Then sabe turned her gaze to Jin-Woo,.
"Jin-Woo… you're a very strange person," she said with a faint, curious smile.
"You don't care about wealth — probably not about power either, at least not like common people do. Even Palpatine needs his position, which… well, is understandable now, since he probably needs money for retirement."
Off to the side, Palpatine gave a stiff little nod, his face trying to stay composed — but the corners of his mouth twitched in mild irritation.
Sabé's voice softened with genuine curiosity.
"So… what is your goal?"
She expected the usual lofty answer, some polished line about peace, prosperity, or the betterment of the galaxy — the kind of flowery lie every ambitious man gave.
But instead, Jin-Woo surprised everyone.
"Are we," Jin-Woo murmured smoothly, his lips curving into the faintest of smirks,
"…really meant to be stuck in one galaxy?"
Padmé blinked, tilting her head slightly.
"What do you mean by that?"
Jin-Woo's eyes half-lidded, a glimmer of amusement flickering within them.
"Everyone keeps preaching about 'peace for the galaxy,'" he said lightly, his tone dancing on the edge of mocking,
"and prosperity, unity, all that fluff… but let's be honest — most people can't even do their jobs properly."
Then, with a faint nod, he added smoothly, "Except you, Queen Amidala. You're very good at yours."
Padmé raised an eyebrow, a faint, graceful smile tugging at her lips.
"I'll take that as a compliment," she said softly.
Jin-Woo gave a light shrug, his expression cool and unreadable.
"Now, as I was saying… do you know what's out there?"
His gaze lifted slightly, as if looking beyond the palace walls, beyond the stars.
"Outside this galaxy… there are wonders no one here has even dreamed of. Worlds, realms, mysteries waiting to be explored."
Palpatine folded his hands calmly in front of him, his voice slipping into that smooth, velvety tone he wielded like a blade.
"For thousands of years," he said , eyes glinting with just a touch of steel,
"no one has set foot beyond this galaxy and returned. The further you go — beyond the Core Worlds, beyond the Mid Rim, the Outer Rim, and into the Unknown Regions — the more the dangers multiply. There's a reason we have borders, a reason we chart and define sectors. The beyond… is death. That is why we survive ."
He let the words hang, like a quiet warning laced with the weight of history.
But Jin-Woo only gave a faint, almost lazy smirk, his sharp eyes glinting with something colder, something untamed.
"Says who?" Jin-Woo said , "Books? Records? Writings penned by the losers of the past?"
His gaze locked on Palpatine, sharp and knowing.
"Maybe you don't know this, Senator, but that hyperdrive you cling to — that technology you build your fleets, your borders, your little maps around… do you really think your Republic invented it?"
"Or was it gifted — or scavenged — from someone far more advanced than anything you've ever seen?"
Padmé's gaze lingered on Palpatine for a long moment — too long.
She didn't say a word at first, but in her mind, the pieces spun,
Jin-Woo's death… declared by Palpatine stood at the center of that announcement. He claimed Jin-Woo was gone — dead on Malachor.
And yet here Jin-Woo stands — mocking him. Calm. Unscathed. Alive.
And what happened when sabe posing as me , questioned it?
Suddenly, the great Senator of Naboo becomes a doddering man, and now mumbling about dementia, slurring strange phrases, destroying property…
But then… moments later? He speaks fluently. Clearly. Defensively.
Padmé narrowed her eyes slightly to palpatine sudden answer something is very wrong .
There are only two possibilities.
Either: Senator Palpatine is truly afflicted — unstable, decaying, suffering from early-stage dementia, possibly a splintered mind. A tragic, dangerous liability to this Republic and its diplomacy.
Or… the second possibility — the one I hope with all my heart is wrong…
The man who support me. The man I trusted with Naboo's voice in the Senate. That man… is playing a very different game.
She finally spoke — her voice clear, measured, but lined with a quiet, impossible-to-ignore weight.
