Epilogue

"Attention, ladies, and gentlemen. All the flights from London to Poland have been canceled today. We are very sorry for the inconvenience," a woman announced at the airport.

Diana groaned. She was beyond pissed. Her mother tried to calm her down by placing a hand on her shoulder. They had been waiting for five hours. Instead of buying a ticket that had a flight in the morning, Jasper bought one that goes for the afternoon. Diana had a hard time waiting in the airport; she was mentally stabbing Jasper innumerable times. As it was afternoon, she was less annoyed as the plane would arrive soon. But the announcement crushed her hopes.

She was missing Ivan immensely. As she glanced at the time, she knew that the wedding had already happened. She sat somewhere with no televisions so she couldn't get any update on the royal family. She was also hiding her face, wearing a mask and huge sunglasses beneath the big hat.

"What now?" her mother, Merida, asked. "The flights have been canceled for today. Should we go back to our house?"

Despite Diana urging her to sell the house, Merida didn't agree. Even though she knew she would never return, the house had memories, and she didn't want it to be wiped when someone else moved in.

"No," she answered. "Let's stay here. We cannot go back. Especially not today." The thought of never seeing or talking to Ivan clenched Diana's heart. She couldn't even think about the fact that there would be a day when he wouldn't be there for her. They promised to stay by each other's side when their friendship first bloomed.

"I will go to the washroom and freshen up then," Merida informed her and got up from the seat. Leaving Diana behind, she walked away.

Diana was sitting alone. She placed her hand on the pendant Ivan gave her. It was indeed beautiful. She didn't want to leave the pendant behind. She had to take her memories of Ivan with her. Even if it were not actually him, his memories would be enough for her.

"Diana!" Ivan's voice echoed through the entire airport. All the speakers at the airport were spreading his voice. "Diana, please don't leave me."

Her eyes grew wider when she heard her name from the familiar tone. "Why is Ivan here?" she questioned herself. Without wasting another second, she started sauntering towards the washroom. "I should leave with my mom. Ivan's here."

"I know you are here, Princess."

She took a deep breath when she heard the nickname, Princess. When Ivan called her that, she thought it was because the queen told him to. But when he started using the nickname out of nowhere, she knew it was a nickname he called her with love.

He continued as Diana looked for her mother, "You disappeared and only left a letter. How could you even think of leaving me? Also, when you left, you didn't even say goodbye to me. Remember, when we started talking over the phone, you were the one who said that our bonding would never break. That what we have is special."

"Mom, where are you?" Diana searched the entire washroom but didn't find Merida. Everyone was looking for Diana, who was covering her face. She didn't want others to recognize her and tell Ivan. Besides, she wasn't an oath-breaker.

"I know you are trying to escape now. But running away from problems won't solve them," he let out. "You are bound by your promise. You never broke a promise, I know that too. However, will you choose a promise over our love?"

Hearing him, Diana stopped in her tracks. Ivan was right. How could she choose an oath over love? Promise was a strong word, but love was the strongest.

"I love you, Diana Stevens," Ivan spoke, but his voice was near Diana this time. The crowd filled with 'awws'.

Diana turned around, only to find Ivan with the PA's mic in his hand. He had been talking through this. Everyone could hear him from the speakers.

Her breath hitched at the sight of Ivan. He was wearing a tux. He looked the most handsome man standing on the earth now. For Diana, he always looked the most handsome guy.

"If you run away from me, you will still find me next to you. Because I won't leave you alone, ever." He approached her, his heart leaping in joy at the sight of her. "There's no escape for you, now."

Ivan handed the mic to Jasper, who was standing next to him. Merida was beside him. Jasper took Merida with him before Diana could find her.

Ivan bent on a knee in front of Diana, whose heartbeat hastened. He took out the ring he bought for Diana from Italy but never had the courage to give her. It had always been with him. He had been waiting for the right time to give it to her.

"Ms. Diana Stevens, will you do the honor of marrying me?" he asked as Diana let out a gasp.

The crowd admired the couple. Most of them took their phone and started streaming it live.

