After the conversation with her parents, Rebecca's spirits seemed to plummet, leaving behind a hollow ache. She felt an overwhelming sense of inadequacy. And it felt as though she had failed, feeling as if she had done something wrong. She couldn't shake the feeling of disappointment she imagined reflected in her parents' eyes. Their disapproval echoed loudly in her mind, drowning out any semblance of confidence she once held and it clouded her thoughts, casting a dark shadow over her every emotion.

For the following few days, Rebecca found herself confined within the walls of her room, unable to muster the strength to interact with anyone. She would wallow in her room by herself, clinging to her pillows on her bed, with tears flowing down her face wondering what she had done to deserve this. She felt as if she had done something wrong and the guilt of upsetting her parents felt too much for her to bear.

In the silence that enveloped her, Rebecca would often find herself lost in reverie, lost in a sea of conflicting emotions. Her love for Freen remained, but the burden of the kingdom's expectations weighed heavily on her. She couldn't help but feel torn between her heart's desires and the obligations thrust upon her.

The echoes of her parents' conversation replayed ceaselessly in her mind, each word etching deeper into her heart. Doubt gnawed at her soul, questioning every decision, every word spoken in earnest hope of understanding. Memories once filled with love and laughter with Freen were now tainted by the looming shadow of uncertainty.

The doubt wasn't just about her decisions regarding Freen; she began to scrutinize her capabilities as a future leader, wondering if her desires for personal happiness were inherently selfish. The weight of familial expectations bore down on her shoulders like a heavy burden, leaving her feeling unprepared and inadequate for the role she was meant to fulfill. 

Her thoughts eventually spiraled into an endless cycle of self-criticism and remorse. She questioned whether her heart's desires were a betrayal of her responsibilities, whether pursuing her own happiness was the same as forsaking her duty to the kingdom.

Of course, even while feeling so sad, Rebecca dutifully readied herself for her royal responsibilities. She couldn't bear the thought of further disappointing her parents, and so she assumed her role with a façade of composure, as if nothing happened, concealing her inner turmoil as her parents wished of her.

Her sweet handmaiden, Elara, worried about her, becoming increasingly concerned with each passing day. Despite Elara's earnest efforts to coax Rebecca into eating, the princess found herself devoid of appetite. All Rebecca yearned for was to lie in bed and cry her heart out, releasing her pent-up emotions. Elara would by Rebecca's bedside, offering comforting words, trying to soothe the pain that seemed to weigh her down. But nothing seemed to work.

As each day passed by, Elara noticed the emptiness growing in Rebecca's eyes. She watched as her princess, usually radiant with spirit, became a mere silhouette of her former self, consumed by the weight of her inner battles. She felt the helplessness of not being able to ease the pain that plagued her sweet princess. Elara's own heart ached witnessing Rebecca's silent suffering, her concern growing into an unspoken plea for the princess to find solace and respite from the emotional storm.

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Eventually, Rebecca pulled herself together to attend the events of the festival. She realized that staying away any longer might invite unwanted speculation among the courtiers and citizens, which she couldn't bear. And despite Rebecca's feelings, the festival continued and everyone was in high spirits. The warmth of the celebrations contrasted starkly with the cold emptiness in her heart.

Rebecca moved through the crowd like a ghost, distant and detached from those around her. Forced into ceremonial duties, she played the role of a gracious princess, performing each task with grace. However, with every celebration, every event, Rebecca seemed to be shrouded in a cloud of nerves. Worried that her parents might be scrutinizing her.

As time passed, Rebecca found herself withdrawing from Freen. She spent less and less time by Freen's side, not knowing how to act. Their once effortless love felt foreign to her. It felt as if she inhabited a stranger's body, disconnected from her own actions and words. 

The once familiar rhythm of their conversations now felt foreign, leaving her stumbling over phrases and unable to express her true thoughts. Her gestures felt stilted, her smiles strained, a far cry from the genuine warmth that once radiated between them.

Instead she immersed herself in the matters of the kingdom trying to enjoy herself and not feel as if a part of herself is missing. Rebecca tried to engage more with the other heirs, trying to seek for something that didn't revolve around her feelings or the weighty matters that had burdened her heart. 

Her laughter, once so vibrant and genuine, now echoed with a hollow ring, a facade she wore to conceal the emptiness festering within her. The light in her eyes dimmed, replaced by a polished smile that masked the turmoil raging beneath the surface. She had slipped back into the role she bore before she met Freen—the dutiful princess, keeping everyone at arm's length, never revealing the depths of her emotions, hiding behind an impenetrable mask.

In Freen's company, there was an unexpected shift. Rebecca, once so eagerly drawn to her girlfriend's affections, now seemed to recoil ever so slightly. Her responses grew distant, her smiles a tad forced. The once warm and passionate kisses now felt foreign against her lips, causing her to turn her head away, evading the tenderness that once brought her warmth and love. 

She'd find reasons to look away when they tried to hold each other close. Nights that were once filled with whispered conversations and shared moments slowly became solitary as Rebecca found reasons to retire earlier or immerse herself in palace affairs.

Freen, bewildered and lost, didn't know what went wrong. She wanted to ask Rebecca, but whenever she did, Rebecca would say that nothing was wrong. That she's just stressed with the festival. Her attempts to engage her in conversations at night were met with fleeting responses, Rebecca's mind seemingly wandering elsewhere, lost in her thoughts. She'd try to hold her hand, only to feel Rebecca recoil from her touch.

At first, Rebecca's unexpected reactions would evoke a flicker of disbelief in her eyes. However each time it happened, her initial surprise at the flinching gradually dissolved into a cold indifference. The warmth that once was there in Rebecca's eyes, seemed to fade, replaced by a distant and impassive gaze. Freen's attempts at affection were met not just with recoils but with a cold shoulder, Rebecca's body language shutting her out as she directed her attention elsewhere.