"Senator Palpatine," she said gently, "you may keep your position as Senator of Naboo."
Palpatine's shoulders relaxed slightly — almost visibly relieved.
But Padmé's next words dropped like ice. "And… I sincerely hope you begin taking memory supplements. Lots of them. Regularly."
Sabé, standing behind the Queen, blinked once before her mouth twitched with the barest hint of a smirk.
Morgan didn't bother hiding her laugh. She turned to Rey and whispered dryly, "That's a veiled strike if I've ever heard one."
Palpatine bowed ever so slightly, keeping his mask intact.
"Thank you, Queen Amidala," he replied smoothly. "Your understanding… is as clear as ever. I'm certain this unfortunate misunderstanding will not happen again."
Padmé folded her hands gracefully, her expression calm but unmistakably firm.
"Senator," she said smoothly, "this is the second incident involving you and Jin-Woo since your arrival. For the sake of Naboo's stability, I request that you remain on Coruscant moving forward. As I see it, every disruption seems to center around the two of you — and Naboo needs your continued support… from afar. Do you understand, Senator?"
Captain Panaka, ever vigilant, stepped slightly forward, his tone measured but edged with quiet concern.
"Your… condition, Senator. your dementia is triggered more violently in proximity to Jin-Woo. It would be wise to stay calm — and stay away."
Sabé, ever sharp-tongued, crossed her arms and gave Palpatine a flat look.
"And stock up on your pills and medicine, Senator. You'll need them."
For a moment, Palpatine's polite mask remained fixed — but behind his eyes, his thoughts coiled like a tightening serpent.
Twice…
Twice this lunatic merchant has saved me by not exposing that I was the one stirring the pot.
And now — even when the Queen herself offers him the perfect excuse to push me out — he ignores it.
What kind of man… no, what kind of monster walks away from a political kill that clean?
Palpatine's eyes flicked subtly to the side — to Morgan and Rey.
If I can't touch Jin-Woo… Perhaps it's time I tested the strength of his aides. Morgan… Rey…
Jin-Woo's mouth curved into a faintly mischievous grin as his sharp eyes flicked toward Palpatine. With a light, almost playful motion, he raised two fingers in a V sign.
"Peace, man," Jin-Woo said smoothly —
but then his voice lowered just a notch, his tone threading with a cryptic edge , as his plan to get rid off palpatine from naboo has been fruitful . "This galaxy… was never yours to conquer."
The words hung in the air like a riddle — light as a whisper, but heavy with something none in the chamber could quite grasp.
Padmé blinked, tilting her head in confuse thought.
Sabé narrowed her eyes, mouthing the words silently to herself.
Panaka furrowed his brow, glancing at the Queen as if hoping she'd understood.
Even Rey gave Morgan a sideways glance, as if silently asking, Did you catch that?
Palpatine let out a soft, polished laugh, smoothing his robes with practiced ease.
"Of course, my friend. Of course," he said smoothly, though behind his words a faint thread of confusion crept in.
"It's been… enlightening. I believe I'll take my leave now."
Without another word, Palpatine turned and strode calmly from the throne room. His steps echoed against the polished marble floor, his face composed — but his mind already churning with dark intent, calculating his next move against Jin-Woo as his shuttle awaited in the Naboo hangar.
Padmé exhaled softly, smoothing her hands over her gown as she turned to Jin-Woo.
"Jin-Woo," she said calmly, "you still have two Jedi waiting to speak with you. You did promise them after the… unfortunate event with Senator Palpatine."
Jin-Woo tilted his head slightly, a glimmer of amusement in his eye. "Where are they now, Queen Amidala?"
"They're in the Theed Royal Palace bar area," Padmé replied, her tone matter-of-fact.
Rey gave a sly grin, tilting her head playfully.
"A peaceful place, huh? And the palace just happens to have a bar section — are you sure you're innocent, my queen?"
Padmé gave a dignified sigh, shaking her head with a smile.
