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."

 

[Aurelian Veruna]

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

Aurelian's brows lifted at her correction, and a heavy silence settled between them. Too silent. Then came a short, clipped word, rougher than he intended. "Oh." His temper flared, a sharp, golden-amber burn in his eyes betraying his frustration before he could speak. He leaned forward, reaching across to take her hand. His grip was firm, a steady, grounding presence.

"Your bedchamber," he repeated, his voice low and edged, as if the word itself was bitter on his tongue. "At the Abrantes estate. After the Noghri attempt, after everything else, you mean to tell me someone slipped into your room in the middle of the night, and your father allowed his daughter's safety to be so carelessly guarded?" He clenched his jaw, wrestling with his frustration. He shook his head, his thumb brushing over her knuckles, a soft contrast to his harsh words. "You should have told him immediately. Or told me. Both. Regardless of what other news you were waiting on, Sibylla, you should have mentioned it." His voice softened then, less in tone and more in its underlying weight; a plea disguised as a command. "If he cannot keep you safe in your own home, then I will insist you stay where I can oversee the measures myself. Where I can personally manage the locks and shadows that protect you."

Usually, he would have teased, unable to resist the urge to suggest she simply stay with him, if only to see the blush it would summon on her cheeks. But there was nothing humorous in this. No playful jabs, no smirk. Not when her safety was constantly under threat from blades and shadows. Jesting about attempts on her life felt unthinkable now.

He huffed a sharp, impatient breath. He pulled back slightly, his hand lingering over hers a moment longer before letting go. Sitting back, he raked a hand over his jaw, considering the Denonite knot she'd unraveled before him. Dominique and Kira. His thoughts sharpened, and his expression tightened.

"I don't trust it," he said finally, his voice clipped and deliberate. "Lady von Ascania's husband. Did you see the look he wore during the coronation? I did. It was odd, telling. I looked into him. He's Denonite, just like her. Dominique is playing a deeper game than she lets on, and I'll uncover it myself. I'll find both of them and get to the bottom of whatever scheme they're concocting."

His amber eyes lifted back to hers, insistent and sharp. "In the meantime, you will accept a few of my Kingsguard. Even in Dee'ja Peak, especially there. And you will tell me the next time your life is threatened in any way. No more silence, no more waiting weeks later. If not immediately, then at our weekly meetings." He leaned back, exhaling heavily, his hands curling against the arms of his chair as if struggling to hold back a stronger outburst.

He closed his eyes briefly, inhaling, steadying himself. When they opened again, the fire was still there, but reined in, held tightly by willpower. He wouldn't let his anger scorch her. But then she steered the conversation to Bastila Sal-Soren. Aurelian tilted his head, considering, the tension in his shoulders easing just a fraction. An interesting appointment.

"I have no issue," he said after a pause, watching her closely. "If you're comfortable with it, then so am I. Perhaps Bastila will learn a thing or two if this is truly the path she wants." A faint curve touched his lips, though it never quite became the rakish grin she knew so well. "But be careful. Those Sal-Sorens can be... volatile. Useful, yes. Sometimes loyal. But always volatile." His gaze softened just slightly, some of the storm abating. "Is that the other situation you meant to discuss with me?" he asked, his voice gentler now, less sharp, yet still firm.

​

 

[Sibylla Abrantes]

Aurelian Veruna ​

Sibylla held his gaze, watching how his eyes seemed to burn hotter with every word and how his jaw flexed as though he could grind his frustration into silence.

Yes. He was even more furious once the clarification was made. Yet the slow caress of his thumb across her knuckles gave her a strange sense of reassurance she hadn't known she needed. For those few moments, she felt safe. Held.

But then his hand slipped away, replaced by the coolness of absence as he raked over his jaw in frustration.

Sibylla took a quiet breath, telling herself not to get upset at his reaction. Yet she couldn't hide the frustrated expression that shone in her face at the sudden pressure of being even more restricted in her movements. Of having even more of her life under scrutiny.

This was why she commented that she still had to look after herself in her most intimate moments during shield testing. And while that had been taken as an innuendo, Sibylla had meant that in seriousness.

She bit her lower lip, but even then her own eyes flashed brightly as she spoke.

"Aurelian, I already have quarters here at the palace. If you want to oversee security there, that's fine. My office as well. But please…" She lifted a hand, the gesture of underlying frustration.

"I need some sanctuary of my own. I am already watched every hour of the day. If guards or cameras are placed in my bedchamber as well, it will feel less like protection and more like a cage I can't escape."

The words tumbled out before she could temper them. It was the first time she had ever really said aloud how suffocating it all felt. She didn't fight him on the necessity of it; how could she? She should have told someone sooner. She hadn't even told Cassian. That recklessness stung now, sitting in the shadow of his disappointment.

