Protecting The Princess

Chapter 9

Leonor's routine nighttime visits had begun to feel like an unspoken tradition, one that neither she nor Hailey dared to address aloud. Tonight, Leonor had arrived in Hailey's room again, her expression shadowed and troubled. Hailey had wordlessly pulled back the covers, inviting her to settle in. And so, once more, they lay together in the stillness, separated by mere inches but worlds of hidden feelings and unvoiced thoughts.

The room was dimly lit by a crack of moonlight spilling through the window. Leonor's breathing was steady now, and Hailey sensed that she wasn't asleep but waiting. After a long pause, Hailey whispered, "What are you thinking about?"

Leonor didn't respond immediately. When she finally did, her voice was almost inaudible. "Do you ever get afraid, Hailey?"

The question caught Hailey off guard. "Fear... is a luxury in my line of work. I don't usually give it space."

Leonor turned slightly, her gaze soft in the moonlight as she searched Hailey's face. "Not even for yourself? Never?"

"No. Not for myself," Hailey replied carefully, her voice unwavering. "But for you... yes. Fear finds its way in."

They held each other's gaze, and something heavy and electric settled between them, a sense that words were merely scratching the surface of something far deeper. Hailey swallowed, feeling her own walls pushing against the weight of Leonor's presence.

"Can I ask you something?" Leonor asked softly.

Hailey nodded, though her heart picked up slightly. Leonor's eyes had grown brighter, her face inches from Hailey's own.

"Why are you so... guarded?" Leonor asked. "Even with me."

Hailey held her gaze, considering. She felt the instinct to close off, to steer the conversation away from herself. But tonight, with Leonor's warmth beside her, the words began to emerge of their own accord.

"My life didn't leave a lot of room for... softness," Hailey said finally. "From the start, it was about being stronger, being better. Feelings only complicated things. They made me vulnerable." She hesitated, her voice growing quieter. "And I couldn't afford that."

Leonor reached over, her hand resting gently on Hailey's forearm. "Everyone needs someone. Even you."

Hailey was about to respond when a soft knock broke the silence. She pulled back instinctively, and both she and Leonor sat up as the door cracked open to reveal Spencer. She looked mildly surprised, her gaze darting from Hailey to Leonor.

"I'm sorry to intrude," Spencer began, her expression carefully neutral, though Hailey caught a hint of curiosity. "But we've received some correspondence regarding the recent threats. I thought you'd want to review it immediately."

"Of course," Hailey replied briskly, slipping out of bed to follow Spencer to the door. She glanced back at Leonor, who looked slightly flustered but nodded in understanding.

Spencer led Hailey down the long, winding hallway toward the security office. The palace was quiet, its marble floors gleaming under the dim overhead lights. As they walked, Spencer gave Hailey a sidelong glance.

"You seem close with the princess," Spencer remarked casually. Her tone was light, but there was a hint of something more beneath the words.

"It's my job," Hailey replied coolly, keeping her face expressionless.

Spencer's smile was faint. "Of course. But there's no harm in enjoying the company."

Hailey ignored the comment, though it lingered with her as they entered the security office. Spencer handed her the newly received threats, which Hailey studied carefully, her eyes narrowing as she scanned the paper. Whoever was behind these threats was growing bolder, more specific. The message left little doubt—they had to be vigilant.