"It's been three minutes since I last heard you tell the story of how you got the Wealth Church to cough up twenty million Gold Narls in just three sentences."
Idelia said with a soft laugh.
"Showing off is only fun when the audience hasn't heard the story before."
Idelia had to admit he had a point. She just happened to have been there every time Annan showed off.
Ahead lay Free City's only Embassy.
Two officials walked past, discussing plans to expand the Industrial District, without noticing Annan and Idelia.
That was fine. Annan had noticed them.
"The Spinning Mill wants us to reserve a plot of land for them."
"They're expanding again?"
Annan cut in. "You're asking how I got the Wealth Church to cough up twenty million Gold Narls?"
The official stared at him in confusion.
"Huh? I didn't ask..."
Three minutes later, a thoroughly satisfied Annan stood with his eldest sister in the Embassy's first-floor lobby.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" he asked, noticing Idelia looking up at him.
"No wonder the City Lord's Mansion has no secrets."
"I wasn't the one who told people about those scandals!"
"I never said who leaked them."
Seeing that rare mischievous glint in his eldest sister's eyes, who would have guessed Idelia was only twenty-three?
Before long, the Saintess appeared, pushing Archbishop Tomark.
"Go have fun, you two."
In her view, there were things Archbishop Tomark could not conveniently discuss with Annan. As his elder sister, Idelia could speak with the archbishop in his place.
Annan and the Saintess, the "youngsters," went to chat in the courtyard.
The Saintess clearly liked flowers and greenery. Annan actually thought she ought to prefer snow, given how rarely anyone got to see it in the Southlands.
"How's the