Chapter 44: Not Just a Friend
The atmosphere inside the school had completely changed.
Only a few days earlier, Mia had been just another quiet student walking through the hallways without anyone paying much attention to her. Now every step she took seemed to attract whispers, curious glances, and occasional phone cameras pointed in her direction.
"Princess Mia…"
"Did you see the news?"
"She's literally royalty!"
The voices followed her everywhere.
Anshul walked beside her calmly as they moved through the hallway. Several students looked at him with curiosity as well, trying to figure out who the tall, unfamiliar boy constantly walking next to the newly revealed princess was.
Mia kept her posture straight like she had been taught, but Anshul could tell she was uncomfortable.
The sudden attention was exhausting.
They finally reached a quieter part of the school near the courtyard where fewer students were walking around.
Mia exhaled deeply.
"This is insane."
"You're handling it better than you think," Anshul said.
"I don't feel like I am."
She leaned against a stone railing in the courtyard and rubbed her forehead.
"I used to worry about normal things. Homework. School debates. Whether my hair looked weird." She laughed softly. "Now people are asking me questions about running an entire country."
"That's a big upgrade."
"Not funny," she replied, though a faint smile appeared.
For a moment they stood quietly while the sounds of distant conversations echoed from inside the building.
Mia looked at him again.
"You know something?"
"What?"
"If you weren't here today I probably would have panicked back there."
"You didn't panic."
"I was very close."
Anshul leaned casually against the railing beside her.
"You've already proven you can handle pressure."
"That's because you keep saying that," Mia said.
"Maybe I'm right."
She studied him for a moment.
"You always seem calm."
"That's because someone has to be."
Mia laughed quietly.
"Good point."
A few students passed nearby, whispering excitedly before quickly walking away again.
Mia watched them go before speaking again, this time more quietly.
"Everything changed so fast."
Anshul didn't interrupt.
She continued.
"Yesterday I was just Mia. Today everyone sees me as a princess." She paused before adding, "But when I talk to you, it still feels normal."
"That's good."
"It is."
She hesitated slightly before asking,
"You're not planning to disappear suddenly, right?"
"Disappear?"
"You're always traveling somewhere mysterious," she said. "So I'm just checking."
Anshul looked at her for a moment before answering.
"I'm not going anywhere."
Mia nodded slowly.
"That's good."
There was a brief silence between them.
Then Mia took a small breath.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
Her voice became slightly nervous.
"Are we… just friends?"
Anshul raised an eyebrow slightly.
"What do you think?"
Mia looked down at the ground for a moment before meeting his eyes again.
"I think I like you."
The honesty in her voice made the moment feel surprisingly simple.
Anshul smiled slightly.
"I was hoping you'd say that."
Mia blinked.
"Wait… really?"
"Yes."
Her nervous expression slowly turned into a bright smile.
"So… what does that mean?"
"It means we're not just friends."
Mia laughed softly.
"So we're officially…?"
"Boyfriend and girlfriend."
She looked both happy and slightly embarrassed at the same time.
"Wow."
"Too fast?" Anshul asked.
"No," Mia replied quickly.
Then she added with a shy smile,
"Actually… I think it's perfect."
At that moment the bell rang across the school building, signaling the start of the next class.
Mia looked toward the hallway.
"I should probably go before the teachers start panicking about the princess being late."
"Good idea."
She started walking toward the classroom entrance before stopping and turning back toward him.
"You'll still be here after school?"
"Yes."
"Good."
Her smile returned again.
"Because my boyfriend is apparently responsible for helping the princess survive the rest of the day."
Anshul watched her walk back into the building.
The school was still chaotic.
Reporters were still outside.
Students were still whispering everywhere.
But now things had changed slightly.
Because the princess of Genovia now had a boyfriend standing quietly beside her world.