One day, she lay naked in bed, offering herself to him. With eyes closed, she recited poetry meant for Rafael, but it was her husband who walked in on the scene, enraged. The woman claimed Rafael was the one who seduced her, and the couple directed all their rage at him.
Rafael quit that job and swore off working with female clients from that day forward.
"I even let you go undercover to observe her. She has a good reputation around here, and it's been a long time since that incident. You're older now and have years of experience under your belt. Even if a woman threw herself at you now, you'd know how to handle it better than you did all those years ago…"
"No."
Leonardo sighed, slumping into his couch. "Do you want me to die? You're the only person I know who the royal family would be satisfied with. Blame your impressive background for this."
When Rafael didn't respond, Leonardo spoke in a more pitiful voice, "It's not like I'm selling you off. This is just a temporary arrangement."
Rafael lowered his head, the image of that woman's wide-eyed accusation flashing through his mind. "A temporary arrangement," he muttered, then looked up. "Fine."
Leonardo was elated. "Hahahaha, that's my boy. Don't worry—nothing can go wrong here, not from what I can see." He walked up to Rafael and patted his shoulder. "She's a young one, barely in her twenties. So, there's a decade-long age gap. She'll probably think you're too old to even start a conversation, and you'll have no common ground. Secondly, she's a princess, and you're her bodyguard. With royal etiquette in place, there will always be a respectful distance. Unlike the Duchess who was bold and forward, this princess is a naive, innocent girl. Just focus on protecting her, and everything will be fine."
Rafael remained silent.
"Oh, and here…" Leonardo grabbed a file from the coffee table and handed it to Rafael. "My good-for-nothing son is in New York for work. Take this to him. He asked me to gather this data."
It was clear that Leonardo had prepared the file beforehand, confident he'd persuade Rafael to accept the job one way or another.
Rafael's lips twitched slightly, but he took the file without comment.
"Princess… little princess…"
Amara's hurried footsteps came to a halt.
Queen Alexandra walked toward her, dismissing her attendants as soon as she reached Amara.
Amara stepped forward to offer support. "I heard from Lady Juliette that you're not feeling well. You should rest more, Aunt."
The woman paused, and for a moment, a flicker of true sadness crossed her eyes before she smiled gently at Amara. "Do I look like a sick old lady to you?"
Amara held the queen's hand as they walked to the end of the hallway. "I didn't get a chance to thank you for standing up for me in court today."
"You didn't think your father would punish you, did you? At most, he might have admonished you in front of everyone. My arrival only saved you from that."
Amara smiled wordlessly. It had always been an unspoken agreement between her father and her. She would visit her mother's resting place, and he would turn a blind eye.
But perhaps that understanding extended to other things too—just like now. She was uneasy about the idea of a new bodyguard, but he simply turned a blind eye to her concerns.
"Are you blaming your father, little one?"
"I would never…"
"Don't try that with me. I'm not him," Queen Alexandra giggled. "Were you about to say you wouldn't dare?"
"You know me well," Amara blinked. "Father has done nothing wrong here. He's the king; he doesn't linger in one place. He will always look forward."
"Are you trying to say he will always replace the old with the new?"
"No… I…" Amara's eyes widened briefly. "You know I didn't mean that."
The queen smiled. "Oh, dear. I was only joking."
Her sense of humor was… aggravating.
"Have you ever realized you have favorites when it comes to food?" Queen Alexandra asked. When Amara looked at her, puzzled, she continued, "There are certain dishes you've liked since you were young, and even now, they're your go-to choices. You have comfort foods that you turn to whenever you're hungry. Even though I'm not there with you, I know that when you pick food, you choose from these favorites."
"It's the same with colors, the things you do, your hobbies, your passions, your dreams… they don't change. Even the friends you make. I doubt you tried to make new friends after meeting those two young ladies. You might have spoken to people, but only your heart formed a connection with them."
Amara opened her mouth, then closed it.
"I find it endearing, my sweet one," Queen Alexandra smiled.
Whenever Amara saw her smile like this, she almost felt as if it were spring. The queen's smile was sincere and heartfelt, beautiful like a gentle caress. Amara could almost understand why her father had fallen for her.
"But people are different from things. Those two friends of yours are different from the other things you may cherish. If, one day, they don't want you to hold onto them, will you not let them go?"
Amara frowned. It took a moment before she pieced together what the queen was implying. "Are you saying James…"
Queen Alexandra smiled but didn't say anything.