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"Good-looking man, this actor."
"Your Majesty!"
Padmé laughed discreetly behind her fan, languidly blowing air towards her face. The play was one of the longest she had attended in her life, but she was an honoured guest of the Queen of Alderaan, so she had to hide her boredom. It was not even that the play was bad, it was all good and controlled, it was a play and a work of great quality, but it was always complicated to follow a work when you had spent the first ten minutes thirsting for the first person to appear on stage. She had literally forgotten to follow the first few lines of dialogue, simply savouring the effect of the man's deep, highly erotic voice on her, and had continued to watch him with interest ever since. The plot was now a secondary interest.
She urgently needed a lover; at twenty-seven she was becoming seriously frustrated with her involuntary celibacy. When she had been elected to become the future Queen of Naboo, she was still very young and came from a poor, rural and poorly educated social background. She had raised herself through education and politicisation programmes, but to the nobility of Naboo, she was still a commoner... which was hilarious and very paradoxical of them, considering that they had demanded as much as the people that she remain in power after her term as Queen-mandate was over.
She was the Queen they wanted, the Queen Naboo deserved, but she was not a woman to be married off to their sons. She was not the mother they wanted for their offspring. She would be lying if she said it did not hurt her feelings, but she had managed to overcome it over the years, especially thanks to her friends, confidants and bodyguards. She had a first lover before she was even Queen, an almost-lover in the person of Scipio’s Representative Rush Clovis, and years of secret romance with a Knight even though it had been several years since she and Anakin had parted ways, and Padmé knew in her heart that if she did not have her two adorable twins with her, she would have been trying to find someone long ago.
She was not very good at being alone.
What was wrong with taking a handsome lover for a night? Being Queen of Naboo did not stop her from wanting to have fun, and she was all the more pleasantly surprised that the troupe was Rodian and spoke in Rodese, if she remembered correctly Onaconda had even told her about this play at the beginning of the year. She had not expected to see such a fine human specimen when she had accepted the invitation. He might have been older, but there was no question of making a life with someone here, she had no such hopes for the future. It was attractiveness, desire, and his voice was just perfection.
"I should invite them to come to Theed Palace, they have excellent energy."
"I wouldn't recommend it", Sabé whispered behind her in a cautious but firm tone.
Curious, Padmé leaned back slightly, listening to her best friend go into more detail.
Did this man have a bad reputation? Or perhaps he was married?
"If he came to you on your request, it would be impossible to guarantee the sincerity of his actions."
In other words... it would be impossible for Padmé to get real consent from him if she tried to seduce him and he accepted her advances. Even if she was to his liking, they were not animals, attraction very rarely led to a night of passion, and if she hinted at her interest... he might accept without completely wanting to just so as not to displease her.
She was a Queen and he was a travelling artist, the stability, security and prestige of their positions just did not compare. He could say no, but in this situation, Padmé was under no illusions, there was no reason for him to take that risk. It was so easy for someone like him to suffer the wrath of his patrons, and so difficult for them to prove abuse, even if someone dared to speak out...
Whether she liked it or not, Padmé had had a reputation of ferocity and determination ever since she had driven the Trade Federation out of Naboo and captured Viceroy Gunray with her own hands, so she was always very careful that her lovers did not feel pressured into anything, often choosing them from people who were not from Naboo and therefore did not fear having to face her justice, but even then she had to be careful.
A few years ago, she had not been the most reasonable, having sex and a forbidden secret marriage with a Knight devoted to religious celibacy had not been the best decision of her life.
Sabé was right, the benefactor-sponsored relationship would bring back the problem of hierarchy between them, so it was better to keep her fantasies to herself.
Decision made, Padmé turned her gaze again to the stage and paid attention to the last act, applauding at the end, greeting everyone she passed and she and her Nubian comrades headed for the reception, with the exception that Sabé had taken her place just before entering the doors. Even when they were teenagers, the deception was extremely sophisticated, but since then they had taken it to another level. Every physical difference was covered and Sabé had practised imitating Padmé's speech and voice, sometimes even confusing the other servants when she was in a teasing mood and used it on them. The very image of dignity and elegance, Sabé slipped into the crowd and joined in conversations, moving from one group to another with a charm and gentleness that Padmé knew she could not muster tonight.
