𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗼𝘆𝗮𝗹𝘀, 𝗳𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘅 𝗹𝗲𝗲

𝟭𝟭

DIANA HAD NEVER FELT SO TRAPPED IN HER LIFE. the walls of buckingham palace, once a symbol of grandeur and history, now felt like a prison. every room, every hallway, every glance from a servant or a royal aide was a reminder that she was no longer just a person—she was a princess, a symbol, an object of scrutiny. and today, more than ever, she felt like an object to be watched, analysed, and controlled.

the events of the gala had left her in a state of unease. her thoughts had circled around felix, around the brief moments they'd shared, and the growing, undeniable connection between them. but now, in the solitude of her chambers, with the weight of her responsibilities pressing down on her, she found herself questioning everything.

could she truly continue living this double life? the one in which her every move was planned, her words carefully curated, and her emotions locked away behind a mask of royal propriety? orwas it time to take a leap—to reach out, to live freely, and to embrace what her heart was telling her?

as she sat at her vanity, her fingers brushing over the delicate lace of the gown she had worn to the gala, diana found herself staring at her reflection. for a moment, she didn't recognise the woman staring back at her. the princess who had always followed the rules, always kept her emotions in check, now seemed like a stranger. the real diana, the one with the heart that beat wildly whenever she thought of felix, was a woman who couldn't be confined by her royal duties. she was a woman who longed for something more—a future that didn't involve pretending.

a soft knock at the door broke her reverie.

"your highness?" julia's voice was quiet but firm. "it's time for your meeting with the press."

diana sighed, rubbing her temples. "i'll be right there."

she stood, smoothing the folds of her gown, and took one last look at herself in the mirror. the tiara she wore seemed heavier now, a symbol of a life she wasn't sure she wanted. with a final breath, she left her chambers, her heart heavy with the weight of decisions she didn't feel ready to make.

the press room was bright and sterile, with rows of cameras and reporters eagerly waiting for their next royal subject to appear. diana entered, her face carefully composed, her posture regal. she could feel the eyes on her, the flashes of cameras, the hum of whispered conversations. but beneath the polished exterior, her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts about felix, about the growing feelings she had for him, and about the life she could never have while shackled to this world.

"princess diana," one reporter called out, "can you tell us more about the charity event you attended last night? there were rumors circulating about your relationship with kpop star felix. what's going on there?"

the question hit her like a jolt of electricity. diana's heart skipped a beat, and for a moment, she froze. she had known the press would catch wind of her and felix interactions, but she hadn't anticipated it happening so soon, and certainly not in such a direct way.

"i'm afraid there's nothing to report on that front,"diana said with a practiced smile, her voice steady. "felix and i are both dedicated to our respective charitable endeavors, and that's the focus of our work together. anything beyond that is purely speculative."

the reporters didn't let up, though. their questions came faster, more insistent.

"do you have romantic feelings for him, princess?"

"has there been any official confirmation about a relationship between you two?"

diana's smile remained in place, but inside, her heart was racing. she couldn't give them what they wanted—she couldn't betray the promise she'd made to herself and to her family. yet the more they pressed her, the more she felt like she was sinking. she had never been good at lying, especially when it came to matters of the heart.

"i'm not in a position to comment on personal matters," diana said, her voice tight. "i prefer to focus on the causes that matter most to me."

julia, who had been standing at the side, stepped forward, subtly signaling that the press conference should come to a close. "thank you for your time, princess. i think that will be all for today."

diana made her way out of the room, feeling the weight of the press's eyes still on her. she could hear the murmurs behind her, the questions that would continue long after she left the building. but despite the chaos in the media, there was only one thing she could think about—felix.

later that evening, diana found herself alone in the royal garden. the cool breeze brushed against her skin, and she stared up at the stars, lost in thought. the world around her was silent, but her mind was loud with confusion and longing.

it had been hours since the press conference, and the questions they'd asked still echoed in her ears. had she said too much? had she said too little? her heart told her one thing, but her royal obligations told her another. she couldn't escape the feeling that she was being pulled in two different directions, each path leading to a different version of herself.

the sound of footsteps behind her made her turn, her heart leaping in her chest.

"felix," she whispered, her voice catching in her throat.

he was standing at the edge of the garden, his figure barely illuminated by the moonlight. his presence felt like a breath of fresh air in a world that had become increasingly suffocating.

"i couldn't stay away," felix said, his voice low but steady. he took a step closer, his eyes soft with concern. "i heard about the press conference. are you okay?"

diana took a deep breath, trying to steady the rush of emotions inside her. "i don't know anymore, felix. everything is so complicated. i'm not sure how much longer i can keep up with this... act."

felix reached out, gently taking her hand in his. the contact was electric, and for the first time in days, diana felt like she could breathe.

"you don't have to do this alone," felix said softly. "i'm here for you, annie. you don't have to hide from me or anyone else. whatever you choose, i'll be here."

her eyes filled with tears at his words, the weight of everything she had been holding in finally crashing down on her. she had never felt so seen, so understood, as she did in this moment with him.

"i don't know what to do," diana whispered, her voice trembling. "i'm so afraid of what'll happen if i follow my heart."

felix moved closer, his gaze never leaving hers. "you're stronger than you know. and you deserve to be happy, diana. whatever that looks like, i'll be here to support you."

for a moment, everything was quiet. diana could feel the connection between them, the unspoken bond that had been growing since the moment they first met. it was terrifying, the idea of opening up to someone so completely, but with felix, it didn't feel as scary. it felt right.

"i don't know if i can do it," diana said, her voice barely above a whisper. "i don't know if i can have a relationship with you, not with everything else that's going on. but i can't keep pretending like this doesn't matter to me."

felix smiled softly, his thumb gently brushing over her hand. "we'll figure it out, diana. we don't have to have all the answers right now. we just have to be honest with each other."

diana nodded, her heart swelling with a mix of fear and hope. she had no idea what the future held, but for the first time in a long while, she wasn't as afraid of it. with felix by her side, maybe—just maybe—it would be possible to find a way forward.

the night continued on, but for diana, it felt as though time had slowed. with felix there, the weight of her royal obligations seemed lighter, the pressure of the world outside less suffocating. she didn't have all the answers, and she didn't know what tomorrow would bring, but she knew one thing for certain: she was no longer alone.