The stage lights dimmed.
A single spotlight illuminated center stage where Aria stood, looking smaller than usual without her royal regalia. She wore the sapphire dress Rakia had finally settled on—simple, elegant, with a plunging neckline.
[Wait, what's she doing up there?]
"Our queen honors us tonight," Silviana announced from the side of the stage, "with a gift rarely shared. Her voice."
Melisa's eyebrows shot up.
[Aria sings!?]
A hush fell over the plaza. Even the drunk kitsune in the back stopped giggling.
Music began—just a single flute at first, haunting and lonely. Then Aria opened her mouth.
The first note struck Melisa's heart directly. Pure and clear, it carried across the plaza without amplification. Melisa's tail went rigid. Her whole body got goosebumps.
[Holy fuck.]
Aria's voice soared through an old ballad, something about moonlight and lost love that should have been cheesy but wasn't. Not the way she sang it.
[Man... Where was this all along?]
