?Chapter 447:


    “Why not?” I asked, bewildered.


    “Hayley punished me under the guise of poor training performance. She’s got a legitimate reason on paper. If you go to the princes and plead for me, it’ll look unreasonable. Worse, if the king finds out, it could create more trouble.”


    Alice’s exnation hit like cold water, leaving me deted. I slumped back against the cushions, head hanging.


    Was there really no way to fix this?


    Seeing the look on my face, Alice softened, leaning in to offerfort. “It’s fine, Makenna. I’ll just be more careful from now on so she won’t find any excuse toe after me.”


    Her words didn’t ease my worry. “But I still don’t feel right about this. How about I talk to Hayley tomorrow?”


    Alice’s gaze dropped to my slightly swollen belly, and her voice softened with concern. “Makenna, you really shouldn’t. You’re pregnant—you need to take care of yourself and your baby.”


    Every n I came up with crumbled before my eyes. Frustration bubbled up, and I felt utterly helpless. I couldn’t even protect my friend.


    Alice put on a brave smile, trying to lighten the mood. “Alright, alright, don’t feel so bad. Here’s a deal—if you really feel guilty, let mee over every day and enjoy Evie’s cooking. She makes amazing food, and that’ll make up for everything.”


    Her sudden change in tone surprised me, pulling augh from my chest. I teased her right back. “Aren’t you scared of Prince Bryan and Prince yton?”


    Alice grinned, licking her lips like she could already taste the food. “With those two princes around, I bet the meals will be even better. I’ll risk it for the good stuff!”


    Her yful attitude broke through my cloud of guilt, and I couldn’t help it—Iughed. Soon, we were both giggling like schoolgirls.


    Makenna’s POV:


    g α? ησ ν?? ?s takes you away


    The night had swallowed the world, draping everything in silence. After Alice returned to her quarters, Evie and I lingered in the kitchen, tidying up thest remnants of the evening. Only then did I drag my exhausted body back to my room, craving rest.


    Once under the sheets, Alice’s words from earlier kept circling in my mind. I couldn’t shake the thought of how to help her.


    She might have shrugged it off, but I couldn’t let her struggle alone. What kind of friend would I be if I allowed her to endure this injustice without lifting a finger?


    Just as I was lost in my thoughts, a faint noise broke through the silence—footsteps, soft but distinct, right outside my bedroom door.


    My heart started to race, my eyes fixed on the door. Could it be yton?


    A momentter, the door creaked open slowly. Bathed in the dim light of the moon, a tall figure stepped inside, a roguish grin spreading across his handsome face.


    “Bryan!” I sat up, suddenly alert. My throat went dry, but I managed to choke out the question. “What are you doing here sote?”


    Bryan, still wearing that infuriatingly smug expression, closed the door behind him without saying a word. With almost maddening slowness, he began to unbutton his shirt.


    “What are you doing?” I blurted out, panic shing through me as I clutched the quilt to my chest. “I’m pregnant, Bryan. You can’t just—”


    He cut me off with a sneer. “Do you think I’m some kind of animal in heat? Always ready to pounce?” He shrugged off his shirt and slid into bed beside me, pulling me effortlessly into his arms. “I couldn’t sleep, so I came to find you.”


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