Two months into my pregnancy, I had come to the calm and reasonable conclusion that the kingdom of Valeria had collectively lost its mind.
This realization did not come from the mages installing cushioning spells on every staircase in the palace. It did not come from the royal kitchen preparing food at all hours in case I developed a sudden craving for glowing moss again. It did not even come from the fact that eight extremely powerful princes had somehow become more anxious than the palace nurses.
No.
The moment I truly understood that the kingdom had descended into madness was when I walked through the market square and discovered that half the population was gambling on my pregnancy.
The morning had begun peacefully enough. Aiden had reluctantly agreed that I could leave the palace grounds for a short walk, provided that it was accompanied by what he described as "reasonable security."
