Private The Crown and the Silence

[Aurelian Veruna]

Location: Veruna Tower, Theed Royal Palace, Naboo
Tags: Sibylla Abrantes

The library of Veruna Tower was quiet, except for the steady roar of the waterfall beyond the window. The chamber smelled faintly of old parchment and polished wood, with candles burning low in sconces along the shelves. In the alcove by the window, where the light hit softer and the mist from the falls kissed the stone, Aurelian sat alone.

Weeks had passed since Kadaara, weeks that felt like years. During that time, he had been crowned King Veruna the Second. Golden laurels settled onto his head, the court chanted his name, and the galaxy turned its eyes to Naboo. He had won. The legacy he had clawed toward since boyhood was finally his.

And yet, beneath the weight of the crown, his thoughts kept drifting back to her.

Sibylla.

He leaned against the high-backed chair, his posture deceptively relaxed, but his hands betrayed him. One finger drummed against the armrest, another curled tight around the signet ring he had yet to grow accustomed to wearing. His gaze was fixed outward, over the silver cascade of water plunging down into the river basin below, but his mind was restless, whirling with doubts.

It had been awkward since that night on the beach. Too awkward. Every glance exchanged at the coronation had carried an unspoken heaviness. He remembered the way her eyes had slid away from his when the crown was placed upon his head, the polite applause, the silence that lingered between them in crowded halls where once there had been sparks of banter.

Was she angry?

He had felt the tension like a blade at his throat. She had left the race for the throne, withdrawing for him. He sensed it in her voice, her poise, the quiet way she had stepped aside. But was it truly for him, or for Naboo? Did she regret it now?

And then there was Cassian. The uncomfortable, circling conversation he'd had with her brother still weighed on him, a clash of wills that led nowhere.

Through it all, he hadn't even congratulated her. Sibylla Abrantes, Voice of the Houses, his second in command and partner in leading Naboo, had achieved something remarkable and powerful. Yet he had not said a word. The crown had consumed his days, but that was no excuse. Shiraya, what kind of king couldn't even acknowledge the woman who stood at his side?

Aurelian shifted in his seat, raking a hand through his dark hair, his lips pressing into a thin, thoughtful line. His reflection in the glass pane beside him was of a man, or at least the king he was expected to be, not the reckless youth of Kadaara. And yet, his chest tightened with the same uncertainty that had plagued him that night on the beach.

He had invited her here today, to this library, hoping to bridge the silence between them. He wanted to talk: about politics, the future, and them. He wanted to congratulate her, to thank her, to apologize if he must. Most of all, he needed to make sure that what had happened in Kadaara hadn't ruined what was perhaps the most important bond he had left.

The truth was, even with the crown, the armies, the councils, and the legacy of Veruna kings at his back, none of it meant anything if he had lost her.

The library doors creaked faintly, the sound carrying across the hush of the room. His heart gave a betraying jump, his dangerous smile flickering across his lips before fading into something far more fragile.

She was here.

And Shiraya help him, he didn't know what he was about to say.

​

 

[Sibylla Abrantes]

​

Sibylla stepped into the Veruna Tower library with composed steps that belied the anxiety twisting her stomach and the frantic flutter of her heartbeat at her throat. As the doors closed behind her, she paused for a brief moment, the jeweled veil at her brow giving a soft jingle, filigree gems brushing her cheeks.

It had been weeks since she'd been able to sit with Aurelian alone. Crown and court business had filled every moment between them, tangled with staff, Senators, Assemblymen, even the High Chancellor herself. Never more than a few passing glances, never a breath of privacy before another document or appointment claimed their attention.

So, when Corde, her assistant, informed her of an official invitation to meet with King Aurelian Veruna , Sibylla assumed she knew what it meant. Weeks of delay could only lead to a singular assumption: that this invitation confirmed Aurelian would only address her as Voice in an official, professional sense.

Just thinking of that again made Sibylla's blood run cold; her finger nervously playing with the heavy signet ring of the Voice of Naboo she wore, a new unconscious nervous tic she'd developed and needed to quell.