"I'll do what needs to be done… but don't expect me not to be vocal to you about it." Still, she couldn't let him believe her father had been negligent.

"And my father has increased my security tenfold after the attempt. This wasn't a lapse. Who could have imagined someone would climb cliffs in a storm, past the towers, and onto my balcony?" She hesitated, eyes flicking down as the truth unsettled her.

"It must have taken days to scope out the security. A week, maybe...so how long was she watching?" Her voice dropped an octave as the thought alone made her realize just how methodical it was.

Hazel's eyes returned to him, and despite the unease twisting inside, she tried to talk some reason into the matter.

"Again, I don't believe Dominique meant me harm. If anything, she has shown that she cares about my safety. I believe Kira acted on her own. She told me other Senators had been attacked and that she needed to know if I could survive one." Her voice softened, almost confused, her hand coming up to rub her brow, the filigree gems chiming delicately at the touch.

"It felt less like fighting an assassin and more like… being tested by a child who didn't understand the game she was playing."

She let the silence rest a few seconds then, fully intending to continue the conversation regarding Bastila and Cassian after the matter with Denon was settled.

If Aurelian reacted to Kira slipping into her bedchambers like this, she was certain that revealing Cassian had been almost killed and that perhaps Thessaly was one of the potential suspects… it was bound to create another wave of concern and additional security measures then.

 

[Aurelian Veruna]

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

Aurelian shifted, the storm inside him scraping against his composure. His fingers drummed on the carved armrest, restless, betraying his frustration. He hated how easily her words reminded him of his limits, how no amount of Kingsguard or datapads filled with orders could let him watch every shadow near her.

She sought sanctuary, independence. Of course she would. She was Sibylla Abrantes, not some fragile relic to be kept hidden. Still, his chest tightened at the thought of her bedchamber breached while she slept unaware.

He inhaled sharply, willing the thought away before it could dig deeper.

She was her own woman. She would never allow him to guard her constantly, and a part of him respected that, even as another part rebelled. He needed to find a different solution, one that gave her peace and him assurance. A potential answer waited in his mind, but it wasn't for this moment. Not yet.

Slowly, he leaned forward, stretching across the table until his hand found hers again. The contact was deliberate, almost ceremonial this time, as though grounding himself against her pulse would steady his own.

His voice was quieter now, its sharp edges softened but still present. "I was brash," he admitted, thumb gently brushing her knuckles. The warmth of her skin made it harder to stay angry, easier to confess the truth that tightened in his chest. "I can't stomach the thought of losing you, whether to a knife in the dark or a new kind of war."

He paused, amber eyes flicking briefly to the window where the waterfall foamed far below, as if its thunder might drown out his unease. His grip on her hand softened. "The Senate attack has me on edge," he began. "Everything does. But when it comes to you, Sibylla, that edge feels sharper."

His thumb stilled against her hand, and he exhaled slowly, as if conceding to the current rather than fighting it. "Just promise me you'll keep your shield generator near. Always. If I can't be there, at least let that be in my stead."

He sat back then, though not far enough to break their touch. His free hand ran over his jaw as he thought aloud, the hard lines of his expression easing into something more measured. "We'll speak to Dominique. It's overdue. She and I need to establish where Naboo stands now that we both hold power. If there's strength to be gained from that bond, we will uncover it. And simultaneously, we'll discover who this Kira really is and what she's playing at."

Finally, he released her hand, leaning back fully, shoulders loosening as he forced himself into a calmer breath. His gaze lingered on her, gentler now, a small nod punctuating the stillness between them. It wasn't full surrender, yet it was the closest Aurelian Veruna would ever come to laying down his weapons in her presence.

The nod conveyed more than words: an acknowledgment he had reined himself in, his trust in her to continue, and a promise that whatever came next, professional or not, he would listen.

"Go on," he said quietly, the faintest curl of a smile tugging at his mouth, his eyes steady on hers. "I'm listening."

​

 

[Sibylla Abrantes]

Aurelian Veruna ​

Sibylla watched him closely, every shift in Aurelian's posture laid bare to her. The flare in his eyes, the clench of his jaw, the sharp inhales he forced into steadier exhales. He was wrestling the storm inside, trying to keep it from breaking over her. For all his edges, for all the weight behind his words, he was listening. Trying. Meeting her where she stood rather than letting anger drag him where it wanted.

The effort only deepened what she had once told him on Kadaara: that he was more than worthy to be king. If only he could see himself as she did now.

Her lips curved in a wry faint arc.

"I know. And I will; I did have the shield then.” She clarified, though granted she hadn’t been wearing it, it had been by her nightstand.

“ And were I in your position, I would demand the very same assurances for your safety." Her hazel eyes softened, and the faintest arch of a smile curved her lips.

