"Are you kidding me right now? Check it again. She might not really be pregnant," Aldric commanded the physician.
The physician hesitated, confusion flickering in his eyes. "But my prince—"
"Do it," Aldric insisted, his tone leaving no room for argument.
King Oberon, who had been watching the scene unfold, stepped forward to intervene. "Aldric—" he began, but something in Aldric's face stopped him. There was a desperation there, a vulnerability that Oberon hadn't seen in his son for a long time. With a sigh, Oberon stepped back, choosing not to interfere further.
The physician, seeing no other choice, took Islinda's wrist once more, feeling for her pulse before retrieving his instruments. He placed the cold metal against her stomach, his brow furrowing in concentration.