The night on Kadaara had been the most she had ever drunk, and she had paid for it dearly that night and after. She had looked a fool, a wreck of a girl who couldn't hold her composure, let alone answer with grace the truth Aurelian had laid bare.

It all came back in fragments, hazy but piercing. His fear. The raw vulnerability in his eyes. The way his expression turned to horror at the mention of his past with Thessaly and his father. Her revelation of her heartbreak with Lysander. And then her own desperate attempts to convince him otherwise, that he was not weak, not wasted, but worthy of a throne. That he was more than the scars of his past. That she trusted him, had her loyalty, saw in him the man who was so much more.

And then, the kiss. How it had left her reeling, emotions and wine and recklessness colliding all at once. Everything that followed only deepened the confusion.

Even now, weeks later, the fear gnawed at her. Despite all he had said, what if he meant to keep things professional after all? How else to explain his distance? His silence? Why else would he spend weeks avoiding her, if not for that?

Then again, those weeks had given her time. Time to question, to decide what she felt for Aurelian Veruna, and what it meant to stand beside him, not only as King, but for Naboo and the Republic. How the assassination attempt on Cassian came into play, and what that meant going forward.

Her gaze lifted, sweeping the shelves until it found him in the alcove by the window. Light poured over him like a painter's touch, catching the crown, the dark tousle of his hair, the regal cut of his ceremonial attire. He looked every inch the king, and yet all she saw was the man.

She drew a breath and moved forward, her pearl white gown whispering across the floor, its golden embroidery catching the glow. Then there she was, Lady Sibylla Abrantes, the seemingly perfect image of composure, the Voice of the Royal Houses incarnate, standing before him. A heartbeat passed before Sibylla gave an incline of her head with the perfect formality and respect as expected to be given for King Aurelian Veruna the Second.

Naboo's King. Her King.

"Your Majesty."

But when her eyes lifted to his, it was not ceremony that lingered there.

No, instead behind the polish, behind the calm mask of Naboo's Voice, Sibylla's kohl-lined hazel eyes searched Aurelian's face. Watching him. Observing him. As she had done so many times in the past when he felt her attention on him.

Searching. Reading. Measuring.

And in that gaze, Sibylla looked for something, anything -- reassurance, acknowledgment, perhaps even the answer to whether the silence between them had been distance, or something far more final.

 

[Aurelian Veruna]

Location: Veruna Tower, Theed Royal Palace, Naboo
Tags: Sibylla Abrantes

She moved like moonlight, her pearl-white gown, embroidered and trailing, swept across the stone floor. In the dim sconce light, it seemed to catch fire with every step. The faint chime of her jeweled veil drew his eyes for a moment before they lifted to her face. Hazel eyes, sharp and searching, held the weight of weeks unspoken. He thought he was ready to see her again, yet the sight still hit him harder than he cared to admit.

Shiraya, she was breathtaking. It wasn't merely the unmatched grace with which Sibylla wore her poise and finery. What truly took his breath was seeing her beneath the polish. He saw the woman who had cursed Thessaly as a "bǐtch" with reckless conviction, who had met his shadows without flinching, and who he had kissed on the sands of Kadaara.

When she dipped her head and said, "Your Majesty," he almost laughed. Almost.

Instead, Aurelian tilted his head, a dangerous, mischievous smile pulling at his lips. It was softer, more honest than the taunting grin he usually wore for the Senate or court. He let it linger, deliberately, until the corners of his mouth curled into a smirk that told her exactly what he thought of that layer of formality.

"Your Majesty?" he echoed, the words rolling off his tongue with mock surprise. "Sibylla, if you start bowing to me now, I may never forgive you."

The smirk broke into a genuine smile, warm enough to push back the stiffness that had hung between them since that night. He gestured toward the seat across from him, his eyes never leaving hers.

"Come. Sit."

