Inside the throne room, Queen Amidala sat tall and composed upon the ornate throne, her regal red robes flowing elegantly, the crown resting firmly atop her brow.
This time, it was Padmé herself — not Sabé in disguise.
Whispers filled the chamber as Padmé listened to complaints filtering up from the city — reports that Morgan had caused a stir in a local restaurant, unnerving nobles and merchants alike.
Then, the tall doors of the throne room creaked open.
Jin-Woo entered first, his stride calm and controlled. Morgan followed, chin slightly raised, her confident aura unmistakable. Rey bounced lightly at his side, eyes bright and curious, her youthful grin sharp with mischief. Shu Mai trailed behind, her expression drawn, every step heavy with unspoken tension.
Padmé's eyes flicked to them, calm but sharp, and her voice rang clear across the room.
"Jin-Woo… do you mind explaining why your wife caused a ruckus on Naboo?" she asked smoothly. "It's not… like what she usually does."
Morgan, without a flicker of hesitation, turned slightly,.
"Talk to that Gossam," she said , her chin gesturing toward Shu Mai.
Shu Mai stepped forward stiffly, smoothing her robe as she bowed low.
"I am Shu Mai, Presidente of the Commerce Guild," she announced, her voice tight but formal.
At once, murmurs rippled through the gathered advisors.
Sabé, standing silently beside Padmé in the role of bodyguard, tensed slightly — her hand instinctively brushing the grip of her blaster. Her sharp eyes narrowed, .
"For what purpose does the Commerce Guild come to Naboo… uninvited — and without informing the Queen first?"
Shu Mai drew a slow, unsteady breath, gathering herself.
"To put Jin-Woo on a leash within the Commerce Guild," she said quietly, her voice edged with bitter defeat, "by threatening his friends."
A sharp murmur rippled through the advisors, their eyes darting between Shu Mai and Jin-Woo.
Padme , sitting tall on her throne, gave a slow, measured nod.
"And you failed… as the result."
Shu Mai lowered her head slightly, her posture stiff.
"Yes," she admitted, her voice rough. "And as compensation… I wish to offer you 300 billion credits from my personal inventory."
Padmé's gaze softened only slightly, her voice calm but firm.
"There are some things that money cannot solve, Presidente Shu Mai. And you… almost placed one of my important figure in danger."
Shu Mai's eyes flickered faintly, her face tight as she gave the money , with a nod.
"Regardless," she said quietly, "I will leave this money behind… and hope that it can repair the ruckus I caused."
Her gaze shifted slowly, deliberately, toward Jin-Woo — her eyes locking with his, heavy with a silent question: Satisfied now?
Padmé lifted her chin gracefully, her voice calm and composed as it carried across the throne room.
"Naboo thanks Presidente Shu Mai for this gesture," she said smoothly. "The funds will be used to support the families, businesses, and peacekeeping services affected by the recent disruptions. Let this be a step toward renewed peace and understanding between Naboo and the Commerce Guild."
From the side, Jin-Woo gave the faintest, almost imperceptible signal — a slight tilt of his fingers, a flicker of his gaze toward Shu Mai.
You may go… and watch yourself.
Shu Mai caught the signal. For a moment, her lips pressed tightly together, her eyes flicking between Jin-Woo and Padmé.
Then, shoulders slumped and steps heavy, she turned and left in quiet defeat, .
Padmé's eyes shifted now to Morgan, a faint smile of curiosity tugging at the edge of her lips.
"The severed head you brought when you were in the streets earlier," Padmé said lightly, "that must've been Shu Mai's marksman, wasn't it? Did you really just dodge a blaster at that range, Morgan?"
Morgan remained perfectly still, her half-lidded eyes calm, offering only the slightest nod in response to Padmé's question — no need for words.
But Jin-Woo's sharp gaze caught something else in motion.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Rey — her fingers dancing with light precision as she smoothly pickpocketed Palpatine's recording device, the one he had used earlier to try to blackmail Jin-Woo. With a sly grin and a glint of mischief in her eyes, Rey flicked her eyebrows at Jin-Woo, wordlessly flashing the device she'd swapped — now loaded with far more embarrassing footage of the senator.
