Rui pulled the hood of her brown cloak lower over her face, concealing her elaborate hairstyle.
"Are you sure this is smart, princess?" Kee Kee padded alongside her as they slipped through the Duke's garden gate, using a path the servants had shown her.
"No, but when has that ever stopped me?" Rui's eyes sparkled with quiet defiance beneath her hood.
The cobblestone streets felt different beneath her feet.
During her previous visit with Rong, guards had flanked her on all sides, their presence announcing her status to everyone they passed.
Shopkeepers bowed nervously, children hushed, and conversations died as they approached.
Now, she moved like a shadow through the gray morning. No one glanced twice at the cloaked woman and her strange pet.
She breathed deeper, tasting freedom in the cool air.
"I can actually see the place now," Rui murmured, noting the weathered facades of buildings and the subtle signs of neglect.
