Protecting The Princess

Chapter 6

The morning sun had barely begun to filter through the palace's grand windows when the peace was shattered. Princess Leonor was preparing for another royal function—a dinner for foreign dignitaries, one of many that blurred into one. The palace staff moved with practiced efficiency, laying out lavish foods and arranging the seating in perfect symmetry. Outside, the gardens were vibrant with the early bloom of spring, a striking contrast to the tension that seemed to hang in the air.

Hailey Storme stood just a few feet away, her gaze scanning the room with the usual sharpness. It had been a few weeks since the attack during the Harvest Festival, and though her injuries had healed, there was a noticeable shift in her. Her movements were more deliberate, her posture slightly more rigid, as if the weight of responsibility had grown heavier. But that wasn't unusual for her. She'd taken wounds before, always putting the princess first, always placing herself between harm and the people she was sworn to protect.

Leonor, too, had changed in these past few weeks. There was something quieter in her, a flicker of anxiety that hadn't been there before. She had become hyper-aware of Hailey's presence, the way the bodyguard would always be close—never far. It wasn't just professional concern; something deeper lurked there, something Leonor refused to examine too closely.

And today, it would test them both.

The banquet was in full swing when the chaos began. One moment, it was elegant conversation, clinking silverware, and the rich scent of roasted meats filling the air. The next, a sharp sound rang out—an explosion, followed by a cascade of screams.

Leonor barely had time to react before the room erupted into chaos. Plates crashed to the floor, the chandelier above rattling as a plume of smoke poured into the hall. Guests scrambled, their faces etched with terror, while guards rushed to contain the situation.

But it was Hailey who acted first.

"Stay down!" Hailey's voice cut through the confusion, commanding and unyielding. She moved faster than anyone, her hand already gripping Leonor's arm, pulling her toward the nearest doorway. But before they could make it, another blast rocked the hall, knocking Hailey back against the marble columns.

Leonor stumbled but was immediately caught by Hailey, who steadied her with a fierce grip. "Get out!" Hailey barked, her tone frantic, something uncharacteristic in her urgency.

But Leonor hesitated, her eyes wide with fear. "No, you have to—"

Hailey didn't give her a chance to finish. The bodyguard's face was a mask of determination as she shoved Leonor toward the open door. "Now, Princess!"

Leonor was barely halfway through the door when Hailey turned back into the smoke-filled hall. Another explosion, closer this time, sent a shower of debris over them. But Hailey didn't flinch. Her body was already moving toward the source of the blast, her eyes scanning for threats.

There were more attackers. Their presence was becoming clear now—figures clad in dark uniforms, moving swiftly through the smoke, firing shots at anyone who dared to resist. Hailey's instincts kicked in, her training taking over as she darted into the fray, neutralizing one assailant after another. She fought with the precision of someone who had spent years in the line of fire, her every movement deliberate, her every action saving lives.

"Hailey!" Leonor's voice rang out from the doorway, desperate. Her heart was pounding, her chest tight as she watched Hailey take down another man. But the scene before her was turning into a nightmare. Hailey was in the center of it all—outnumbered, yet fighting fiercely. Leonor could see the way her bodyguard's movements grew slower with each passing moment, how she was taking on injury after injury, yet still pushing forward.