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The Emperors Servants
My parents are tense. Again. This time, I have no clue why. My grades were here, I am valedictorian of my higher education again and several times past my, what used to be called 'high school' years. The bills are fine, and the apartment meets regulations. Hiding in my room due to partial banishment, my mother is crying again. Why does she cry so often? Why does my father sigh? Damn it all, I want answers. I look in my full length mirror. With my hair in long braids and the generic relatively teenage year's tunic and pants, I can see why I am viewed as a child by them. My low double buns look unusual and not young, nor old. They work. Perhaps all those skirts should be worn that my parents and family have insisted in buying. Yes, perhaps it shall work.
A little later, I have perfected the double buns and found a skirt to go over the breaches. Actually, the skirt was meant to be worn with the pants any way. I brushed off the dust, and let the door purposely slide open. I walk straight to my parents in the front room. There is still tension. The look at me with half bored half shocked eyes. "Yes, Leia?" There are more imperial papers in their hands. In two years, I am a legal citizen and free of their guardian ship, technically. They know this. Therefore, I demand to know what is happening in my life. Wordlessly, the papers are given to me. The child on the balcony was myself, I realize, as I go pack.
My possessions fit in several bags. Clothing varies for me, I don't really care. I do have many senator gowns though, and those are sent with my formal things ahead of me. On the shuttle ride over to the palace, I make sure my hair and senator's gown is in place. My parents are already over there, and I was sent to go by myself. I will change before I meet the emperor, but even as I get of the bus the few very evidently marked imperial servants give me sorrowful glances. Really, I have no clue into what lair I am walking into
Oh, this is not what I was looking for at all. I did not move from a well placed apartment to a palace to mop the floors. That was what I had to do the first night. Today, I have a list of chores. CHORES. Why do I have do CHORES in a palace where there are servants? Yes, I understand, they are people to, but really. Do you want to clean the toilet of the Emperor? Bah, so here I am, standing in my Warriors garb minus the skirt SCRUBBING TOILETS. Spoiled, yes, but I know what I should and shouldn't do. This is a test now, an irritating degrading test. Am I supposed to stay strong to keep doing chores for ever? Or am I supposed to confront the emperor?
It has to be the first one. The second one would be too easy. Alas, as I go clean the assigned rooms, I think about my parents. The only thing I've gotten from them is a letter. They are worried sick about me, yet most of their letter is crossed off. It could make one worry. In my thoughts and grim, I have reached the room. The doors are huge and gilded. They are not black. Therefore, they are the Empress'. I double check the list that I have in my bodice.
Yes, I am at the right room. There is no side door, nor secret servant's way that I know of, so...the doors are heavy. I use my back to keep it open, and I swing the buckets around behind it. Grunting very unlady like, I shove the door closed again, and a part of me is that it is a silent palace. Now if it would be useful, id make it loud by ranting about being a servant, but now isn't the time. This room is too large for one bucket. There's a bathroom off to the side that needs the cleaning as well. Thankfully, it's the last room for the day. Now that I think about it, it's the only thing on my list. Yay, I guess.
Actually, sweeping it took the longest time. The dirt that builds up in a room that only has a few areas truly, comes quite a large mass really. I don't think the maid in the other part of the wing will mind having to dump it out of her holder for me. Using my feet, I did a little ice skating to get it soapy with rags and in the moment of multitasking I blended the dusting in with it.
Actually, it was rather fun, and took me back to my very very short child hood. With some unknown skill, I learned most things early and from there, any form of a child hood went bye bye. Really, I don't know what else to compare it to since all my other few friends did the same thing. In my bliss, I did not feel a dark presence in the other room. A part of me felt it perhaps, but my irrational side had taken over. It hid when I felt a human behind me, and with unseen grace, I spun on the rags a full one eighty, took a knee, and hid the duster. The embarrassment was great. Any one else would've died probably.
"You are supposed to be in here?" Oh gods. I was just skating in front of the emperor. How could I not have felt him? "Yes, lord Vader." His open hand was evident in my lowered eyes. I dug for my list, and gave it to him. I felt his eyebrow rise when I tried to get it out. I recalled my protocol lessons, of how kneeling should only be so long. I resisted fidgeting. "May I continue to clean?" I don't think he even looked up. "You may rise." Great. I still kept my eyes down cast. From a corner of my sight, I saw a secret panel open, a servant stick his head in, green eyes widen and the panel slam shut. The Emperor took no notice. I narrowed my eyes. There would be a fight tonight, and the emperor would be seen most likely. I will not be taken advantage of that easily.