Hi all! Sorry for the HUGE delay on this story but I am slowly but surely making headway on this as well as my other stories. I guess that is one good thing about a world-wide pandemic... Hope you all are staying safe in these rough times!
Happy reading!
Chapter 2
She knew he was watching her. She could feel his eyes on her across the room even while she spoke with the French Prime Minister. Throughout the ceremony she had avoided his gaze because she knew what she would see. disappointment, fear, maybe even anger; after all, she had deceived him, made him think she was nobody when in fact she was probably the second most important person in attendance. From the corner of her eye, she could see him standing with the ambassadors from Coruscant. They were currently speaking with delegates from Portugal. Her head turned a little more than she had intended, allowing her a more direct line of sight at the conversation and unfortunately caught Anakin's gaze. The man wasted little time in pulling away from the Portuguese guest, intent on making his way over to her, but she moved away before he could reach her. Padme tried to appear calm as she walked over to where her sister sat on the throne, accepting the well wishes from the guests who approached her.
Sola smiled at her when she came within sight and waved her up to her side. Despite being sisters, protocol dictated that she still had to bow and while she wasn't required to bow as low as most, she still felt odd bowing to her older sister. Sola clasped her hand tightly as she waved off one of the respected Nubian artists who had come to give his congratulations. The two sisters watched the man go, and the Queen tilted her head to the side, "He's rather handsome, don't you think?" She said, looking at her sister for confirmation. "Bit of an ego, but he does have a nice butt"
"Sola," Padme scolded. If any of the guests heard her…
"Relax," She countered, "I'm just having a little fun."
Padme sighed and shook her head. "I don't think this is the kind of party where you have that kind of fun."
Her sister rolled her eyes and plastered on a smile as another guest came to speak with her. Padme remained by her sister's side, accepting their greeting as well.
"You know, I might not be allowed to have fun at this party," Sola started, "But there's nothing stopping you," She said with a smile, directing her gaze towards the Duke of Scipio. "You know he's had a crush on you since you went on that humanitarian trip to India."
Padme rolled her eyes. Rush Clovis was an opportunist. If he saw some way to advance his position, he would. His public reputation wasn't the best, though he did command the respect of some of the more slippery politicians. Still, none of that was enough to make Padme consider a relationship with him.
"If you actually gave him a chance, you might actually like him."
She shook her head, "They say he helped the Count of Serenno in his acquisition of military weapons."
Sola nodded, "Yes… but that was years ago. It isn't like it started a war."
"Yet," She muttered, giving her sister a hard look. "It's obvious he did it to get something. Why else would he risk a response from the UN?"
"Ugh, will you stop thinking about politics for once?" She groaned, "You're right that politically he is a bit risky… but as a man…" She shrugged as she watched the Duke smile at the conversation he was in. "He certainly has some assets that could be of use."
Padme shook her head, ignoring the light laugh that fled her sister's lips before they both had to compose themselves as the delegation from Coruscant approached. Qui-Gon Jinn was a tall man with a thick beard and greying long hair which he tied back behind his head. At his side stood Benjamin Kenobi whose auburn hair and beard were neatly trimmed. Behind both men, walked Anakin who had his hands folded stiffly in front of him as his stiff shoulders looked as if he were trying to make himself smaller.
"Your Majesty," Qui-Gon said, accepting her sister's outstretched hand and kissing the ring on her hand as the others in his party bowed. "I am pleased that I was able to attend this momentous event. It is regrettable that I am to retire. I very much would have loved working with you."
"I would have liked that as well," Sola said, "Father always spoke highly of you. Always said you were someone whose advice he valued."
Qui-Gon smiled, "Well, if it is any consolation," He held his hand back and gestured at Benjamin, who took one step forward and bowed his head, "Benjamin has been working with me for many years. I have little doubt that his council will be just as valuable as mine."
"Your Majesty, it is my greatest honor to serve the interests of both our countries." Benjamin said.