His gaze followed her as she moved, memorizing how her gown brushed the floor, how her fingers fidgeted against the ring on her hand. When she finally sat, he let the silence stretch. He needed it. He needed to look at her, needed her to see that he remembered, that he hadn't ignored or cast aside what had happened.

Finally, he leaned back and said, his voice low but firm: "Professional first, then unprofessional."

Aurelian reached for the datapad on the table, flipping through its contents with deliberate care. He had written this list for her, knowing they had too much to catch up on, and wanting, perhaps needing, her to know he valued her as his Voice.

"Let's see…" His eyes scanned the notes, but his smirk lingered as he spoke. "A Senator from Dahrtag met with me about petitioning to join the Republic. I'll need to put it before the Chancellor soon. If it hadn't been for all the damn pageantry of coronation week, you would've heard it from me already."

He glanced up at her, his expression softening. "We should meet... professionally... weekly. No excuses."

A flick of his wrist brought the datapad to the next entry. "Speaking of the coronation, the Denonites. I noticed them circling you at the gala. Dominique seemed content enough with my ascension, but I want your read on her. And the other woman with her." He raised his hand, curling his fingers like claws. "Who was she? The one with, well." His smirk turned into a flash of teeth. "Claws."

He let the datapad rest in his lap, his eyes narrowing in amusement. Beneath that, a sharper current ran: the unspoken truth that he was paying attention. He had seen her, despite the chaos of coronation and his own doubts.

And as he looked across the table at her now, he wondered, would she see him?

​

 

[Sibylla Abrantes]

Aurelian Veruna
​

Sibylla held Aurelian's gaze longer than she meant to, hazel eyes tracing the lines of his handsome face, the sharpness of his jaw, and the amber heat in his eyes fixed so steadily on her that it made her heart skip. Then his smile curved out, half amusement, half mischief, as if her formality itself were some private joke only he could tell.

Oh blast it. She nearly huffed aloud, but instead her lips twitched in the faintest show of feigned disapproval.

Shiraya help her, how many times had she rolled her eyes at him in amused or mild exasperation before? The motion was so familiar it almost made her forget the knots in her stomach. The tension in her shoulders eased, and for a heartbeat she felt like herself again, as if they were alone together back in simpler moments.

So this was how it would be? Banter, play, the push and pull that had always lingered between them since this affair began and since they had started learning more of each other in ways court and assembly would never glimpse.

And his smile. That genuine, unguarded curve of his mouth softened his features and scattered all her darker imaginings, slowly calling into question the ‘what if’s’ that had plagued her since Kadaara.

Gathering her gown, Sibylla lowered into the chair opposite him, distracted by the fact that he had chosen the Veruna Tower library rather than his office. It wasn’t available for public use, but she heard of it from her mother, explaining about the exquisite collection there. The lore and myth lover in her stirred to ask questions but she held her tongue for now. The choice seemed deliberate, though why, she could not yet tell.

But then Aurelian’s eyes found hers again. Held her there in silence until warmth burned through her poise and color rushed to her cheeks, awareness of him rising as sharply as it had on Kadaara's shore. She shifted in her seat, trying to mask it, though she suspected he noticed.

His voice broke the quiet, quiet but firm: professional first, then unprofessional. The words should have steadied her, but they only made her throat tighten. Still, she listened.

And as he spoke, the fluster in her chest began to ease. He was not dictating, but including her. Informing her, seeking her counsel. Explaining that he would have told her sooner if not for the pageantry of coronation week.

So then… he had not been avoiding her? Or had he?

Her thoughts spun, caught between relief and doubt. But then came the solution he laid plain: weekly meetings, no excuses.

Right. That made sense. What she would have asked for regardless, to track events, provide counsel, to stand at his side in truth. And it confirmed what she needed to hear, that despite everything, he still valued her, still needed her as his Voice. The thought softened her, and her lips curved into a small smile. She inclined her head, the gems of her headdress brushing her cheek.

"I will arrange a weekly schedule with Tona," she murmured.

But then, of course, he had to bring up the coronation. Dominique. And Kira. And when his hand lifted in mock claws, opening and closing in mimicry, that was her final undoing.

