Annan returned to the quiet tavern.
He called Pumi out of the kitchen, where he had been hiding. "The usual."
The Princess... Colette...
Annan left the tavern with one problem unsolved and another added to it. Just as he was about to climb into his carriage, another carriage came barreling toward him.
At the sight of the familiar Family crest, Annan knew trouble had come looking for him...
The coachman pulled hard on the reins. Amber eyes watched Annan through the carriage window...
Colette's appearance here was no coincidence.
Annan didn't know what had gone wrong, but she was a mage and he was a sorcerer. He had no clear advantage when it came to wisdom...
"What are you doing here?" Annan asked, feigning surprise. "I was just about to see the Princess."
"I wanted to ask you..."
"Sorry, this is important." Annan stepped into his carriage, then said to Colette, who was blocking the way, "If it's truly urgent, come with me to the City Lord's Mansion."
Colette finally moved aside and followed his carriage in hers.
What now?
Annan looked away and tried to think of a way out. How had Colette found him? Had Valencia secretly given her something?
Annan thought Colette didn't look as though she knew everything. She had merely tracked him down somehow, without knowing what connection she had to him.
If that's the case...
The two carriages arrived one after the other outside the City Lord's Mansion.
"I won't be long."
Annan stepped down from the carriage, said this to Colette, and climbed the steps.
The officials at the City Lord's Mansion recognized the Princess Knight, who had lately been the talk of the city. Annan reached the garden without being stopped.
"Where's your butler?"
To his surprise, Annan saw no sign of