Before coming here, Anakin Skywalker had imagined countless possibilities.
He might be surrounded and attacked by countless soldiers the moment he arrived, or a powerful Dark Lord might suddenly rush out. Failing that, he might be attacked by starfighters halfway through. He had even considered the absurd possibility of opening the door and seeing Count Dooku.
He had been prepared. The moment an enemy appeared, he would swing his Lightsaber without hesitation!
But the one thing he had never expected was this—a Chancellor of the Galactic Republic who was gravely wounded, yet still diligently working.
Just as Palpatine had always been in Anakin's understanding.
In fact, Anakin Skywalker's relationship with Sheev Palpatine had lasted for more than a decade.
Thirteen years ago, the Battle of Naboo had just ended. Sheev Palpatine had successfully been elected Chancellor, while Anakin Skywalker had been accepted as Obi-Wan Kenobi's apprentice and entered the Jedi Order.
From then on, Palpatine had paid Anakin Skywalker special attention. When Anakin had first arrived, unfamiliar with everything around him, it had been Palpatine who constantly encouraged him and gave him warmth.
Palpatine often wrote to Anakin as Naboo's representative, lavishly praising his brave performance in the Battle of Naboo and repeatedly declaring that Anakin had saved the people of Naboo.
Back then, Anakin Skywalker had not been well liked by some of the Jedi Order's elders. On Coruscant, he had been very lonely. Palpatine, however, had given him the greatest encouragement... He had also repeatedly asked in his letters about the details of Anakin Skywalker's actions during the Battle of Naboo, asking like a curious child exactly how he had destroyed that enormous droid control ship all by himself.
It was like after pulling off an incredible five-kill streak in a game: some people simply said, "Oh, good