Laughter broke from her before she could stop it, warm and melodic, echoing through the alcove and book shelve walls. Immediately, Sibylla clapped a hand over her mouth, shoulders trembling as the gems of her veil chimed with each laugh.

"Shiraya, Aurelian, really?" she managed between breaths, her eyes still sparkling with mirth.

A second passed before her gaze narrowed, recalling the gala.

"Although I am sure you were more concerned that you could not foist off anyone you wished to avoid extended conversation with onto me."

Her tone turned wry.

"I caught on to that little game quickly enough." Though back then, it had felt less like convenience and more like avoidance.

The tension of that night stirred anew, but she pushed it aside, straightening with a breath. Focus. Work.

"Alright, tell me more about Dahrtag," she said, her tone sharpening into duty.

"Where exactly is the world in relation to Republic space? What terms were put on the table, and what do you need from me to assist?"

Even as she pressed the questions, her hand rose to her brow, hiding a small, incredulous smile. Relief bled through it.

He was still trying. Still peeling back the mask of pretense and theater, reminding her of the man who had listened to her counsel for Manda’lore before teasing her on the shuttle at Roon, the man who had shown his scars and fears on Kadaara, who had held her hands and vowed she would not lose him.

The ache in her chest eased further, and warmth tinged her cheeks again. She cleared her throat steadying her voice.

"Then I'll give you my thoughts on Dominique, and tell you about… Kira and her claws."

The woman unsettled her still, leaving her torn between guilt and alarm. Sibylla's expression tightened, though a flicker of bemusement remained at the sheer absurdity of it: Kira sneaking into her chambers, the fight that followed, only for Dominique to later explain it as if it were ordinary business. Had it been anyone else, Sibylla would never have let it pass.

No, bizarre did not begin to cover it.

For now, though, one matter at a time.

Like the fact that Bastila Sal-Soren had now been confirmed as one of her handmaidens.

 

[Aurelian Veruna]

Location: Veruna Tower, Theed Royal Palace, Naboo
Tags: Sibylla Abrantes

He watched, holding his breath as Sibylla agreed to arrange weekly meetings with Tona. Her words were simple, but their implication eased a heavy feeling in his chest. She wasn't pulling away, she was staying connected.

Then, her laughter erupted. It was sudden, unguarded, and warm, echoing in the alcove like chimes. Aurelian froze, startled, before a dizzying wave of relief washed over him. He broke into a wide, genuine grin, the biggest he'd shown anyone since taking the crown. He'd made her laugh. For weeks, he'd replayed Kadaara in his mind, fearing he'd ruined everything between them, but the sound of her laughter suggested perhaps he hadn't.

He leaned back, his hand sliding over his jaw to mask his wide smile, though his eyes gave him away. When she teased him about passing off nobles during the gala, he responded with a slow, exaggerated, and utterly unrepentant wink.

"Caught on, did you?" His grin turned rakish, his voice smooth with humor. "Don't expect that to be the last time, Voice of the Houses. The day wasn't just about me. You also need to get to know the galaxy's most illustrious bores."

The playful tone lingered, but his mind was already shifting back to business. He straightened, fingers tapping on the datapad as his gaze met hers, his amber-flecked eyes suddenly sharp. "Dahrtag," he began, his voice resuming its measured, kingly cadence. "It's not far outside Republic space, a little further than Ukatis. Conveniently, their Senator wants the Ukatis treatment." A wry smile touched his lips, though his eyes remained serious. "But Dahrtag doesn't have Ukatis's potential, not by a long shot."

He scrolled through his notes, though his words flowed easily, as if rehearsed. "Still, I agreed to a deal that isn't glamorous, yet it's practical. They'll provide people dedicated to fighting for the Republic, just like Ukatis."

He leaned forward, his voice dropping conspiratorially. "Beyond that, I intend to put prisons in their system. The galaxy already treats Dahrtag like a burial ground, and they're used to it. This makes it official, gives their people work, purpose, and stability under the Republic, and keeps the Mid-Rim free of the nastiest criminals."

