I pulled out my mobile and showed him the address. It was coming close to six pm, and classes were starting tomorrow.He frowned, studied the address carefully, then began typing rapidly—no doubt running background checks and route assessments. After several minutes of tense silence, he let out a low, resonant sound of disapproval that sent an unwelcome shiver through me. With a decisive click, he shut off the laptop.
"The location checks out as residential, with no obvious security concerns," he said, his tone being all business. "Fine, let's go, ladies." Ten minutes later, we were in the car. Dan had been unusually quiet during the drive, occasionally glancing at James in the rearview mirror as if sensing the tension.
About twenty minutes later, we arrived outside a large house on the outskirts of the city. James's tension rose immediately as we approached; this was clearly not the quiet dinner with a friend he expected. When we got out of the car, I could hear loud music coming from the house, and several men were standing outside smoking and drinking.
"We didn't discuss this, Princess Evangeline," James said, his voice dangerously quiet as he positioned his large body before mine. "You're not going in. There is clearly a party going on inside." It looked like one of those end-of-summer celebrations that always happened the weekend before term started—half the student body would be here. I glanced at Gabriela and Octavia, who were now avoiding my gaze whilst looking guilty.
"James, we're already here," I said, knowing he would not be happy, but it was my last night before my usual university routine kicked in. Besides, after being confined to royal duties all summer whilst Alexandra got to travel freely, I craved just one evening of normalcy. Octavia and Gabi seemed on edge, shooting nervous glances at James and whispering apologies to me about the surprise. They clearly hadn't expected his intimidating presence when they'd planned this deception. "Can't you at least do a security assessment? If it's safe..."
"James," I began, and in that moment, his eyes seemed to darken to a deeper blue. Something in his gaze shifted when I used his first name. That subtle change affected me too. Focus, Evangeline. "I promise we'll leave at the first sign of trouble. Can't you just... assess the situation first?"
"There are risks, Your Highness," he said, in the same tone of voice, although I sensed tightly controlled anger in it. He was staring at me so intensely that I thought he was peering into my very soul.
"Please, Mr Banks, we're already here. Can't you do a quick security sweep? If it's safe, maybe we could stay for a short while?" I said, my voice barely above a whisper. His jaw tightened as he assessed the situation—the open house, multiple exit points, too many variables he couldn't control. I could practically see him weighing the security risks against the potential diplomatic incident of dragging a princess away from a party in front of witnesses. After a long moment, his training kicked in.
"Twenty-five minutes maximum, Princess. You stay within my sight at all times—no exceptions. If I detect any situation that compromises your safety, we leave immediately without discussion," he said, his tone brooking no argument. He glanced back at Dan with a slight nod—a silent communication that the driver clearly understood.
"Right, stay here whilst I do a quick sweep," James said, disappearing into the crowd. Five minutes later, he returned. "Two exit points secured, no obvious threats identified. Stay in the main areas."
I smiled with satisfaction, surprised that he'd agreed at all. "Thank you," I whispered, meaning it more than I expected.
I passed several people from my year and spotted Vlad Proshkov, the son of the Russian Ambassador to Belgium. Hewinked at me, sending a flutter of interest through me before I entered the house.
"I can't believe he actually agreed to let us stay," Octavia said in a low voice, grabbing my hand and squeezing it tightly whilst she and Gabi stayed close.
"Let's make this count, because we haven't got long. Where are these drinks?" I asked, glancing around the vast open kitchen. The music was blasting, and I could see people outside jumping into a massive pool.
"Here's some wine from the kitchen; it's probably the safest option for you," Gabi said quietly. Following her gaze, I saw Vlad and several of his friends entering the house and staring in our direction. I took the glass from her and took several sips, trying to calm my nerves as I sensed James was nearby, watchful as ever. I caught James's disapproving stare across the room as I took the glass, but he didn't intervene—perhaps allowing me this minor rebellion while maintaining his watchful distance.
"Come on, ladies, let's dance. It's been too long since we've had fun together!" Octavia said, raising her voice over the music.
I took a few more sips of my wine, and then Octavia dragged me and Gabi outside, where other people were already dancing. Several guys were splashing and screaming in the pool.
As the alcohol took effect, I felt more relaxed, though still acutely aware of James's presence and his intense gaze following my movements.
We danced for a long while, and about ten minutes later, I stood alone by the entrance to the garden, gazing at the sky. Gabi had gone to get me another drink, and Octavia was chatting with an Asian guy from the athletics team.
"So you're the famous princess that no one is supposed to know about?" a voice asked behind me. I turned, facing Vlad, and my heart beat faster. He was even more handsome up close, with strong masculine features and amber eyes. He exudedconfidence and charm—qualities I'd always found attractive, though I'd heard whispers about his reputation—charming to your face but with a sense of entitlement from growing up in diplomatic immunity.
"Evangeline," I responded, extending my hand. "It's nice to meet you, Vlad." I was surprised that he knew who I was, though with his father being the Russian Ambassador, diplomatic circles weren't exactly known for keeping secrets. He offered me a glass of rosé wine, his eyes sparkling with interest. I hesitated, knowing James would disapprove of accepting drinks from strangers, but took the glass anyway—another minor rebellion against the suffocating security protocols. There was definitely an attraction there.
"You're full of surprises, princess. I thought you did not know I even existed, and yet you know my name," he said, placing his hand on his heart. I felt my cheeks warm, reminding myself I was twenty-two, not sixteen.
"You have a certain reputation, Vlad, and we move in similar circles," I said, aware that he was studying business. It felt refreshing to converse with someone who wasn't bound by royal protocol—even if that freedom came with its risks.
"Ah, my reputation precedes me. I hope it's mostly flattering," he said with a self-deprecating laugh. "Though I have to say, seeing you here tonight is unexpected. I heard you were quite selective about your social appearances."
"Sometimes spontaneity has its appeal," I replied, enjoying the back-and-forth despite myself.
"How about we get out of here, Evangeline, like two rebels who can't be in the crowd?"
"Sadly, I can't. Between you and me, I shouldn't even be here. My girlfriends tricked my bodyguard—he brought us here thinking we were visiting a friend for a quiet evening, notknowing that there was a party," I explained, glancing nervously towards where I'd last seen James.
"Ah, the formidable bodyguard. I noticed him earlier—quite the intimidating presence. It must be exhausting having someone watching your every move." His tone was sympathetic, even understanding . "How about a walk around the garden, then?” Jason said. This place is massive, and I promise to have you back before your guardian notices."
I glanced at my watch—we'd already been here eighteen minutes. James will look for me soon, but the rebellious part of me that had fought for this evening won out. I nodded, and he offered his arm gallantly as we started walking down a path between thick bushes, edging gradually out of the main party area. I could hear Octavia calling my name from somewhere near the house, probably wondering where I'd disappeared to. We could still listen to people splashing around in the pool and the thumping bass of the music as he held my hand, but we were pushing the boundaries of James's "within sight" rule.
"You know," he said as we walked, "I've always admired how you handle the pressure. The constant scrutiny, the expectations. I get a taste of it being an ambassador's son, but nothing like what you face."