"Though if ever I display such fervor, you must promise to tell me if I grow just as intolerably bossy."

The words lightened the air for a heartbeat, though her tone still bore the gravity of addressing her king, even here in the privacy of the library. Her fingers tightened around his, gratitude mingling with the quiet need to ground herself in him.

At least now the matter with Dominique and Kira was settled with a plan. Her curiosity lingered in why he was so concerned of the look Lady Von Ascanias’s husband gave but she’d ask that later. For now, her expression turned serious as she knew it was time.

Sibylla watched him draw back, letting go of her hand once more to settle himself in his chair with a calmer breath. Yet in light of his reaction to hearing of the break-in at her bedchamber, she knew she couldn't keep avoiding the issue. She had to tell him about the attempt on Cassian's life.

At his quiet prompt, she let the silence hang for a heartbeat before drawing in a sigh. She knew what she was about to reveal would only aggravate him further.

"This will upset you," she admitted softly. "I realize I should have reported it the moment I learned, told you about it sooner." She took a breath, her mind racing at how to convey it properly. As a politician, she certainly felt as though she were rambling and making excuses instead of explaining. Perhaps that clue conveyed that Siyblla wasn't trying to hide details of the matter, but describe it as honestly as she could.

"You have my word that I will inform you immediately should another similar situation arise... though I only just learned about it the day before you summoned Cassian to meet with you."

Her gaze fell as she rubbed her forehead again, the headdress giving a slight jingle, before she drew her hand away, her hazel eyes rising to meet and face his eyes, knowing, as well as wanting to see his reaction.

"You know as well as I do how each House manages its own affairs. Father has been insistent on steering certain matters himself since the Noghri attack, and while he doesn't confide in me regarding his plans, he still uses Cassian to execute them. I had to pry it out of Cassian even to learn the truth."

She shook her head, a faint exhale slipping out.

"Forgive me, I'm rambling. The root of it is this: Cassian was attacked that night on the beach at Kadaara. Not by common thugs. They were too skilled, too precise. Three of them, to be exact. If not for the sheer grace of Shiraya, he would have died. Someone certainly meant for him to."

A pause, and then she added, knowing how the mere mention of Thessaly's name might spark an even bigger reaction, for this had been what he had warned her before.

"He is not yet certain who lies behind it. Rival Houses are, of course, a possibility… or whatever tiresome inquiry Father has Cassian pursuing with the Republic Intelligence Service. But given your warning regarding Thessaly, it would be very foolish indeed to strike that from consideration."

 

[Aurelian Veruna]

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

Aurelian rolled his eyes at Sibylla's comment about him being bossy, but the gesture lacked its usual heat. A reluctant smile tugged at the corner of his mouth, warm enough to show he understood. He needed her to know that his insistence wasn't about control, but about keeping her safe. He hoped she understood that, truly prayed she did.

When her voice shifted to that careful, warning tone, his stomach tightened. His hand slipped from hers, not out of dismissal, but because he needed both to brace himself, fingers curling into the armrests of his chair. Then, she spoke of Cassian.

The moment Thessaly's name was linked to an attack, Aurelian was on his feet. The chair scraped against the stone floor as he moved, too wound up to remain seated. His jaw clenched, shoulders taut, and he began to pace, boots hitting the rug in a rhythm meant to mask the storm within. He nodded along with her explanation, but his gaze sharpened, amber eyes flashing whenever she mentioned three skilled attackers, meant to kill.

He wasn't truly angry about the attack itself. Houses handled their own affairs; that was the way of Naboo, and Sibylla was right to remind him. He wasn't even upset about the late notice. No, what unsettled him, what churned in his chest like acid, was the name she dropped like a blade between them: Thessaly. His own sister.

If Thessaly had orchestrated Cassian's near-death, then the game was far darker than Aurelian had anticipated. If she was bold enough to move against Abrantes through Cassian, what stopped her from striking directly at Sibylla? What stopped her from twisting the knife where it would hurt him most?

He stopped pacing, turning back to her. Hands on his hips, he filled the alcove, restless energy radiating from him. His mouth opened, then closed. For a long moment, he just stared, words crowding his tongue but refusing to break free. What could he say? That he'd already warned her? That this confirmed every suspicion he'd harbored? She already knew. Her family had turned this over a hundred times, just as he had.

Instead, he exhaled sharply and rubbed his forehead, as if trying to scrape away the clinging frustration. His voice, when it finally came, was lower, roughened by restraint. "I met with your brother," he said, each word measured. "After the coronation. I thought perhaps I could compromise, offer him something closer to the palace, closer to you. A position with purpose and proximity." He huffed, pacing a short line before stopping to look back. His jaw flexed again. "But he couldn't even give me the decency of a simple explanation for his actions since his demotion. Evasive, stubborn, and gods-damned infuriating. As though I owed him something for enduring his own arrogance."

