Friends and Interests

"The countess seemed like a spoiled girl."

The Winchester Family estate manor.

Lady Fine Wine, Della, and Michael sat nearby, listening to Annan's account.

Annan found the atmosphere a little strange, but continued. "She was a bit naive, a bit innocent, and a bit clumsy..."

The three exchanged glances.

"Are you talking about the countess?"

"Who else could it be? Maria was the only one at the count's manor."

Lady Fine Wine and Michael's expressions grew stranger.

"Maria?"

"Uh... the countess." Before they could get the wrong idea, Annan explained, "At the manor, she acted naturally. She had no guard up against the outside world and showed exactly who she was... She longed for love and liked standing barefoot in a sea of flowers. She was so clumsy she got stuck rummaging through a wardrobe and had to ask for help. She tried to act tough by standing on a chair to reach a book... Though maybe that was just what nobles were like?"

Annan had felt more at ease with the countess at the manor than he had at the banquet.

"She lived in a cocoon woven from honey. She'd never known danger or suffering, so she'd kept her innocence."

Michael looked to Lady Fine Wine, who had more experience.

"Lady Fine Wine?"

He couldn't tell whether Annan had fallen for the Countess's charms or simply pitied a woman who had been forced, while still a Girl, to marry a Count old enough to be her grandfather.

"Annan, you'll face many temptations here."

Lady Fine Wine didn't know either, so she could only warn Annan from experience. "A young King of the North with no lover, who's also a Sorcerer... To the women of Breeze City, you're as tempting as a gold coin at a refugee's feet."

"Even to