She chatted for a while with Dormée and Teckla and then they went their separate ways to enjoy the evening, as she knew Teckla was all blushes as she chatted to one of the Guards of the Grand Master of the Order, Master Yoda.
He was a lovely old man, but Padmé knew he would not mind her not coming to say hello tonight, they would see each other and talk quietly at the annual Nubian-Gungan reconciliation ceremony. In fact, it would probably be better for him if she did not come to greet him, she had seen that he had fallen asleep at some point, and the old gods of Naboo knew that she would not like to be surrounded by energetic people after she had unexpectedly fallen asleep.
The Queen checked several times that she was well covered by the covering and modest clothes of her servants and made her way to the buffet tables, taking a seat next to a beautiful woman with impressive braids whom she admired while eating before strolling quietly around the room, carefully holding a cup of wine in her hands to give herself a reserved air. No one of importance was going to speak to her unless they wished to speak to her and be introduced to Sabé in the Queen's costume, and as she spoke easily to people, there was no need to go through her confidants to get access to her company.
When she spotted a balcony overlooking the magnificent southern garden of Aldera's Royal Palace, she made sure she was seen by Duja and that she made it clear where she was going before going out. One can never be too careful.
After several hours in a closed building, the purity of the night air was a relief and a real pleasure, and the light and sparse lighting of the well-tended garden gave visitors plenty of time to appreciate the night sky and the stars already visible in the heavenly vault. To the extent that she was already looking up at the sky before she had even reached the bench, which she knew to be located in the cosy alcove to the right of the opening and invisible from the inside. To the extent that she did not even check that the place was deserted.
The cry of surprise and panic came out of her mouth on its own as she stumbled over someone sitting down, who immediately steadied her by grabbing her waist and pulling her against a firm, stable chest.
"I've got you."
Padmé was quickly back on her feet and the man who had stood up at the same time as her recoiled as she took a step backwards and bowed very slowly with a caution she could see even in the darkness.
"My apologies, my lady, I was sure you had seen me."
"I am the one who apologises", Padmé said immediately as she realised her mistake. "Your tunic is ruined", she murmured guiltily, having perceived without seeing it that a good half of the liquid remaining in her cup had landed on the man when she had literally fallen on top of him.
"It's nothing, I was thirsty."
The young woman laughed behind her hand before she could stop herself, trying to find in her memory where she had heard that voice before. It sounded familiar, a member of the Court of Organa perhaps?
"All the same, if you give me your name I'll see that you get a new tunic as compensation."
"It's not necessary, I assure you."
"I insist. I can insist for a long time."
"So I see", he murmured appreciatively. "I am Mace Windu".
"Padmé Naberrie. Where are you staying at the moment?"
"We are the guests of Her Majesty Queen Breha."
"We?"
She could see that he was tilting his head in confusion, but for the life of her she could not understand why. After a moment's thought he made a small neutral noise and stepped back into the light of the corridor and she understood.
"Oh."
"Indeed. I think I saw you in a loge with some other women", this very attractive man added calmly. "Your outfit is rather distinctive".
Padmé worried for a second that she had been recognised before realising that she was wearing one of the many yellow and orange robes and capes that did not exactly go unnoticed. That was kind of the point, in fact: faceless women in clothes so visible that you forgot to look at them, so much the better if it worked.
"And I would have been blind if I missed you on stage ", Padmé replied, finding the seductive intonation again in the theatre actor, though extremely less pronounced now that she knew what she was looking for.
It was one thing to recite lines in a huge theatre loud enough for everyone to hear them clearly and understandably, even in the background, and quite another to speak regularly to people right in front of you.
"Your performance was a real success."
"Thank you for your generosity. We don't often get the chance to have an audience like this, so I imagine the demands go hand in hand, but it was an honour nonetheless."
"Don't worry, you obviously have a way with words", she complimented sincerely. "I'll arrange for a tailor to come and offer their services before you leave".
"That's really unnecessary, these clothes are probably not worth the kind of materials or craftsmanship a Lady would have to deal with."
"Perhaps I like to dress a handsome man in fine clothes", Padmé let slip with a smile that her sister was saying was a trick before she realised what she was saying.
