#Chapter 554: Second Guessed

Nina I sank down heavily into the plush chair behind my father’s mahogany desk, letting out a long exhale as I tried to get comfortable. My back was aching something fierce from being on my feet all day, the extra weight of the baby making it feel like I was carrying a bowling ball in my belly. Meetings, negotiations, policy reviews… the duties of a queen never seemed to end. I rubbed my temples wearily, wondering how in the world my father had handled this level of responsibility day in and day out for over a century. He had always made it look so effortless, like he was born for the role of the Alpha King. Whereas I felt adrift, struggling to keep my head above water most days. And I knew it would get even worse once I went back to school and had the baby, too. Talk about high blood pressure. Suddenly, the creak of the door opening made me glance up. My mother slipped inside, a steaming mug of tea in her hands and a soft smile on her face. “I thought you might need thi