Rey had driven the hired carriage back to Mr Chewbacca in town at first light and walked back to Niima House. She felt sore between her legs and the cramping had begun again once she was up. At least at home she could at least wear menstruation cloths under her clothes to contain the slick.

Certainly today she was going to struggle to carry on as normal, as she began her daily chores. Sweat poured from her and she felt feverish.

If she smelled a little of Ben still downstairs, that wasn't necessarily a bad thing, but her thoughts drifted to him. She wanted him here now. He was the only thing that could help her get through the day.

Did he mean it? Would he come and take her away from all this? Ask her to marry him? Maybe she could still work and find a role at the palace. Maybe they could find a small place nearby to live and raise their children.

Rey snapped herself out of it. She wasn't that lucky. He wouldn't come and her life wouldn't change at all. Plutt and his daughters would work her until she wore away to dust and bone. Maybe this wasn't a heat and she'd simply reached a state of exhaustion so complete she had become delirious?

At least today Plutt, Asajj and Talzin were lazing, nursing their hangovers, and Rey could take it easy save for bringing drinks and snacks. Plutt had briefly noticed her peakiness and told her if she was sick to keep her distance from him and the girls.

She had just left another pot of tea on the side and collected the breakfast pots when there was a loud knock at the door. She opened and an extremely tall, bald man in golden robes waited outside.

"Please tell your master that Lord Snoke requires an urgent moment of his time," the golden stranger commanded.

"Of course, milord." She ushered the ostentatiously dressed gentleman into the main sitting room and ran straight to Plutt.

Rey had never seen Plutt so panicked. He didn't even stop to dress properly. "Girl, help my daughters dress and look presentable." He was down the stairs in his nightgown and dressing gown before she could blink.

The girls were excited. Rey explained that a Lord Snoke had called upon their father and the speculation began. Lord Snoke was close to the Prince. Had he chosen one of them? Who had the Prince danced with the longest?

Eventually the girls emerged and Rey accompanied them downstairs. She was instructed to bring out the good wine for Lord Snoke. And bring sandwiches and biscuits.

Rey had to take a moment to sip some water, the rush having made her lightheaded.

When she returned to the sitting room with her tray, the room was silent and Rey found all attention on her.

Oh. Maybe they had found out that she had been in the gardens last night? What was the punishment for trespassing?

Lord Snoke got to his feet and walked towards her.

"You were meant to raise her as one of your own, Plutt." His cold eyes appraised her. "You were compensated handsomely for doing so, yet you treat her like a slave. Look at her...starved. No wonder it took her so long to present."

"No, milord. We were simply trying to hide her away, like you said. No one looks twice at a maid. It's a disguise. We treat her well, I swear. You're not starved, girl. I mean Rey. Are you? Don't we treat you well?"

Lord Snoke turned to Plutt. "I wonder if you might have acted differently had you known who she was? What she was?" He sighed. "No you would have sold her off to the highest bidder no doubt. Used her."

Rey started breathing fast. Wait, He was talking about her? Plutt had told her he had taken her in. Had always said how grateful she should be to him for taking in a worthless orphan. Lord Snoke's words...did he know who her parents were?

"I swear, I did as you said. She's like a daughter to me. We hid her."

Lord Snoke signalled his soldiers who seized Plutt.

"She was meant to attend the ball yesterday, to meet the Prince and meet all the legal requirements of a future queen. The daughter of some minor backwater noble to keep everyone happy, until her true parentage came out after the marriage was consummated and binding."

Plutt tried to step forward but the guards restrained him.

"As it was, you are very, very lucky. The Prince just happened to meet her and wants to marry her regardless. He's adamant in fact. It went to a vote. A vote he lost. All these years of planning, gone to waste thanks to a piece of human sputum such as yourself. It seems we put our faith in the wrong person."

Did Snoke just say that the Prince Benjamin met someone and want to marry them? It couldn't be Rey that they were talking about. She didn't actually go to the ball. She ended up in the gardens and met Ben...oh.

"I needn't tell you how bad things would be going for you had the plan failed entirely, however I do feel a lesson needs to be given her. A change of approach is needed and there's one more way you can assist."

Plutt fell to his knees. "Please. I'll make it up. I'll pay all the money back. Anything. Tell me."

"Kill him. But take the daughters with you. They can repay his debt by serving the Princess they way she's served them."

Plutt and his daughters cried out but Plutt's throat was cut before either could make a move. Rey whimpered in shock.

"Burn the house and then take the Princess straight to Naboo. I must return to the Palace immediately before I'm missed." Lord Snoke bowed towards Rey. "Your Imperial Highness, your grandfather has been looking forward to meeting you for a long time."