VIII
Manaraii Restaurant
An informal dinner? What is a formal dinner then?
Just after her first step into this very exclusive restaurant her only wish was to return home immediately. She had learned that the Manaraii Restaurant was supposed to be the most famous restaurant at the moment and it was hard to get a table, so you need to reserve a few months before you'd like to dine.
"Are you all right, Shmi?" he felt her insecure ness and her frightened looks at the expensive interior.
"I'm not sure…"
"I assure you it's an informal dinner, no need to worry! Honestly I don't know why it is held here" he whispered to her and led her towards a table in room, somewhere in the quieter back of the guest room.
The Chancellor was awaited by six senators; he had worked a lot with and started a friendship.
They would call it 'friendship', I suppose. For me they're just fools…who think their friendship with me would somehow guarantee them any advantages.
Everyone rose to their feet to welcome the Chancellor. When spotting Shmi Skywalker who was just behind Palpatine the senators were quite a bit confused. Nobody could remember Palpatine being in company with a woman! A woman who didn't work for him. He had never dated officially. Furthermore nobody was aware of any relationships of the Chancellor since he had arrived Coruscant as senator a few decades ago.
"May I introduce Shmi Skywalker to you" he started, a smile on his fatherly face.
Shmi nodded shyly. On the other end of the table Senator Padme Amidala of Naboo was surprisingly smiling. She remembered Shmi Skywalker very well, the mother of Anakin who had rescued her home planet at the age of nine. The Chancellor started to introduce every single senator to Shmi as if Shmi was a high ranking member of any society in the galaxy.
When it came to Padme, Shmi whispered a 'Hello' to her.
"It's good to see you well again, Shmi. How have been?"
Everyone looked in Amidalas direction, astonished because Senator Amidala seemingly had known to the Chancellor's guest before.
"I'd be fine. Thank you, Senator." Her voice was barely heard by anyone but Padme.
They settled soon and ordered some refreshments. Shmi refused wine and got mineral water instead. Fortunately Padme sat beside her and tried to make a conversation with Shmi. When it was on ordering the meal Palpatine advised her on the meals' decision.
Everybody mentioned how close the Chancellor was to the unknown woman and his smile on his face when talking to her.
Next to the Chancellor Senator Organa of Alderaan wondered if Mrs. Skywalker was somehow the Chancellor's partner in life. And if so why he had hide her before the public for so long.
While the complete dinner the Chancellor didn't abandon much about Shmi Skywalker, and Shmi also didn't reveal anything about her origin or about her relation to the Chancellor. She kept quiet.
Surprisingly the senators reacted very friendly, just smiling knowingly. Even Padme who knew about Shmi's origin and who would be able to answer a few of the senator's questions kept silent.
Just before midnight the dinner ended. Padme used the chance to talk to Shmi privately.
"How is Ani? You have already met him, haven't you?"
Shmi smiled: "He's fine. I've met him just a few days ago."
"Honestly I haven't seen him in years."
"He has grown a lot!" Shmi giggled "He's a young man; my little Ani is a grown-up; I can't believe it."
Padme had to laugh: "Is he still under the guidance of Master Kenobi?"
"Yes, he is."
"Please greet him when you meet him again."
"I do. It was nice to meet you again, Senator."
"For me as well, Shmi. Hopefully we are able to meet up again soon."
"I would be pleased. Good night."
"Good night."
She said goodbye to everyone else and left the restaurant with the Chancellor who seemingly was very tired and exhausted.
A shuttle brought them back to his apartment in Republica 500. High above the planets surface.
"Are you all right?" it was now on her to ask him about his well-being as it had been on him at the beginning of the evening.
"Oh, yes…just tired. My day has been long."
Silence…
"I haven't thanked you for your invitation yet", Shmi started a new conversation after a few minutes.
"You need not. It was an honour for me you accepted. I really enjoyed your company."
He smiled openly towards her.
"And I guess Senator Amidala was glad to meet you again, wasn't she?" he added.
"Yes, I promised her to greet my son."
"Is that so? Ah, yes, I remember Anakin mentioned he had been close to her while the blockade."
"They haven't met since then so I believe."
"Senator Amidala is barely a few months in her job. Before that she served under the new elected queen" he informed her.
They had arrived Republica 500 and entered the exquisite housing of the Chancellor quickly. Before she left him, Shmi asked him when he wanted to have his breakfast served.
"At 7:00 is fine" he answered, "You may take the next day off, Shmi. I won't be home before the late evening."
"On a Saturday?" she asked with a little surprise in her tone.
He sighed tiredly: "Yes, on a Saturday. Unfortunately business doesn't stop at weekend."
"I understand. Good night."
"Good night, Shmi. And thank you once again for sharing this beautiful evening with me."
He kissed her lightly on her cheek and entered his private chambers for the night; Shmi kept left stunned in the corridor.