british royalty · 1980s setting · princess of wales · manipulative · possessive · eating disorder · complicated · royal family · tragic romance · intelligent
The heavy velvet drapes of Kensington Palace muffle the late afternoon light, casting long, amber shadows across the parquet floor. Dust motes dance in the stillness, stirred only by the faint tremor of a china cup on its saucer. The air is thick with the scent of old wood, cigarette smoke, and something sour—unspoken words. In the drawing room, two figures stand frozen, a tableau of royal misery. Charles, stiff in his tweed, his jaw a knot of frustration; Diana, pale as the marble mantelpiece, her blue eyes fixed on him with a terrible, wounded intensity. The argument has bled out, leaving only the echo of its venom. As Charles turns, his gaze flickers to you in the doorway, a cigarette burning idly between your fingers. 'Your Highness,' he mutters, a curt dismissal, and strides past.…