The next few days passed more quickly than Angelo expected.
What had begun as a formal visit gradually became something less structured.
Angelo spent time with the King.
He spoke with the Queen.
He found himself having breakfast with Elena.
Sometimes they talked for hours.
Sometimes they barely spoke at all.
It was strangely easy.
That was what concerned Angelo most.
He was accustomed to watching people.
Studying them.
Keeping a professional distance.
Elena made that increasingly difficult.
She was not what he had expected.
She wasn't fragile.
She wasn't arrogant.
And despite the privileges surrounding her, she seemed remarkably aware of how different her life was from everyone else's.
One morning, they walked through the palace grounds together.
Elena pointed toward a small building near the edge of the estate.
"That's the old library."
"You have a library?"
She looked at him.
"We have several."
Angelo shook his head.
"Of course you do."
She laughed.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing."
"It definitely means something."
Angelo smiled.
"You live in a palace."
"That doesn't mean I personally own every book in it."
"I'll take your word for it."
She nudged him lightly with her shoulder.
Angelo looked at her.
For a moment, neither spoke.
It was a small gesture.
Almost nothing.
Yet Angelo felt something unfamiliar.
He looked away first.
Elena noticed.
She smiled.
Neither mentioned it.
---
Later that afternoon, Angelo found himself sitting with the King in the study.
The room was filled with books, documents and photographs.
The King pointed toward an old military photograph.
"That was taken when I was thirty."
Angelo leaned closer.
"You were a soldier?"
"Briefly."
"What happened?"
"I discovered that being a monarch was more dangerous."
Angelo laughed.
The King smiled.
"You disagree?"
"Not necessarily."
The King studied him.
"You understand responsibility."
Angelo looked at the photograph.
"Responsibility isn't something you understand. It's something you carry."
The King became quiet.
"Who taught you that?"
"My soldiers."
"Your soldiers?"
"A leader learns quickly that people depend on him."
The King nodded slowly.
"That is true."
Angelo looked at him.
"You seem tired."
The King smiled.
"Everyone keeps telling me that."
"Perhaps everyone is right."
"Perhaps."
The King leaned back.
"Tell me something, Angelo."
"Yes, Your Majesty?"
"If you could have any life you wanted, what would it be?"
Angelo thought for a moment.
"Simple."
"Simple?"
"A house. A family. Work I can be proud of."
"And nothing more?"
"Isn't that enough?"
The King smiled.
"I think it might be."
For some reason, the conversation stayed with Angelo long after he left the room.
---
That evening, the Queen found Elena alone.
"You like him."
Elena looked up sharply.
"Who?"
Her mother smiled.