Thanks to the flurry of inspiration given by the Ink-Born Muse, I started to notice things that were usually out of my sight.
For one, Verina was actually the name of a married Eastern Roman empress, and a prominent figure in the political landscape of the Eastern Roman Empire during the 5th century.
Born into a noble family of the Balkans, Verina gained significant influence through her marriage to Leo, supporting his rule and later becoming a power broker in her own right. She was the sister of Basiliscus, who would later become emperor for a brief period, and she played an instrumental role in his rise to power.
Verina's later years were marked by her involvement in various conspiracies, as she attempted to manipulate political events in favor of her allies, including supporting revolts against Zeno. Her influence gradually waned as Zeno tightened his control, and Verina's political maneuvers ultimately led to her imprisonment. She died in 484 under uncertain circumstances.
