"Where's Princess Sails?"
After seeing the Kobold Guard back to the Stables, Annan found that the carriage was gone. The Princess was nowhere to be seen at the Manor, either.
"Her Highness hasn't been back in a long time. She's gone to visit some old friends."
"All I know is that Princess Sails hasn't returned in twenty years... Why?"
"Because Her Highness's husband..." The elderly Head Maid shook her head. "Her Highness doesn't like people prying into her affairs."
Had he died?
Wasn't it the same with Lady Deepwinter? Was the Montreal Family cursed?
Annan didn't ask any more. "Could you prepare some hot water for me?"
"Her Highness said to make yourself at home. I'll go clean the bathroom now."
"Sorry for the trouble."
Annan followed the elderly Head Maid to the bathroom. It was nearly as large as the Manor's Living Room, with a stone-lined pool big enough for dozens of people to bathe in.
A bathtub stood in one corner. Curious, Annan ran a hand over it, then climbed in and curled up. His sense of safety slowly returned, and he thought back on the frustrations of the past few days.
Looking back on his life since arriving in this world, from Pinglin Town to Breeze City, from Star-Moon Bay to Betar City, Annan had rarely encountered setbacks thanks to his extraordinary beauty. The worst had been Augusta using him to remove a threat to his daughter and secure her position as City Lord of Breeze City. He had never been subjected to verbal abuse... unless he counted the outrageous things those women said...
That was why this genuine hostility was so hard for him to bear.
The elderly Head Maid came in. She seemed to be checking the water temperature. After making a circuit of the