It was as if countless tiny Annans lived inside Annan's head. When the countdown appeared, they froze. When the numbers began to fall, they screamed, ran in every direction, spun in circles, crashed into one another, and covered their heads.
By the time Annan could think again, the elf calling herself Tadel had finished the countdown.
Knock, knock, knock—
The sudden knocking seemed to strike Annan's heart.
"Who's out there...?"
His voice trembled, though he didn't notice it himself.
Click.
The unlocked door opened. Annan swore this was the most nerve-racking door opening he had ever experienced...
A figure appeared outside. It was Mrs. Locke, whom he had seen at the Harbor.
Annan breathed a sigh of relief, then realized she had no reason to be here.
The City Lord's Mansion had three floors, like the mansion that temporarily housed the homeless. But its ceilings were high enough that even an Ogre wouldn't have to duck, making it the tallest building in Free City for now.
The third floor held the bedrooms of Annan and his family. Some friends lived there too, including Lilith. It was closed to outsiders, and Guards watched every staircase.
The second floor held the offices and lounges of the City Lord, the Deputy City Lord, and the department Ministers.
Only the first-floor hall was used to welcome guests and discuss business.
Annan was in the third-floor living room, somewhere an outsider would never come. Unless she was Idelia...
But that "Tadel" had fooled him the same way for two months.
"You didn't knock," Annan said warily. He relaxed a little when he saw Della standing outside the door.
"There's no one else here..." Mrs. Locke turned and shut the door, her swirling skirt like a rose in full bloom.
Unable to see Della anymore, Annan