Handmaiden Sabé stood to the left of the Queen's throne as the holovid revealing the Trade Federation leader Nute Gunray flickered out.
The queen then stood and moved away from the conference table. Concerned glances from Naboo's present leaders shot across the room as Governor Bibble announced the adjournment for noon meal.
As soon as Padmé had moved out of sight and hearing range, Sabé moved up and grasped her elbow quite firmly, whispering into the young woman's ear.
"Are you insane?"
"What are you talking about?" Padmé whispered back.
Sabé turned her head to send a warning glance toward the queen's entourage, stopping them immediately in their tracks. She then escorted Padmé around a corner.
"Don't play innocent with me, your highness. I overheard your holomessage the other night. If anyone finds out what you've done…" Sabé shook her head. She hated to be disrespectful, but Padmé was risking too much.
"Don't worry about it Sabé." The queen reached out and patted her handmaiden's arm reassuredly. "I've got everything under control. Gunray and I have made a deal."
"It's too dangerous!" Sabé hissed, looking back to make sure no one was listening. "You know you can't trust the Trade Federation!"
"Then you tell me," Padmé hissed back, immediately lowering the volume of her voice. "You tell me how I was supposed to get Master Jinn to come here! Invite him for tea? He's a busy man, Sabé."
Padmé then turned and quickly walked toward the dining hall.
"Captain Panaka is going to figure it out like he always does, you'll be arrested and we'll all be thrown out of the palace."
"The way I see it," Padmé replied over her shoulder, "that was going to be happening anyway."
The Queen of Naboo stopped once she had reached the dining hall to receive the bows from those already present in the room before she moved forward to her table.
"We're gonna get in so much trouble." Sabé murmured to herself as she followed.
It had been risky, Padmé thought as her meal was served. Nute Gunray had always desired a trade contract with the small planet of Naboo, although Padmé never really understood why. The Trade Federation already controlled many of the outlying system trade routes. The Neimoidian leader, however, was known for his greed, and that personal failing was exactly what Padmé had counted on when she had initially contacted him.
All he had to do was pretend to set up a trade blockade outside Naboo's orbit and demand that Padmé sign a treaty agreement. If everything went according to plan, she would reluctantly agree to it, with some stipulations in her favor of course, and then the Trade Federation would be on their way.
That was the easy part.
The tricky part was ensuring that the Jedi team of Jinn and Kenobi would be the ones to come and help negotiate the treaty.
To her relief, Chancellor Valorum had informed her that indeed, Master Jinn and his padawan would be arriving in just a few days. They would negotiate the treaty and the Trade Federation would leave. Padmé would throw a grand celebration in honor of the Jedi and then she would begin to work her charms on the Jedi Master.
Simple.
If it seemed so simple, then why did she feel so guilty?
Padmé glanced up to meet the piercing and accusatory gaze of Sabé and then dropped her eyes back down to her uneaten meal.
She huffed a sigh out through her nostrils. She had done what she had to do. It might have been a little conspiratory and underhanded, but it was either that or be slobbered and spit upon for the rest of her life.