One step closer to you

Maddie 

I watched the palace gardens from my bedroom window as I finished getting dressed, the sun already shining in the sky, raising the temperature outside.

I put on a tight tank top, putting my hair up in a high ponytail before putting on my sneakers, wireless headphones and heading out. 

It had been a fortnight since our visit to Zurich, and I was pleased with the rise in temperature at the beginning of May. I went down to the kitchen, which was deserted since breakfast had already been served, opened the fridge and grabbed a bottle of water.

"Miss Lechner, are you going out? "Felix, my father's private security guard, appeared at the service entrance to the kitchen, watching me with that neutral expression that was typical of all palace guards.

"I'm going for a run, Felix, as I do every morning," I explained, walking towards the exit.

"Will your run be long, Miss Lechner?” 

I sighed, halting my steps before turning to the man. Usually they avoided this kind of questioning, but after the last time my father made him personally responsible for keeping me out of trouble. And I couldn't blame him for his apprehension when faced with that task.

"I'm going for a run in the woods, like every morning, don't worry, I don't intend to run all the way to Zurich today. “

I left feeling the man's gaze on me, knowing that if it depended on my mother's wishes he would accompany me every step of the way, but after promising my father that I would stay out of trouble, he decided to give me another vote of confidence.

I was determined to keep my promise, I tried to go to all the official events, keep Louise company and always dress appropriately. My only hobby during my free time was running, and they were respecting my space.

I was making an effort to follow the rules, at least most of them, but I have to confess that during my morning runs I was particularly keen to break one of them. I had already acquired a good rhythm when I saw his silhouette standing in the usual spot in a rigid, alert posture.

Matteo looked in my direction as I slowed down to talk to him a little. I did this every morning in an attempt to get to know him a little better, and despite his initial resistance, I felt that every day I managed to overcome the barriers he put up.

"Good morning, Matteo "I greeted him with a smile. 

"Good morning, Miss Lechner," he returned cordially. 

"Maddie, please. There's no one here, there's no need to be so formal," I pleaded, approaching him.

Matteo took on a slightly more tense posture, reacting to my proximity. I still couldn't decide whether that was a good sign or not.

"That would be inappropriate, Ms. Lechner," he replied.

"You know what I think is inappropriate? Those stupid rules about not being able to interact, " I insisted "and even if I didn't think so, it would only be inappropriate in front of people, we're alone here.”

But, to my frustration, Matteo didn't answer, just looked away, maintaining his perfect posture.

"You know, we've been in this routine for almost a fortnight now. That makes you practically my childhood friend," I said, getting a genuine reaction from the man for the first time.

Matteo looked at me with an amused expression, then raised an eyebrow.

"How old are you, Miss Lechner?”

"I turned twenty-four in March.”

"So I was nine when you were born, while you were entering kindergarten, I was getting to know the parents of my first girlfriend, I guess the title of childhood friend would be impossible," he declared.

I could interpret that response as a clear sign of Please let me do my job in peace or as an encouragement to continue with my approach. 

I chose the second option.

"So you're a thirty-three-year-old Italian man and your first girlfriend was at fourteen, I already feel like I know you better, Matteo Bertozzi "I quipped, receiving a small smile in return.

My heart raced a few beats with that smile, but before I could react, I noticed through my peripheral vision two shadows approaching, about to reveal themselves through the bushes that hid them, Matteo seemed to have noticed the same, as he quickly resumed his rigid posture.

I didn't have time to simply run back and pretend I wasn't talking to him, so I did the first thing that came to mind.

"Guard, is anyone in the woods? "I said in an arrogant tone as soon as Mr. Augustin and his daughter appeared in our field of vision.

"No, Miss Lechner. You'll run on your own," he assured me in a reassuring tone. 

I winked at him discreetly before turning away and running towards the woods, feeling his gaze locked on me as I put on a song on my Smartwatch, drowning out all outside sound with my headphones.

I hated with all my might the way I acted towards palace employees in the presence of other people, but I had learned the hard way when my favorite cook was fired from the palace for inappropriate behavior.

And that behavior was to allow me into the kitchen every day to talk to her during my teenage years. 

The Queen only had to find out about this for Mrs. Bianchi, the housekeeper and David's mother, to fire her. My parents were furious with me for harming the poor woman and helped her get another job, and I learned that it's often better to dance to the music. I made a point of knowing the names of all the new employees, and even became friends with some, but in the presence of other people, I acted like everyone else.

If they did that to a cook who had been working there for almost two decades, what would they do to Matteo, who wasn't even a citizen of the country?