Padmé's calm, steady voice cut back through the tension.
"Jin-Woo… there's something I wish to talk about," she said , her eyes steady. "This suspicion, and your… fake declared death. Can you tell me now?"
Without hesitation, Jin-Woo lifted his hand, a smooth motion as he activated his holo-screen.
The projection lit up in the air between them, and on it played a scene of Palpatine — stumbling slightly, his words disjointed as he quietly muttered to himself, admitting, "Yes, maybe I have dementia…" His gait faltered, his composure cracked — an unguarded moment caught perfectly on record.
Before Padmé could even react, Morgan smoothly slipped her hand into Jin-Woo's coat, plucked out another holo-recording, and activated it with a flick of her wrist.
The image changed — now showing Palpatine inside the restaurant, smashing chairs, knocking over tables, hurling glassware, his face twisted in frustration and rage.
Morgan's lips curled into a cold, sharp smirk.
"Your senator, is retarded."
Just then, the doors burst open — Palpatine hurried in, robes flaring, face tight with forced urgency. His eyes immediately locked onto Jin-Woo, but there was something desperate behind his polished senatorial mask.
"Queen Amidala!" Palpatine called, lifting his hand dramatically, already pulling out his holo-device. "In this holo-screen, I have proof that Jin-Woo is a cunning man! He manipulated Shu Mai herself and made himself look innocent!"
Captain Panaka, standing beside Padmé , leaned in slightly.
"What shall we do, Your Majesty?" he asked calmly.
Padmé, ever composed, turned her thoughtful gaze toward Jin-Woo, her eyes steady, measured.
"Jin-Woo," she said softly, "you mentioned… he has dementia. I hope that was just a joke?"
Palpatine gave a smooth laugh — just a little too quick, just a little too nervous.
"Of course not! Even if it does — it's just a joke! Ha-ha! A misunderstanding, surely!"
Padmé's eyes narrowed slightly as she turned back toward Jin-Woo, searching his face. Jin-Woo only smiled lazily,.
"Go ahead," Jin-Woo murmured, folding his arms with a faint smirk. "Come on. I want to see it… how a retard becomes a clown."
Without hesitation, Palpatine activated his holo-screen.
And then… The disaster unfolded.
First came the footage: Palpatine stumbling over a banquet table at a formal event, knocking over a mountain of pastries and face-planting into a wedding cake.
Next clip: Palpatine, wearing a bathrobe, shouting into a mirror,
"I am Palpatine's wifeeeee!"
Finally, the crowning jewel — Palpatine, alone in his Senate chamber, twirling in circles, arms spread wide, laughing maniacally to himself:
"Huhuhuu… ahahahahahaha! AH-hahaha!!"
The throne room fell into complete silence.
Sabé's hand slid slowly down her face, covering her eyes in a deep, exhausted facepalm.
The Naboo advisors all stiffened, eyes wide, jaws slack.
Captain Panaka feeling embarrassed .
Padmé… slowly shook her head, one gloved hand pressed lightly to her temple, lips tight in disbelief.
Palpatine's eyes went wide as the realization hit — his own face frozen on the holo, his voice echoing embarrassingly in the room.
Inside his head, a storm of rage and panic churned.
And so… the Sith Grand Plan… moves one hundred steps… BACK because of me—
FUCKKKKK!!!
From the side of the chamber,
Governor Sio Bibble slowly stepped forward, his expression a mix of regret and careful diplomacy.
"Senator… we've known each other a long time," he said gently, "and I'm sorry, but… perhaps it's time to consider resignation."
Palpatine stood utterly silent, his mouth slightly open — no words came out. His fingers twitched at his sides.
Sabé, ever sharp, leaned in with a dry smirk and muttered ,
"Somebody get him his meds first. He looks very tired."
Padmé, maintaining her regal composure despite the weariness in her eyes, rose slightly from her throne, her voice soft but edged with authority.
