~ Isabella’s POV

As I stepped out of the clinic, the night greeted me with an unsettling quiet. The usual sounds of the palace grounds were absent, leaving only the whisper of the wind and the distant rustle of leaves. The darkness felt heavy, almost tangible, pressing in on me from all sides. It was the kind of silence that set off alarm bells in your head, making you feel like you were being watched.

I took a deep breath, trying to shake off the eerie sensation that something was not right. ...