It was undeniable that Queen Isolde was pregnant—Emmanuelle couldn't dispute that. But something about the whole situation felt off, like a puzzle missing its key piece. Emmanuelle's unease grew as time passed, though she couldn't quite pinpoint the source of her suspicion.
Since discovering her pregnancy, Queen Isolde had all but disappeared from public life. She politely declined every invitation to social gatherings, offering excuses to her noble friends who continued to invite her to banquets and garden parties.
Yet behind her polite refusals, her mind was consumed by one pressing question: how would she explain this child when it was born?
Everyone knew that King Valentin's heart belonged to his mistress, Lady Maris. He had made it clear he would never touch the queen, and rumors about their loveless marriage had long circulated.
