Between our hands

Chapter 42: The Game of Glances.

The afternoon had barely begun, and already a more solemn atmosphere reigned within the palace. The heavy curtains of the meeting room were drawn, allowing the soft sunlight to filter through the thick veil, bathing the large room in a golden and soothing glow. Yet inside, the atmosphere was anything but calm. The royal family members, gathered around a vast carved wooden table, exchanged grave and focused remarks. Each person offered their opinion on the crucial issues weighing on the kingdom's future.

The room, despite its impressive dimensions and sumptuous furnishings, suddenly felt cramped under the pressure of these strategic discussions. The voices, initially calm and measured, occasionally grew more heated as disagreements emerged. Each family member had a role to play, an opinion to defend, and the weight of their decisions was felt in every word spoken. Maëlle, seated slightly apart from the others, listened attentively, speaking cautiously yet with an intelligence and insight that Samy found fascinating.

Discreetly positioned in a corner of the room, Samy observed it all with an outsider's gaze. True to his role as a bodyguard, he remained silent and alert, his eyes analyzing every movement and gesture of those present. However, he couldn't help but feel distracted. His thoughts, despite all his efforts to refocus on his mission, inevitably returned to Maëlle. Just that morning, she had given him a kiss on the cheek—a gesture as unexpected as it was delicate, awakening in him feelings he hadn't experienced in a long time.

Samy had promised himself to keep a cool head, but it was evident that something had changed. He now looked at her in a new light, with particular attention. Every movement she made, no matter how insignificant, captured his gaze. He observed how she played with a strand of hair when deep in thought, or how her lips slightly pinched when she listened to something that concerned her. Every detail became a source of fascination for him.

And he wasn't the only one to notice this new dynamic. Across the room, Victor, ever perceptive and observant, followed the exchange of glances between Maëlle and Samy with an amused smile. Several times, Samy felt Maëlle’s cousin's gaze on him, and each time he looked up to check, he saw that teasing smile stretched across Victor's lips. It was as if he had guessed everything happening in Samy's mind without him needing to say a word. And Victor, true to himself, couldn’t help but enjoy the situation.

When their eyes met again, Victor simply winked at him, a conspiratorial gesture that immediately made Samy blush. He looked down, hoping that no one else had noticed this exchange, but the smile he tried to suppress betrayed the embarrassment flooding over him. He knew Victor understood everything, and this silent complicity only reinforced the idea that his feelings for Maëlle were becoming less and less discreet.

In the adjacent hallway of the meeting room, bodyguards took turns ensuring the royal family’s safety. Unlike the tense atmosphere inside, the mood among the guards was much more relaxed. Samy, stepping out of the room to resume his post outside, was immediately greeted with mocking smiles and knowing glances. His colleagues, well aware of what was brewing, seized every opportunity to tease him.

"So, Samy, still focused on your missions?" one of his comrades said, crossing his arms with a sly grin.

"Or is your focus elsewhere?" another added, raising an eyebrow, clearly amused by the situation.

Samy managed a sheepish smile, unsure of how to react to these remarks. He tried to remain professional, but he knew his colleagues were spot on. Their camaraderie, though playful, was tinged with a warmth that made him feel like part of a real team, almost a family.

"Come on, don't be shy; we saw your little game with Maëlle. It's obvious from a mile away!" one of the guards chimed in, giving Samy a friendly pat on the shoulder.

Laughter erupted, but Samy simply shook his head in amusement. He knew his colleagues were just joking, but he couldn’t help feeling a slight embarrassment at their perceptiveness. He tried to concentrate on his mission, but the thought that everyone around him seemed to have guessed his feelings unsettled him.

Despite this, the meeting inside continued, and Samy was soon called back to his post near the door. Back in the room, he attempted to adopt a professional demeanor, but he couldn't ignore the furtive glances from Victor, who remained thoroughly entertained by the situation. Each time their eyes met, Victor seemed on the verge of bursting into laughter but merely smiled, leaving Samy in silent embarrassment.

The meeting dragged on for several more hours. The discussions, initially lively, gradually calmed as fatigue began to creep in among the participants. Finally, after a last exchange of glances among the family members, it was decided to close the session for the day. The tense faces relaxed, and the family members began to gather their belongings.

Maëlle, ever organized, took her time to collect her documents. Samy, true to his post, patiently waited for her to finish. He watched her from afar, his heart beating slightly faster at the thought of seeing her outside the formal setting of the meeting. Yet even in this seemingly simple situation, he could not escape the teasing of his colleagues, who, taking advantage of this moment of respite, launched a few jabs his way.

"So, Samy, did this meeting go well for you? Still focused on... something other than security?" one guard said with a sly grin.

Another added, feigning seriousness, "We hope you took good notes, huh, so you can give us a full report tonight."

The laughter was subdued, but Samy couldn’t help smiling. He knew his colleagues were joking, but he still felt a slight embarrassment wash over him. However, despite the teasing, he appreciated this camaraderie that, in a way, supported him through this delicate moment.

Victor, always attentive to the smallest details, exited the room a little before Maëlle. As he passed by Samy, he couldn’t resist stopping to add his personal touch to the already playful atmosphere.

"So, Samy, getting teased by your colleagues? Be careful; they might end up discovering what everyone is starting to suspect..." he whispered with a mischievous smile.

Samy, caught off guard, blushed even more. Before he could react, Victor walked away chuckling softly, leaving Samy alone with his thoughts and the warmth rising in his cheeks.

Maëlle, finishing up her belongings, cast a quick glance at Samy before smiling discreetly. It was a light smile, yet filled with that silent complicity that had developed between them. Samy, trying to remain stoic, couldn’t help but respond with a similarly tender look. Then, as she stood to leave the room, he prepared to follow her, his heart racing even more than usual.

Thus, in the intimacy of that day, under the teasing but benevolent gazes of his colleagues, and with Victor’s tacit complicity, Samy felt that something new was blossoming between him and Maëlle. A fragile bond, but one that strengthened with each smile, each exchanged glance. And even though the day was still far from over, he knew he would not forget these moments.