I just love paladins! One of them is even my best friend.
I can still remember the day when he strode into my castle, beat up my guards, and demanded I call off my monstrous assassination squads that were attacking his upstart village. I delayed my attacks, we parlayed, and over time he began to view me better in light of my redemption (I procured some carefully disguised angelskin armor and took acting lessons from a Numerian bard they call Palpatine).
Now, 10 years later, he still makes for an excellent pawn. What was once a revenge attack on a lowly village became a grandiose plot to see me become king. Normally, it takes 20 years of grooming, preparation, and political manipulations for someone to become a king, but I managed it in half that time. And it's all thanks to the previous king's indiscretions (the false evidence for which I cleverly planted in plain sight for my dear friend). I don't know what I was thinking 10 years ago. I was such a petty child back in those days! I just couldn't have managed it all without the full support of my friend and his order of paladins. :D
Even if they figure it all out one day (before I am rid of them) and I am unable to stop their retaliation for some reason, I still win!
<slow golf clap>
Oh, there is going to be some laying on of hands in this thread.
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All-inclusive healthcare, safer streets, no monster attacks, just a nice king who's prone to cackling now and again about how he'll show those do-gooders in the end... who's the real pawn here?
Palpatine also promised the galaxy better protection and stability before he gained absolute power, did away with all his enemies, and ruled an empire with an iron fist for nigh on 20 years, an empire that was so effective, that it was modeled several times in the history that followed his reign.