((Private))
As usual, Theodora got up early in the morning to get ready for the Senate session. She ate a light breakfast, drank a couple cups of coffee, and left her apartment, grabbing a few letters from her mailbox on her way out. Most of them came from one person, allegedly a brother of that Russian "senator." Speaking of which, she'd read that he had been killed in some freak accident somewhere and that his brother had taken his senatorial position (good riddance, she thought). She would not change her policies towards the newcomer. He seemed just like his brother. She made a note to herself to deal with him later.
As usual, she walked from her apartment to the palace, cutting through Augustaeon as she usually did. Unlike last time, she didn't encounter anybody of note as she walked through the square, which was probably for the best.
She arrived in the Senate and took her seat with the other cabinet ministers as the national anthem played ((What is the national anthem of the Empire? Is it a Greek version of God Save the King/Queen?)), followed by a simple ceremony in which the Emperor formally opened the Senate session. Then the actual meeting began.
There were some familiar faces sitting around her, with some new additions. Nestorius, her old colleague, had brought his family with him. Other old senators had also brought their adult sons and grandsons, wanting to give their heirs experience and a higher chance that their applications would be approved. A few even brought their daughters, and when she asked why they replied that she was a role model for the young women. She was a bit flattered. She never thought of herself as a role model.
She noticed that there was one senator absent, and it wasn't the Russian, which slightly disappointed her. It was Donatello. He hadn't appeared in public for a while now, she recalled, and he hadn't issued any formal statements in the last few weeks. Maybe he was taking a vacation? But then he would have had to have filled out the required paperwork and notify the appropriate authorities of his intent to take a leave of absence from the Senate. And he would have sent a substitute senator to represent him.
After that day's session had concluded, the senators got up to leave. She quickly made her way to Donatello's apartment just to check in on him. There, she found that the apartment had been abandoned for quite some time. It looked like nobody had lived in there for at least a couple weeks, and it looked like he had left in a very hasty fashion. Maybe he was on vacation? But then why would he leave so suddenly and without warning?
"Don't worry," said a voice behind her, "He's fine."
She spun around and leveled her pistol at Wilhelm's head.
"Who are you?" she demanded. "What do you want?"
Wilhelm sheepishly put his hands over his head. "You know those bullets can't harm me," he said, "But I'm not here to harm you. I'm just letting you know that Donatello's fine."
"You know where he is?" said Theodora.
"He's in the Peloponnese," said Wilhelm, "Busy drinking his days away and rambling about how Italy must be destroyed. But he's fine. Other than a small incident in which he was captured by Cultists--"
"Cultists?!" said Theodora. "
Again?"
"I took care of that cell," said Wilhelm, "They won't be bothering him again for some time. Unless another cell decides it's worth the effort to try and abduct him again..."
"What do they want with him?" said Theodora.
"Apparently they want him to become an informant for them," said Wilhelm, "To give them access to the Emperor for some reason. In exchange they claim to have the power to bring down the Italian rebels."
"And what did he say?" said Theodora.
"Obviously he refused," said Wilhelm, "And then I killed them."
"Why couldn't you just kill them all?" said Theodora. "It would save us all a lot of trouble."
"I don't want to interfere with the natural progression of events too much," said Wilhelm, "And I can't locate the main cells. They seem to have cast some kind of angel warding to prevent me from sensing them."
"But what do you want me to do?" said Theodora.
"Just protect the Emperor," said Wilhelm, "I'll try to deal with the Cult wherever I can. And don't worry too much about Donatello and the other senators. I'll make sure no harm comes to any of them."
"Why should I trust you?" said Theodora. "I don't know who you are and what your intentions are."
"You do know me," said Wilhelm, "It's just that you may have forgotten me. And if I wanted you dead, I would have done so by now. We're on the same side here."
And Theodora was alone in the room.
((Private -
@Damian0358))
After the end of the next day's Senate session, Nestorius ambushed her at the door as she was about to leave.
"Ah, Theodora!" he exclaimed, hugging her, "My old friend. How are you doing?"
"Fine," said Theodora, "It's good to see you're in good health."
She noticed Timon standing next to him.
"I see you've met my son, Timon," said Nestorius, "He just turned 17 a couple weeks ago, and we thought we'd celebrate by taking him to the Senate session. Best to start them when they're young, right?"
"Of course," said Theodora, "I remember when my father made me sit in on Senate sessions a long time ago. Of course the Cult had to go ruin things but still..."
Both of them laughed.
"So..." Theodora added. "How are things in Aoteorea?"