Aurelian shook his head, an incredulous, humorless laugh breaking free. He sank back against the edge of the table, arms crossed tightly. "I don't know if I'll ever be able to work with him, Sibylla. I tried. Shiraya knows I tried. But he holds himself so high, so untouchable. He doesn't see me as his king. He sees me as nothing but a rival he'll never name aloud."

His gaze dropped, lingering on the hand she had offered him earlier, the same hand he'd clung to when his temper threatened to run wild. He drew a breath, forcing his shoulders to relax, though the tension never truly left. "Maybe he doesn't care if I trust him," Aurelian admitted quietly, almost to himself. "But I care whether I can trust the man standing beside you. And right now, I can't."

​

 

[Sibylla Abrantes]

Aurelian Veruna ​

Sibylla rose half from her chair when Aurelian shot to his feet, the scrape of wood against stone too sharp in the hush of the library.

Her heart leapt, but she held herself back. She had seen this before: her grandfather's rigid pacing, her father's clipped commands when fury pressed him thin, Cassian's silence when rage threatened to break. Sometimes a man needed space to pace and flare before he could bring himself back under control.

Her hazel eyes followed him instead, noting every shift in his frame. The flare in his gaze, the hard clench of his jaw, the deliberate strike of his boots against the rug as he tried to trap the storm in his chest. Not a man undone, but a man fighting to master himself.

Sibylla folded her hands in her lap, willing herself to patience, fighting her instinct to rise and stand beside him. So she listened quietly, attentively, as he spoke of Cassian: of the attempt to reach out, of the wall her brother had thrown back at him. Each word carried the weight of restraint, and it tugged at her, not only for her brother, but for the man before her who tried so hard not to let his anger cut her as it cut him.

When his voice dipped and the tension eased, Sibylla rose to her feet. Slowly, deliberately, in that quiet, delicate chime each step her headdress made, she walked around the desk to stand before him.

"Aurelian," she said softly, the syllables carrying both plea and certainty. "I know my brother can be frustrating. And stubborn. Every inch the Abrantes my father raised him to be. But he is not your enemy."

Her lips pressed faintly together before she pressed on.

"I am grateful you tried to reach him," she said, her tone composed but edged with weary candor. "But you must see it: for years, you and Cassian have been locked in the same tiresome dance. You bait him, he rises, and so it begins again."

A breath, a faint sigh.

"You are more alike than either of you care to admit." She brought her hand up, knowing he likely was going to object, "And while you may believe that he sees you as a rival, please take me at my word that he does not. What he sees instead is a man who has provoked him for years, and he steels himself so as not to gratify you with a reaction. Then, of course, the whole performance repeats."

Her gaze softened, though her words remained firm.

"You can speak reasonably with him. I have told him the same. This constant sparring between the two men I trust most serves no one."

She lifted her chin, meeting his eyes with quiet conviction.

"And do you truly imagine it easy for him to reveal Father's charge? He would lay down his life for me, Aurelian. Of that I have no doubt. Nonetheless, I realize neither of you sees eye to eye, nor has reason to trust the other."

The urge to cup his face stirred within her, and she curled her fingers inward to master herself. Professional. She must remain professional.

Instead, her hands rose to brush an invisible speck of lint from his shoulder, her warm fingers giving brief strokes across the fabric of his royal attire in a gesture that passed for propriety, though it was meant as comfort for both herself and him.

"Trust is not built on one conversation," she continued, her lashes lowering as she kept her hands busy, hiding the intimacy she dared not show.

"It is built over days, weeks, months, years, even..." She drew another breath, the jingle of her headdress soft against her cheeks.

"But it can be done." Her lashes lifted, hazel eyes steady on his, her hands continuing their ministrations over his chest, her fingertips barely grazing over the heat radiating there. "You and I are proof of that…"

Another pause before she added, thinking about what it took for them to be able to trust each other as they did now. From his theatrics and reputation as the Prince of Parrlay and her own image of the perfect Daughter of House Abrantes.

The months of learning about each other and seeing past the pretense and what truly lies within. It hadn't been easy. Certainly not. Many had called into question her choices and her decision to stand by him, but she didn't regret it. Not one bit.

"...and I would not change a single course of the path it took for us to get here to build it."

 

[Aurelian Veruna]

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

Aurelian watched her cross towards him, her steps quiet, the faint chime from her headdress the only sound. He should have been angry that she was defending Cassian, that she was calmly insisting he wasn't his enemy, that she was dismantling his rage. But instead, he found himself captivated. Her hazel eyes held his, unwavering, as if she could see past all his defenses. She could walk into his fury and quiet it, not with demands, but with patience and trust. He wanted to argue, to tell her she was wrong about Cassian, that trust between them was impossible. But the words wouldn't come. Because, annoyingly, she was probably right. Again.