Sola smiled at the men and gave a polite nod to dismiss them before turning her attention back to Padme. Her eyes glanced between her sister and the small party that just left and she leaned forward in her throne slightly and turned her head to look back at the men before her lips curled into a suspicious grin. "What're you looking at?" She laughed, giving Padme a playful poke, "Or should I say who?"
Padme cleared her throat and turned away from her sister lest she notice any change in her complexion. "Nothing," She mumbled.
"Benjamin is quite attractive, though I never pegged you for someone to like older men."
She rounded on her sister and gave an irritated huff as Sola laughed, feeling as carefree as ever. "Relax, dear sister," She said. "I know who you were really looking at." She shifted closer to her and leaned onto the arm of the throne, "He's no Duke of Scipio… but he is quite cute."
Padme let out a groan as she rolled her eyes, "Would you stop? I'm not looking for anything."
"Just because you aren't looking for anything permanent, doesn't mean you can't look for something short term. It could even just be for a night." Padme shook her head but put on a small smile as a group of guests from Belgium came to greet her sister. "You really should try to spend more time exploring these things," Sola advised as the group left. "Reason I did it early was because I knew this was my civic duty. You, Padme, you have your whole life to live and make mistakes without the consequences of international disgrace. Live it."
Padme didn't want to argue anymore about it. With her sister being as persistent as she is, she decided it was best to take her leave before either say something regrettable. She made her way back through the crowds, outwardly playing her part. Deep down in her own way, Sola meant well. Her advice may not be what she agrees with, but it is all said with her best interest at heart. The reality is, such advice is ill-advised when seen from a wider lens. Regardless of whether or not it is a one time thing, or if it is something more serious, the fact remains that her actions have consequences. Even something as small as canceling a public meeting could be seen as a slight even when done for the best of reasons. It was why some of Sola's previous engagements had been so scandalous and Padme had no intention of making any of those headlines.
Behind her, she heard the deep grumble of someone clearing their throat, and turning around she came face to face with Anakin. He smiled shyly at her and gave her a stiff bow, "Your… Highness," He said, shaking his head almost in disbelief before reaching up to scratch the back of his neck nervously, "Um… about earlier? I-I'd just like to say, I'm sorry. I— if I had known—"
She placed her hand on his arm and smiled kindly at him, trying to ease his nerves, "There's nothing to apologize for," She said. "On the contrary, I'm the one who should be apologizing. I deceived you. And for that, I'm sorry."
"You don't have to apologize to me," He said laughing, "If I'd known who you were, I wouldn't have said anything."
"Why's that?"
Anakin's shoulders slumped as he stuffed his hands in his pants pockets, "Well… Ben told me that my being here today is a privilege that is above my station and that I had to be careful what I say and who I say it to."
She folded hands in front of her and smiled again at him, "Well, if you're worried you said something wrong, you didn't."
Padme took a step back and turned away from him. She'd barely taken two steps when he said, "Would it be wrong if I asked for a dance?" His question gave her pause, and turning back to him she saw that his face was a bit red. "I mean… you don't have to I just—"
"—I'd like that," Padme said. It was the least she could do for him, wasn't it? Give him something to tell his friends back home. His face lit up as she held her hand out to him and he took it, holding it as if she were made of porcelain as he led her to the dance floor. As she turned to face him and place her hand on his shoulder, she could feel his hand tremble as he placed it high on her waist. His dancing was slightly off beat, and he was stiff as a board as he led her, but his face was creased with determination as he tried to lead her. It was quite admirable, and to aid him she gave him little nudges to try and put him on beat and took smaller steps so as to ensure he didn't accidentally step on her toes.
His shoulders tensed as he looked over her shoulder before he looked back down at her and they spun around. She could see in the crowd of guests Benjamin watching them with a nervous and slightly irritated grimace on his face. She could tell that him dancing with her was something that Anakin clearly wasn't supposed to do, and that it almost certainly had to do with her social standing. Padme smiled at her dance partner and gently encouraged him to guide them toward the other end of the dance floor where Benjamin's sight of them would be obscured. "Is this going to get you in trouble?" She asked.
