No wonder the guests ran when they saw him. Annan had thought they simply weren't hungry...
Annan had no choice but to return to the Crimson Princess. "Does Grand Duke Borodia have any enemies?"
"I came here with you."
"What does that mean?"
"We know about the same amount," the Crimson Princess said, as if that settled it.
"I mean... during the hundred years you were confined to the Crimson Castle, didn't you keep an eye on the Blood Council and investigate what your enemies were doing?"
"N-no..." the Crimson Princess said guiltily.
No wonder Grand Duke Borodia had let her escape instead of finishing her off, Annan thought. If not for him, the Crimson Princess might not have made a move even by the year 2000 of the Saint Laurent Calendar.
"I'll ask around."
With that, Annan went back to Meri Borodia. She was the only guest willing to speak with him.
Meri Borodia was talking with two other women. Annan's arrival made her look puzzled. Her companions swept their crimson eyes over him, then tactfully left.
"What else is it?"
Meri Borodia raised her glass. Annan caught a faint whiff of blood... Whatever was in it clearly wasn't wine.
"Miss Meri, who are Grand Duke Borodia's enemies?"
Pfft—
Bubbles rose around the rim of Meri Borodia's glass. She spat the blood back into it and gave Annan a strange look. "Do you know what you're saying?"
"Perfectly well... You think we're enemies, don't you? I don't see it that way."
"Why not?"
"Two lords might fight to the death, but their farmers could still get together in private and complain about how harsh both lords are."
Meri Borodia's lips curved, as though she found his argument amusing. "But what if I'm not a farmer? What if I'm a