"As Queen Amidala," she began carefully, "and having observed your mental health and cognitive function today… you have served as Naboo's senator for a long time. I believe it is time that a new senator be elected— we—"
Suddenly, Palpatine jolted.
"Your Majesty! I admit I've… had a few little problems!" His hands lifted, palms up, voice almost pleading but laced with polished charm.
"But I'm still fine — very fine! My mind is sharp, my service is unwavering, my commitment to Naboo remains stronger than ever! These were… unfortunate misunderstandings, I assure you. Stress! Only stress from the Senate chambers!"
Sabé tilted her head slightly, eyes half-lidded, and deadpanned,
"Is this you talking… or your dementia self?"
The room froze in stunned silence.
Several palace advisors awkwardly looked down at their hands, a few wincing or coughing as if trying to break the tension without a word.
Sabé, still calm, leaned slightly toward Padmé and whispered just under her breath,
"Padmé, I need you to trust me right now. We don't know who's to blame here or who's playing who. Also… I want to test Jin-Woo's resolve — see if he's really the good man he presents himself to be."
Padmé gave a small, almost imperceptible nod, her eyes steady.
Straightening, Sabé spoke up, her voice smooth and deliberate,
"Jin-Woo, I'll give you an option to decide Palpa—"
But before she could finish, Jin-Woo, lounging casually with his arms crossed, cut in flatly,
"No way. Ask someone else."
Sabé paused, arching an eyebrow.
"Rude as always," she murmured dryly.
Her sharp gaze then slid toward Morgan.
"How about you, Morgan? It seems Palpatine's presence bothers you?"
Morgan leaned slightly against the nearest pillar, arms folded.
"He's retarded. Do I really need to add more?" She gestured lazily at Palpatine. "Look at the poor old man right now — he's confused."
Sabé, watching carefully, thought to herself,
Under normal circumstances, people would jump at the chance to decide an enemy's fate… but these two? They don't give a shit. That's… something.
With a sigh, Sabé lifted her chin and declared smoothly,
"As Padmé's close aide, I hereby return Palpatine to his senator status. Do any of you have complaints?"
Jin-Woo simply raised a hand and gave an idle wave, the universal gesture for whatever, get over it.
Morgan gave a soft laugh, her voice lilting with sarcasm as she added,
"Not my England."
Sabé's sharp gaze slid toward Rey, who had been quietly leaning against a pillar, arms crossed, watching the whole exchange unfold with a faint, amused smirk.
"Rey, right?" Sabé said smoothly, tilting her head.
"That's your name."
Rey barely lifted her chin, eyes half-lidded.
"Uh huh. What is it?"
Sabé gave a measured, calculating smile.
"From what I see… you look more like Jin-Woo's assassin than anything else. And I want you to think carefully, because I'm very sharp at detecting lies." She let the words hang in the air just a beat longer, eyes narrowing slightly.
"So… I'm going to ask you: did Jin-Woo ask you to humiliate Senator Palpatine… or not?"
For a moment, the air held tense — but then Rey let out a light, almost playful laugh, brushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear.
"Jin-Woo's the kind of person," Rey said calmly
"who takes care of everything himself. He doesn't rely on people — not really. Me or Morgan?" She flicked her eyes toward Morgan with a crooked grin.
"The only thing we can do is slow him down enough so we can keep up."
Rey's gaze sharpened slightly, locking on Sabé.
"And besides… I know you're bluffing. You can't tell when I'm lying or not — you're just trying to rattle me." She smirked, a flash of defiance glinting in her expression.
"But here's the truth: I'm strong. That's why Jin-Woo rescued me. But for Jin-Woo?" Her grin softened, eyes thoughtful.
"That was optional. He's… unorthodox. In his own way , . He doesn't need us to break people for him — we're here because we chose to be."
Sabé gave a small, graceful nod, her tone softening slightly.
"Thank you, Rey," she murmured — a quiet acknowledgment, but her eyes were still sharp, studying every flicker of expression.