...Nexuha doesn't want Sidious to bear the full brunt of his suspicion, but... She also doesn't want to harm the Jedi, especially not her loved ones like Lily and Mace. "Though... Those two can take care of themselves, if they have to."

"I should hope so. If two masters of their caliber cannot, there is little hope for the Order, with or without my aid."

Giggle. "And I wouldn't exactly object if you kept Lily tied up somewhere close to you..."

"Oh, but I don't have anywhere to display her just yet. Can't exactly have a Jedi Master in bondage in the corner of Senator Vendar's office now, can I?"

Blush. "Maybe not..."

"I'll do my best to keep her safe and on-planet, my darling, much as she might hate me for it."

"Maybe I'll just ask her to stick around so I can learn more about Coruscanti politics... Take over some of your burden."

"That would be one way of attacking it. Keep her suspicions off me for a time..."

"Delegate the tying up."

"If you'd prefer to see it that way."

"I just might."

"I'll make a note of it, Nexuha."

"Thank you, Mistress." Kiss! 

Kiss.

And, shortly thereafter, Nexuha is delighted to report that Lily has decided to take over as the Jedi Temple's official liason to the Senate, allowing the aging Jedi currently in that role to retire early. There'll be a period of overlap, of course, and it means 'Anakin Skywalker' will likely finish her years as a padawan with a pretty intensely diplomatic focus. 

Wonderful news. She looks forward to working with them in an official capacity.

She does as well - she's developed a very keen interest in politics lately. 

Senator Vendar will do her best to ensure the padawan's education is completed to the highest standard.

She has every faith in that. 

And how is Master Palpatine making the transition? Settling in smoothly, one hopes. The Senate is not always as... divisive, as some of her more famous missions, though it has its moments.

She seems to be taking to it like a fish to water - her existing contacts help of course, but, well. 

She wasn't kidding about being able to politic circles around everyone here. She's terrifyingly good at this, actually. By ten days in, she's made a large number of good impressions, strengthened existing ties, and broadly convinced people that she's totally harmless and maybe a bit naive.

She's also using the chance to give her padawan a lot of leeway, encouraging her to make friends among the Senators and staffers, develop useful relationships for the future.

(She's also very, very busy, so Thanaton has technically gotten what he asked for. Though he might be unhappy again if she somehow gets herself elected Chancellor.)

She's doing almost too well in all her busy-ness, actually. Senator Vendar has to send out a memo to her office politely reminding everyone who they work for.

(She's also experiencing some unexpected snags in some of the Sith-backed legislation she's been trying to push through via various proxies. Which, she expected that. But less than two weeks in? Really? She's going to have to have some of Sidious's connections squeezing more, just to make up ground.)

Two of the snags resolve themselves (with a little help from Sidious's connections), albeit with sneakily inserted lines that reverse a lot of their Sith-favorability. But hey. That happens all the time, doesn't it? One of the common hazards of the Senate, and a trick everyone uses. Elesse's office even catches one before it goes to a committee vote, in enough time that she can get her proxies to trigger another round of revisions.

(...Someone is definitely using the light side of the Force in this here building. Elesse would be hard-pressed to notice it if she wasn't so familiar with Nexuha. However. It is possible someone is cheating.)

She shouldn't cheat back. She doesn't even care about the agenda she's supposed to push here. As long as she loses slowly, subtly enough that Thanaton doesn't notice, her own goals will be well served.

Stars above, she wants to cheat back so badly. And what's the point of being Sith if you can't indulge yourself, just once in a while?

So she does. Quietly, deniably, as Senator Vendar. More loudly as Sidious. Still using pawns and proxies, still keeping the word 'Sith' to the shadows and darkness, making the trail point past her towards Thanaton as much as she can...

But Master Palpatine will have to work harder.