City Lord's Mansion, Dungeon.
This time, Annan stood outside.
"Turner..."
The Crimson Princess stood before the bars in a cloak, watching Count Turner. Several silver implements pierced his limbs, preventing them from healing.
"Good day, Your Highness," Count Turner greeted her with his usual elegance.
The Crimson Princess looked at him with complicated feelings.
Count Turner had once been a vassal of the Stuart Family. For a thousand years, he had followed the Crimson Princess's mother. But after that incident, he had left the Stuart Family and joined their enemy, Grand Duke Borodia.
She had seen him on her hundredth birthday... That had been the last time.
Now Annan had brought him before her again.
"Tell me what you know." The Crimson Princess buried her longing for the past deep in her crimson eyes and looked down at him.
Count Turner readily admitted that Grand Duke Borodia had sent him to ruin her plans. He had come alone—and that was enough. The Crimson Castle was so weak that dealing with him alone would take everything it had.
The news that the False Princess had betrayed them was surprising, but it was not what the Crimson Princess wanted. "What do you know about my mother?"
"Her Majesty... How would I know anything about her?"
"Not you..." The Crimson Princess suddenly understood. That hateful False Princess had lured her here with a lie.
Footsteps echoed outside the Dungeon. Annan looked up as the Guard Captain approached. "Lord Moreno wants to see you."
"I'll be back."
Annan told the Crimson Princess and followed the Guard Captain out of the Dungeon.
Count Turner withdrew his gaze and stared at the Crimson Princess through the bars. "Get me out of here."
"Why would I do that?" the Crimson Princess asked in surprise.
A dozen possibilities