Princess Without Limits

Chapter Twenty-five

I GOT THE FINAL CHAPTER OUT I'M SO PROUD 😭 we're finally at this point of the story, dear readers!! I'm so glad we made it this far, even more so that we're on this journey together. I hope all of you laughed, cried and screamed throughout this journey. I'm not sure which you will prefer this story to have made you do honestly, but it's a very objective thing.

(Lena)

"Did you bring your passport-" "Yes, Gion, yes! You asked me that question ten minutes ago!" I interrupted Gion as he did a quick scan of the now-empty dorm. He stuffed his hands in his pockets as a show of embarrassment. I knew he was worried but was trying hard not to display it, only to fail miserably when he locked eyes with me.

"I'm going back to my school, Gion, and I've been there for ages. Stop being overprotective," I chided him lightly, earning a frown from him. Even with all my teasing of his attachment to me, I understood his perspective. We'd only been together for slightly more than a week, and given how much we'd gone through to get to where we were now, I couldn't blame him for the fear that the distance might strain our relationship.

Gion never gave me another present for my birthday. I thought that he would after seeing Leon's diamond necklace for me, but he never did. I'd stuffed the salvaged clothing vouchers somewhere in my luggage because some part of me didn't quite want to spend a gift I received on a day where everything in my life was rewritten. Yet, I believed that Gion knew the symbolism of Leon's present for me, and had no inclination to try to top it.

As the minutes grew by, I sensed Gion's reluctance to let me get back to Poposi growing. I bet I would have picked up his emotions from a mile away, even though he hadn't said a word. "Gion," I started, but I didn't know what to say afterwards. However, Gion didn't make me continue, as if simply saying his name was enough, and reached out a hand to clasp mine.

"Oh!" I exclaimed all of a sudden when his hand met mine. Picking up the outstretched hand with my hand, I slowly raised my other hand to press against his, palm to palm, all the while grinning at his perplexed expression. "Your hands are so big!" He processed the information for a few more seconds before letting out a chuckle at my antics, something that he rarely did unless we were alone. I let go of his hand upon his reaction. Satisfied to have lightened the mood a bit more, I looked outside my dorm's opened window with a blissful smile.

I felt his hand brushing against the hair strands that had flown to my cheeks. "I'll miss you," I admitted, letting out some of my vulnerability. Trying to savour the warm, soft touch, I lean into his hand. "I'll miss you too, Princess Lena of Germany," he replied after a while, but that was enough to make me feel comforted.

Suddenly, my phone buzzed and we broke away immediately, the moment ruined. My heart dropped even further when I read the message. "I have to go now, Gion," I informed him, "Gina said the ship has arrived." Gion did a scan of me with his eyes one last time before he nodded. Then, to my utter delight, he rolled his eyes dramatically. "The other princes have the worst timings ever. I have a meeting in five minutes."

"I guess this is goodbye." His expression settled back into a mask of indifference, like how it was when I first saw it two weeks ago. Yet beneath it, I saw the reluctance glinting in his eyes. I leaned in one last time for a kiss. "See you soon, Gion," I whispered in his ears, although I had to tiptoe to reach it. He gave my hand one last squeeze, and that pushed me to let go of him. I wanted to look back at him as I walked out his doorway, but found it too painful. I just hoped that Gion understood.

A few minutes later, I stood at the port of Momosu, finishing the trip just as it had started. This time without the disapproving gaze of my brother, without the nonchalant gaze of my now boyfriend. And even then, I wouldn't have it any other way. This time, instead of walking into the cold embrace of the unknown, I strolled straight to my friends' sides.

There was no such thing as a princess without limits. We would always be made to shine differently from all the other girls in the universe. But at least, I hoped that my fight would make every royal being in this world realise that we didn't need a mask of perfection to rule.

I want to say it again: we did it!! After all the blood, sweat, and tears (please don't forget an endless amount of extensions as well as - I'm sorry by the way - an overwhelming number of broken promises), we finally finished the story that means so much to me and, I hope, you all. Maybe sometimes life gets people down but it has always made me down for writing more chapters for this story too!! And I won't have made it this far without everyone who has played a certain role in the creation of this story, so thank you very much! I'll have more last words posted later if you see this early, please be patient!!