Private The Haunting Affairs of State

[-Shelved-]

A shuttle touched down on the lawn in front of the grand Estate on Mnemosyne that was Rowena's home. Outside of the staff that lived and worked there, the building was empty. The house servants dressed in black all stood in line just outside of the doors to greet their Lady and collect her luggage. It was still morning, as evident of the dew on the grass.

Rowena stepped out, taking in a deep breath of fresh air before glancing over her shoulder to Darth Angonous . "Welcome to my home." This was just one of her Estates and by far her favourite due to it's elegance and style. "There are nearly a hundred rooms, although only about half are in use. Isn't it something, though?"

She continued on her walk to the front, meeting the head butler that bowed to her as she approached. "Everything is prepared, my Lady. I trust you'll need to recouperate from the journey? There's tea and a light breakfast in the drawing room, and Tobias will be waiting in your sanctuary. Will you be going into the isolation tank today?"

"Not today, Thom, thank you. This is Lord Angonous. He'll be our guest for a little while. Please have the chefs inquire about his meals after breakfast. And have the staff prepare a guestroom for him."

"Yes, my Lady."

Without another word the staff followed in after the two of them, dispersing after they walked into the grand foyer. Rowena didn't feel small in the Estate until today. And she felt a little cold. "It's quite something, isn't it, Ang?"

 

[Darth Angonous]

Did Darth Angonous forget to tell Rowena his cover name?

That startling realization that he did not bother to tell Rowena that he was operating under a different identity while he was hiding from the Galactic Alliance and anyone else who would try to get rid of the remnants of the Sith Empire. It was beyond reckless, why didn't he tell Rowena? Perhaps it was his growing affection for the woman. Everything that Angonous said to Bastin was true especially his feelings for her. Yet Angonous couldn't let personal feelings get in the way of the restoration of the Sith Empire. "It's quite big," Agnonous said. "Rowena I must state to you that you should not call me Angnonous. Just call me David."

Rowena Arenais

 

[-Shelved-]

Her brows lifted at the sudden request by Darth Angonous to call him something else. "David? But you're perfectly safe here. No one visits here unless I invite them. You needn't worry. Even my husband's enemies never knew of this place. And I trust that you didn't either."

Rowena led him to the drawing room, talking along the way. "Unless you mean to tell me that David is your real name? You're not some spy come to steal my family's fortune in some secret vault, are you?" She laughed softly as they entered the room, the smells of breakfast hung heavily in the air. "Oh how I've missed these chefs."

 

[Darth Angonous]

Angonous' original name had been etched out of his memory, the moment he became a Sith Lord Angonous had destroyed any trace of his past name. He gotten rid of records erasing the man who under went the transformation to become a proud Sith Lord. Even his family had disowned who he was, If Angonous wanted to be a committed Sith Lord it was crucial to let all past ties die especially his past identity. "David" was a name plain enough for Angonous to not suspected, it wasn't some grandiose title such as the Bonebreaker or Savage Slasher but just some average name for a somewhat average Bounty Hunter trying to make his way throughout the Galaxy.

"Lady Rowena," Angonous said. "One can never be too cautious even in these halls there could be eyes and ears anywhere."

He shook his head. "If I wanted to access your riches," Angonous said. "You and every single servant would've been dead by now. I have bigger ambitions rather than taking a few trinkets to pawn off in the black market."

Angonous eyes had a glint to them as he stared at Rowena, a simpering smile formed on his face. "Shall we get something to eat?" he asked. "I'm actually famished."

Rowena Arenais

 

[-Shelved-]

Rowena didn't like the prospect of not being able to trust her staff. Bastin had vetted them personally, and she trusted his judgement. The very idea of it even being a possibility didn't sit well with her. Especially given that her husband was gone and couldn't protect her. "I suppose that I should learn to use a blaster then. Or keep my shoes readily available." Her heels worked well enough before...

She nodded as Darth Angonous asked about getting some food and so she led him to the buffet table, picking up a plate for each of them. It wasn't overflowing with food, but there was enough for them both to have seconds if they wished. "And what are your ambitions...David? To rule the Galaxy?"

 

[Darth Angonous]

Angonous had to be cautious now, It seemed that Rowena Arenais was on to his plans. Maybe it was just some inquiry but given what he just did to her husband and what his true intentions were, Angnous needed to keep his cards close to his chest. "Right now my goal is to survive," he answered bluntly. "The Sith Empire his destroyed and this Brotherhood of the Maw has achieved something that we haven't, attacked the capital of the Galactic Alliance: Coruscant."

He said the last bit with a bitterness in his voice, the fact that they came out of nowhere and sacked Coruscant was an embarrassment. An assault on the Sith pride. This new Empire better adapt or else the Sith will be easily destroyed again. "I'm sure you've heard of the sacking." Angonous continued crossing his arms.

 

[-Shelved-]

"Again?" Rowena raised a brow as she gathered little bits of food on her plate. What Darth Angonous had told her wasn't surprising. In fact it was much of the same old song being played over and over again.

She sighed a little and then planted on one of her smiles before taking a seat on one of the small sofas. Her ankles were tucked underneath, while her back and pose were kept straight. Rowena expertly balanced the small plate on her lap. "I haven't heard the latest, but it doesn't really matter. Coruscant has been attacked at least thrice in the past few decades, always while under the rule of some major power. So it's not surorising that it's happened again. Such wars have no effect to what goes on here and it probably never will in my lifetime. That Galaxy is vast and what affects some does not affect all, no matter how much big egos try to suggest otherwise."

 

[Darth Angonous]

Darth Angonous smiled at Rowena Arenais, for an intelligent woman she was rather naive that the affairs of the Galaxy wouldn't affect the planets. They were all connected by conflict and this new threat: The False Sith were more brazen and as much as Angonous hates to admit it more organized. "The Brotherhood have begun their foray into the Core," Angnous said. "There's a high chance that they will take Jakku and Jedha: Two major Jedi strongholds and slowly worm their way back to Courscant."

The Sith Empire needs to regain their dominance again, patience can sometimes be a detriment as Angonous has to remain in hiding while the Brotherhood continues to gain power. "That's what they all say my lady," Angonous said. "That it will not affect them until it does we need to be prepared it doesn't hurt to plan for the worst does it?"

Rowena Arenais

 

[-Shelved-]

Rowena did her best not to roll her eyes. Instead she nibbled on one of the biscuits laced with jam and fruit while Darth Angonous spoke about the Brotherhood and the Jedi wars leading up to Coruscant again. It was the same ol', same ol'; and she had heard of these types of events multiple times. Still she had yet to be caught up in any kind of battlefield at all. As always her corners of the Galaxy were safe and unnoticed.

"And that's what they said about the Sith, and the Imperials, and the Bryn and everyone else. But you know what? There's been nothing here. We're well enough away from Coruscant to not be bothered. There is nothing here that any of them would go to war for. There are no temples, no rare resources, there is no part to play in the Force User war. There is only a peaceful quiet of a people left alone. The wars are all about making a statment and the puffing out of chests. Well there is nothing to gain here to stoke their egos even further. That is why they go for the strongholds, the temples and the famous. I may have garnered a higher position and wealth for my family, but it has by no means put us on the radar."

Never had there been a bounty or anything of the like for herself, her husband or their daughter. Instead it was oy the Force Users of the family that got into trouble. And they had paid their prices.