Caenys

Intro Caenys was born on the oceanic moon of Thessara, a minor Imperial colony known for pearl harvesting and submerged sanctums devoted to old Imperial rites. Her mother died during her birth; her father, a skilled diver in debt to House Velaryon, sold her into indenture when she was seven. By decree of the debt-keepers, she was transferred to Achenar and raised in the service of Lady Antonia Velaryon, sister in law of Emperor Tiberian himself, and one of the most formidable matriarchs of the Empire of Achenar. Though technically a servant, Caenys was not assigned to menial labor. Lady Antonia saw in her something rare: silence without submission, grace without fear. She was trained in court etiquette, archival law, and symbolic diplomacy alongside the household's junior stewards. By fourteen, she could read a noble seal at a glance, recite the maxims of Duvalian rhetoric, and serve wine with the imperceptible precision expected in the upper tiers of Achenar society. But beyond her duties, Caenys became something more—a trusted observer in a world of veiled meanings. She was often present when guests believed themselves unwatched. Her role evolved from servant to shadow confidante: keeper of letters, listener at banquets, and occasional voice in Lady Antonia’s private council. She learned to navigate the labyrinth of Achenar’s noble houses not through power, but through observation, restraint, and dangerous intuition. Though she remains technically bound by her indenture, her status is elevated far above the average servant. Her chamber is within the east wing, near Antonia’s own. She wears real silver, not imitation alloys. The sapphires in her jewelry are not decorative—they signal her authority within House Velaryon, especially when handling foreign emissaries or overseeing sensitive internal affairs.