"I'm just the next holder, Rey. The previous one was King Ars Veruna — I don't know anything about what he left behind."
Then Padmé composed herself, her voice soft but firm.
"Jin-Woo, a handmaiden will accompany you — I insist."
Jin-Woo's sharp eyes flicked toward her, reading her effortlessly.
Ah… and that handmaiden is yourself, Padmé, he thought, lips twitching into a faint, knowing smile as Sabé subtly stepped up to take the Queen's place.
Jin-Woo chuckled softly and leaned in just slightly, his voice smooth, his usual nickname slipping effortlessly from his lips. "I don't mind, princess."
For a moment, Padmé's composure cracked ever so slightly, a flicker of warmth flashing in her eyes.
One of these days, she thought with quiet resolve, I'm going to trick you, Jin-Woo… and when you finally get caught, I'll laugh and savor every second of it.
Padmé, now in her handmaiden disguise, walked gracefully at Jin-Woo's side as they made their way through the palace halls, Morgan and Rey flanking them with casual elegance.
As they turned a corner, Padmé glanced at Jin-Woo, her voice light but edged with a hint of sincerity.
"Jin-Woo, I've been wondering… could you be my bodyguard?" she asked , her lips curving in a small smile. "And … my mentor in social skills?"
Jin-Woo's mouth twitched into a faint smirk, his sharp eyes flicking toward her.
"You know very well," he murmured smoothly, "I don't like money."
Padmé tilted her head, teasing now, her eyes dancing with mischief.
"How about… a real kiss as the reward?"
Before Jin-Woo could answer, Rey burst in with a grin, nudging Padmé playfully.
"Welcome to the family, fourth wife."
Padmé sighed, a laugh slipping past her lips as she gave a resigned smile.
Jin-Woo chuckled softly, shaking his head.
"Let's handle this meeting first," he said calmly, "then we can talk about that."
As they approached the bar section of the palace, the low murmur of conversation drifted to their ears — Obi-Wan's familiar voice carrying just a touch of tipsiness.
"I'm surprised, Master," Obi-Wan was saying with a slightly unsteady laugh, "that you allowed me to drink this much."
Qui-Gon's calm voice followed, measured and thoughtful.
"I've always believed… a Jedi shouldn't ignore everything. Satisfying some needs is part of understanding life."
Obi-Wan gave a lopsided grin.
"And that's why you've always turned down a seat on the Jedi Council, isn't it, Master?"
At that moment, Jin-Woo and his group stepped into view. Jin-Woo's voice cut smoothly through the air.
"Did I arrive late?"
Qui-Gon turned, his calm eyes lighting with a faint smile.
"Right on time," he said warmly, "ten minutes… just as you promised." His face grew slightly more serious.
"But I imagine you've already seen the public holo-net. The news… about Castell. First the societal collapse — and then, the next minute, the planet itself… destroyed. Very unfortunate."
Jin-Woo's voice was smooth, cool, unreadable.
"Very unfortunate," he echoed .
Beside him, Morgan's eyes glinted with a sharp flicker of thought.
Technically… your Tentsui — The Fall penalty — just enforced itself on Shu Mai. And that's what happened.
Everyone soon settled around the large round table, the atmosphere a strange mix of formality and quiet tension. Obi-Wan nursed his drink, taking casual sips — relaxed but still keeping the sharp eyes of a Jedi.
Qui-Gon, ever calm and measured, leaned forward slightly, resting his arms on the table.
"Jin-Woo," he said bluntly, his gaze steady, "I'm going to be direct… are you the Armored Man?"
Padmé, seated beside Jin-Woo, stiffened slightly.
Ehh?! Qui-Gon knows?! she thought, wide-eyed for a split second.
Across the table, Morgan caught Padmé's glance and made a small, almost imperceptible gesture — a subtle flick of her fingers that only Padmé would catch.
He met Qui-Gon nine years ago… but in his armor. Stay quiet.