"Most likely," He said, "He's a stickler for rules and protocol and I'll probably get a long-winded lecture about how stepping on your toes could ruin international relations."
"Well, you never know," Padme said slowly, "Past kings have killed for less."
"I thought the Naboo were peaceful. Probably the only European monarchy that didn't have a violent revolution."
"That doesn't mean we are incapable. There have been plenty of horrible monarchs on the throne before. The only difference is that my people often worked to resolve conflict without blood-shed. Though if there were no other recourse, we have shown that we will take up arms."
"I guess that makes sense," He said, his head tilting back slightly and smiling up at the painted ceiling. "I suppose if Naboo had been more involved in international conflict, then this place wouldn't nearly be as beautiful."
Padme smiled and glanced up at the ceiling with him, barely noticing that they had stopped moving and simply taking in the beauty of the elaborate plater carvings and 15th-century painting depicting the Roman gods, albeit with an obvious Christian interpretation. Her eyes were drawn to the way he was looking at the ceiling. The awe on his face was so clear and unmasked, so different from everyone else in the room and the way the light practically shimmered around him, she swore she never saw a man so beautiful as him. When his eyes left the ceiling to meet hers, a huge smile on his face, she felt her cheeks heat up and had to force herself to look away from him.
As if to save her from any sort of recovery, the song they had long since stopped dancing to ended and Padme carefully stepped back and gave him a grateful smile, "It was wonderful dancing with you, Anakin," She said, excusing herself before she could say anything foolish. stupid, stupid! She berated herself. She wasn't some heart-eyed middle school girl. She was a twenty-five year-old woman— a princess! Sola might have no qualms with jumping just because it looks like fun, but Padme was more logical than that. She barely even knows Anakin. If her father was still here, she knew he would warn her of the possibility that he may have an ulterior motive to his kind attentions. And while she doubted Anakin was anything less than sincere, there was always the possibility.
"He's no Duke of Scipio," Her mother said, startling Padme as the older woman came to stand beside her daughter. Her eyes watched the young man as he seemed to be receiving a lecture from Ben Kenobi. Her mother shrugged, "But he does have a certain charm about him."
Padme shook her head, and turned to face her mother. The glint in her mother's eye and knowing smile on her lips teased at the hint that she has some ridiculous idea in her mind. "He's just a boy," She said, "We had an interesting conversation once and we danced. That's all."
Her mother quirked her brow at her, "You know you don't have to marry a man with a fancy title as your sister will," She said. "Sola will eventually marry a Duke or a Lord within Naboo, but you…" She cupped Padme's cheeks lightly and gave her a hopeful smile, "There is nothing stopping you from marrying or even just dating whomever you want." Her head tilted in the direction Anakin was standing, "Even that handsome secretary over there."
Padme returned her mother's smile before pulling her face from her mother's grasp. Her arms folded over her chest as she glanced at her sister sitting regally on the throne, engaged in a social conversation with one of the guests. Was it wrong of her to think that she would fail? That she worried that her sister would drown under the pressure of ruling? Perhaps. Love her sister as she does, she knows Sola well enough to know that when she faltered, Padme needed to be ready to help her in whatever way that may be. And if that meant wearing the crown after her, then she would. But to be ready, she couldn't allow something as silly as a boy distract her. Just as Sola had her duty, she too had a role to play.
"I'm worried, Mama," She said, giving air to her concerns. "Do you think she can do it?"
Her mother reached out and took her younger daughter's hands and looked at her eldest, "It will be hard," She admitted. "But in the end, I believe she will do what is best for Naboo." She gave her hand a squeeze and kissed her cheek, gracefully gliding across the floor as she went back to her rounds of the guests.