He sat back, watching her reaction carefully. "Boring, perhaps, and certainly not a tale for the halls of Otoh Gunga, yet it's necessary. When the time comes, I'll need you to meet with the Alliance to seal the deal. You and a few other Senators together should handle it quickly."

He slid the datapad back onto the table, a mischievous smile returning. He lifted his hand, curling his fingers into mock claws. "Now then," he continued, his eyes gleaming, the crown catching the candlelight as his grin broadened. "Enough about prisons and pageantry. Tell me everything about the Denonites. Dominique, and her clawed companion." He flexed his hand again for emphasis, smirking at her. "I've been dying to hear this one."

​

 

[Sibylla Abrantes]

Aurelian Veruna ​

Sibylla couldn't help but stare, her breath catching at the way Aurelian's face transformed with that grin. It was wide, unguarded, and the most genuine she had ever seen from him.

For an instant, he looked younger, almost boyish, the light in his amber eyes bright with joy and relief. The sight filled her chest with warmth, even as her cheeks flushed deeper when he topped it off with that rakish wink.

Shiraya help her, she had to look away before she melted under it.

"Unrepentant as always," she murmured, shaking her head, though her lips betrayed the faintest curve of amusement.

She forced herself to refocus, leaning forward as the conversation shifted.

"I've met more than my share of illustrious bores," she countered lightly. "But there were some worth the trouble. I made note of those who might serve our plans moving forward. I'll share the list with you later."

Nonetheless, her attention was drawn to Dahrtag. She listened carefully as Aurelian explained, mulling over the idea of the Necropolis and its role as a burial world. Practical, not glamorous. She frowned in thought, already making a mental note to ask Corde to dig into their history, resources, and any leverageable angles for swaying Senators.

"Prisons are not a bad option," she admitted slowly, her fingers brushing the edge of her gown as she considered the implications. "Though I wonder what else can be used to strengthen the case."

And then, of course, he lifted his hand again, curling his fingers into mock claws as he demanded like a mischievous child requesting a bedtime story.

Once again, her composure broke. Another muffled laugh nearly escaped, forcing Sibylla to close her eyes and draw a sharp breath to regain her bearing. She shook her head at him, biting her lip against a smile.

"You are doing that on purpose now, Aurelian," she accused as she tried to suppress her laughter.

But truth be told, it felt nice. Nice to laugh. Nice to breathe. Nice to just... be silly.

And when Sibylla opened her eyes again, she found Aurelian watching her, bathed in candlelight, his grin stretched wide with all the warmth and silliness of boyish mischief. It lit his face in a way that made him look younger, freer, as though every weight of the crown, his House, Thessaly, and court had been stripped away. Handsome, radiant, unguarded, he seemed to her at that moment utterly without any mask or pretense.

Relief swelled in her chest, loosening the rest of the knot she hadn't realized she had carried for weeks. For the first time since Kadaara, she saw not just the king, but the man she feared she had lost.

Her expression softened, admiration slipping through despite her best efforts. The words escaped before she could stop them with quiet, grateful sincerity.

"It's good to see you smile like that."

Heat rushed to her cheeks as soon as Sibylla heard herself, and she quickly lifted a hand in a small, conceding gesture, as if to concede to his request regarding the details of the Denonites. Easier to switch the topic and focus on that, Sibylla told herself while shifting back to business.

"Dominique had no issues with your coronation, though I suspect she might have preferred if I had remained in the race."

A faint smile tugged at her lips as she added, "I've been spending more time with her, learning from her. She even took me to one of the clubs on Denon under an alias. It was… fascinating."

Her eyes flicked up to his with a rare spark of mischief, as though sharing a secret. But that was a tale for another time. Sobering, she leaned back, bringing one hand up to lightly gesture in reassurance.

"Nonetheless, she seems amenable to assisting with our plans. So long as we acknowledge her contributions and Denon's resources, I believe she will continue to prove an asset."

