Meredith came to a sudden stop just before Anna, her breath heavy and laboured. The unexpected sight of her bewildered the onlookers. Rania, who had been running after her lady from behind, also paused to catch her breath.
"Mer, what are you doing here?" Anna asked, clearly taken aback by her sudden appearance.
Kiev, Callis, and Armel turned their attention to the unfamiliar noblewoman who appeared out of nowhere.
"You... are you..." Meredith's words were interrupted by her jagged breaths.
The weight of her elegant gown hindered her during the sprint, as running was not an activity commonly associated with the daughter of an aristocrat. The expectations of remaining calm and composed seemed to have been momentarily forgotten in her clumsiness and anxiety.
