𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗼𝘆𝗮𝗹𝘀, 𝗳𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘅 𝗹𝗲𝗲

𝟮𝟰

THE DAYS FOLLOWING THEIR STOLEN MOMENT in the garden were a blur of conflicting emotions for diana. the gala had ended, and the world around her had returned to its usual routine—yet, for her, nothing felt the same. she found herself lost in thought, constantly thinking of felix, of the way he had made her feel seen, understood, and wanted. but the reality of her royal duties soon came crashing back.

every morning, she was greeted by the demands of her family and the endless list of obligations that came with being a member of the royal family. she had public appearances to attend, charity events to host, and endless meetings with diplomats and dignitaries. it was a life that had been mapped out for her long before she was born, a life that seemed increasingly at odds with the person she was discovering herself to be.

on one particularly cold morning, diana found herself in the royal study, surrounded by stacks of paperwork and the quiet hum of palace staff moving about. her mother, catherine, the princess of wales, had requested her presence to discuss upcoming royal engagements, but her mind was elsewhere.

she couldn't stop thinking about felix. every time she closed her eyes, his smile would be there, his voice echoing softly in her mind. it was as though he had cast a spell on her, one that made everything else seem small and insignificant in comparison.

"diana, a moment of your time?"

diana looked up to see her mother standing in the doorway, her expression unreadable. catherine was regal, composed, and always in control. it was a trait diana admired but also feared. she knew what was coming—this wasn't just a casual check-in. this was about her future, the future her mother had long ago planned for her.

diana stood, brushing off the imaginary dust from her dress, and nodded. "of course, mother."

they walked together to the sitting area, where catherine gestured for diana to sit. as they settled, the princess of wales's gaze softened, but diana could still sense the weight of her expectations.

"i've received word of several potential suitors who are eager to meet you, diana," catherine began, her voice smooth and even. "these are men who are of noble birth, well-educated, and highly regarded in society. it is time we begin considering your future as queen."

diana's stomach twisted at the words. the life she had been dreading since childhood, the life that seemed inevitable, was drawing closer. she had no doubt her mother's words were meant to be comforting, but to diana, they felt suffocating.

"mother, i... i understand," diana said, though her voice lacked conviction. "but i don't know if i'm ready for that kind of life yet. i—"

catherine's gaze hardened, the softness in her eyes replaced by a sharpness that diana had come to know all too well. "you are not a child, diana. you have a duty to this family, to this country. it is time you start considering what is best for the monarchy."

"i don't want to be a figurehead, mother," diana said, her voice wavering but growing more determined with each word. "i don't want to be someone's pawn in some political game. i want something more. i want to be... free."

catherine's expression faltered for a moment, but she quickly regained her composure. "diana, this is not a matter of freedom. this is your responsibility. you were born for this. do you think your great-grandmother, the queen, does not have her own wishes? do you think she did not have dreams of her own when she was younger? but she sacrificed them for the greater good."

diana's heart pounded in her chest. "i'm not the queen. i'm me. and i don't want to live my life making choices just to please everyone else. i want to make my own decisions, to choose my own path. i want to be with felix."

catherine's eyes darkened, and she stood up suddenly, her voice rising. "felix? that boy is nothing but a distraction. he is not part of your world, diana. you cannot choose him over the legacy of this family. you are not some common girl who can chase after fantasies. you are a princess, a future queen. you must think beyond your own desires."

diana stood as well, her fists clenched at her sides. "you don't understand," she said, her voice shaking with a mixture of anger and hurt. "you don't understand what it feels like to be trapped in this life, to always be expected to be perfect, to always be on display. i'm suffocating, mother. i can't breathe in this world you've made for me."

the words hung in the air, thick with tension. catherine's face softened for a brief moment, but it was quickly replaced by the familiar mask of royal duty. "this is the life you were born into, diana. this is the life we all have to live. you can't just throw it all away for some fleeting romance."

"it's not just some romance," diana shot back. "felix makes me feel alive. with him, i don't feel like i'm just the 'princess.' i feel like i'm diana, a person with hopes, dreams, and—yes—feelings. he doesn't see me as a title. he sees me as a woman."

there was a long, heavy silence between them, the room filled with unspoken words and unresolved tension. catherine's voice was cold when she spoke again. "i will not allow you to make a decision like this, diana. you are a member of the royal family, and your duty is to this country, to the crown. you will do what is expected of you."

diana's eyes flashed with determination. "i will not marry someone just because it's expected of me. i will not be forced into a life that isn't mine to choose."

"then you will face the consequences of that decision," catherine said, her voice tight with finality. "and you will not like them."

diana's heart raced as she realized that this was the breaking point, the moment that could change everything. she took a deep breath, fighting back tears. "i'm not asking for your approval anymore, mother. i'm making my choice."

"then you've made your choice, diana," catherine replied, her voice cold and firm. "and you will have to live with it."

the argument hung in the air, its weight pressing down on both of them. diana could feel the finality of the words, but she also knew that she couldn't go back. not now. not after everything she had realized about herself, about what she wanted, about the love she felt for felix.

as her mother turned and walked away, diana felt a deep sense of sadness and relief. the battle for her future had begun, and there was no turning back now.