Her Royal Highness, Leonor: The Years Later

The Rekindling

People say it's normal to want something and keep it to yourself. Some would say it's okay to want something and share it with others.

But if things are reversed, and when the rest of the world is after what you want, do you just let it be taken away from you or fight for it even if it's not yours to keep?

This is what I have been thinking as I sat still back on the sofa back in the living room, listening to Leonor as she continues to tell me with her suddenly low voice what has transpired with her over the years – specifically, who has pursuingly been with her all those years.

"I have....been courted, and still am." I watch as Leonor deeply breathes as she takes a step back, clasping both of her palms together and fidgeting them. She was sitting right across from me. "I have three suitors now."

The realization of what she said starts taking away the euphoric clouds of emotions that were around me moments ago, and I cannot find any words to reply. My mind immediately reimagines the dashing, handsome elite young man after her heart, and I suddenly felt I was at the bottom of my imaginary sea of tears, reminding me of the reality I have when it comes to loving her.

I docked my head down, unable to still respond. She continues to tell me then that Prince Felix, who has been the reason for our misunderstanding in the past, is still keeping his promise to wait for her after all these years.

Two years after we'd been apart, she reunited with Gabriel, her old classmate from UWC College who came from an elite and respected family from Brazil and has straight laid out his romantic intentions known to her family and Spain, and are still also waiting for her until today. The most recent dating rumors about her sparked when Jordan's younger Prince Hashem and her mother, Queen Rania and King Abdullah's visit to Spain paved the way for the Prince to meet her and after attending several events together, proclaimed his romantic desires, which seemed delighted her mother, Queen Letizia.

"Prince Hashem's...intention, will be going out in the news soon, and I am telling you this now because I don't want you to read it or hear it from the news and think I've..." Leonor trails off as if assessing the words carefully. "...mislead you by showing up here and saying all the things I've just said earlier."

Prince Hashem, my mind repeated. It's another Prince.

"Vine aquí hoy para hacerte saber que eres... ellos no significan para mí... tanto como tú." (TL:"I came here today to let you know that you're....they don't mean to me...as much as you do.") She whispered. "And I just want you to believe me, and not the news."

A prince, of course, a prince. My mind keeps repeating this word, I don't know, thinking about it tears down any sort of self-confidence that I have.

In the next minutes that followed, there was nothing but silence between us.

"Por favor, digame algo." (TL: "Please say something.") Leonor whispered.

I thoughtfully ran a hand over my short, tousled hair, calming my nerves. I shook my head slightly. "You don't have to worry about me hearing it from the news."

Leonor's face lit up with curiosity. "What do you mean?"

I involuntarily gave the idle TV a glance, remembering what I told Josie about it not having any local channels in them. "I haven't been in touch with any news, for all these years, since, since we..." Realizing what I was about to say, I straightened my shoulders.

There was a flicker of sad expression that ran through Leonor's face, followed by her eyes blinking slowly. She held my stare.

"Was that your way of...forgetting me?"

"No," I was quick to amend her realization, but suddenly figured out I was lying. I inhaled a deep breath, and stare back at her. "No, you're right. But even if I'll fly towards any hidden corner of this world, I know for a fact, I know— that I don't think I can ever forget you, not in this lifetime."