The lower courtyard of the palace, usually a quiet space for servants to gather between shifts, had transformed into a tense gathering ground by mid-morning. Word had spread quickly through the servant quarters: a group of human staff planned a peaceful protest to demand faster implementation of the promised reforms. They carried simple signs made from scavenged wood and cloth; "Fair Wages, Not Promises," "No More Arbitrary Punishment," "Humans Are Not Furniture," and their numbers had grown from a few dozen to over two hundred.
Seren had come down from the royal wing the moment Lysa sent word through a trusted runner. She moved through the crowd in a simple but finely made gown, the dark fur along her shoulders visible to all.
