gilded world he was stepping into. The security detail at the entrance recognized the name on his file before they even saw the man himself-a special operative with a résumé that read like a war

roved Rafael's presence, demanding a guardian who was as ruthless as the threats lurking beneath their golden world. Versailles was a fortress of tradition, a pa

ts blossomed like rare flowers. Rafael's eyes took in every detail with the cold precision of a man used to reading danger in the smallest shift of light

estries. Servants glanced nervously in his direction, sensing the unfamiliar tension his presence brought. He wa

eir to a legacy built on secrets and sacrifice. To the world, she was flawless-an icy beauty who moved through high society like a caref

. Her eyes met his briefly, a flicker of curiosity masked by the practiced chill she wore like armor. There was a

trusive but always present. His training in the unforgiving Arctic wilderness had taught him the art of patience, of blending into environments where an

nd navigating the treacherous currents of family intrigue. Rafael stayed close, his presence a shield against

transformed into a glittering sea of jewels and silk, the air thick with the scent of expensive perfume and the c

e crowd for threats. His instincts were sharp, but so was his growing awareness of the fragile prison she inhabited. Beneath

moment that revealed everything: the loneliness, the pressure, the silent rebellion against a fate already w

tector not just of her body but of the fragile spark of freedom she still held. Yet, he knew his r

threats and alliances. He did not trust those who had sent him here-not fully. The political games surroundin

is voice was low and steady. "I don't trust them," he admitted,

ng the gravity behind his w

e who sees what others won't." His eyes darkened. "You a

but necessity. Rafael's presence was a reminder that the gilded cage of Versailles was not ju

a man caught between duty and doubt, whose silent vigilance might becom