"We have a problem."
The first thing Annan did when he woke that morning was open the Portal. He was still bleary-eyed, but Olmedo was already at the City Lord's Mansion, attending to the day's business.
"Leila wasn't with the group. She ran off ahead of them..."
"I need to tell you something too..." Annan sighed. "Della and the Guard Captain said Leila snuck in last night..."
"Did you see her?"
"That's the problem. I didn't."
"Do you think she found out..." Olmedo stopped himself.
"I don't know, but it's very possible..."
Olmedo fell silent again, gazing out the window behind Annan. Only after he got up and checked outside for eavesdroppers did he speak. "It wouldn't be so bad if she found out... Star-Moon Bay is practically a small City-States now, and your influence has made plenty of nobles stop treating your title as an empty honor. Unless the Reeves family is foolish, they'll maintain the relationship rather than break it apart."
Annan shook his head. "You don't have a family. You don't know how important family bonds are..."
After that, Olmedo said nothing more.
"Did I say something wrong?"
Having given Olmedo an unhappy start to the day, Annan washed up and went out. As he walked along Sunflower Path, he noticed Della following behind him in a cloak.
"Aren't you going to the Dungeon?"
"There's something more important by your side."
Annan asked, "Are you worried Leila will hurt me? Don't worry, she wouldn't do that..."
"As long as you're her brother."
Annan fell into the same silence as Olmedo and made no further objection to Della following him.
He went to the Cavern first to let the White Dragons out. Usually, they would race eagerly toward the Sea, but today they circled Della uneasily.
"She's not