Before the eagerly awaited banquet could begin, there was still an alliance to negotiate.
Both the Crimson Princess and the Skeleton Duke had another identity: she was one of the Blood Council's twelve councilors, while he was an avatar of Skeleton King Leonäfa.
Their equal standing allowed the negotiations to go deeper.
In the Grand Cemetery's reception room, the Crimson Princess and the Skeleton Duke sat at opposite ends of a stone table. Annan stood to her left, and the Head Maid to her right.
The Skeleton Duke's Assistant stood behind him.
"We sincerely hope to form an alliance with you. Our territories border each other, and we share common enemies. As allies, we would deter both open enemies and potential threats."
The Crimson Princess spoke fluently—too fluently. Annan could tell she had simply memorized Dracula's words.
"I have no objection. When will you send troops to help me defend Strange Tales City?" the Skeleton Duke asked magnanimously.
But Head Maid Lucy did not appreciate that magnanimity. "That's impossible. We still have to guard against the human cavalry and the rats everywhere."
"Then what's the point of an alliance?" the skeleton Assistant replied.
"An alliance alone would spare us a great deal of trouble..."
Lucy was interrupted by the skeleton Assistant. "We don't need an alliance in name only."
Feeling that someone close to her had been slighted, the Crimson Princess's expression chilled. "It seems this alliance—"
"Please wait a moment."
Annan interrupted them. "We should try to overcome our differences and make this alliance happen. Princess, there's no harm in agreeing to defend Strange Tales City."
The Crimson Princess looked at Annan. "David, I—"
The watching Skeleton King's Soulfire flickered as though he were smiling.
Annan could only say, "I can't tell you exactly why, but this alliance really