She was tired of it all.

——

Cara saw it too. She considered the little boy and girl that Idelt and Violetta had been bowing to. And she repressed her instantaneous dislike of their status when she saw their faces.

Their expressions were pure misery. Cara recognized it too. She had seen an expression like that in a mirror, back home, years ago. For a long time.

She hated it. So, Cara bent down. She met the little girl’s eye and smiled.

“I don’t believe we’ve met. Lady Sasi? And Lord Culin?”

She glanced at Violetta. The [Cellist] gave her a wide-eyed nod. She didn’t seem to notice the children’s sudden lack of spirit.

“That’s right. They’re the children of Lord Lantal. Milady, milord, your father saved our village. We’ve brought some of our second fall’s harvest as thanks—”

The little girl gave another too-adult nod and a courteous reply.

“I’m sure father and mother will be quite grateful, Miss Violetta. As will the [Princess].”

“Is—is she here, Lady Sasi?”

“Oh, yes. About. I think that’s her over there.”

The girl pointed. Cara and Violetta’s head swiveled around. Violetta squeaked.

“I didn’t even notice! Look, Cara—she has a crown! I thought she’d have hundreds of attendants.”

“That’s a tiara.”

The [Princess] didn’t seem like much to Cara. The [Knight], on the other hand, looked like a sight! He had gold-leaf armor emblazoned with…a throne? Some kind of stylized symbol—Cara raised her eyebrows as the small procession walked down the street. Some of the townsfolk were also pointing in covert awe.

“I’m going to…I have to follow—I’ll be right back, Cara! Can you watch the wagon?”

Excitedly, Violetta put the cello away, and then practically ran after the [Princess] along with other admirers. Cara sighed. But she wasn’t interested in the [Princess] right now.

It was the children. Sasi was eying Cara again.

“Are you going to perform as well, Miss…Cara? I don’t believe we’ve been introduced.”

The [Singer] smiled.

“That’s right. My name is Cara O’Sullivan. I’ll be singing. With Violetta playing on the cello.”

The children glanced at each other dubiously, but not with much excitement. The girl gave another polite, nothing-response and a fake smile.

“Oh. Are you a [Singer]? I’m sure we will enjoy it.”

The boy was more direct.

“Cellos are boring. I’ve heard it before! All the songs.”

“Culin!”

Sasi snapped at him, turning red and looking around for Violetta. But the girl and Idelt were both absent, thankfully. And Cara? She’d watched enough kids. Moreover—their faces.

The young woman regarded their faces and she smiled for them. They blinked up at her as Cara squatted down. The girl was tall for her age; the boy not. Cara looked them in the eyes.