Chapter 40: The Old Guard

Paris, France.

It was raining lightly in the City of Lights.

Jackson’s security team had rented an entire floor of a private hotel near the Eiffel Tower. While Alex and Mia were watching cartoons in the safe room with five bodyguards, Serenity and Jackson prepared to leave.

"Are you sure he will come?" Serenity asked, adjusting her coat. She felt nervous.

"He has been waiting for this call for twenty-five years," Jackson checked his gun holster hidden under his jacket. "Let's go."

They drove to a small, dusty antique bookshop in the 7th Arrondissement.

The shop smelled of old paper and coffee. Behind the counter sat an old man with a heavy scar running down the left side of his face. One of his legs was metal—a prosthetic.

When the bell rang, the old man looked up. His eyes were sharp, like a soldier's.

"We are closed," he said in French, his voice rough.

Jackson stepped forward and placed a heavy object on the counter.

It was the silver locket with the Golden Hawk and Rose.

The old man froze. He stared at the locket, his hand shaking uncontrollably. He slowly lifted his head to look at Serenity.

He gasped.

"Princess... Aurelia?"

Tears instantly welled up in the old man's eyes. He limped around the counter and dropped to his knees, ignoring his bad leg.

"You are alive... Oh God, you are alive."

Serenity hurried to help him up. "Please, sir. Get up."

"I am Sebastian," the old man wept, holding Serenity’s hand as if it were fragile glass. "I was the Captain of the Royal Guard. Your father... the Duke... he was my brother in arms."

They sat down in the back room. Sebastian poured tea, his hands still trembling.

"Tell me what happened that night," Serenity asked softly.

Sebastian took a deep breath. "It was Grand Duke Stefan. He poisoned the guards. He set the fire in the East Wing."

"Your father knew there was no escape," Sebastian’s voice cracked. "He wrapped you in this blanket. He put the locket around your neck."

Sebastian pointed to the scar on his face. "The fire was blocking the exit. Your father... he used his own body to hold up a burning beam. He made a path for me."

"His last words were: 'Run, Sebastian. Save my daughter. Save the future of Montbert.'"

Serenity covered her mouth, sobbing silently. Her father died a hero. He didn't abandon her. He died so she could live.

Jackson wrapped his arm around Serenity, his face grim. "Do you have proof, Sebastian? Stefan claims it was an accident."

"I have something better than proof," Sebastian limped to a hidden safe behind a bookshelf.

He pulled out an old, slightly burnt cassette tape.

"Your father kept audio journals. That night, when he realized the betrayal, he recorded everything. Stefan’s voice... threatening him... admitting the coup. It's all on this tape."

Jackson’s eyes lit up. "This is it. This is the smoking gun."

Sebastian handed the tape to Jackson. Then he looked at Serenity with a soldier's resolve.

"I have been hiding here like a rat for twenty-five years, Princess," Sebastian stood up straight. "But if you are returning to claim your throne... then I am ready to serve one last time."

"I am old. I have one leg. But I still know how to shoot."

Serenity wiped her tears. She looked at the old, scarred warrior who had given everything for her family.

"I need you, Sebastian," Serenity said firmly. "We are going home. And we are going to take back what Stefan stole."

"At your command, Your Highness," Sebastian saluted.

Jackson checked his watch. "We move at dawn. With this tape, Stefan’s reign is over."

But as they walked out of the shop, Jackson noticed a black car parked across the street. Its engine was running.

Jackson narrowed his eyes.

"Serenity, get in the car. Now."

"What is it?"

"We are being watched," Jackson drew his gun smoothly. "It seems Stefan's spies are already in Paris."

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