"I... I was so worried about you."
The night breeze brushed past Annan, clearing the fog from his head after his time underground. "And I thought I should apologize to you."
The Crimson Princess was speechless. Annan had gotten himself filthy and bedraggled for her sake... All the hurt and anger she had felt at being deceived vanished.
"You lied to me."
Her gemlike crimson eyes fixed on Annan.
"I didn't mean to..."
"Then give me a reason..."
"What?" Annan looked up.
The Crimson Princess turned her head away. "Hurry up and give me a reason I can believe!"
"Um... It was the Princess. She turned me back into a human."
"I knew it!"
The Crimson Princess smiled. "I knew you hadn't lied to me."
Her gaze felt almost tangible, warming Annan's face.
Dracula stood nearby, watching the reunited Crimson Princess and Annan with the smile of a doting mother.
The Crimson Princess had been trapped here, and Annan, who should have been in the Flower Capital, had suddenly appeared before her. No one would believe it was a coincidence.
"What are you doing here?" Annan swallowed the question and asked instead, "Are you in trouble?"
"N-no!"
The Crimson Princess looked guilty. "I'm just here as a guest!"
Annan ignored the Crimson Princess, who could not even put on a convincing act. "Mr. Dracula..."
Dracula let out a breath of relief. "If you hadn't come, sir, I truly wouldn't have known what to do..."
Annan did not notice Dracula's sudden formality, but the Crimson Princess blushed for a moment.
Dracula explained how the stone had guided the Crimson Princess to the Blood Council, where she had helped it recover part of its power. It had then tricked her into coming to the Serens Mountains, where its descendant, Prince Williams, had