Royal Destiny: The Forced Union of Princess Leonor and Princess Catalina

Part 10

Part 10: A New Beginning

POV: Princess Alryana of Genovia and Wales (formerly Catalina)

The gentle hum of the ocean waves lapping against the shore reached the open windows of the Genovian palace, mingling with the crisp morning breeze. Alryana stood in front of the ornate mirror, dressed in a soft silk robe, her long dark hair falling loosely over her shoulders. The reflection staring back at her felt unfamiliar, as if the woman in the glass was someone entirely different from the person she had been.

Gone was Princess Catalina of Spain, the woman bound by duty and obligation to marry for political reasons. Now, she stood as Princess Alryana of Genovia and Wales, with a new identity and a new purpose. After a long journey of self-discovery, she had returned to her family in Genovia, a kingdom that had always felt more like home than anywhere else.

The sound of laughter echoed through the halls, reminding Alryana that she was not alone. Her family—her true family—had welcomed her with open arms, offering her a sanctuary from the pressures of her former life. Her mother, Queen Amelia, had never stopped searching for her, even after her supposed disappearance years ago. And now, reunited with her Genovian heritage, Alryana was finally free to live on her own terms.

As she stepped out onto the grand balcony overlooking the lush Genovian gardens, she took a deep breath, savoring the fresh air. The royal palace felt different here—less cold and formal than the one she had grown up in Spain. Here, the atmosphere was filled with warmth, love, and a sense of freedom she hadn’t felt in years.

Her younger brother, Prince archie came bounding toward her, his energy infectious as he waved a brightly colored kite. “Alryana! Come fly with me! The wind’s perfect today!”

Alryana smiled warmly, ruffling his hair. “I’ll join you in a moment, archie. I just need some time to think.”

He nodded, his boyish grin lighting up his face before he ran off to the gardens. Alryana watched him go, her heart swelling with affection. This, she thought, is what I’ve been missing—family, connection, and a life beyond the palace walls.

As she leaned against the balustrade, her thoughts drifted back to Leonor. It had been months since she had left Spain, leaving behind everything that had once defined her. Their last conversation replayed in her mind—their promises to each other, their hopes for a future that might never come to be.

But now, with the weight of her old title shed and her new identity as Princess Alryana of Genovia and Wales firmly in place, she felt a new sense of strength. She had survived, thrived even, in a world that had tried to box her in. And although her heart still ached for what she had left behind, she knew that she couldn’t go back to being Catalina.

Just then, a soft voice called her name. “Alryana?”

She turned to see her mother, Queen Amelia, standing in the doorway. The queen’s eyes were filled with a mixture of concern and pride.

“Mother,” Alryana said, stepping forward to embrace her. “I was just thinking.”

“I know,” Queen Amelia replied gently, holding her daughter close. “I’ve seen the way you’ve been carrying the weight of your past. But you are here now, with your family. You are free to be who you were always meant to be.”

Alryana pulled back, looking into her mother’s eyes. “I’m just not sure who that is yet.”

Queen Amelia smiled, brushing a strand of hair from her daughter’s face. “You don’t have to figure it all out right now. You’re here, and that’s enough. Genovia is your home, and you can take your time.”

Alryana nodded, a sense of peace settling over her. She was no longer bound by the expectations of others. Here in Genovia, she had the freedom to choose her own path.

As she watched the sun begin to rise over the palace grounds, Alryana made a silent promise to herself. She would honor her new life, embrace the opportunities before her, and build a future that reflected her true self—not the princess she had once been, but the woman she had become.

And perhaps, just perhaps, she would one day find the courage to return to Leonor—not as Princess Catalina of Spain, but as Alryana of Genovia and Wales, free to love and be loved on her own terms. But for now, she was content to live in the moment, surrounded by the family that had always been waiting for her.