The real problem was he didn't know if he could let go of his hatred for Cassian, or if he even wanted to. His animosity was deep, forged over years of conflict and pride. He had only tried to mend fences because of the woman standing before him. He had tried for Sibylla, and for her, he might try again.

His amber eyes softened as he watched her fuss over his clothing, brushing away invisible lint. A dangerous smile flickered on his lips, but he suppressed it, channeling the feeling into something quieter, more steady. She was right. They were proof that trust could conquer years of rivalry and suspicion, that two people could move beyond performance and into truth. He couldn't imagine it any other way, and he wouldn't.

His hand rose instinctively, his fingers grazing hers as he sought to anchor himself in her warmth. But then, as if realizing how much that revealed, he pulled back, his hand falling to his side. "I'd rather not speak of Cassian anymore," he said, his voice low, not with anger but with deliberate restraint. "It only stirs me. And I'd rather not focus on him today."

He leaned back, bracing himself on the table, his shoulders tense under his coat. The faint light from the window fell across his face, highlighting his jawline and the restless look in his eyes. He paused, choosing his words carefully, as if they cost him more than his usual temper.

"There's something else," he admitted, his gaze returning to her. The intensity in his expression had shifted from fiery anger to a raw vulnerability he rarely showed. "Something that's been troubling me since the coronation."

He studied her face, as if searching for an answer. "That day... I noticed something. A sadness in your eyes. I can't forget it. And I've been wondering..." He broke off, running a hand along his jaw, frustrated by the tightness in his chest. Then, more quietly, he asked, "Do you regret it? Stepping aside? Do you regret not being Queen?" His eyes narrowed, not with suspicion, but with a boyish fear of her response. "Do you still believe in the plan? In me?"

His voice, usually so sharp and confident, softened with a hesitant edge. He stood straighter now, no longer agitated, but laid bare before her. He wasn't a king demanding answers, but Aurelian, asking Sibylla. He wondered if she would say she had been wrong, that he had stolen something from her. Or if she would reassure him, as she had before, that she had placed her trust in him willingly. He realized, with a jolt, that he was holding his breath, waiting for her reply as if his world depended on it.

​

 

[Sibylla Abrantes]

Aurelian Veruna ​

Sibylla felt the barest brush of Aurelian's fingers before he withdrew. For a moment, she thought the gesture tied to his words, that his retreat meant Cassian was a subject too raw to press further.

"Alright," she murmured softly, nodding as though in understanding, the filigree gems of her headdress catching the light and scattering tiny glimmers across her cheek as she curled her fingers back and her hands fell to her sides.

She took a small step back, giving him space, only to freeze when the sound of his quiet voice cut through the silence. Her head turned to meet his, hazel eyes catching his amber gaze.

Sadness. He spoke of sadness at the coronation. At first her brows furrowed, puzzled. Then, as his words unraveled, the truth of it struck her. He wasn't just asking if she had regretted stepping aside. He was asking if she still believed in him.

She felt her chest tighten at the implications. At the vulnerability he was exposing to her again. It reminded her of that night on Kadaara, and her heart twisted at how he looked at her.

"Oh, Aurelian… no, I do not regret it." Her head shook firmly, long dark waves shifting beneath the jeweled veil, the delicate chime of gems brushing her cheeks. She closed the space between them in two quick steps, her gaze lifted to his.

"Not stepping aside. Not the crown. Not one part of it." Sibylla felt her throat catch but she pressed on, tipping her chin higher to meet him with every ounce of conviction she possessed.

"I meant every word I spoke on Kadaara. I believe in you. I believe in our plan."

This time, she did not hesitate. Her hand lifted, fingers brushing against his chest before giving a gentle tap, punctuating her words.

"There is no doubt in my mind that you will be a great King. Not because you are flawless, but because you listen, you've grown in the ability to show restraint, and because you adapt." Her lips gave a mild twist as she added wrly, "And yes, some parts will need refining as you do have a maddening ability to incite others at your pleasure."

However, she continued her tone, melting into one that did not belie the conviction in her words, "But no one is perfect, and you are trying your best. I see it when you admit your mistakes. When you find solutions. Compromise and seek counsel where possible, but still demonstrate a show of strength and decisiveness when needed, without overlooking the true costs."

For the briefest moment, her mind pulled back to that day, the weight of the crown in her hands, the thoughts that raced through her mind as she placed it upon his brow. Her breath left her in a soft exhale as she took a step back, feeling restless now as it all came back to her. Her own doubts, concerns, and uncertainty about where she truly landed on things.

Now it was her turn to pace, restless energy stirring through her limbs.

