Chapter 18 - The Anniversary
On the second anniversary of the gold-dress ball, the palace hosted no memorial.
Isabella refused.
Instead, the medical wing held a dinner for midwives.
Miriam received the kingdom’s highest civilian honor.
She cried.
Adrian cried more.
Everyone teased him.
He accepted it.
At the end of the evening, musicians began playing.
Isabella looked at the ballroom doors across the courtyard.
For a second, she remembered laughter.
Then Julian tugged her sleeve.
“Mama. Dance?”
Again.
Always dance.
She smiled.
“Okay.”
They danced in the medical courtyard.
Mothers.
Doctors.
Servants.
Nobles.
Nobody arranged by rank.
Adrian joined only after Julian pulled him in.
Mara danced with Dr. Vale.
Miriam danced badly with everyone.
Isabella’s body ached by the third song.
So she sat down.
No one cared.
That felt like freedom.
Adrian brought water.
“Thank you.”
He sat beside her.
After a while he asked:
“Are we happy?”
She looked at the courtyard.
“Right now?”
“Yes.”
“Yes.”
He smiled.
“That’s enough.”
She took his hand.
For the first time since the humiliation, the gesture felt easy.
Not repayment.
Not forgiveness announced by trumpets.
Just a hand.
Then Julian ran back carrying a paper crown.
“For Mama.”
Isabella put it on crooked.
Adrian bowed.
“Your Majesty.”
She laughed.
The real crown was locked in a cabinet upstairs.
Heavy.
Jeweled.
Perfect.
May you like
This one was made from yellow paper and glue.
Isabella wore it all night.
