President's Daughter's Bodyguard Chapter 5: The Arrival

Chapter Five: The Arrival

"Here we co..."

The landing shook the jet like it was made of paper.

Danielle peeked through the window and saw sothing out of an old painting...

Theodor stretched as if they had just taken a short car ride. "Welco to the middle of nowhere," he murmured, yawning. "Population: probably sheep."

Danielle didn’t reply to his weirdly annoying comnt.

Her ears popped painfully, and the mont the door opened, the chilly air rushed in.

The airport wasn’t much more like a large house pretending to be an airport. A few uniford staff were waiting, all stiff smiles and quiet politeness.

She saw no reporters outside, making noise. Just the sound of the wind and the plane behind them.

A woman with strictly-looking cheekbones and a clipboard stepped forward. "Miss Danielle Geiger?"

Danielle nodded weakly.

"I’m Mrs. Keller, the head of student affairs. Welco to Althene University. We’re honored to have you."

’Liar,’ Danielle thought. Nobody looked honored. They looked cautious...like she might explode if spoken to too loudly.

Theo stepped down behind her, adjusting his coat. "She’s tired. Can we skip the speeches?"

Mrs. Keller didn’t look pleased but nodded. "Of course. We’ve prepared a dorm for Miss Geiger. And for you, Mr. Theodor..." She hesitated, scanning her papers. "We’ll find accommodations shortly."

"Find them fast," Theo replied. "I don’t plan on being far."

The ride from the airport to the campus took about ten minutes through a winding mountain road.

The campus appeared like so secret fortress blend of stone buildings, so silent courtyards, and narrow paths covered in golden leaves. It was beautiful, but Danielle felt no comfort in beauty anymore.

She followed silently as Mrs. Keller led them inside one of the main dorms. A young maid carried her single suitcase up the stairs, glancing nervously at Theo every few seconds.

"This will be your room," Mrs. Keller stated, opening the door to a space that looked almost too perfect.

A wide bed covered with white sheets, a desk by the window, and a small shelf already stocked with books Danielle hadn’t asked for.

"You’ll find your schedule on the table. als are served downstairs, but since you’re on private terms, arrangents can be made."

Danielle barely looked. "Thanks," she muttered.

Theo was waiting behind her, glancing at the room like he was checking for hidden traps. "And my room?"

Mrs. Keller stiffened. "We’ll arrange one shortly. The guards’ quarters are across campus-"

"No," Theo interrupted flatly. "I’m assigned to her detail. That ans I stay near her. 24/7 duty. Across campus doesn’t work."

Mrs. Keller frowned. "Sir, this is a university dormitory, not a military base. Students have privacy."

"Then give the room next door."

"All the rooms are taken."

"Then I’ll sleep in here," Theo rolled his eyes with a shrug, dropping his bag onto the floor beside Danielle’s bed.

Danielle’s head whipped toward him. "You what?"

Mrs. Keller looked scandalised. "Absolutely not!"

Theo sighed, rubbing his temple. "Fine, fine. Put wherever you can, but make it close."

The argunt went on for several minutes until finally, soone announced there was a small guest room down the hall...barely three steps away from Danielle’s.

Theo smirked in victory. "That’ll do."

Mrs. Keller forced a tight smile. "Dinner will be brought up in an hour. Please rest, Miss Geiger."

When she left, really uncomfortable silence filled the room again.

Danielle turned toward the window, pretending not to care as Theo examined the books, the desk, even her suitcase.

"Are you done snooping?" she asked.

"Just making sure there’s no spy caras or poisoned pillows," he replied dryly.

Danielle rolled her eyes. "I think the only poison here is your personality."

"See? You’re getting better at this. I told you, fighting’s more fun than crying."

She grabbed a pillow and threw it at him. He caught it easily, tossed it back, and the impact nearly knocked her sideways. "Hey!"

"Reflex training!"

"I hate you."

"I get that a lot."

Theo sat on the edge of the chair near her bed, looking far too comfortable for soone uninvited.

The energy around them was awkward. Danielle hugged her knees again, eyes on the floor.

"So..." he started slowly, "you don’t have any siblings?"

Danielle blinked, surprised by the question. "No."

"Why not?"

Her fingers tightened around her sleeves. "Because my father didn’t want any."

Theo frowned. "That’s...cold. Most people like big families."

"Not him," she whispered quietly. "He grew up in a village where people were supposed to be kind. They weren’t."

Theo leaned back, being clearly intrigued by her comnts. "Go on."

Danielle hesitated. Her throat felt itchy. "He had a little brother once. They used to play by the river behind the village. One day, sothing happened. My father never told what, only that people...hurt his brother. Burned his skin. Beat him until he was dead."

Theo’s smirk vanished. "That’s...dark." But it was familiar to him.

"After that," she continued, "my father decided family made you weak. So he made sure I was born strong and alone."

Theo ran a hand down his face. "That explains a lot."

"Explains what?" she asked, raising her tone.

"Why you look like you’re about to punch anyone who says ’good morning.’"

Danielle couldn’t help it, so she laughed. It ca out shaky and unexpected. "You’re annoying."

"I try to be."

A knock interrupted them. A maid brought in a tray with soup, bread, and a mug of hot chocolate. Theo reached for it first.

"Hands off," Danielle warned. "That’s mine."

"I’m testing it for poison," he sniffed the cup. "Mmm. Slls deadly. Better let drink it."

"You’re such an idiot."

"Professional idiot, thank you very much."

Danielle rolled her eyes and snatched the cup from him. "If I die, I’m haunting you."

"Fair. But at least I’d have company."

"You’re not as bad as I thought," Danielle hushed.

Theo smirked. "Careful. That sounds dangerously close to a complint."

"It wasn’t."

He chuckled, standing up and stretching his arms. "Sure, Princess. Get so sleep. You’ve got a long day tomorrow."

She frowned. "Doing what?"

"Learning how to survive Europe without crying."

"I didn’t cry that much."

"Right," he glanced around, walking toward the door. "And I’m a ballet dancer."

"What about your family? Where do you co from?"

Theo paused for a few seconds, like he was thinking if he should answer, but then, he let out a long sigh.

"None of your business. I’ll see you tomorrow."