"My necklace is worth 20 gold! What about yours?"
"My... my anklet should be worth 7 gold..."
"My father paid 30 gold coins for my sapphire tiara!"
The girls were still frantically pooling money over that single word, "Sister," when another Girl came up beside Annan's table. Thinking she was a new customer, he set down his cup with a sigh—then realized she was Mr. Swaro's precious daughter.
"What brings you here?"
"Aren't you happy to see me?" Ai's smile was exactly like Swaro's.
"I'm just surprised."
Alice hadn't been on the invitation list. Annan wanted to keep his relationship with Mr. Swaro a friendship, not turn it into a financial one—
"I heard you needed money." Alice handed Annan a wooden box. "This is what I've saved over the years."
"...I can't take it."
"If you're really grateful, don't let Rose down." Deliberately teasing Annan about what he'd done earlier, Alice pressed the box into his hands. "Take it. My father won't ask for it back."
"Thank you."
Annan's heartfelt thanks gave Alice goosebumps. She rubbed her arms, waved, and turned to leave. As he watched her disappear through the banquet hall doors, his gaze fell on a shy Girl her friends had pushed forward. She was inching toward him.
But that was 120 gold coins... Give Illymoyas 120 gold coins, and he could probably get her into a maid outfit.
Annan reached for his Fruit Juice on the table, but his hand found nothing.
Where was his cup?
"That's him... The man who ruined the Holy Race's plans and brought shame upon us..."
In a dim underground hall lit by a faint, eerie green glow, several hazy, loathsome figures knelt before an altar where whispers echoed.
"We've caught him. Now we'll lay the vilest curse upon him..."