However, her tone shifted again as her brow furrowed.

"Now, as for Kira…" She sighed, expression tightening into one of cautious contemplation. "She is the one with the claws. But the gala was not the first time I met her."

Her gaze held his, steady despite the unease in her stomach.

"She slipped past my guards and broke into my chambers one stormy night. My first thought was an assassination attempt, and I reacted as such. You'll be pleased to know the shield worked to a degree, but had she truly intended to kill me, I cannot say how well I would have fared." The admission irked her, and it showed in the thin press of her lips.

"It felt like a test... as if to see how I would defend myself at my most vulnerable, which is why, when I saw her at the gala, I feared the worst. More so when she asked to see you. I was seconds away from trying to alert the guards without causing a scene when Dominique appeared and revealed she knew her. Assured me Kira meant no harm while under her watch."

Sibylla drew in a slow breath, her voice cooling into formality again.

"Dominique was surprised as well regarding the fight and asked to speak privately afterward to explain. Which is why you saw me lead them both into the alcoves."

Her hand traced lightly along the signet ring on her finger as her thoughts lingered, a mixture of suspicion, unease, guilt, and reluctant curiosity. She looked back to him at last, her hazel eyes steady but searching.

"Strange, is it not," she murmured, "how the strangest complications seem to always find their way to us?"

 

[Aurelian Veruna]

Location: Veruna Tower, Theed Royal Palace, Naboo
Tags: Sibylla Abrantes

Aurelian leaned back, laughter spilling out as Sibylla accused him of doing it on purpose. Of course he was. The claws and the grin, it was all a ploy, and he had no shame in admitting it. Her laughter made his mischief worth every ounce of effort. He could watch her flushed cheeks and sparkling eyes all day and never tire of that smile. If it meant playing the fool with claws again, so be it.

When she told him it was good to see him smile like that, he opened his mouth, ready to fire back with a roguish tease about her noticing, about how he always smiled for her. But then, blast her, she cut him off, hand lifting in surrender, conceding the point before he even got the words out. He closed his mouth, a wry tilt to his head, a smirk tugging at his lips, amber eyes gleaming in amusement as if to say, "Fine, you win, for now."

As the conversation shifted, he nodded along, half-serious, half-playing the attentive king. Dominique had no trouble with his crown, though the idea he had originally imaged of her preferring Sibylla as queen made him raise an eyebrow. His lips curved, sharp and teasing, but he held his tongue this time. No need to open that particular box of riddles just yet.

Then she said it: an alias, a Denon club. Aurelian blinked, leaning forward with incredulous delight. "An alias?" he echoed, his grin widening, turning wolfish. "Sibylla Abrantes, Voice of the Houses, slinking into a Denon club under a false name? I'd give half my crown just to have watched that." The thought of her stepping into that wild world, all poise and pearls against the neon chaos, amused him to no end. He chuckled, shaking his head. "You? In a Denon club? I'll never get over that image."

He made a mental note, then a literal one, tapping it into his datapad with a flourish: he'd weave Dominique and Denon deeper into his court's tapestry. Dominique was clever, and powerful allies like her were worth their weight in kyber.

But the smile faded when Sibylla's tone shifted, when the claws stopped being a joke. As she spoke of Kira breaking into her chambers, his posture changed. Aurelian's grin faltered, his jaw tightened, and his eyes sharpened. While she spoke, he reached for the datapad again, his fingers typing quick, deliberate strokes. He didn't interrupt her, though his gaze flicked up every few moments, his amber eyes burning with restrained anger that someone had dared to test her safety, her personal space.

When she finished, he turned the datapad for her to see. A message was already sent to Tona. "Kingsguard will reinforce your chambers," he explained simply, his tone firm. "And I'll station a pair with your handmaidens, if you'll allow it." His voice softened as his gaze lingered on hers. "I'd rather you roll your eyes at me for being overprotective than..." He trailed off, the unspoken words heavy in the silence.