"So, no, it was not sadness you saw. I was reflecting on the path and choices that brought me… brought us there," Sibylla clarified as she began to pace, taking a slow breath before adding, softer but no less certain.

"However, by now I suspect you deserve the whole truth of it."

 

[Aurelian Veruna]

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

Aurelian's chest lightened with each word Sibylla spoke. The doubts that had plagued him since his coronation began to fade as her conviction washed over him. He'd spent so much time second-guessing himself, replaying the uncertainty in her eyes that day until it haunted his quiet hours. Now, as she spoke with that fierce certainty only she possessed, the heavy burden lifted.

He watched her pace, her restless energy a tangible thing, the chime of her headdress marking time. He understood that restlessness; it was his own constant companion. But he couldn't let her drift too far. Pushing away from the desk, he closed the distance between them, his hand reaching out to catch her wrist as she passed. His grip was gentle yet firm, a silent plea to stay grounded, to stay with him.

"Sibylla," he murmured, his voice softer now, the sharp edges of his worry smoothed away. "You've just told me exactly what I needed to hear, though I didn't realize how much until this very moment."

He turned her to face him, her dark hair shifting, the faint glint of gems catching the light. His free hand rose, hesitating for a breath as if unsure of the line he was about to cross, then settled lightly on her upper arm, a steadying, anchoring touch.

"Do you have any idea what that does to me?" he asked, the words spilling out, tinged with disbelief. "That you always, always, see more. Even when I falter, when I'm reckless, when I drive myself mad trying to control every shadow… you see past it all. You see me."

His thumb traced an almost unconscious arc along her sleeve, his gaze locked on hers. "You give me the courage to do this. To be this. Not the prince they mocked, or the boy chasing a legacy, but the king who will forge his own path. And that," his mouth curved into a faint, dangerous smile, softened by sincerity, "is only because you've stood by my side."

He took a slow, steadying breath, as if the act alone helped him maintain his composure. "Thank you. For believing in me, even when I haven't made it easy. Especially then."

He let the silence stretch for a moment, the distant roar of the waterfall the only sound filling the alcove. Then he tilted his head, his expression growing serious, though the warmth in his eyes remained.

"You said I deserved the whole truth." His grip loosened, his touch sliding from her wrist to her hand, his fingers brushing hers with deliberate intimacy. "I can handle it, Sibylla. Whatever it is. But only if you want to share it with me."

His tone held no demand, a rare thing for Aurelian. It was an invitation. A gesture of trust.

​

 

[Sibylla Abrantes]

Aurelian Veruna ​

It started with the way the warmth of Aurelian's hand along her wrist tethered her to that moment. Each word he spoke, each unguarded truth he gave her, made her heart ache and warmth bloom in a way mere compliments or assertions regarding how she was the future and best of House Abrantes or the hope of Naboo ever could.

As he spoke, as he settled his hand along her upper arm, Sibylla's thoughts drifted back through every step, every choice, every glance and conversation that had carved the path leading them here. Hearing him admit that her presence, her counsel, her belief in him gave him the strength to be the king who would forge his own path only confirmed what she had realized long ago in the candidate suite on Foundation Day.

Of course, her decision had not been entirely selfless. Doubts had seeded the course in herself, yes, but so had months of observing Aurelian, testing the true measure of his mind. Had he answered differently to her questions then, about saving her life, about the truth of it all, perhaps duty would have demanded she stand as his rival, not his ally.

But he had not. And instead, here they were.

Sibylla felt the slow slide of Aurelian's fingers until they grazed hers, not quite holding, but lingering -- an invitation. Aurelian had always used close proximity that bordered beyond propriety in a wayward touch or the low, knowing murmur of a word too near to disarm his opponents. But this felt different. There was no game here, no test. This was something more intimate, almost tender.

She took a breath and then gave a quiet hum, licking the fullness of her lower lip before continuing.

"I told you before, on Foundation Day, that you are not a monster, Aurelian," she reminded softly, her voice recalling the day she had met him to talk privately, to discern the truth of it all, and how he had said he would cast himself to be a monster, be the villain Naboo needed to keep the wolves at the gate at bay.

"You are more than the visage of your mind. More than your blood, your House, your kin. What matters are the choices you make now, and the ones you will make after."

She decided, then. Her fingers curled gently into his, and she lifted their joined hands between them so he could see.

"I always knew the man I was choosing to stand beside was hardened by the court's blades, and that the hand holding mine now had also drawn blood. No one is so pure, Aurelian, not even I. What I saw instead was a man flawed and human, yet honorable, brilliant in his own right, and with the potential to be so much more.... I hoped you would become it. And I have been grateful ever since, deeply and painfully grateful, that you allowed me to stand beside you. What mattered then, and what matters still, is the truth of it all. To be honest with me."

