"Did something happen?" Annan asked the Skeleton King.
"Bailey wants to settle things with an old friend."
"Madeleine..." Annan could understand Bailey Knight's feelings. "But she can't be both a Judge and a Contestant."
"I can give up my seat as a Judge. I was just worried the contestants had already been chosen."
"Not yet."
Eight hundred and ninety contestants had qualified outright. The rest would be chosen from the Waiting List, so giving Bailey Knight a spot was no problem. At her level, she could have gone straight into the Top 1,000 as a seeded Contestant.
They could even promote her showdown with Madeleine Jenkins as a battle of destiny... but Annan had no interest in doing that.
If Bailey Knight competed, though, they would be short one Judge.
"Don't you have a friend who knows opera?" The Skeleton King had a good replacement for Bailey Knight in mind.
"Who?"
"Your friend from the Vampire Clan."
Annan thought that made sense. Vampires were like the elves of the Evil Faction—beautiful, long-lived, and fond of art.
If not for their falling-out and irreconcilable differences, he would have invited Tadel long ago.
The Scarlet Queen... She sounded like someone who knew her art.
Vampires did have a poor reputation... but since they were already making diversity a selling point, they might as well see it through.
Annan stepped outside and asked Abby to find Olmedo and deliver an Invitation Letter to the Scarlet Queen on his behalf.
At noon, Eldest Sister finalized the Top 1,000 Contestants, including Bailey Knight, and sent word to those still on their way to Free City.
His only concern was that Bailey Knight might perform so well she would steal the Saintess's spotlight.
But perhaps that didn't matter. The Saintess didn't need the honor of being