Celia looked again. Yes, they were definitely flower petals being tossed before her horse, in a rainbow of colour.
The hands scattering petals were rough and gnarled, clearly showing the result of years of hard, thankless work.
But the faces of the peasants on the side of the road that those hands belonged to, were stretched into smiles.
Celia couldn't believe it. She smiled back warmly at as many people she could make eye contact with. Her own eyes started to burn a little from the emotion.
Maybe we're not as hated by our people as I feared, she said to herself in wonder. But how did the people know we'd be travelling through this part of the countryside?
She then remembered that palace scouts had set off an hour or so before the royal retinue, to ensure there were no obstructions along their planned route to St Clotilde's. They would've stood out in their golden livery and sleek horses, especially in such a humble region of the kingdom.
