Ulrich continued down the wide avenue, the three sisters trailing just behind him.
Thanks to the interaction with the children only moments ago, a subtle shift had rippled through the crowd. Esther's innate brightness and kindness had acted like a falling domino, easing the tension of the young ones first, and then, inevitably, softening the hearts of the adults watching them.
The citizens of New Ruben quickly realized that, behind the dark rumors and fearful stories, the girls walking behind their Lord were just that, girls. Putting aside their almost otherworldly features, there was nothing monstrous about them. They possessed no wicked horns, no terrifying auras. They simply looked like young noblewomen or rather, still teenage girls.
Some in the crowd even began to quietly wonder if the terrifying tales of witches had been exaggerated all along.
