Chapter 3

Five months. It might as well have been forever in the eyes of Jasper Frost. Five months maybe doesn't seem to come off as a lot, but so much had happened in those five months since Eleanor's departure.

Robert had been crowned and now the King of England. Hell, how could Jasper forget when Robert constantly started his every statement with 'as the King of England'. Unfortunately, being the King's guard meant being watched 24/7, meaning Jasper had little to no privacy. He constantly wondered who was watching who more attentively. Robert often hinted knowing about Jasper's every move. It was his favorite power play. Soon the American Bodyguard found himself missing being around people he cared for. Not that he would ever admit it.

While Liam was someone he considered a friend, he rarely saw him these days. Hi mate had actually been isolating Jasper, spending more and more time with Cyrus. It didn't come as a shock to Jasper but he soon grew suspicious of the older Prince's ulterior motives towards the younger one. Regardless of his concerns, he didn't meddle. The unholy alliance he liked to call #TeamSpareToTheHeir could neutralize the threat that was Robert. A threat to their family and to him ever fixing things with Eleanor.

James Hill was the second person he got to see daily. From routine check-ins and going over itineraries to weekly briefings, it was kept professional. He couldn't blame him though. Much like every relationship he ever had, Jasper fucked it up. The stakes had been too high when he decided to bet Jame's career only to lose the respect and trust of the closest thing he had to a father figure. Even so, now and then Jasper caught The Head of Palace Security giving him pitiful looks, specially when new pictures of Eleanor surfaced. More so if Sebastian was in them.

On the rare occasion Jasper wasn't in the King's presence, he occupied the 3rd from the last seat at some hole in the wall pub. His only companion was a glass of scotch. More than enough company was offered but he turned it down kindly. After a drink or two, he turned them down not so kindly. The only woman he wanted to spend time with was his princess. All clichés aside, he knew in his head and, more importantly, his heart that Eleanor was the only girl for him.

Sometimes he wondered what his life would have been like if he had gone through with the plan and stolen the Koh-I-Noor Diamond. Or run off with Samandy when she managed to get her hands on it. 'Empty', his mind chimed in. Emptier than it was now that Eleanor was away and there wasn't a damn thing he could do about it but force himself to keep going. Hope of fixing things kept him from accepting offers for 'company' from the women who chose to visit the same pub. Women were the same everywhere. Regardless of age or apparent social status, women in both Vegas and London always approached him with offers for good times. But those were just women. This was his girl he was thinking about.

When loneliness and longing got the best of him, he reached out to her but never got a response to any of his texts. 'Seen'. It was as if she wanted him to know he was being ignored. The only way to see what she was up to was doing what the rest of the world did. He followed her on Instagram and Twitter with throwaway accounts. Each time he saw her smile in pictures or videos, his heart sank, knowing he wasn't the reason for it. The night she posted her first picture with Sebastian at some wine tasting, he drank himself into oblivion. The following day he must have looked so pathetic that Mr. Hill sent him back to his quarters until he got over 'the flu'. Those who knew him knew it was due to rumors flying around online of the potential romance between the British Princess and the Prince of Morocco.

That was all two weeks ago. Since then Jasper did his best not to turn to alcohol. Instead, he focused on work but guarding the King of England wasn't easy work. Not when the bastard took a swing at him every chance he got. It must have lost its appeal since he lost interest quickly. Even so, with every new post or interview, he missed her more. Sometimes he'd catch himself walking past the double doors leading to her room. He would linger but never step in. He knew that if he set foot in her room, he wouldn't have the strength to leave. Seeing her things would only make things harder for him.

The palace was a flurry of activity since the Queen's annual Masquerade Ball would take place tomorrow evening. He'd been foolish to push Eleanor away during the last masquerade. All because he then realized that it had been more than sex. He was just grateful he wouldn't need to attend this one considering it was being held at the palace and he wouldn't be needed. There was no princess wanting to see him in a tux.

"Right now I need you to work on protecting me from the Grand Duke of Norway's wandering hands. I really do worry about your ability to protect my body Jasper."

Shit, he was already being hit with memories brought on by the god forsaken ball. Maybe it was best to lock himself up in his quarters until the ridiculous affair is over. There was one thing bothering Jasper though. He couldn't help but notice the sudden traffic in the wing Eleanor's room resided. It struck him as odd considering it had basically been a ghost town since her departure other than the maids doing their weekly cleaning. The new development drew him to check his emails more often to no avail. He only found routine messages and reports but he knew something was off. Part of him wanted to ask James. If anyone knew about something going on, it was him. But that was the thing about burning bridges. After betraying his trust, Mr. Hill would have no reason to undermine Robert and disclose anything he'd been asked to keep from Jasper.

But James Hill wasn't the only know it all in the palace. There was one other person who knew everything worth knowing. Very possibly the only person who was still fond of Mr. Caterpillar. Surely she would provide him with the Intel he was after.

"Is that ice cream?"

The question brought a smirk to his face. Using an innocent child to get the answers others refused him was low, even for him. No matter. He earned his one way ticket to hell a long time ago, bribing Sara Alice might just get him a first class upgrade.

"Yup, had it made especially for you."

Placing her dolls on the table, she rushed over to where he stood holding the bowl of ice cream and started hopping up and down trying to peek inside the bowl.

"Does it have sprinkles?"

"Is it really considered a treat if it doesn't include sprinkles?" he countered, kneeling so she can get a better look. After a quick glance around the room, he noticed her dolls were resting on the table instead of in the palace replica the Queen ordered for the little girl "Are they in time out or something?"

"No silly, they're waiting to be dressed for the ball. They're going to attend the ball in that palace" she explained while pointing at the doll house "and my dad said if I'm good I can go to the ball at this palace" she finished with her hands up, gesturing towards the big space around her "but I can't stay up too late because I have a bedtime."

"Well your dad does have a point. How can you be Alice in the Palace if you're pulling a Sleeping Beauty?" he questions as he hands over the ice cream bowl.

"I just hope I'll be able to show the Princess my dress before I'm sent to bed." she says with a mouthful of ice-cream.

Even a mouth full of ice cream, Jasper heard the word 'Princess' clearly. Just the mention of Eleanor was enough for his heart to race but he kept calm. There was more information to be acquired.

"I'm sure your dad will snap a quick picture to send to her."

Sara Alice's face scrunched up in confusion at his suggestion. She even stopped the next spoonful of ice-cream from entering her mouth.

"Why would he send a picture to her when she's coming here?"

Alright, now they were getting somewhere. "She's coming back?"

"Yes, that's why I want to show her my dress! She helped me pick it out. I was going to go with pink but she said it's to cl...clee...keesh" she trails off.

"Cliché" he finishes for her surprised he's still functioning after this reveal.

"Yeah that" nodding her head "so we chose purple" she comments before taking seat with her bowl and eating the biggest spoonful yet. It was as if she was letting him know she was done with the interview.

He was finding it hard to breathe. It was as if the wind had been knocked out of him. His girl was coming home. The thought alone filled him with equal parts of excitement and dread.

Five months without hearing her purr his name.
Five months without her in his arms.
Five months without exchanging words.
Five months without his Princess.
Five months now coming to an end.

Everything had changed. Jasper wouldn't be in his room tomorrow night. No. He'd be masquerading with the rest of the guests. This time it would be different. He wouldn't play games or hide behind his mask. If anything, he would make it his only mission to protect her from any wondering hands that weren't his. Specially those of the Moroccan Prince.

NOTES

There it is!

A special thanks to jasperscourtier from Twitter for editing!

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Thanks for reading,

impishbodyguard & HRH_Len

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