She drew her fan from her pocket with a quick but graceful movement and opened it sharply to hide the bottom of her face, taking advantage of the fact that the rest was very well covered by her hood. She had always been very... strong-willed, and this was reflected in her flirting, but there were things not to say and jokes not to make.
"No offence", she added in a contrite tone.
"Why should I be insulted that a woman who is obviously much younger and very attractive finds me handsome enough to be worthy of her interest, even temporarily?"
"Men rarely like to feel objectified", she explained as she closed her fan, too socially astute and perceptive not to notice that he was genuinely amused and flattered and not repulsed as she had feared.
Besides, she was anonymous to him, not a Queen, so all was well. A Queen's servant was not necessarily a woman of very high status and only had authority and influence if she had the ear and affection of her mistress, so there was no reason for him to feel threatened by her.
Probably because he was also unaware that she had a few weapons hidden on her person, it could only help.
"Nobody does", he murmured, leaning forward slightly against her, "but I admit that for someone so delightfully bold and straightforward, I think I can make an exception. Tell me, my lady, what colour do you think would suit me best?"
"If it's tastefully done, I'm sure any colour would suit you."
He took a step forward, and she could see his smile widen as she let him.
"So what should I wear?"
"If you really need one", she ponders aloud with false sadness, "something fairly close to the body would probably be preferable. When you have a stature like yours, it would be a waste not to show it off".
He did not step back when she put a hand on his chest, in fact, he took another step forward. She could only smile, it seemed she had resigned herself to not getting any action tonight a bit too fast, it appeared she probably had a lucky star watching over her.
What were the chances of her running into the exact man she had been fantasising about and getting such a reaction to her unrefined flirting?
Maybe he was rather lonely too, who knows, life on the road did not give many opportunities to start a family, unless... unless your family travelled with you.
Another point that Sabé had forgotten to mention, but which could be just as much a cold shower as an uncertain consent.
"Any problems?"
"No problem at all."
"And what else?"
"You're not married, are you? It is a grave sin for my people to seduce someone who has already offered their faithfulness to someone else."
She already had a marriage that many had reproached her for, she did not intend to add this kind of problem to those that were already tormenting her.
"I never married, my daughter was adopted as a baby when we found her family dead in our path. I won't betray anyone for you."
"So there's really no problem."
"Wonderful. Is this the moment for me to confirm that you have seduced me, little lady?"
"Only if you want to take responsibility for your actions", she chuckled, placing the tip of her closed fan over her mouth. "It's been a very long time since I crossed paths with a man of such stature".
"I'm sure you come across many other."
"You will find that none compare to you in many ways."
He slowly raised his right hand for her to grasp, which she did slowly, sliding their hands together before squeezing more firmly. She wanted those hands on her body. Right now.
"Perhaps we should leave this balcony, what do you think?"
"It would be a pleasure, what do you have in mind?"
"My rooms aren't very far... but only if you're interested", he added cautiously as they stepped through the balcony door and back inside.
"I only have one person to tell so that my friends don't worry about my absence and I'll follow you". She reassured him immediately, not one to miss her chance.
"I should probably do the same so that no one comes to disturb us", he realised with an embarrassed smile.
Padmé could only understand and would not blame him for that. She lived with a total of about ten bodyguard-decoy-nanny-friend-confidante-spy maids on a daily basis, so privacy could sometimes be a challenge.
"That would be for the best", she confirmed. "Let's meet back here then".
"Let's do that."
Padmé caught a sight of Teckla but wisely chose not to interrupt her while she and her lover were deep in a gentle and sweet discussion, further on she spotted Dormé, Kartée and Hollé in a women's dance, Duja and Moteé surrounded Sabé in a lively discussion group but... bingo! Ellé was relatively alone and talking to a distant cousin of Consort Bail Organa.
Approaching her and explaining the situation was child's play and, on top of that, Sabé met her eye when she found her date just before leaving the room for the evening. The surprise and understanding were just perfect and the young woman applauded discreetly, winking at her with a smile.
Padmé could only agree, the evening had been just perfect. She was still thinking it when neither of them could resist the urge to start discovering each other in the corridors.
Perfect.