A Maiden's Strength

[A Long Time Ago...]

[Diana POV]

"Sniffle, sniffle," the sound of a young girl echoed through the long castle corridors.

'Why? Why were you so mean to me today, Christen?' the girl's reasons for her whimpers were purer than a sunny day.

"It's gonna be alright, Diana," Uncle Lander was there, in my room, trying to console me like always. "Don't listen to them. You're the most beautiful angel I've ever seen."

'Lies.'

"Sniffle-why did Christen say those things to me in front of everyone at school?" the girl turned around, crying into her uncle's arms for support. "Fat, stinky, monster?"

"I don't smell, Uncle Lander, so why did she say all of that?"

"I thought she was my friend."

The girl's heart ached, not from the mean comments she received about her appearance—she had long gotten used to that. Hearing whispers, people pretending to show concern while actually making fun of her, she'd long learned to ignore, to drown them out.

It wasn't the words; it was the person saying them, the only friend she had made since starting school.

'I thought she cared.'

The girl had been hidden away all of her childhood, a stain on the royal family's honor, a blemish on the perfect face they so desperately wanted to portray to the world. Still, she had tried to maintain her happy outlook on the world, choosing to ignore the mean comments while being acutely aware of their presence.

That's just how she was. Despite her outward appearance, she was just a sweet girl on the inside, wanting to make friends, wanting to feel included, wanting to be comforted.

Still, she held on, never once wavering, using all the bravery and strength her heart possessed. She held onto her sweetness, always treating others nicely, always giving them smiles, hoping for some in return.

It wasn't a ploy, a scheme, or an act to get others to like her. It was just who she was, how her uncle had raised her—to be caring and loving and honest to all those around her.

But a little girl only possesses so much strength. Even she couldn't handle her longtime best friend abandoning her, choosing to join everyone else who made fun of her to increase her popularity.

It was heartbreaking.

[Uncle Lander POV]

'No, Diana, please don't cry. You look so beautiful when you smile, please.' Her uncle pleaded in his head, not knowing what to say. He'd always been proud of her, ever since she was little, of her strength, her courage, her resilience in the face of the hate she received due to her large appearance.

Her go-lucky attitude in life, her sweet smile that would always light up his day, making him want to wake up in the morning just to check on her and see her face.

He was the only person who knew, who could understand the feelings conveyed in that little heart.

Confusion; it wasn't her fault for her appearance, it was a medical condition that had caused her to grow as big as she did. So why then was she always blamed for it?

Sadness; why couldn't she do things that all the girls her age did? Never being invited to play, never being chosen for any game.

Longing; not just from her supposed 'friends' but from her own parents who had long abandoned her, choosing to maintain their royal image rather than providing adequate care for their own daughter, considering her a blemish on the royal family's 'perfect' face.

And most profound of all,

Innocence; despite all of the comments she'd heard, despite all of the suffering she'd endured from everyone's neglect, she maintained her smile through it all.

Because that was just the kind of person she was, always showing care to others, always hoping for some in return.

'Those bastards, every single one of them,' her uncle was again infuriated at her treatment at the hands of others, like countless times before. 'Even stealing this away from her. How will she survive?'

It hurt him more deeply than anything to see her in this state, to lock herself in her room, to stop even her smile from escaping.

He tried everything to get her back to 'normal,' but nothing had worked, not even a little.

He was beginning to lose hope. That was, before he came along...

[1 Month Later]

"Ah, Mr. Lander, it's so nice to see you again. I really appreciate you allowing us to visit Buckingham Palace to discuss the deals. My nephew really wanted to see it."

The business genius himself, Albert Rosen, the man who had singlehandedly built one of the largest business empires in all of America, only growing more powerful after the unfortunate passing of his best friend.

It was a common sight in the world of the rich and powerful: a well-timed 'accident' that would suddenly help a business partner become a sole owner.

But he was different. Anyone who's ever conducted business with him would tell you, he's different, always caring more about his family than the size of his mansion or the number of zeros in his bank account.

That was one of the things that drew me, and I'm sure a lot of other people, into conducting business with him. He was as rare as a unicorn in the business circle. I had no doubt in my mind that he had absolutely nothing to do with his best friend's passing. He just wasn't that kind of person.

That's why, when he brought up the idea of conducting the business discussions at our own home, I didn't reject him outright like the countless others I had before.

