CHAPTER 56
Armani
The palace loomed before us, its ancient stone façade gleaming in the late afternoon sun. I gazed up at the towering spires, feeling a strange mix of pride and apprehension. It had been years since I'd spent more than a day within these walls, and now here I stood with my heavily pregnant wife, about to witness my cousin claim the throne that had been awaiting him since birth.
"Are you sure you're feeling up to this?" I whispered to Rena, squeezing her hand as our car pulled up to the grand entrance.
She turned to me with that radiant smile that still made my heart skip. Her free hand rested protectively over her swollen belly. "I've never felt better," she replied, though the slight crease between her brows told me otherwise. "Besides, I wouldn't miss this for the wo
