𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗼𝘆𝗮𝗹𝘀, 𝗳𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘅 𝗹𝗲𝗲

𝟯𝟲

THE ATMOSPHERE IN THE PALACE WAS UNUSUALLY TENSE, a rare occurrence that diana immediately noticed when she entered the dining room for breakfast. her siblings—george, charlotte, and louis—were already seated, chatting amongst themselves, but the hushed tone of their conversation suggested they were wary of something. or someone.

as diana took her seat, george leaned over and whispered, "grandpa charles and camilla are here."

diana froze for a moment, her appetite vanishing at the mere mention of camilla. she had always struggled to mask her disdain for the woman who had caused so much pain in her family's history. her dislike wasn't just a matter of loyalty to her grandmother, princess diana; it was also fueled by camilla's overbearing nature and her tendency to act as though she belonged at the center of everything royal.

"why are they here?" diana asked in a low voice, careful not to let their parents overhear.

charlotte shrugged. "something about discussing the christmas plans. they're in the drawing room with mummy and daddy."

"great," diana muttered under her breath, stabbing her fork into a piece of toast.

the breakfast was interrupted by the arrival of prince william and kate, who exchanged brief greetings with their children before addressing diana directly.

"diana, your grandparents have asked to see you," william said, his tone neutral but firm. "finish up and join us in the drawing room."

diana bit back a groan, nodding reluctantly. "yes, father."

after breakfast, she made her way to the drawing room, her steps slow and deliberate. the closer she got, the louder the voices inside became. she could already hear camilla's familiar, clipped tones dominating the conversation, and it made her stomach churn.

when she entered the room, the sight before her confirmed her worst fears. camilla was perched on one of the ornate sofas, her posture exuding confidence, while prince charles stood nearby, gesturing animatedly as he spoke to william and kate.

"diana, my dear!" camilla's voice rang out the moment she spotted her, laced with a false warmth that made diana's skin crawl. "come, sit with us."

diana forced a tight smile, stepping further into the room. "grandpa, camilla," she said politely, nodding at each of them. she took a seat beside her father, purposely avoiding the empty space next to camilla.

"we were just discussing the upcoming christmas festivities," charles began, his tone jovial. "and we'd love to hear your thoughts, diana."

"oh, yes," camilla chimed in, leaning forward slightly. "it's such an important event for the family, and it's crucial that we all work together to make it perfect."

diana's polite facade nearly cracked at the implication. camilla always found ways to insert herself into matters that didn't concern her, acting as though her opinions carried more weight than anyone else's.

"i'm sure the plans will be wonderful," diana said curtly, keeping her gaze fixed on her grandfather.

but camilla wasn't deterred. "you know, diana, you remind me so much of your grandmother when she was young. headstrong, opinionated... a true windsor spirit."

diana's jaw tightened at the mention of her late grandmother, and she struggled to keep her tone civil. "thank you, camilla. i'll take that as a compliment."

before the conversation could spiral further, william cleared his throat. "diana, i think camilla was hoping to discuss some of the charities you've been involved with recently."

diana shot her father a quick look, recognizing the subtle attempt to redirect the conversation. "of course," she said smoothly. "which one would you like to know about?"

as diana began detailing her involvement with a local children's hospital, she could feel camilla's eyes on her, studying her every word and expression. it was a game camilla often played, trying to assert dominance through subtle digs and calculated interruptions.

when the discussion finally ended, diana excused herself as quickly as she could without appearing rude. she needed fresh air, a moment to collect herself and shake off the lingering tension.

outside in the gardens, diana found her mother, kate, sitting on a bench with a book in hand. the sight of her mother brought a wave of comfort, and diana approached her with a small smile.

"how did it go?" kate asked, looking up from her book.

"as well as it always does with camilla," diana replied, sinking onto the bench beside her. "i don't know how you manage to tolerate her."

kate sighed, closing the book. "it's not always easy, but she's part of the family, and we have to make an effort."

"but why?" diana asked, her frustration bubbling to the surface. "she's not like you or dad or granny. she doesn't care about the family the way we do."

"she does, in her own way," kate said gently. "but i understand how you feel, diana. it's hard to reconcile the past with the present, especially when it comes to people like camilla."

"i just... i can't stand the way she talks about granny like she genuinely knew her," diana admitted, her voice tinged with anger. "it's insulting."

kate reached out and placed a reassuring hand on her daughter's. "you have every right to feel that way, and no one expects you to change overnight. just remember, holding onto anger doesn't hurt camilla—it only hurts you."

diana nodded, though her frustration remained. "i'll try. but i can't promise anything."

"that's all i ask," kate said with a smile. "and if it ever gets too much, you know where to find me."

later that evening, diana found herself in her room, writing another letter to felix.

dear felix,
some days, i feel like i'm drowning in expectations and obligations. today was one of those days. camilla was here, and it was... difficult. she's everything i dislike about this life, wrapped up in one person. but my mum says holding onto anger will only hurt me, and she's probably right. i just don't know how to let it go. thinking about you makes it easier, though. i wish i could talk to you about all of this in person. writing letters helps, but it's not the same as hearing your voice or seeing your smile.
i miss you more than words can say.

yours always, diana.

as she sealed the letter, diana felt a sense of calm wash over her. felix might be miles away, but his presence in her life gave her strength to face the challenges ahead.