There are too few of Lantal’s like in any land. But do you hate that?”

Seraphel and Cara watched the [Lord]. A good man. He had defended Violetta’s village. He didn’t overtax them. He had spared Cara for her grave errors. He seemed to love his family, his children. Cara looked for any fault and had trouble finding anything egregious. But even so—she shook her head.

“I don’t. I just wish there was no need for people like that.”

“Why?”

Seraphel’s question made Cara close her eyes. Oh, why? There was a story. But it would have taken too long; the basket was nearly empty and the line heavy. Cara replied slowly.

“Rulers. Lords. Kings and leaders. They all let you down. One person can’t be a—hero. We’re too flawed for that. We shouldn’t expect one person to carry the world.”

The reply made Seraphel frown. Thoughtfully, the [Princess] shook her head. Not in straight denial, but puzzled.

“Maybe you just haven’t met one yet. In my experience—one person can change the world. Perhaps it is not one person—but levels mean there is always someone who is better than others. Is it not natural to single them out, regardless of whether they do good or evil?”

She looked at Cara expectantly, rather pleased by her logical argument. As if they were debating over a cup of tea, rather than with a line of wet laundry and the scent of rotting flesh in the air. But there the pleasantries ended.

Cara closed her eyes. Then she stood and abruptly dangled the clothesline over the balcony’s railing so she could grab it below. She picked up the basket now full of dry laundry and turned to Seraphel.

Her smile made the [Princess]’ face go slack for a moment. Cara couldn’t have known. She thought she was giving a perfectly natural smile. But she wasn’t that good an actor.

“Not where I come from, Princess Seraphel. Thank you for the help.”

Cara left. The [Princess] watched her go. Silently, she stood. Seraphel wondered who Cara O’Sullivan was. With a name like that, it was almost certainly made up. But who had wounded her so? She wanted to know. It was just a small desire.

That—and to live. But there was nothing Seraphel could do about that. So she stood there a moment, until the stench drove her back inside.

——

The young woman felt exhausted after the encounter with the [Princess]. It—had hurt, in the way of confronting your errors. Past Cara.

But…Cara shook her head. Seraphel was perfectly likeable. She might be the best [Princess] you could ask for, even if it did seem she was just a political tool. But that was as far as it went.

“She might have let me down too. But it wouldn’t have been her fault.”