Inside the carriage, the Viscount silently shared his countrymen's tense feelings. But Leal had hit the nail on the head earlier: he truly did feel protective towards this young princess he'd formally met mere hours ago. This was why he noted that she too was not feeling particularly enthusiastic about their arrival.
Reading the question in the Viscount's eyes, Hilde smiled at him without much humor.
"I'm afraid I do not much relish being the center of attention," she said candidly. She too had been feeling steadily more comfortable in the elder man's company. She had no qualms about being straightforward with him. "And this particular crowd we're about to meet… well."
Though Hilde left the thought unfinished, Viscount Renard understood her meaning perfectly.
"Courtiers everywhere are
