Stolen Glances

Eleanor Windsor adjusted the delicate lace of her gown in front of the gilded mirror. Tonight was the royal gala, a night of glittering chandeliers, whispered gossip, and endless expectations. And yet, despite all the grandeur, Eleanor felt trapped. Each smile, each bow, each carefully chosen word felt like a chain around her, binding her to a life she had not chosen. She was a princess, yes...but a prisoner of privilege, of tradition, of a future already mapped out by her family. Seeking a moment of solitude, she slipped out to the palace gardens, the moonlight glinting off the fountain’s rippling water. The cool night air was a balm to her restless spirit. But then she noticed him Adrian .. a shadow at the edge of the light, tall and composed. Adrian Blackwood, her bodyguard. Silent. Deadly. Sworn to protect her, trained to feel anything. “You shouldn’t be here alone,” he said softly, his voice low but commanding. “I could say the same,” she replied, lifting her chin to meet his gaze. Their eyes locked for just a second,a glance charged with electricity ,before he looked away. Eleanor’s heart fluttered. Adrian, trained to feel nothing, was watching her anyway. And in that fleeting moment, she realized that duty could only contain so much, and her heart and perhaps his might already be out of control.Her heart knowing fully well that one day he will feel what she have for him.