She looked down briefly at their joined hands, then back to him, giving a nod in agreement as she accepted the invitation to disclose what truly lingered in her mind.

"The same honesty and truth I'll share with you that constantly turns in my mind."

A small smile tugged at her lips, her nerves betraying her in the way humor always did when emotion threatened to overwhelm her. Tilting her head in a slight chime of her headdress, she added with a wry twist, "But before we continue, tell me, I know we are in the Veruna Tower library, but is there at least something to drink here?"

Sibylla felt the need for something to wet her parched throat -- at least since she was going to reveal her most vulnerable doubts and self-conscious thoughts aloud in a way she had never done before.

 

[Aurelian Veruna]

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

Sibylla's words settled over Aurelian, a quiet balm that smoothed out anxieties he hadn't even recognized were weighing him down. Her voice was steady, honest, and it cut through all the roles he played; king, prince, even the fearsome figure he'd once threatened to become. It was just him she spoke to, no titles or masks involved.

This directness struck a chord deep within him. She saw him not as some unblemished hero, but as a real person, someone flawed and wounded yet capable of growth. It was a sentiment that resonated more profoundly than any victory or coronation. He had spent so long crafting an image, honing himself into a tool for Naboo, and here she was, reaching for his hand, admitting she chose him precisely because of his imperfections, not in spite of them. She believed he could become something more, and more than that, she believed he already was.

Her fingers intertwined with his, and Aurelian had to exert considerable control to keep his composure. The impulse to pull her closer, to communicate without words, was overwhelming. It was a constant battle with his own instincts whenever she was near, a desire to bridge the distance between them through touch. Yet, he held himself back, his jaw tightening almost imperceptibly, choosing restraint over the immediate urge to act.

Despite his outward calm, he sensed her own nervousness. He noticed the subtle shift in her tone, the flicker of uncertainty behind her playful request for a drink. A small, genuine smile touched Aurelian's lips, a blend of amusement and relief.

"Yes," he murmured, his smile widening slightly, as if her request had perfectly aligned with his own plans. "There is."

Without letting her ask more, he gently guided her hand, leading her away from the main gathering. Their path led them not back into the bustling halls, but through a discreet door hidden behind the library shelves. The air grew cooler, the hushed quiet of stone corridors enveloping them as they began to climb a spiraling staircase. Aurelian remained close, his presence a reassuring anchor as the ascent narrowed, eventually leading to an ornate wooden door at the very top of the tower.

Pausing at the threshold, he turned to face her, his expression a mixture of seriousness and playful challenge. "When you stood up and declared, without a second thought, that you would run for Voice of the Houses," he began, his amber eyes catching the light with the memory, "I knew you would be selected. I had absolute certainty. That's why I arranged for this… a sort of congratulatory gift, housed in this tower that carries my name."

He rested his hand on the door, though his gaze remained fixed on hers. "Consider it your personal sanctuary," he explained. "A place where you can seek refuge from… the Assembly, from the Houses." A hint of that familiar, dangerous smile played on his lips, softened now. "Even from me, if you feel the need."

With that, he pushed the door open.

The room beyond was intimate, smaller than the grand spaces below, yet clearly designed with meticulous care. Bookshelves lined the walls, filled with ancient tomes -- histories, legends, and the rich cultural lore of Naboo, painstakingly gathered and relocated by his staff. Large windows overlooked the spectacular cascade of the great waterfall, its shimmering light bathing the chamber. In the center of the room stood a grand piano, its dark wood and ivory keys gleaming, a bench invitingly placed before it. Resting next to the piano was the sculpture from the charity auction -- the intertwined figures of Set and Vere, the very piece he had gone to great lengths, and expense, to acquire, always with this moment in mind.

Aurelian allowed her a moment to absorb it all, his hand releasing hers so she could move freely. He stepped back, leaning against the doorframe, observing her. The way the light glinted in her hazel eyes, the softening of her expression as she took in the details of the room, it made the restraint he'd been holding onto feel incredibly fragile.

He didn't interrupt her exploration. Instead, he moved to a corner where a small cart held a decanter and glasses. He poured rich, amber whiskey into two crystal tumblers, the clinking of glass a soft counterpoint to the room's quiet, before bringing them to her.

When he reached her side, he extended one of the glasses, his voice dropping to a near whisper, intimate in the serene atmosphere. "To your sanctuary," he proposed, watching her intently, "and to the woman who inspires me to be a better king... a better man."

​

 

[Sibylla Abrantes]

Aurelian Veruna ​

Sibylla followed Aurelian in silence at first, her skirts brushing against the stone walls as Aurelian led her down the dimly lit passage. It was all so clandestine that her hazel eyes narrowed in both curiosity and suspicion.

