𝕧𝕠𝕚𝕕 | 𝔸. 𝕊𝕂𝕐𝕎𝔸𝕃𝕂𝔼ℝ ₁

» 24

This was the moment Venus had been waiting for. At the end of the hall were the doors to the chancellor's office. The doors looked so very far away, she wasn't sure if she could even make it over to them.

"Remember what we discussed." Came the voice of Senator Amidala. "You are strong, you are determined. You can do this, Venus."

The princess closed her eyes and took a deep breath, gently bobbing her head. "Thank you, Senator."

Padmé shared a quite message with Anakin, as if she were telling him they could talk later. With that, she went ahead and entered the office.

But despite the senator's words of encouragement, Venus still could help but feel overwhelmed. The weight of Chrysós was all on her. She was the only one at this point who had a chance of freeing her people from the Separatists and seeing her loved ones again.

Anxiety was eating away at her mind, self-doubt telling her that she couldn't do this, that this was all pointless. She believed the words echoing throughout her mind until they suddenly stopped. Why had it stopped? Why did she feel the weight disappear from her shoulders?

Short answer? The Jedi invaded her personal thoughts and got rid of the negatives floating around— but she didn't know that and perhaps she never would. 

"Obi-Wan and I will be there with you." Anakin reassured her. "You aren't alone."

She was still unsure about Skywalker. They hadn't started off on the right foot yet, he constantly comforted her when she grew nervous. Despite how much she wanted to tell him the she didn't need his help, Venus knew that she did. Now was definitely not the time to be so hotheaded, especially not with her only life line. "Thank you, General." She spoke quietly.

"Anytime, m'lady." He couldn't help but smile. Damn his cockiness. "Whenever you're ready."

"I'll never be ready." She couldn't help but comment. "Let's get this over with."

Anakin took lead, guiding her to the end of the hall. Venus stayed on his tail, locking herself into this meeting.

The doors slid open and in they stepped, gathering the eyes of everyone in the room.

"Ah, Princess Venus." The Chancellor stood from his desk, greeting her with a bow.

Anakin had stepped off to the side by this point, finding a place next to his former master and the other Jedi.

She was the center of attention and she wasn't sure how she felt about that. "Chancellor Palpatine," Venus returned the greeting. "Thank you for seeing me so urgently."

"But of course, dear. I will always make time for those in our need."

Something about this man was eerie. The way he talked and smiled— as if he were putting on some act— Venus didn't like him. She cleared her throat, drawing her attention back to the matter at hand. "I hate to jump right to the point, but this is, well... urgent."

The dozen pairs of eyes on her were not helping at all.

"My people... Chrysós has unjustly joined with the Separatist alliance. My father, Senator Aurum, he was assassinated by my brother— who has now put my husband in the highest position—"

"Why your husband?" One of the senators questioned.

Venus looked over to the Kaminoan woman who'd asked the question. She looked like she didn't want to be there— as if she'd already made up her mind.

"He was next in line, but—"

"And is there any proof that your brother killed your father?" Another asked.