The City Guard escorted Annan and the Crimson Princess safely to the City Lord's Mansion.
At least, that was how Annan saw it.
The Princess looked surprised when she heard the news, then assumed Annan and the Crimson Princess knew each other and had a servant bring her in.
The Crimson Princess hurried after the servant into the mansion.
Annan stayed outside and said to the Guard Captain, "I hope you'll keep this a secret..."
"We won't tell anyone," the Guard Captain said.
It wouldn't matter if they couldn't keep it secret.
Before his trip to Strange Tales City, Annan might have worried that someone would spot the problem with the False Princess. But now, the real Princess was in Flower City—Annan had even fed her with his own hands.
Annan had nothing to fear. The Princess was his pass. Sometimes he wondered sadly whether this was the true gift she had prepared for him in the future she had foreseen.
After watching the City Guard leave, Annan went to the garden cottage where the Princess lived.
"You didn't know either?" Shock crossed the Crimson Princess's face.
"He didn't tell me much..." said the False Princess, who had yet to think of an excuse.
"Where is he? I'll catch him right now!"
"No..."
"Better not." Annan cut the Princess off as he joined them. "If you catch him, he'll only shut his mouth."
"Lucy can make him regret how quickly vampires heal," the Crimson Princess said with a cold laugh.
"And then what? What would a vampire who might not even be a noble know?"
The Crimson Princess had plenty of flaws. She lacked strength befitting her position, for one, and came up with wild ideas. But one virtue made up for them: she was good at listening to advice