"Your Highness, Master Annan went to the Black Gold Auction today."
"Black Gold... Lord Bayan's business?"
Princess Sails reclined on a terrace lounge chair, her long legs crossed and a book in her hands. Girlish ease mingled with an air of maturity.
"Bayan Silma divided the family holdings among his sons years ago. The Black Gold Auction House is now Bola Silma's," the elderly Head Maid explained. "Bola Silma is a Merchant through and through. He shouldn't give Master Annan any trouble."
Princess Sails looked up at the Head Maid, who had been by her side since childhood. "You seem rather concerned about him?"
"You've been away too long, my lady..." The elderly Head Maid couldn't bear to see Her Highness keep living in the old days, when the master was still alive.
"I've made things hard for you." Princess Sails thought Annan's arrival had relieved the servants' boredom.
Just then, the Manor gates opened as a figure appeared.
"He's back." Princess Sails uncrossed her legs and watched Annan wave in greeting. "The little fellow seems to be in a good mood."
Little fellow...
The elderly Head Maid made a mental note of that.
A loyal Head Maid considered everything for her mistress, so she summoned a servant and told the Cook to prepare nourishing food and costly Face-Changing Potions.
Princess Sails's gaze fell instead on the Guard Captain as he hurried out.
Before long, a maid came upstairs to say Annan wanted to see Princess Sails.
"I'll call him over." Young people never know when to stop, the elderly Head Maid thought, but Princess Sails stopped her. "I'll go to the Living Room."
In the Living Room, Annan made up an excuse about winning a bet with a Noble. "Here's the IOU."
Half the Royal Capital knew whenever Annan