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As she returned to James’s side, she tried to focus on the task at hand— keeping him safe and ensuring the success of the event. But as their eyes met once more, sharing a secret smile amidst the sea of guests, Amanda couldn’t help but wonder if there might be a way to have it all—love, duty, and happiness—in this modern fairytale they were living.
The night wore on, and the once bustling ballroom seemed to breathe a collective sigh of relief as guests began to disperse. The laughter and chatter that had filled the air now gave way to a gentle hum, punctuated by the clinking of champagne glasses and the soft rustle of expensive fabrics.
As James excused himself from yet another conversation with an eager socialite, he found Amanda leaning against the balustrade of a balcony overlooking the palace gardens.
“Are you enjoying the view?” James asked, his voice warm and inviting as he approached her.
Amanda turned to look at him, her eyes shining with a mixture of amusement and surprise. “It’s beautiful,” she admitted, gesturing to the expanse of greenery below. “But I’m afraid it’s nothing compared to the show inside.”
“Ah, yes,” James chuckled. “The never-ending parade of admirers, each one more persistent—and perhaps more intoxicated—than the last. I owe you a great debt for steering me clear of their clutches.”
“Part of the job, Your Highness,” Amanda said with a small smile, her gaze returning to the gardens. She tried to focus on the calming effect of the breeze, but her heart betrayed her, racing in time with the flapping of the flags above them.
“Is that all it is?” James asked, stepping closer and taking her hand in his own. His touch felt electric, sending a shiver up her arm that Amanda couldn’t entirely blame on the cool night air.
“James, I—” she began, but he silenced her with a gentle squeeze of her fingers.
“Please, allow me to say this,” he implored, his eyes locked on hers with an intensity that made her breath catch in her throat. “I’ve been trying to find the right moment all night, but it seems there will never be a perfect time. Amanda, I have to tell you...I’m falling for you.”
The words hung in the air between them, as heavy and sweet as the scent of the roses that lined the balcony. Amanda’s heart somersaulted in her chest, her earlier resolve wavering in the face of James’s earnest expression.
“James...” she whispered. She searched for the right words, desperate to convey the complex feelings that swirled within her—the longing, the fear, the exquisite pain of wanting something she knew she shouldn’t have.
“Please don’t say anything,” he urged, sensing her hesitation. “Just let me hold your hand for a while, and we can pretend that this is just another ordinary evening, with no consequences or complications waiting for us inside those doors.”
For one stolen moment, Amanda allowed herself to sink into the fantasy, her fingers intertwining with his as they stood side by side in the moonlight. And though her mind warned her of the dangers that lay ahead, her heart couldn’t help but hope that perhaps, somehow, their story could have a happy ending after all.
Amanda glanced away from James’s intense gaze, her lips trembling as she tried to form the words that needed to be said. The cool night air brushed against her skin, carrying with it the scent of fresh flowers and the distant laughter of partygoers.
“James,” Amanda finally spoke, her voice tinged with a mix of tenderness and regret. “You know we can’t...our relationship is just for show.”
“Is it, though?” James countered, his thumb gently stroking the back of her hand. “Or is that merely what we tell ourselves to make this whole charade bearable?”
A sudden gust of wind sent a cascade of cherry blossoms swirling around them, and Amanda felt her resolve begin to crumble. How could something so beautiful—so heartbreakingly perfect—be nothing more than an act?
“James, I am your bodyguard,” Amanda reminded him, attempting to regain control of her emotions. “My job is to protect you, not to fall in love with you.”
“Who says we can’t have both?” he replied with a playful grin, his eyes twinkling in the moonlight.
Their banter felt like a dance. She couldn’t help but smile at his wit, even as her mind raced with the potential consequences of their forbidden attraction.
“James...” she hesitated, her thoughts a whirlwind of fear and longing. “I’m not allowed to have a relationship with you. I think we need to keep everything professional.”
“You do?” he asked softly, his warm breath tickling her cheek as he leaned in closer. “I’ve spent my entire life playing the part of the perfect prince, but none of it has ever made me as happy as I am when I’m with you.”
Amanda’s heart swelled at his words. She wanted to give in, to let herself be swept away by this man who had so unexpectedly stolen her heart.
“James—” she began, but he cut her off with a gentle finger pressed against her lips.
“Shh,” he murmured, his eyes locked on hers. “Just for tonight, let’s forget about the rules and the expectations. Let’s just be James and Amanda—two people who have found something special in one another.”
Silenced by the sincerity in his eyes, Amanda nodded, allowing herself to be drawn into his embrace. For one magical evening, they would cast aside their roles and simply exist together, wrapped in the warmth of their love.
But as the night wore on and the sounds of laughter and celebration echoed around them, Amanda couldn’t help but worry about what the future might hold. And as much as she longed to believe in the possibility of a happily ever after with her Prince Charming, her heart feared that their story was destined for a far more bittersweet ending.
Chapter Six
Amanda stood in the midst of Eloise’s library, utterly engrossed in the pages of a romance novel she had plucked from one of the many shelves. Her eyes danced across each line, her lips curving into a smile as she became lost in the world of knights and fair maidens.
