The morning began quietly.
Too quietly, Angelo thought.
He stood on the palace terrace with a cup of coffee in his hand, watching the grounds below.
The palace staff had already begun their day.
Guards changed positions.
Vehicles moved through the gates.
Servants crossed between buildings carrying supplies.
Everything appeared normal.
But Angelo had spent too many years in uniform to completely trust normal.
Something was different.
He simply couldn't identify what.
"You look like you're expecting an attack."
Elena's voice came from behind him.
Angelo turned.
"Occupational hazard."
She walked onto the terrace.
"You're supposed to be enjoying yourself."
"I am."
"You have a strange definition of enjoyment."
Angelo smiled.
"Maybe."
She leaned against the railing beside him.
"What are you looking at?"
"People."
"Why?"
"People tell you a lot without saying anything."
Elena studied him.
"Do I?"
"Sometimes."
"What am I saying?"
Angelo looked at her.
"That you haven't had breakfast."
She stared at him.
"That's not what I was saying."
"Then I was wrong."
She laughed.
"You really are impossible."
"So I've been told."
A palace aide approached them.
"Your Royal Highness."
Elena turned.
"Yes?"
"His Majesty would like to see Lieutenant Sanchez."
Angelo placed his cup down.
"Now?"
"Yes, sir."
Angelo nodded.
"I'll go."
Elena watched him leave.
---
The King was in his study.
The door was open.
Angelo entered.
"You wanted to see me, Your Majesty?"
The King looked up from the papers on his desk.
"Yes."
Angelo approached.
The King gestured toward a chair.
"Sit."
Angelo did.
For a moment, the King simply looked at him.
Then he smiled.
"You look uncomfortable."
"I'm sitting in a king's study."
"You've been here long enough to stop worrying about that."
Angelo smiled.
"I'm trying."
The King leaned back.
"I've received a message from Sanjara."
Angelo became attentive.
"My government?"
"Yes."
The King handed him a document.
Angelo read it.
His expression changed.
"They're promoting me."
The King smiled.
"Apparently."
Angelo looked at the document again.
"Second Lieutenant."
"Congratulations."
Angelo shook his head.
"I wasn't expecting this."
"Neither was I."
Angelo looked at him.
"Your Majesty?"
The King smiled.
"Your government appears to have decided that rescuing foreign royalty deserves recognition."
Angelo laughed quietly.
"I only did my job."
"I know."
The King stood and walked toward the window.
"You see, Angelo, sometimes doing your duty places you in situations you never expected."
Angelo looked at him.
"That's usually when things get complicated."
The King smiled.
"Indeed."
He turned.
"And you should know something."
"What?"
"You don't need to be afraid of what comes next."
Angelo frowned.
"I'm not afraid."
"I know."
The King returned to his chair.
"Good."
There was a knock at the door.
The Queen entered.
She stopped when she saw Angelo.
"Am I interrupting?"
"No," the King said.
Angelo stood.
"Your Majesty."
The Queen smiled.
"Please sit."
She looked at her husband.
"Have you told him?"
"About his promotion?"
"Yes."
The King nodded.
"Yes."
The Queen smiled.
"Then congratulations, Lieutenant."
"Thank you."
She hesitated.
"There is something else."
Angelo waited.
The Queen looked at the King.
Then back at Angelo.
"We have received an invitation."
"To what?"
"A private reception."
Angelo frowned.
"Where?"
The King answered.
"Here."
Angelo looked between them.
"Who is coming?"
The King smiled.
"People who have questions."
Angelo's expression hardened slightly.
"About me?"
"About many things."
The Queen stepped closer.
"You should understand something before the reception."
Angelo waited.
"You are no longer simply the soldier who saved us."
The words stayed in the room.
Angelo didn't like them.
"I don't understand."
The King looked at him.
"You will."
---
That evening, Elena found Angelo in the gardens.
"You've been avoiding me."
"I've been thinking."
"That's dangerous."
Angelo laughed.
She walked beside him.
"My father told me about your promotion."
"Apparently I'm a lieutenant now."
"Second Lieutenant."
"Don't remind me."
She smiled.
"I'm happy for you."
"Thank you."
They continued walking.
After a while, Elena spoke again.
"Are you going home soon?"
Angelo looked at her.
"I don't know."
"Do you want to?"
He considered the question.
"I should."
"But?"
Angelo looked ahead.
"But I'm not sure."
Elena smiled faintly.
Neither of them said anything else.
Behind them, the palace lights began turning on one by one.
Inside those walls, decisions were already being made.
Decisions that neither of them knew about.
And somewhere far beyond the palace, people who had never met Angelo Sanchez had begun asking a dangerous question.
Who exactly was the soldier who had saved the King?