Diana

chapter 15

The physician walked in with a face like a brick. His movements were all civil and with objectives, he moved towards her father who was now laid back on his prosperous, comfortable matters. The physician examined his state for a few seconds and looked up with an apprehensive smile that flashed for just a moment.

" Princess, I have inspected your father's state and I wish to discuss with you about his condition."

Diana stepped out of the room, the physician followed her from behind. They halted near the door opposite from her fathers.

" Your Royal Highness, your father may suffer from a heart infection," The middle-aged man confessed, he himself looked anxious along with Diana herself.

She paused for second as she tried to process what he had said. She then replied, "heart infection you say?"

" Yes, your Royal highness" he continued on " when I had examined His Majesty he didn't look too promising, neither is the crisis he's in. I recommend that perhaps you should find someone to watch over him, if not you can. I'll come back every four days to check how he's enduring"

Diana nodded, her face showed a sign of concern and doubt. she had concerns about how well her father was going to cope with his condition that he was in and she also had doubts when it came to her father would certainly getting better. Words of doubt crossed and raced through her mind like rapid signals been fired around nonstop.

" I'll take my leave now your Royal Highness "The physician indicated " if there seem to be an unfortunate incident feel free to tell me "

" Yes, I will sir, thank you again for coming," she stated with a subtle smile that appeared on her untrained complexion. After they had finished their discussion, she told one of the maids to show the physician the way out.

Soon after, she swiftly made her way to her chambers. The light that had once filled her chambers we're replaced with the dusk that radiated from the evening sky. She landed on her delicate, smooth bed.

Death. Death was something she never thought she did pounder on. Everything now seemed like a dream, like she was in her own world. Her father always looked young and well, so for this to suddenly happen it felt like a real shock. She herself had to reexamine the reality of his condition.

Diana stood up from her bed. She started to wander around her room, back and forth, back and forth. Her mind was in deep thought. Was it her fault? Was it because of her constant disobedience? It had now drawn on her that it must have been her fault, she had always caused her father to be stressed and angry. And even with her little knowledge, she knew that those factors had a huge effect on the heart.

Despite her father been rigorous and strict when it comes to her future and the monarch, she really did appreciate how he always wanted her to carry on the Royal line. Maybe she was wrong all along, and her ambition of being free may have distracted her from her real focus, the monarchy.

Whatever reason she had, even if she may have been late, she wanted to now please her father and also take into consideration what he had always told her, which was to focus on her royal duties and nothing else. Although maybe the love that roamed in her heart may always somewhere distracted her from the duties that laid ahead.

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Now that her father was in this unpredictable state, she had taken it upon herself to wake up prematurely to look after him.

She got up from her chair and strode towards the window as he opened the curtains. She gazed around at her father who was now asleep on his warm, cosy bed. His features were much softer in sleep, the lines that usually creased his brow and face were replaced by the youthful appearance that matched those of others their age. He looked peaceful.

She felt depleted as she sat down on the same chair for a long time. She called one of the maids over and told them to stay and look after her father, while she took a stroll around the Palace.

As she walked along the arched path, she reflected on herself. Deep inside she was only starting to get a feel for who she really was at her core.

She was in deep thoughts, thoughts on her future, her father and the monarchy. If her father was to unexpectedly pass away, the monarchy would be weighed down on her shoulders. And now that she thought about it, she was honestly not prepared.

With each stride her mind became more clear, more resolute as if the growing physical distance between her dreams had now become an emotional chasm. As the nascent sunlight caressed her skin, or promised a fresh start, and perhaps a new beginning. she entombed her will in thick-walled ice. Then, abruptly paused to close her eyes and take in a deep breath of dewy air, and steeled herself to only think of her future from here on in. A future she would mould, build, direct. Then with each stride after that, she felt more in charge, in command of her own mind, body and soul. She was a princess walking into her own destiny, a destiny that laid squarely in her own hands.