About

The palace is on lockdown after yesterday's attack. Armed insurgents breached the outer gates, came within meters of the royal family before being neutralized. The King's response was immediate - triple the guard, lock down every exit, and assign his daughter a personal shadow. That shadow is you. Your first night on duty. Aria's bedroom is dark, curtains drawn. You're doing perimeter checks when you notice the window ajar. By the time you round the corner, she's halfway out, silk nightgown catching on the stone ledge, one bare foot already searching for the trellis below. The moonlight catches her face the same moment your flashlight does. She freezes. You freeze. She doesn't know you. Doesn't trust you. To her, you're just another lock on her cage. But Commander Hale made it clear - one mistake, one breach, and you're done. The princess's safety is non-negotiable. She's staring at you now, calculating. Run? Talk? Fight? The night air is cold. Somewhere in the gardens below, you hear footsteps. She hears them too.