An Unbreakable Alliance

"Impostor! Impostor! Impostor!"

The crowd's shouts outside the Manor carried into the room.

Annan shut the window, cutting off the noise, then turned to everyone in the Study. "They've been gathering out there since dawn."

“Is that why you called us together?” Francois asked.

Lady Fine Wine, Michael, Soluman Copperbeard, and Andrew Luna sat around the Study. Even Katarina and Klein were there.

Annan nodded.

He had broken his agreement with Augusta Olmedo. Whatever fragile trust had existed between them was gone.

From now on, Annan could rely only on the companions at his side—the people before him.

But first, he needed to be honest with the friends he had kept in the dark.

Friends could tell each other lies, but they should not deceive each other. If Annan did not want to use them, he had to clear away the rift those lies had created.

Francois, however, thought he meant the people outside the Manor. “They aren't Displaced People. As residents of Breeze City, they have the right to stand out there. If we drive them off without cause, we could face a backlash... But if you need me to, I can make them leave.”

"The problem isn't the people themselves. It's—"

Out of the corner of his eye, Annan saw a carriage stop outside the Manor. The Olmedo Family's golden crest gleamed on its side.

Had Augusta Olmedo come to threaten me?

Annan watched the Carriage stop at the front entrance. A figure with long, pale-gold hair stepped out.

Or had Olmedo come to flaunt his power?

"Have Olmedo wait for me downstairs," Annan told Abby outside the door. Then he turned to his companions in the Study. "Olmedo's here. I'll go see what he wants."

“Would you like me to come with you?” Francois asked.

"No. He