Here is Chapter
Chapter 26: The Weight of a Crown
Mia stood outside the door for several seconds.
Her hand hovered near the handle, but she couldn't bring herself to open it.
Inside the house waited the elegant woman who had just turned her life upside down.
Her grandmother.
A queen.
Mia took a deep breath.
"Okay… you can do this," she whispered to herself.
Then she slowly pushed the door open.
The living room looked exactly the same as before.
Her mother sat on the couch, clearly worried. Queen Clarisse stood near the table, speaking quietly with one of the bodyguards.
The moment Mia entered, everyone turned toward her.
"Mia," her mother said softly.
Mia stepped inside.
Her eyes moved between the two women.
"This is crazy," she said immediately.
Clarisse did not look offended.
Instead, she nodded calmly.
"Yes. It can feel that way."
Mia walked forward nervously.
"You're telling me I'm the princess of a country I've never even heard of."
"Genovia," Clarisse corrected gently.
"Yes… that place."
Clarisse folded her hands gracefully.
"Your father was the Crown Prince of Genovia."
Mia's expression changed slightly when she heard the word father.
She had never known him.
"Why didn't anyone tell me before?" she asked.
Her mother sighed.
"Because we wanted you to have a normal childhood."
Mia looked down.
"But now everything is different."
Clarisse nodded.
"Yes."
She walked closer to Mia.
"You are the only heir to the throne."
The words felt heavy in the air.
Mia shook her head slowly.
"No… I can't do that."
"You don't have to decide immediately."
Clarisse's voice remained calm and patient.
"In three weeks, Genovia will hold its annual independence celebration."
She paused.
"Before that day, you must decide whether you wish to accept your position as princess."
Mia stared at her.
"You're giving me three weeks to decide if I want to rule a country?"
Clarisse smiled faintly.
"It is a very small country."
"That doesn't make it less terrifying!"
Her mother gently placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Mia, no one is forcing you."
Clarisse nodded again.
"You will attend princess lessons during these three weeks."
"Princess lessons?" Mia repeated weakly.
"Yes."
"How to walk, speak, and behave as a royal."
Mia dropped onto the couch dramatically.
"This is a nightmare."
Clarisse chuckled quietly.
"Most people would call it an opportunity."
"Well, most people are not me."
For a moment, the room became quiet again.
Finally Clarisse spoke.
"Tomorrow morning we will begin your lessons."
Mia groaned loudly.
"This is really happening…"
Meanwhile, outside the house, Anshul still stood near the gate.
The lights inside the house glowed warmly through the windows.
He could see faint shadows moving as Mia spoke with her family.
He leaned against the fence and looked up at the night sky.
"So it begins," he murmured.
The main story of this world had officially started.
Mia Thermopolis was now facing the reality of becoming a princess.
And over the next three weeks, her life would change completely.
Anshul exhaled slowly.
For him, the situation was slightly complicated.
He couldn't interfere too much with the original timeline.
But at the same time, he wanted to stay close to Mia.
Not because of political power.
Not because she was a future queen.
But because…
He genuinely liked her.
The shy girl with messy hair and nervous smiles.
He pushed himself away from the fence.
"Guess I should find somewhere to stay tonight."
San Francisco's night air felt cool and refreshing.
As he walked down the quiet street, Anshul glanced back once at Mia's house.
The future princess of Genovia was inside.
And unknowingly—
She had already become someone important to him.