The carriage rolled along the cobbled road, the rhythmic clip-clop of the horses soothing after the chaos of the tea party. I leaned back, letting the sun warm my shoulders, my mind replaying every second of Clarisse's humiliation. A small, satisfied smile tugged at my lips.
[Host, satisfaction level: dangerously high. Proceed with caution.]
Yeah, yeah, Nero. I know. I'm enjoying this.
The peaceful hum of the carriage ride shattered abruptly. Ahead of us, a carriage sat at a crooked angle in the middle of the road, wheels mangled, axles splintered. The driver reined in the horses with a sharp pull of the reins.
"Your Highness," Elias said, frowning as the carriage slowed to a halt, "what in the—"
"There's been an accident," the driver called back hurriedly, his face pale. "I—I don't know what happened. Wheels… broke…"
Elias's lips twitched in irritation. "Of course. Wheels always break when we're passing by."
