"THE LAND—THE LAND IS ALIVE!"
"THE TREES ARE GREEN!"
"THE CROPS—THE CROPS ARE GROWING!"
"THE GODS BLESSED US!"
"LADY SERAPHINE IS SENT BY THE HEAVENS!"
I stepped out of the carriage and they surged forward but didn't touch me— they just dropped to their knees.
Dozens. Hundreds. Thousands. A wave of kneeling people crying and calling my name. Coffi burst into tears. Latte sobbed louder. Henry placed a hand over his chest like I was some queen. Joff whispered: "This… this is history."
The villagers said it plainly, loudly, proudly: "Lady Seraphine has saved us." And as I looked around at the reborn land—flowers brushing against my boots, children laughing for the first time in who knows how long—I felt something inside me shift. Not power. Not pride. A promise. These people…They were mine to protect. Because the princess was doing absolutely nothing. This was supposed to be her job. But anyway, and I would not fail them.
*****
