"Falu Barros."
Annan of the Purification Court studied the King of the North, who had not yet had time to change out of his Bard costume, and softly called his name.
"Young Miss Olmedo..." Falu Barros forced a grimace that looked like a sob. "I ate this morning. Please let me empty my bowels before I come back to serve you."
This mascot of a King of the North had clearly heard some rumors and was despairing over his miserable future.
Annan frowned. Asking for Faru Barros was beginning to seem like a bad idea.
"You don't remember me?"
Falu Barros looked confused. "Have we met?" he asked cautiously. "At some banquet, perhaps?"
Giving up on explaining, Annan took out his Spellbook, found the second-circle Purification Spell, and cast it on himself.
The dyed blond hair darkened from the roots. His healthy, freckled, wheat-colored skin faded to a milky white, and the flamboyant upward tilt of his eyes vanished. Only his height remained unchanged—after all, the boots Annan never took off gave him nearly five extra centimeters.
"Miskigma above!"
Falu Barros's eyes widened, and his whole body began to tremble.
Just as Annan thought he was about to faint, Faru Barros regained his composure. "You... You actually dared come here."
And even became the Purification Court Head... Wait. If Annan was Young Miss Olmedo, then those members of the Blade of Freedom he'd caught...
Falu Barros did not dare think any further. It was madness. Annan had fooled the entire Royal City...
"I didn't expect you to be all right," Annan said.
Judging by Faru's relationship with Grand Duke Babatod, the Grand Duke must have taken him out of the Old Royal Capital.
"I didn't expect you to come here either..." Falu Barros said, shrinking back.
Annan could not help