itbomm

chapter 11: an introduction of Verena Durk

A/N: i've been getting a lot of questions about this topic, and i have confirmed this multiple times on my tumblr even before verena made her appearance. no. verena is not athan's endgame.

she is his love interest, yes, but they will not end up together by the end of this story. here's the link for more information about this:

https://starlit-dreaming.tumblr.com/post/659021400934432768/itbomm-an-athanase-ships

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'So this is the minor villainess of Toska,' Athanase thought, maintaining a neutral expression as he stared at the young girl. 'She's nothing like I expected.'

He also didn't expect to recognize her so easily, either.

While Starshine-Dreaming was an author, they were capable of drawing. Often, they made sketches of characters, and would occasionally draw out character profiles, but they would also sketch scenes from their fanfics. Sure, it was generally for RP purposes, more often than not, but they did draw the first meeting between Verena and Athanasios.

In fact, they even wrote a small little excerpt in the description detailing the prince's point of view when he first meets Verena.

How did it go again?

Something like...

[ Athanasios had stared at the young lady standing before him, dressed elegantly in a simple burgundy coloured dress with stitched silver flowers. She curtsied, and he thinks that he wouldn't mind it if she were to stay at his side.

They will surely get along, the prince thinks. ]

The scene was certainly more detailed than that, but it was the best Athanase could remember for the time being.

Based on reading that small scene, it seemed like they would actually get along, even without the context of why they ended up meeting each other. However, it was important to remember that Toska was written from Princess Athanasia's perspective, and Athanasia had been there when Athanasios first met his fiancée.

Lady Verena was the daughter of a reputable noble, and therefore made sure that she wouldn't do anything to tarnish her reputation. At least, until she meets Ijekiel Alpheus and essentially goes bonkers trying to earn his love and affection, but that only happens in later years. She has a silver tongue, and only acts polite and sweet in the presence of others — she even acted like a clingy fiancée by latching onto Athanasios' arm and would dig her nails into his skin to try and control him. Athanasia was completely taken aback at Verena's sudden change, but Starshine made it obvious that Athanasios hadn't been surprised.

In Toska, it was clear that she was trying to become Princess Athanasia's close confidant, and tried to sever the close relationship that the twins shared. Even if the twins were unloved by Emperor Claude, Athanasia was still the Crown Princess, so it was only natural for the original Verena to try and gain his sister's favour.

The original Verena was successful in doing so for a long while, too, when Athanasia and Athanasios both fell in love with Ijekiel. It was only when she went missing that Athanasios finally came clean about what Verena was actually like.

Heavens above, it was starting to sound like Ijekiel's fault for everything. How good-looking was this guy to end up causing this much trouble between two siblings? Well, at least Athy wouldn't allow herself to be easily swayed by a friendship with a manipulator and a romance with a handsome guy.