The journey to the Southlands had brought both good and bad results.
If he looked only at his original goal, Annan had succeeded perfectly: he had met the Skeleton King and the Princess, and won over the nobles of the Flower Capital. But the setback with the Crimson Princess had wiped away all his joy...
It was like completing a lucrative commission, only to lose the Spoils of War he had seized.
One thing still puzzled him... The Crimson Princess would not have tested him for no reason.
Who had told her?
"There's still time to go after her..." Idelia urged him again.
"She's still angry. I'll give her some time."
"You don't understand women..." Idelia said.
"And you don't understand vampires..." Annan replied.
Or dragons, elves, goblins, and the rest...
Time could soften stubborn ideas. That was how he had lessened Illymoyas's hunger for money.
The Crimson Princess had hurried off with the False Princess, but Count Naber Turner had been forgotten in the Dungeon. When Annan heard, he went down and frowned at him.
"I can't figure out how you did it."
Count Naber Turner looked up. He seemed fine; a few days without food meant little to a Vampire Count.
"Did what?"
"Let the Crimson Princess know the answer."
"The answer..." Confusion crossed Count Naber Turner's face.
Apparently, he didn't know either.
Annan went to see the Red Witch next. "I'm going away for a while, but I won't be gone long."
"This place is dull, dreary, and disrespectful! Let me out!" The Red Witch's state of mind was growing worse.
"So you accept my invitation?"
The Red Witch tried to look vulnerable, but it did not suit her wild face or complexion at all. "Aren't we companions?"
"Not since the day you sold me out."
As