Diana didn't reply. She placed her hands over her mouth, letting the tears sprinkle out of her eyes. Ivan Candelstone was proposing to her. It was real. Everything was real. She loved Ivan and he loved her.

She knew if she accepted the proposal, there was no turning back. She had to face Rain as well. I have to fight for love, she thought to herself, I will make Rain understand. I cannot break what Ivan and I have, even for her. I cannot ruin everything.

"Diana?" Merida whispered, "Say something. Answer him."

She looked at her mother, who also had tears in her eyes. Merida nodded her head, telling Diana to say yes.

"Say yes!" one of the women from the crowd hollered.

"Say yes!" another woman joined her. Soon, everyone started cheering.

Unable to open her mouth, Diana glanced at the waiting Ivan. Tears were dwelling up in his eyes too. He was afraid of losing her.

Diana sat on the floor, with the support of her knees, and nodded her head.

Ivan smiled as a tear slid through his eyes. He took her hand and slipped the ring on her finger. Everyone started clapping, including Jasper and Merida.

In happiness, Ivan cupped her cheeks and placed his lips on hers. Diana wrapped her hands around his neck and deepened the kiss. Finally, they were together.

***

"Do you, Diana Stevens, take Ivan Candelstone as your lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and cherish until death do you part?"

Diana said, "I do."

"You may now kiss the bride." As soon as the priest said that Ivan locked his lips with hers, making others cheer for them.

After their scene at the airport, they drove to the palace. Everyone was waiting for them, and the queen had everything prepared. She had a special wedding dress designed for Diana from before. She never had the chance to inform her.

Rain was Diana's bridesmaid, and Jasper was Ivan's best man. Rain apologized to Diana, and they sorted everything out.

When the wedding concluded, they signed the papers, which entitled them as the next King and Queen of England. It hadn’t been officially announced yet. There would be a party first, then it would be announced.

"I'm so glad and proud of both of you," Suzanne let her tears out and hugged the newly wedded couple. "I knew I never made the wrong choice."

"I had a hard time, but yeah. The ending is worth it," Jasper uttered. "Finally, the ship sailed."

"I am the happiest woman now!" Ruyeli chirped, "My training didn't go in vain."

"I am really happy," the king said.

"I knew something was off between them at first," Raiden, the Duke of Sussex, mumbled. "But thank God they ended up together. Because I really like this girl."

Diana rolled her eyes, but a smile formed on her lips.

The Duchess of Sussex, Floresa, let out, "All's well, that ends well."

"I love you," Diana whispered to Ivan with a cute smile, something he always admired.

He replied, "I love you too."

Everyone in the royal family toasted their drinks, "To Ivan and Diana!"

***

(After Seven Years)

"Mommy, I don't want to be a part of the royal family," Ivana Candelstone, the five years old daughter of Ivan and Diana, spoke, looking at them with her green eyes.

Diana arched an eyebrow. "Why?"

"Because it's not fun. I want to be a normal girl, with normal dreams."

Ivan chuckled, hearing his daughter. He glanced at Diana. "This is what I said to my mother when Jasper and I were kids."

"Is that why everyone only knew Jasper as the prince?" she asked her husband.

He nodded. "I wanted to lead a normal life. Thus, I remained hidden, and no one knew what Ivan Candelstone, the Prince of England, looked like."

"Until I was royally chosen," Diana muttered, and then she whispered to Ivan, "So, do you want to do the same with Ivana?"

"Yes," said Ivan. "I want to fulfill her wish as my mom did. Let her explore the world like a normal child."

"Okay." Diana started making a braid from Ivana's brown hair. "What about Idian?"

"I am a prince, and I want to be a king, like Dad." Ivana’s twin, Idian Candelstone sauntered into his parents' bedroom and further spoke, "If Ivana wants to be a commoner, let her be. I want to be a prince."

Diana chuckled, seeing Idian gazing at her with his green eyes. Ivana and Idian both had Ivan's eyes, but Diana's hair color. They also had dimples, which made their smiles beautiful.

"Looks like we have a task, Ivan." Diana glanced at him.

He shook his head, understanding what she meant.

They mumbled together, "We have to find a girl for Idian, who will be royally chosen."

THE END