"You are not about to lock me away in some tower, are you?" she quipped lightly, her tone light but edged with wry amusement, the faint chime of her headdress accenting the tilt of her brow.

Whatever further retort she might have prepared caught in her throat when he paused at the landing, one hand resting on the ornate door. His expression was unreadable until he turned toward her, that dangerous smile softened into something almost boyish, pride and mischief lacing his voice as he spoke of a gift. A personal sanctuary.

"A sanctuary?" she echoed, bafflement flickering across her features. Her lips curved in a tentative smile, though her heart skipped at the words, uncertain of what he meant, especially in light of their earlier conversation regarding Aurelian's demand to increase her security and her vocal insistence that she still needed a sanctuary of her own.

As it was, humor edged her voice in her slight sense of nervousness, as she began to quip, "Are you quite sure this isn't just an elaborate way of keeping me locked awa --"

The jest died on Sibylla's tongue as Aurelian swung the door open. Light poured through arched windows, making her blink rapidly until her vision cleared -- and then the sight before her stole the air from her lungs. Lips parted only to close again, breath caught as her hazel eyes swept in stunned reverence across the chamber.

Towering floor to ceiling shelves rose in tiers, laden with tomes, scrolls, and flimsis stacked like centuries made tangible, the double height of it pressing down on her with awe. Light spilled through arched windows, glancing off the glossy black of the piano that commanded the room's heart, each ivory key gleaming as though waiting for her touch.

"How…" she breathed, so softly it nearly dissolved in the hush, the only sound the faint chime of her jeweled headdress as she took another tentative step inside. Her pulse fluttered wildly, an unsteady rhythm beneath her ribs, as though her very heart struggled to keep pace with what her eyes beheld.

She moved past Aurelian without realizing it, drawn deeper into the sanctuary like a tide until she stood beside the pianoforte. Her fingers brushed over the cool, polished edge of the piano, the wood smooth beneath her touch. And then her gaze caught sight of the sculptures. Vere and Set, their forms intertwined in petrified wood, captured forever in the embrace of defiant love.

Sibylla felt her throat tighten, thinking back to when she last saw them at the fundraising auction. She recalled the theatrics, the bidding war of credits, the roguish smirk Aurelian had worn while outbidding the rest as he conversed and laughed with Madame Sera Mina. How it had irrationally irritated her then. Now, seeing it here, placed with such deliberate care, realization struck with a dizzying force.

Had he been planning this… all along?

Her hand rose but hovered, reverent, above the sculptures, the heat of tears pricking her eyes despite her effort to swallow them back. Her breath hitched, and she turned slowly towards him.

The cascade of light from the windows framed Aurelian as he approached, the shadows and gold deepening the chiseled lines of his handsome face before catching on the crown that gleamed above his dark, tousled hair. The crystal glasses caught the glow with a fleeting shimmer, but it was his eyes that held her fast, their rich dark amber intently upon her, as if they saw straight through her. Each step he took felt deliberate, a steady narrowing of the space between them, as though the very air bent to his presence.

It echoed inside her chest, prompting a quickening, a rush of warmth that spread and fluttered until even her fingertips tingled. She could scarcely find the words, the weight of emotion threatening to spill over, that quiet ache of gratitude, the hush of joy, and a rush of something deeper, a euphoria so fierce it was almost too much to hold within her skin.

So when he finally stopped before her, the faint clink of glass seemed louder than it should have been, as though the world hushed for it alone. Her lips trembled as her gaze met his, glimmering with everything she could not yet say.

For a heartbeat, she forgot the sanctuary around them, the waterfall beyond the glass, even the crown on his head. There was only Aurelian, the man, the one she had chosen to stand beside...and the unspoken weight of everything that choice now meant.

Carefully, Sibylla set the glass aside on top of the piano. A silence stretched between them, heavy with all she felt but could not yet give voice to.

At last, as if her body couldn't help it any longer, Sibylla crossed the remaining space and let her forehead come to rest against his chest, bringing with it the scent of waterlilies as she closed her eyes against the steady rise and fall of his breath. The warmth of him, the nearness, no, everything that encompassed him that clearly indicated he had taken careful note of her wants, desires, and all the things she'd thought she'd kept secret in her heart, manifested itself in this chamber, made her heart race in a way words could never capture.

When she finally spoke, it was with a soft unguarded murmur.

"You undo me, Aurelian."

Only then did she lift her gaze, hazel eyes shimmering as they swept over the shelves, the piano, the sculpture, and back to him. Her chest tightened with the swell of emotion, and she whispered, almost breathless.

"You did all this… for me? I scarcely know what to say. No one has ever… no one has ever given me something so thoughtful. So perfectly me." Her lips parted, voice catching.

"Thank you."