"You won't know they're there unless something goes wrong."
"And if Betty notices them?"
"Then she has better situational awareness than most trained operatives, which would actually be reassuring."
I considered my options."Fine.But they dress like regular patrons.No earpieces visible, no tactical stances, no scanning the room every thirty seconds."
"Twenty seconds is standard."
"Forty-five."
"Thirty-five, and that's my final offer."
"Deal."
Captain Steiner nodded crisply."I'll coordinate with your security team.What time?"
"Eight o'clock."
"We'll need to advance at six.I assume the restaurant owner can be trusted with sensitive information?"
"Giuseppe has known me since I was sixteen.He's kept secrets about my whereabouts from my mother for over a decade."
For the first time, something that might have been approval flickered across her face."Good.Experience with discretion is valuable."She turned to leave, then paused."Your Highness?"
"Yes?"
"This is a good idea.The Princess has been under considerable stress.A normal evening would benefit her psychological resilience."
Coming from Captain Steiner, that was practically a gushing endorsement.
* * *
Betty
"YOU NEGOTIATED WITHCaptain Steiner?"I stared at Archie across the palace foyer, genuinely impressed."She once made a Valdorian cabinet minister cry."
"It wasn't easy.We'll have plainclothes security throughout the restaurant, counter-snipers on adjacent rooftops, and a medical team within two-minute response radius."
"So basically a normal Tuesday in my new life."
"Basically."He offered his arm."Shall we?"
The armored SUV was waiting outside, which should have felt excessive but was actually becoming distressingly normal.Two of Captain Steiner's people sat in the front, dressed in casual clothes that didn't fully disguise their alert postures.
"Is it weird that I'm starting to find constant surveillance comforting?"I asked as we pulled away from the palace.
"Stockholm syndrome, probably."
"Or just acceptance that this is my reality now."I watched the old town streets pass by, the ancient buildings lit golden in the evening light."When I was little, I used to dream about being a princess.The Disney version, with singing animals and ball gowns."
"And now?"
"Now I have security briefings instead of singing animals, and my ball gowns keep getting sabotaged."I glanced at him."Though I have to say, the prince is better looking than I expected."
"Is that your way of complimenting me?"
"Don't let it go to your head."
