Forbbiden Love Princess & Guard☑️

Chap #2 Shadows of Duty

Chapter 2: Shadows of Duty

Night fell swiftly over the palace of Valorian, casting the towering spires and stone walls in hues of deep blue and silver. The soft glow of the moon bathed the gardens in pale light, and the air carried the sweet scent of blooming roses. Elara, cloaked in a dark velvet shawl to blend into the shadows, slipped out of her chambers unnoticed. Her heart raced as she made her way to the garden where she and Caden had agreed to meet.

The palace at night was a different world—a world free from the eyes of the court, from the weight of expectation, and the constraints of royal duty. In these quiet hours, the rules that bound her seemed less absolute, the crown less suffocating. Here, in the silence, she could dare to dream of something else.

As she neared the center of the garden, the familiar figure of Caden emerged from the darkness. He stood waiting, his armor absent tonight, dressed in simple black clothing that made him appear less the royal guard and more the man she had come to love. His presence sent a rush of warmth through her, and for a moment, the world felt right.

"Elara," he greeted softly, his voice a gentle contrast to the stillness of the night.

She stepped closer, her heart pounding in her chest. "I needed to see you."

Caden's eyes searched hers, filled with the same conflict that plagued her—an impossible choice between duty and desire. "It's dangerous to meet like this," he whispered, though he did not move to step away. "If anyone were to find us..."

Elara reached out, her fingers brushing lightly against his hand. "I don't care," she said, her voice trembling with the weight of her feelings. "I can't pretend any longer, Caden. Every moment in the court, every time I sit in those meetings with my father, I feel like I'm suffocating. They want me to marry Prince Lucien, to bind myself to a life I do not want."

Her words lingered in the cool night air, heavy with the truth she had kept hidden for so long. She looked into Caden's eyes, searching for any sign that he might share her hopes, her defiance.

His gaze softened, but he did not speak immediately. Instead, he took a step closer, lifting his hand to gently touch her cheek. His touch was both comforting and electric, stirring something deep within her. "Elara, you know I would give anything to be by your side, not just as your guard, but—" He hesitated, the unspoken words heavy between them. "But we both know the world we live in. A princess can't be with a guard. The kingdom, your family... they would never allow it."

"I know," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "But what about what I want? What about my happiness?" She took his hand, holding it tightly as if it could anchor her to something real, something that wasn't dictated by her title. "Don't you want this too? Don't you feel what I feel?"

For a long moment, Caden said nothing. His expression was a mix of pain and longing, his jaw clenched as though he was fighting a battle within himself. Finally, he spoke, his voice low and full of the same struggle she felt. "I do, Elara. I feel it every day. But I swore an oath—to protect you, to serve your family. And if I... if we cross this line, there's no going back."

Elara's heart ached at his words, but she refused to let go of his hand. "Then let's cross it. Let's stop pretending we can live like this, hiding in the shadows, denying what we both know is real."

Caden's grip on her hand tightened, and for the briefest moment, Elara saw a flicker of hope in his eyes. But just as quickly, it was gone, replaced by the weight of his sense of duty. "I wish it were that simple," he said, his voice barely more than a whisper. "But there are consequences, Elara. If we're discovered, it won't just be us who suffers. It could tear apart your family, your kingdom. And I could never forgive myself for putting you in that position."

Elara closed her eyes, fighting back the tears that threatened to fall. She had known this would be difficult—had known that loving Caden meant accepting the reality of their situation. But still, hearing him speak of the impossibility of their love made the pain feel sharper, more real.

"I can't marry Lucien," she said, her voice breaking. "I can't spend the rest of my life pretending, Caden. Not when it's you I love."

At her words, Caden's breath caught, and for a moment, the world seemed to stop. His eyes softened, and he took a step closer, his hands gently cupping her face. "Elara," he whispered, his voice filled with emotion. "You don't know how much I want to tell you the same. But..."

She silenced him with a kiss, her lips meeting his in a moment of desperate, unspoken need. It was a kiss that held everything they couldn't say aloud—years of longing, of stolen glances, of quiet moments when they both wished for more. For those few seconds, they were not princess and guard. They were just Elara and Caden.

When they pulled apart, their foreheads rested together, breaths mingling in the cool night air. The world around them seemed to hold its breath, as if waiting for what would come next. Elara's heart raced, her lips still tingling from the kiss. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, she felt free.

But the reality of their situation quickly settled back in, the weight of their responsibilities pressing down on them both.

Caden's voice was soft, filled with regret. "We can't do this, Elara. Not here, not like this."

She opened her eyes, searching his face for any sign of hope, of a future where they didn't have to hide. "Then when?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "When will we ever get to be us?"

Caden's hand slipped from her cheek, falling to his side. "I don't know," he admitted, his tone heavy with uncertainty. "But for now, we have to be careful. We have to keep this secret, for both our sakes."

Elara's chest tightened, but she nodded, knowing he was right. The kingdom, her family, the crown—they all stood between them. But even as the weight of their world threatened to pull them apart, she couldn't shake the feeling that what they shared was worth fighting for.

"We'll find a way," she whispered, more to herself than to him. "We have to."