Chapter 1 - Dance for Them
“Dance.”
Queen Isabella stood in the center of the ballroom wearing the gold gown she had owned before giving birth to Prince Julian.
It no longer fit.
That was exactly why King Adrian had ordered her to wear it.
The bodice crushed her ribs. Two servants had needed twenty minutes to force the hooks closed.
“Adrian,” she had whispered, “please.”
Now he sat on the throne, amused.
“I said dance.”
The musicians began.
Isabella lifted her arms.
Once, the court had praised the way she moved. Before nineteen hours of labor. Before emergency surgery. Before months in bed and a body that never returned to its old shape.
She turned once.
Pain cut through her stomach.
Then came the laughter.
Lady Celeste Harrow covered her mouth.
“Look at her. She looks like a pig wrapped in gold.”
More laughter followed.
Adrian laughed too.
Isabella stopped.
“STOP IT!”
The music died.
She walked straight toward the throne.
“You wanted everyone to see what I became?”
Adrian’s smile faded.
“Isabella—”
“Then look.”
She opened the outer dress.
The ballroom went silent.
Under the gold silk was a wide medical wrap circling her swollen abdomen. Linen straps crossed her ribs. A long surgical scar disappeared beneath the bandage.
Adrian jumped to his feet.
“What is that?”
Royal Physician Dr. Rowan Vale stepped forward.
His face hardened.
“You still don’t know?”
Adrian stared at him.
Dr. Vale pointed at Isabella.
“She nearly died giving you an heir.”
The king went pale.
“And that dress is pressing directly against a surgical repair that never fully healed.”
Adrian looked at Isabella as if seeing her for the first time.
“Why wasn’t I told?”
Dr. Vale’s answer froze the room.
“You were.”
He reached into his coat.
“I sent twelve reports to your private office.”
May you like
Then his eyes shifted toward Queen Mother Helena.
“Someone made sure you never received a single one.”
