Chapter 362: A Question of Fairness
Lyria's POV
The nobles who had joined the mingling kept themselves apart.
They stood in small groups, speaking quietly among themselves, their postures stiff and their expressions carefully composed.
It was almost amusing to watch.
They had come expecting a royal gathering.
Instead, they had found themselves surrounded by commoners, children, flowers and questions.
The commoners did not seem to care.
They had the suitors.
They had the princesses.
And, for this brief afternoon, they had been permitted to forget the distance that usually separated their world from ours.
The arena was deafening.
Laughter mingled with conversation.
Children ran between adults.
Voices rose over one another.
Flowers were exchanged.
Hands were shaken.
Names were called.
And through it all, Brianna remained beside me.
Her little hand clutched mine as though she feared I might disappear if she released it.
I did not mind.
I wanted to remain here.
