The days leading up to the hearing passed in a blur of activity, each moment charged with a nervous energy that seemed to permeate every corner of the royal castle.
Iva threw herself into organizing the ball with a fervor that bordered on obsession. She pored over guest lists, sampled menus, debated floral arrangements, and oversaw every minute detail with the precision of a general planning a campaign.
Her pregnancy gave her a radiant glow that made everyone around her smile, but beneath the surface, she was anxious—not for herself, but for her best friend and the man who had become like a brother to her. She wanted everything to be perfect, wanted to create a moment of joy that would overshadow the darkness that had threatened to consume them all.
Lori spent her days with Meriem, slo
