Between our hands

Chapter 70: Under the Public's Gaze

The next morning, as the pale dawn light barely began to filter through the curtains, insistent knocks sounded against the bedroom door. Samy and Maëlle, still deeply immersed in sleep, began to wake slowly. Samy stretched, his muscular arms briefly tightening around Maëlle as she sat up, still groggy.

"Come in!" she said in a raspy voice, wiping the last traces of sleep from her eyes.

The door opened slowly, revealing Victoria, the queen consort, whose face betrayed deep concern. "I'm sorry to wake you so early, but there's an issue we need to discuss immediately," Victoria said, entering the room with barely contained urgency.

Maëlle sat up straighter, fully awake now due to Victoria’s unusually serious tone. She exchanged a look with Samy, who was already up, his protective instincts on high alert. The tension in the room was palpable. "What’s going on?" Maëlle asked, frowning, a wave of apprehension already tightening in her stomach.

Victoria, her eyes clouded with visible fatigue, took a deep breath before explaining, "Paparazzi broke into the farm last night... They managed to take some very intimate photos of you two. These images were published early this morning."

A stunned silence fell over the room. Samy, who had been stoic until then, clenched his jaw, his muscles tightening with rising anger. Maëlle felt a cold wave sweep through her body, a cold anger mixed with deep frustration. This moment, which had belonged only to them, this refuge of intimacy they had carefully preserved, had been violated. "They really have no respect," she muttered, her voice trembling, her fists clenched so tightly she could feel her nails digging into her skin. "It was up to us to announce our relationship, not them."

Samy nodded silently, his anger still contained but palpable. He turned his eyes toward Maëlle, his gaze meeting hers, trying to comfort her through the storm. "I'm so sorry this happened, Maëlle," he murmured softly, his voice filled with remorse, even though he knew it wasn’t his fault.

Maëlle shook her head vigorously, placing a soothing hand on his arm, gently caressing his skin with her slender fingers. "It’s not your fault, Samy," she said in a softer voice. "They crossed the line. We have nothing to be ashamed of."

Victoria, eager to offer a solution to the situation, stepped forward, trying to calm the palpable anger. "Listen," she began in a calm voice, placing a comforting hand on Maëlle’s shoulder, "I know this isn’t how you imagined things would happen, but now that the information is public, it might be best to take control of the situation."

She paused, making sure her words were sinking in before continuing. "We could hold a press conference at the palace this afternoon. You could speak directly to the journalists, clarify things, and show that you’re proud of your relationship."

Maëlle sat up a little more, her thoughts swirling as she considered the implications of such a move. She slowly turned her head toward Samy, searching his eyes for an answer, a direction to follow. "What do you think?" she asked in a calm but serious voice.

Samy sighed deeply, his hand coming up to rub the back of his neck as he thought it over. The idea of a press conference wasn’t one he liked. Exposing their relationship, answering intrusive questions in front of a crowd of journalists... it was the last thing he wanted. But he knew it was probably the only way to regain control of the situation. "If that’s what you want, I’ll follow you," he said finally, quiet determination in his voice. "We’ll do it together."

Maëlle felt a wave of tenderness wash over her heart. She smiled softly at him, her gaze softening. Together, they could face anything. "Okay," she whispered, resolved. "We’ll show them we have nothing to hide."

Victoria smiled, relieved to see they were ready to move forward. She gave them time to prepare for the conference, gently closing the door behind her as she left the room.

Maëlle sat for a moment on the edge of the bed, her fingers absentmindedly playing with a strand of her hair. She could feel the nervousness rising inside her, but Samy, still by her side, placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, grounding her thoughts in the present.
"You’re going to be perfect, as always," he murmured, his gaze full of warmth.

She looked up at him and lost herself for a moment in the depth of his eyes. Her heart slowed a little, beating more steadily. She gave him a grateful smile before getting up. "I’m going to need to choose an outfit... and mentally prepare for all this," she said with a sigh.

Samy watched her move toward the wardrobe, carefully examining her different dresses. She finally chose a formal gown in deep blue, elegant but simple, without embellishments. She knew that what she wore would send a message as much as her words, and she wanted to appear strong and serene, despite the storm raging inside her.

Samy, on the other hand, opted for his bodyguard uniform. He stood tall, imposing and calm, but behind that façade was a nervousness he struggled to suppress. As they prepared, Maëlle approached him and placed a delicate hand on his chest, feeling his heart beating under her fingers. "Are you ready?" she asked softly.

He nodded, gently squeezing her hand in his. "I will be, as long as I’m with you," he replied before stealing a quick but tender kiss, as if to anchor their bond before facing what awaited them.

An hour later, they were both seated side by side in an elegant room at the palace, facing a dozen carefully selected journalists. The cameras were set up, and the cold lighting accentuated every shadow on their faces. Samy’s nerves spiked as he saw the cameras' lenses turn toward them, but he remained stoic, focused on Maëlle at his side.

The interview began, and it was Maëlle who spoke first, her tone assured and measured. She explained how their privacy had been violated by the paparazzi, explaining that the images had been taken without their consent.

"We always wanted to protect our relationship," she declared calmly, though the pain of the intrusion was palpable in her voice. "We wanted to take the time to announce things our way, but that decision was taken from us."

The journalists nodded, respectful of her sincerity, and asked a few questions about how they were handling the situation. Then, they moved on to more personal topics, asking how they had met and how they dealt with the difference in social status between them.

Maëlle, her fingers intertwined in her lap, leaned slightly forward, her voice gaining intensity. "Love knows no status," she said firmly. "Yes, Samy is my bodyguard, but he is so much more than that. He is the man I fell in love with. He’s an incredible man, with courage and loyalty that few can claim."

She slowly turned her head toward him, and despite the tense atmosphere, a soft smile appeared on her lips.
"Samy isn’t just defined by his job. To me, he’s my equal. He always has been."

Samy, though touched by her words, remained stoic, not wanting to show too much emotion. But inside, his heart beat faster. He discreetly squeezed Maëlle’s hand under the table as a sign of support.

The journalists, visibly impressed by Maëlle’s candor and strength, moved on to a delicate question: how did they expect the public to react to such an unusual relationship?

Maëlle gave a confident smile. "I believe the public understands what it means to love someone. We all share the same emotions, the same challenges. No matter where we come from or our status, love is still love."