I wanted to see for myself, the child raised by such a man.

And I wasn't disappointed. He was sharp, witty, and a bit of a genius as you would expect from someone from the Rosen family, while still being innocent and caring for those around him.

'So sweet,' I was reminded of her again; they were just so similar.

At least that was what I thought until I got a clear look into the boy's eyes.

They were hollow.

It frightened me. 'What could have led to such a 'monster' being born inside such a young boy?' I remember asking myself that same question, finally getting an answer within my off-topic discussions with his uncle after becoming good friends.

'He'd seen his parents die right in front of his eyes.'

I felt disgusted at myself for my previous thoughts of the boy, calling him a 'monster.' I was no better than all of the people who had bullied my sweet little niece, who was still hiding in her room, refusing to break out of her shell.

It broke me every day to see her continue like this. Something had to change for both her sake and mine.

And that's when the lightbulb went off in my head, illuminating a path to a possible solution.

'The boy.'

He had overcome his own demons, able to pull himself back from the brink of despair. I could see it in his eyes, his pain, but it was healing more so every day.

From that day forth, as often as I was able to, I invited my business partner turned friend Albert for a chat, specifically asking him to bring his 'son' along with him, which he was always happy to do for some reason.

I broke into my niece's room, forcing her to spend time with the boy, no matter how much she would hate me for it at the start.

Over time, I could tell, she was slowly growing accustomed to his presence, even asking me about when he would next visit.

They were so cute together, pretending to be little spies one day and secret agents the next. The boy even had a little black suitcase with him that, upon inspection, contained a plethora of chocolates and candies instead of the 'mission gadgets,' as he would say.

Then one day, as I was peeking through the door at their time together, I found myself accidentally listening in on the tail end of one of their conversations during their play 'dates' together,

"I don't know what you're talking about, Diana."

"You're beautiful." I was just about to barge into my little girl's room to protect her from this little demon I had unknowingly let into my own house. However, I was stopped in my tracks by the sight in front of me.

'That smile.'

"Really, Kuzan?"

"Yeah, of course, duh?" The boy continued to play with his suitcase of sweets, seemingly unaware of the impact that his words were having on the little girl. "Don't you know?"

'That smile, it's back.'

"Marry me then."

I had just broken out of my shock, only to be sent into a much deeper one by the words that just—

'WHAT!? No, no, no, no, no—'

"Huh?"

"My Uncle Lander always told me that my future partner will always say that to me, and you're the only person besides him to say that, so you're gonna be my future husband, right?" The girl asked innocently, not aware that I had only said that in passing to placate her concerns.

'I didn't know you would take it to heart!' I screamed deep in my heart.

"Oh, okay, sure," the boy replied, seeming to not understand the discussion nor the weight of his reply.

'Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck—' I again broke my streak, swearing in my head for the first time since my youth.

"But Diana," the boy continued in his discussion, "my Aunt Elizabeth has always said to let her know if someone asks me stuff like that."

'Thank God,' I let out my concerns in a soft whisper, having met the woman in person, knowing full well that she wouldn't expect anything less than perfect

'Not that my little angel is anything less that perfect, no, she's too good for him, for this world—'

"You're gonna have to talk with her." The boy spoke, fiddling with the lock on his suitcase, making sure it was properly secured as it was nearing the time of the end of their 'play date' together.

Realizing his actions, I was finally able to gather my bearings and led the father and 'son' duo out of the castle, in the fastest send-off I could manage while maintaining our mutual respect for one another.

'Phew, they're gone.'

"Uncle Lander," I was surprised when I heard the voice of my sweet little angel behind my back, finally coming out of her room after months.

"Yes, sweetie?"

"Do you know of any gyms nearby?" the girl asked with pure innocence in her eyes.

'WTF'

I masked my internal struggle, trying desperately to not collapse from the events of the day. "Why, my little angel, did that boy say something mean to you?"

"It's not that," the girl replied while turning away, attempting to hide her now red face. "I was just curious."

'That little devil.'

That was the day it began, the change in my niece, who had always been shy since young, who had always acted strong to mask her internal struggles and feelings.

She didn't want to act strong anymore.

She wanted to become strong.

All because of him...

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Xiao Li

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Princess Diana

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*TREASURE HUNT* still going on in chapter 28