THE FOLLOWING DAYS WERE A WHIRLWIND OF CONFUSION AND EMOTION. diana couldn't stop thinking about the kiss, about felix and the sense of freedom he made her feel, but she also couldn't ignore the consequences of their secret rendezvous. the weight of her family's expectations still hung heavy over her shoulders, and she couldn't help but wonder if what they had shared in the garden would be enough to escape the life they had planned for her.
each day, diana's internal battle grew more intense. she tried to focus on her royal duties, on the events that were still part of her unyielding schedule, but it was becoming harder and harder to concentrate. every smile she forced for the cameras, every handshake with dignitaries, felt like a betrayal of herself. all she wanted was to be with felix, to be with someone who saw her for who she truly was—not a princess, not a title, but diana.
one morning, as diana sat at breakfast with her family, trying to push down the anxiety that had been building up inside her, the conversation turned to matters she was all too familiar with—her future.
"so, diana," her father, prince william, began, his tone as calm and measured as ever, "have you given any more thought to the upcoming gala in paris? we have some important guests, and it would be a good opportunity to make some connections, don't you think?"
diana's stomach churned. she knew exactly where this was going. it wasn't just about attending the gala—it was about meeting suitors, about continuing to shape her into the image of the dutiful royal daughter they all expected her to be.
"of course, father," diana replied, keeping her voice steady. "i'll be there, as always."
"good," william said, nodding approvingly. "there will be several young men there who would be more than suitable for you. it's time to start thinking about your future seriously."
kate, sitting next to her husband, offered a soft smile, but there was an edge to it that diana didn't miss. "you'll be the star of the evening, diana," she added, her voice filled with a certain pride. "it'll be a great opportunity for you to meet some of the most eligible young men in europe."
diana felt a wave of heat rise to her cheeks. she couldn't look at her parents, couldn't bear to see the pride in their eyes as they discussed her future as though she were a pawn on a chessboard. all she could think about was felix—about the way he made her feel, how he saw her as a person, not a princess to be paraded around for the world to admire.
"i understand," diana said quietly, her voice betraying none of the turmoil inside her. "i'll do my duty."
as soon as the meal was over, diana excused herself from the table and fled to her chambers, where she could be alone with her thoughts. the weight of everything—the gala, the suitors, her family's expectations—pressed down on her like a heavy fog, making it harder and harder to breathe.
she paced the room, her mind racing. she couldn't marry someone she didn't love. she couldn't live a life that wasn't hers. but the thought of defying her family, of stepping away from the life they had planned for her, terrified her. what would it cost her? would they disown her? could she even imagine a life without her family, without the palace?
diana sank onto the edge of her bed, her head in her hands. the only answer she had, the only hope she clung to, was felix. but even that felt like a fragile dream, something she could never truly have.
that night, when the moon hung low in the sky, diana found herself standing in front of the mirror, the silver necklace felix had given her resting lightly in her hand. she hadn't taken it off since the night in the garden, and it was the only piece of the outside world that had truly felt like hers. it was her secret, her connection to something real, something pure.
but she couldn't text him. the royal protocol was clear. diana was never allowed to send messages or make personal connections without oversight, a rule she had adhered to her whole life. if her family discovered she was breaking this protocol, it would be a scandal—one that could endanger her place in the royal family. yet the longing in her heart made the rules seem distant, almost irrelevant.
at that moment, her chamber door creaked open. she quickly placed the necklace back beneath her pillow, knowing it was best to act as though nothing was wrong. she didn't need anyone questioning her actions, least of all her family.
her younger sister, charlotte, peeked her head in, her face bright with excitement. "diana, are you coming down soon? they're getting ready for the gala, and you need to meet the designers about your dress!"
diana smiled softly, pushing aside her worries. "of course, charlotte. i'll be down in a moment."
as charlotte left, diana's gaze once again flicked to the necklace hidden beneath her pillow. she couldn't explain it, but she felt an undeniable pull toward felix. the world seemed to fade away when he was near, and even though she couldn't reach out to him the way she longed to, she promised herself that somehow, they would find a way to be together again. she wasn't sure how—she only knew that she couldn't give up on this connection, this rare and beautiful love that had sprung up between them.
with a heavy heart and a renewed sense of determination, diana stood up and walked to the door, ready to face the expectations of her family and the duties that came with being a princess. but beneath it all, there was something else—something she could hold onto in the quiet moments, a secret she would guard with everything she had.
the hope that, despite everything, love might still find a way.