After the Princes departed for their respective territories, the crowd lingered for a while longer before slowly beginning to disperse, many moving in the direction of the carriages as if unwilling to let the moment end so soon. Cheers followed the procession, rising and falling like waves, while flower petals were showered from balconies and raised hands alike, drifting through the air in soft bursts of color.
The carriages rolled forward beneath the rain of petals, the sound of wheels against stone gradually fading into the distance.
High above, members of the Council stood along the balconies, watching in silence as the figures below grew smaller. Some wore expressions of contemplation, others of concern, and a few masked their thoughts behind practiced neutrality.
Before any of them could speak, an attendant approached and bowed deeply.
