This is the story of a modern day princess and her forbidden love.

Part 11 of "Royal Entanglement: Love Across Borders":

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Part 11: The Battle Begins

The café felt suffocating as the weight of Tricia's words hung heavily in the air. I had to fight against her manipulations, not just for myself, but for Leonor and the future I wanted to create.

“We can’t let her divide us,” I said, looking into Leonor’s eyes. “She thinks she can control me, but she doesn’t understand the strength of what we have.”

Leonor nodded, her expression fierce. “We need a strategy, YN. Tricia might have power, but we have the truth on our side. If we can expose her manipulations, we can take away her control.”

I leaned back in my chair, the plan slowly forming in my mind. “We have to gather evidence of her schemes. If we can show the public who she really is, it will weaken her hold over me.”

Leonor leaned forward, excitement sparking in her eyes. “Exactly! We need to document everything—her behavior, the conversations we’ve had. If we can get allies from both our families, we might stand a chance.”

As we discussed our plan, I felt a renewed sense of purpose. Tricia might be cunning, but she had underestimated the strength of our bond. We could turn the tables if we acted swiftly.

“We should start with your family,” I suggested. “If we can gain support from the royal family, it would bolster our cause. King Felipe and Queen Letizia have always valued integrity and honesty.”

“And your family has a vested interest in keeping the peace,” Leonor added. “If we present this in a way that highlights the potential for scandal, they’ll have to listen.”

Determined, we began to outline our strategy, discussing each detail carefully. We agreed to meet later that week with our families, ready to lay out the truth about Tricia and our intentions to ensure my freedom.

But as we made plans, a nagging doubt lingered in the back of my mind. Would my family truly support me against Tricia? Would they see my love for Leonor as a threat to my duty? I needed to be ready for whatever backlash might come.

As the days passed, I felt an unusual tension in my household. Tricia, seemingly blissful in her ignorance, was busy preparing for our baby’s arrival, throwing lavish parties and making sure to showcase our “happy family” to the media. I had to endure the charade, playing the role of the dutiful husband while secretly plotting against her.

One afternoon, while Tricia was out shopping for baby clothes, I seized the opportunity to meet with Leonor. We chose a secluded park, away from prying eyes, knowing that Tricia's watchful gaze could be anywhere.

“YN!” Leonor called, a warm smile breaking across her face as I approached. “I’ve been thinking about how we can present our case to our families. I think if we lead with the emotional impact of Tricia’s manipulation, they’ll be more inclined to listen.”

“I agree,” I said, feeling a swell of affection for her. “The more we can show how her actions hurt not just me, but also the people around us, the stronger our argument will be. This isn’t just about me escaping; it’s about protecting our future.”

Leonor’s eyes sparkled with determination. “We’ll do this together, YN. I promise you that. Love is worth fighting for.”

Suddenly, a chill ran down my spine as I spotted a familiar figure watching us from a distance. It was Tricia, lurking behind a tree, her expression dark and calculating. My heart raced as I realized she had been following me.

“Leonor,” I whispered urgently, “we have to go. Tricia is here.”

Before Leonor could respond, I took her hand, and we hurried deeper into the park, desperate to avoid confrontation. But as we rounded a corner, we found ourselves face-to-face with Tricia, who blocked our path with a smirk plastered on her face.

“Well, well, well,” she said, her tone dripping with mockery. “What a lovely little rendezvous you two are having. Planning something behind my back, are we?”

“Tricia, this isn’t what it looks like,” I began, but she cut me off, her eyes glinting with malice.

“Don’t play games with me, YN. I know exactly what’s going on. You think you can just run off with her? I’m carrying your child, and I won’t let you forget it.”

Leonor stepped forward, her voice steady. “Tricia, you can’t keep using the baby as a weapon. YN deserves the freedom to choose who he loves.”

Tricia’s laughter echoed through the park, a sound that sent chills down my spine. “Oh, but that’s where you’re wrong, my dear. You see, I have a plan that’s already set in motion. You think I would let him go so easily? The moment he signed that marriage certificate, he became mine.”

My heart raced as I realized the depth of her scheming. Tricia was playing a dangerous game, one that would not only endanger my freedom but also threaten the happiness of everyone around us.

“Tricia, this isn’t about possession,” I said, my voice rising in frustration. “It’s about love and the future we want to build.”

“Oh, love?” she scoffed. “Love is irrelevant in the face of power and control. You’ll see, YN. I’m the one with the power here. And I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you by my side, even if it means ensuring you have more children with me.”

As she turned to leave, I felt a surge of anger. “You won’t win this, Tricia. I refuse to let you manipulate me or my future. I’ll fight for what I truly want.”

“Good luck with that, YN,” she called over her shoulder, a wicked smile creeping onto her face. “You’ll need it.”

As she walked away, I turned to Leonor, my heart pounding with determination. “We need to act fast. If she’s serious about her plans, we can’t waste any more time.”

Leonor nodded, her expression fierce. “We’ll gather our evidence and present it to our families. It’s time to take a stand against Tricia and reclaim your life.”

Together, we left the park, fueled by a newfound resolve. The battle against Tricia’s manipulation had begun, and I would fight for the love I knew was worth pursuing, no matter the cost.