irulan,,,who’s jealous of Chani,,, not because of the affection Paul has for her but because of the affection she has for him,,,,
how do i explain this hmmmm okay. So Chani (movie! specifically) doesn’t love him the way so many others do. She doesn’t love him as her savior, as the messiah, as a prophet. Chani loves Paul for who he really is, underneath all of that. That sweet lost boy from caladan who’s a little awkward and curious and is afraid of being worshipped. That’s her Paul!!! That’s who she fell in love with!!
so irulan. Irulan who above all just wants to *know* him. Irulan who so desperately wants to chip away those layers of cold indifferent Emperor and understand who he was. Irulan who wants so badly to hate him but she just can’t bring herself to when she’s gotten this glimpse of who he used to be!! Because unfortunately for her that side of him is quite loveable!!
But Paul doesn’t want to give her that!! Paul who has only ever let himself be vulnerable with Chani!!!! Paul who has to stay guarded and detached All The Time because god forbid someone realize he’s still that scared little kid!!
So irulan is Aware of all this and she’s like. She doesn’t care about physical affection or paul’s complete devotion or whatever. That will always belong to Chani but that’s not the point!! She’s jealous because Chani got to see and know the part of him that he won’t let her see!!! The one thing she wants from him!! She wants to know him the way Chani knew him but he!!! Won’t!! Let!!! Her!!!
@demon-of-the-ancient-world tosses this at you.