Then she turned to Seraphel, and her smile vanished. The [Princess] blinked as Cara’s eyes met hers and locked on to her tiara, and then her face. Cara stared at the [Princess], not furtively taking glances like everyone else. She just looked Seraphel up and down, and then glared.

Seraphel was astonished. She had met people who disliked her. But never so openly. As her little sister would say, how dare this plebian glare at her? Seraphel hesitated—and then stared back.

She refused to look away. Or blink. The [Princess] kept the fake smile on her face; she could do that all day. But she refused to be stared down by this…whomever it was. Cara refused to turn away as well.

The two stared at each other, tuning out the sound of the lyre. Engaged in a silent contest. Seraphel’s eyes watered, but she refused to blink. She dug her fingers into her palm. Cara folded her arms. The two narrowed their eyes, waiting for the other to break as tears threatened to come out. One minute. Then two…Seraphel felt like her eyes were about to snap shut. They were itching—

“—Princess? Princess Seraphel, is everything alright?”

The [Princess] turned her head, blinked. Everyone was staring at her.

The Songmistress was done, and the woman was waiting for a response, terrified. Seraphel had been so focused on the stranger that she hadn’t heard.

Lady Risel was looking to Seraphel, nervous. The [Princess]’ mind raced as she blinked rapidly. She put on a big smile and nodded to the Songmistress.

“I…my apologies, Risel. I was so moved by the song that I quite lost myself in it.”

A pleased murmur ran through the room. Seraphel saw several older people, including Grishen, nodding approvingly. The Songmistress beamed and bowed repeatedly.

“I’m delighted.”

Risel wasn’t fooled. She glanced down the room towards Cara and Violetta, who were setting up.

“Now, I believe our final Songmistress is performing with a special guest. A [Singer] from…abroad. Is that correct?”

Lantal nodded.

“She’s a traveller who lost her horse. I fear it might have been stolen or…turned. I believe they’ll be playing together? Miss Violetta is a [Cellist], quite accomplished for her age, Princess Seraphel.”

He looked a bit nervous as he poked at a tart of blackberries with a fork. Seraphel smiled.

“Well, I will be delighted to see how well they perform. Together, you said?”

She had raised her voice, and she saw Cara raise her head. The [Singer] bared her teeth. But it was Violetta who bowed and looked at her father, who had been given a place, before speaking in a trembling voice.

“It—it is a tremendous honor to perform before you, Your Highness! I—we will do our best. First, I will play a traditional song of our village…”

The cello resting in front of her, Violetta sat on a stool and played in the banquet hall. This time…Seraphel didn’t take her eyes off Cara. The [Singer] didn’t meet her gaze. She was setting something up.