Freen, heart heavy with sorrow and confusion, realized the distance growing between them. She could feel Rebecca slipping through her fingers, and though she tried her best to shower Rebecca with love, her efforts proved futile. Rebecca seemed to have built a protective wall around herself, not letting anyone enter, even Freen herself.

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One evening, Freen found Rebecca standing by the balcony, gazing down at the kingdom below. A sense of finality settled over and she hesitated for a moment, feeling the weight of impending goodbye in the air. Despite the sinking feeling in her heart, Freen couldn't ignore the need to address the growing distance between them.

Approaching Rebecca slowly, Freen's steps echoed softly against the marble floors. The atmosphere felt charged with unspoken words and fading emotions. She paused a few steps away from Rebecca, feeling the emotional distance that had gradually widened between them.

"Rebecca," Freen began, her voice trembling slightly. "You seem distant lately. Is everything okay?"

Rebecca turned to face Freen startled. She tried to smile up at Freen but all she could muster was a forced smile. "I'm fine, Freen. Just preoccupied with palace matters and upcoming events," she replied, attempting to dismiss Freen's concern.

Freen's concern only deepened at Rebecca's deflection. "It's more than that, isn't it? I can feel something's changed between us. I can sense it in the way you look at me, in the way you've been distancing yourself. I... I know you might not want to talk about it, but I can't ignore this any longer. Please... please, talk to me."

Rebecca turned her gaze back to the city, her silence speaking volumes. The air between them seems heavy with unsaid words, emotions poised on the brink of spilling over.

"I don't want to push you if you're not ready to talk, but I need to know where I stand," Freen continued, her voice barely above a whisper. "I can't bear the uncertainty, Rebecca. If... if this is it for us, I need you to tell me. I need closure, even if it hurts."

There was a tremor in Freen's voice. She knew that what she was asking for would bring about the painful admission of an imminent end, but the weight of uncertainty and Rebecca's distance had become unbearable.

Rebecca turned slightly toward Freen, her eyes finally showing emotions — regret, sorrow, and a hint of resignation. She remained silent for a moment, her words caught in her throat.

"The conversation with my parents... it didn't go so well," Rebecca finally spoke, her voice barely audible. "They... they're worried about us, about our relationship. They think our connection might not be in the best interest of the kingdom, that it might compromise Lumina's stability." Her voice trembled with emotion, the weight of her parents' words evident in her expression.

Rebecca glanced at Freen, her eyes filled with a mixture of sorrow and helplessness. "They're convinced that my happiness might come at the cost of Lumina's prosperity. They want me to prioritize the kingdom above everything else, even if it means sacrificing what... what I feel." Her voice wavered, revealing the internal struggle she was enduring.

Tears glistened in Rebecca's eyes as she struggled to articulate her feelings. "I didn't realize how much their disapproval would affect me, how torn I'd feel between my duty and what my heart yearns for. I'm sorry, Freen. I'm torn, and I don't know how to make this right."

Freen felt her heart clench, finally understanding what Rebecca had been going through alone. She stepped closer, reaching out to gently hold Rebecca's trembling hand.

"Rebecca, I understand. I know this is hard, and I can't imagine what you're going through," Freen spoke softly, her voice so soft that only Rebecca could hear. "I know the weight of responsibility you carry, but we can work through this. We can change their minds together. Lumina's prosperity doesn't have to come at the cost of your happiness, or ours."

Freen's voice trembled with emotion, her eyes pleading for a glimmer of hope. "We've faced challenges before and overcome them. We can do it again, together. I'm here for you, every step of the way. Please, don't give up on us."

Despite Freen's attempt to reassure her, Rebecca could only offer Freen a sad smile. The weight of royal obligations and familial expectations battled against her heart's desires. She felt torn between her love for Freen and the responsibility she held to her kingdom.

"I'm sorry," Rebecca finally spoke, her voice barely audible, laden with sadness. "I... I wish it were that simple. But my parents' disapproval, their worries for the kingdom, it's not something that will change easily. I wish I could fight this battle with you... I really wish I could...but my mind's made up, Freen."

Tears welled up in Rebecca's eyes as she turned to Freen. "I love you, Freen. More than anything and possibly more than I'll ever love anyone else. But I can't bear this anymore. My heart's torn between my love for you and my responsibilities to Lumina and my heart... it hurts so much."

A single tear escaped down Rebecca's cheek as she offered Freen a bittersweet smile. Freen's heart sank as the finality of Rebecca's decision settled between them, the confirmation she had feared yet knew was inevitable. "Rebecca, I understand. I.. I won't ask you to choose between us and your kingdom. I just want you to be happy... And if that's not with me.... I understand."

Despite her love for Rebecca, Freen understood that her heart was no longer hers to hold. And as much as it pained her, Freen knew she had to let her go, to watch her drift away into the roles of royal responsibility that pulled Rebecca further from her reach.

With a heavy sigh, she held onto the memory of their love, knowing it was time to let go. "I'll always cherish the moments we shared, Rebecca," Freen whispered, her voice filled with a mixture of love and resignation.

Rebecca nodded softly, her eyes clouded with tears. "Thank you, Freen. For everything."

With a heavy heart, Freen turned away, the ache of loss throbbing within her chest. Rebecca stood alone by the balcony, gazing out at the kingdom below, her heart heavy with the weight of duty and the lingering ache of lost love. She remained there, silhouetted against the fading sunlight, a figure torn between the responsibilities of her kingdom and the echoes of a love she had to let go.

THE END