a forest hollow on Chommel Minor. Jael Amnen and the Priestesses of Nocturnism claim they will soothe cares and unburden hearts. How convenient, when our nobility's greatest burden is too often the weight of their own egos. Still, one imagines the lure of furs, moonlight, and an air of mystery will prove irresistible to many. After all, nothing delights the Naboo spirit more than retreating into the woods to discover oneself- or at least, to discover who else has chosen to attend.
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And so, my dearest readers, we leave the salons, solariums, and moonlit groves for another week, our hearts both lightened and sharpened by the spectacle of our noble stage. Princes posture, alliances flicker, and whispers drift through the corridors of power like the sweetest perfume- enticing, dangerous, and ever so delicious. Keep your eyes open, for in Naboo, even the quietest gesture may conceal the grandest design.
Ever Yours,
