Free City's army took control of every street in the New Royal Capital.
The Kingdom's three Legendary figures—Legendary Mage Elvey, McKnight, commander of the Dragonheart Knights' Order, and the Royal Family's Chief Mage Miraji Vista—announced one after another that they would be loyal to the new King, Vitalig.
Few nobles faced a reckoning, apart from those who had lent troops to "Young Miss Olmedo." They had it coming.
Call it a coup or the rightful restoration of the throne. Even if the Ratfolk surfaced to cause trouble now, there was nothing they could do.
Annan entered the Royal Palace with Maria and Vitalig, putting on a show for the Stuen Clan lurking in the shadows. Let them think they could control the Kingdom.
The Palace Guards all regarded Vitalig as their new King. Wherever he passed, they dropped to their knees and saluted.
"Your Majesty, your brother is in his Royal Bedchamber!"
Vitalig nodded and set out on the final stretch of his road to victory: confronting Clo.
They entered the empty bedchamber. Clo was nowhere to be seen.
"He isn't here?"
Annan's attention had settled on the bedchamber's precious ornaments, especially a Mantel Clock in the corner.
The exquisite Dwarf-made mechanism always gave Annan the strange feeling that he had returned home.
As Annan drew closer, an eerie Green Glow flashed across the Mantel Clock's minute hand.
"Watch out!"
Maria lunged to shove Annan away, but she was a step too late.
"What happened..." Annan shook his head, suddenly drowsy under the Green Glow's influence.
"You've been affected by Fel Energy." Maria studied Annan's dilated pupils.
He did not look especially bright now, and even his speech had grown sluggish.
"What's Fel Energy?"
"Ratfolk magic..."
"Ratfolk... I remember now. You're Ratfolk." As he spoke, Annan reached for Maria's tail