He leaned back, rubbing his jaw as he thought. "Strange, you're right," he murmured, eyes narrowing. "What does Kira want with me? How does Dominique play into it? Are they testing security, trying to prove we're vulnerable? Or is Dominique building some pretense to offer more?" He shook his head, displeased.

Finally, he exhaled, leaning forward, elbows resting on his knees, his voice low but firm. "I don't like it. I'll have Tona scout new chambers for you: somewhere more secure, away from prying eyes. Somewhere no one slips into unannounced like that."

For a moment, his gaze softened, lips curving faintly, a spark of that earlier mischief returning despite the gravity. "And if she tries again," he added, playfully curling his fingers and flashing claws at her, "you'll have to promise to let me watch you put her in her place. Sibylla, I'd pay good credits to see that fight." His smirk lingered, but the warmth beneath it was steady, undeniable. His deep affection and worry, underpinned by unwavering loyalty, made it clear: he'd do anything to keep her safe, even if he had to laugh to keep from baring his teeth.

​

 

[Sibylla Abrantes]

Aurelian Veruna ​

"You are insufferable," Sibylla said, quiet amusement threading through her incredulity at his reaction to her Denon outing. She shook her head at that maddening smirk, the mischief in his eyes tugging a smile to her lips even as her cheeks warmed despite herself.

Professional first. Then, unprofessional, he'd said.

And yet, it was clear enough that the way they spoke and laughed together now was anything but strictly professional.

The lines were blurring.

She saw it happen in real time: the way his smile faltered, his amber eyes darkening with barely restrained anger as his hands moved deftly, purposefully, across the datapad. Her breath caught, confusion washing over her heart-shaped face until he explained: Kingsguard for her chambers, additional escorts for her handmaidens, even new quarters.

"Aurelian… wait." She raised a hand, stopping him before he could lapse back into claws and jokes. She could see what he was doing, how his mischief and claws were meant not only to tease but to shield the depth of his worry. He was trying to protect her, to make her laugh, and it struck something deep inside her.

The desire to assure him rose suddenly, and for a moment, she hesitated, caught between duty and the tug of something more personal. Then, quietly, she extended her hand toward him, palm open, not to toy with him but to reach across that fragile space between them. It was a gesture of gratitude, yes, but also of trust and of a need to reassure him as much as he sought to reassure her.

To acknowledge that she saw what he was doing. And how despite the news, he was doing his best to show a restrained approach, even if it was to revert back to the claw jokes and watching her put Kira in her place in another fight.

"No, I should clarify. It wasn't my office chambers. It was my bedchamber at the Abrantes estate." Her lips curved faintly, both amused and touched by how quickly he had leapt to protect her.

"Before my appointment," as if that could explain it further.

"And I doubt Tona could requisition another room there. My father would likely not be amused… well, mainly because I didn't inform him of it yet…" her expression sombered, and she took a breath. " as another relevant situation occurred that I still need to discuss with you about."

Of course, she had her own living quarters at the palace now that her position required her to be available as the Voice of the Royal Houses. By all accounts, they were as secure as they could be.

But then again. She still hadn't told him about the assassination attempt against Cassian back on that night at Kadaara.

"And I am not sure what Kira wants with you, or how Dominique comes into play, but I do not believe Dominique intended harm. If anything, I think it was the opposite. Watching them together, I am beginning to suspect Kira acted on her own. She told me there had been several senators attacked and that she needed to know what I was willing to do to survive. I ended up stabbing her, so I did what I had to do. Or at least, tried my best."

None the less she drew a breath and nodded, acquiescing to his order for additional security.

"I'll accept the Kingsguard. Both at my office chambers at the palace and with the handmaidens. If you really believe that a change in my chambers is warranted, so be it.”

Then she added another revelation.

"Which brings me to one particular bit of news." A pause lingered, though she kept her gaze steady on him.

"I am not sure if it will ease your worries, but I am hopeful nonetheless. Bastila Sal-Soren has been found to be a suitable double for me, so much so that she has been assigned as one of my handmaidens."