Chapter 1

A soft knock on the door woke Isabella Stark from her beauty sleep. She could hear the bustling of activities downstairs and in the courtyard. She remembered that today was her wedding day. She suddenly felt a tight nudge in her belly. In a few hours, she would be married to the crown prince of the Netherlands—her childhood betrothed and fiancé of over ten years.

“Yes, come in,” she answered. The maid entered, smiling sheepishly at her.

“Good morning, my lady. Hope your night was blissful?”

“Good morning, Madina,” Isabella replied. “Night was fine. How was yours?”

“Fine, my lady,” Madina replied. “Are you ready for your bath? The dresser will be here soon to get you ready,” she reminded her.

Isabella covered herself with her sheet, grumbling. She didn’t feel like leaving her room today. Something just felt off about the day. She wished she could stay in bed the whole day.

“Please give me five minutes,” she told Madina.

“Of course,” Madina replied and continued whistling happily like a fairy.

Madina had been her nanny since she was a little girl. She was an orphan brought in by Isabella’s mother and was treated with so much love and respect. Over time, she had come to see the family as her own. She loved Isabella and took her as a younger sister.

When she was done setting up the bath, she returned only to find Isabella still lying down.

“My lady, you don’t look so excited for a bride. Is anything the matter?” She patted Isabella’s head.

“I just have this strange feeling that today will end badly… I don’t feel like leaving my room.”

“Don’t worry, my lady. It’s just wedding jitters. Your status is about to change, and it’s making you anxious. You will be fine, I promise. You’ll get over this.”

She convinced Isabella to take her bath and go downstairs for breakfast.

“Here comes the crown princess,” Fabian rolled his eyes as his sister descended the stairs with her nanny.

Isabella sat next to him and punched his shoulder. “Stop calling me that,” she shot back.

“Enough, both of you!” Duke Stark’s voice interrupted them. “Fabian, you need to stop teasing your sister. She is about to be married to the crown prince of the kingdom. Give her some proper respect. And you, Isabella, you need to start behaving like the crown princess you are.”

Isabella nodded while her brother frowned at the verbal discipline. Duke Stark frowned at his two grown children. He had raised them by himself since his wife’s death eight years ago. It had not been an easy journey, but it was worth it. In a few hours, his only daughter would be officially married to the crown prince, and he would have one less child to worry about.

Breakfast ensued in silence until the loud honking of a car signaled the arrival of Isabella’s driver, designer, and dresser. She rose to her feet and went to her room, accompanied by Madina.

Her wedding gown was beautiful—the same gown her mother had worn on her wedding day. It was a diamond ball gown with a silver neckline. Not long after, her maid of honor came in with her driver.

“You look so beautiful,” Aura muttered as she stood next to her best friend.

They both looked at the mirror, and that’s when Isabella noticed a change in Aura’s countenance.

“Is everything okay, Aura?”

“Are you sure you want to marry him?” Aura responded with a question.

“Yes. Why?”

“Nothing. I just wanted to make sure my bestie is making the right decision. You know marriage is for a lifetime,” Aura murmured under her breath, her eyes full of hatred—unnoticed by Isabella.

“Prince Khalid has been my betrothed since forever. I don’t see myself marrying anyone else aside from him.” Isabella hugged Aura. “I know you’re already missing me. You think I’m leaving you. Don’t worry—you are forever my soulmate and my bestie. Nothing will ever change that, not even my position as crown princess.”

Aura nodded with a fake smile, though those endearing words meant nothing to her.

“It’s almost time,” Isabella’s father announced at the door, and they all got ready to leave.