Mirabelle followed.
Or attempted to.
The square was packed tightly enough that she could feel bodies brushing past her from every direction. Fur occasionally tickled her arm. Tails moved between legs. Voices overlapped until individual conversations dissolved into one enormous, cheerful hum.
But something strange happened whenever people noticed her.
The crowd opened.
Not dramatically. Nobody shouted for everyone to move. People simply stepped aside. A gap formed before her, then another, smiles and small bows following her as she passed.
Mirabelle suddenly understood how Kaelith was moving through the crowd so easily.
They weren't making room for him. They were making room for her.
"Duchess!"
Someone raised a cup toward her. Mirabelle laughed and raised an empty hand in return.
Music swelled from somewhere nearby.
A child raced across the opening ahead of them, colorful ribbons tied around his tail, another child chasing him while both shrieked with laughter.
