The misunderstanding was cleared up quickly.
They knew Annan could not be Aldris. He had none of an ancient noble's arrogance or attachment to tradition. Quite the opposite: he looked like the sort of man who would fit right in with mercenaries, thieves, and bards at a tavern.
Thanks to the misunderstanding, the Crimson Princess had brought a vampire under her command. She had also learned of Count Turner and Grand Duke Borodia's plan: they wanted to use the Skeleton Duke's Grand Cemetery to gain a foothold in the Flower Capital. The provocation had been the vampire's own idea after he botched the alliance. He had hoped it would spare him punishment when he returned.
Crimson Castle had not figured in the plan... Either the Crimson Princess was too insignificant in the Count and Grand Duke's eyes, or the vampire was not important enough to know their secrets.
"Da... Father, let's go back," the Crimson Princess said awkwardly.
"Mm."
Lucy took the vampire back first. Annan and the Crimson Princess wandered home together.
"We've known each other for seven days." Something was off about the Crimson Princess's mood.
Annan remembered The Seventh Night... He was beginning to regret not reading the book more carefully.
"Does that mean something?" Annan asked deliberately.
"I was just saying... That's all!" The Crimson Princess blushed, plainly trying to hide something, and hurried to her room as soon as they returned.
Deep in thought, Annan entered the lounge. A copy of The Seventh Night lay beside the fireplace, where the Crimson Princess always sat.
While she was in her room, Annan secretly opened The Seventh Night to the bookmark. Only thirty-odd pages remained before the end.
Annan flipped straight to the seventh night. That day, David and Isa slept together while fleeing their pursuers... Annan