Annan recalled the name of the God of Beauty and confirmed that this Deity, who was both male and female, was not called that. He had not been interested in Liliana Lore before, but now...
"Liliana Lore? Never heard of her," Olmedo said oddly. "That's what you came to ask?"
"Yes."
"Who is she?"
"If I knew, I wouldn't be asking you."
Annan was about to close the Portal when Olmedo called out, "The knights from the Royal Capital arrived in Breeze City this morning."
"...They're much faster than I expected."
"Yes. They said arresting you was 'a matter of great importance.'"
"Is it too late to say I have nothing to do with the Second Prince?"
Aside from the Pioneer's Warrant Vitalig had granted while serving as acting Minister of the Interior and the letter warning that the Ratfolk Clan was heading north, Annan had had no dealings with him.
"Whether you're involved or not, you'll have to go to the Royal Capital... And once you're there, it won't be up to you." There was a deeper meaning to Olmedo's words. The royal infighting was full of unanswered questions. The Second Prince had happened to rebel just as he learned of the Rat Plague, then supposedly killed himself with poison. Yet Annan, a thousand miles away, was the only one wanted...
"Then let them come."
Annan's words interrupted Olmedo's thoughts. She said lightly, "No need. I've already driven the knights out."
"That'll drag you into trouble too..."
"The First Prince is still only acting King, and the rat plague is ravaging the Southlands. How stupid would he have to be to offend a King of the North, a frontier Lord with real power, over something that never happened?"
Olmedo's pride suddenly made Annan understand why the Reeves family had