Annice Welche

Annice Welche is a Skyfall palace maid whose acquaintance with Skyla gives Nux his first route to the head maid Edda. Nux approaches her under the merchant identity Dio Brando, and Annice's willingness to help a polite, attractive visitor opens the palace connection on which his plan depends.

Biography

Opening a route into the royal palace

When the Leander group needs an authenticated introduction to the palace head maid, Skyla remembers Annice and her next day off. They are not close, but Annice's employment can turn an unknown merchant's request into something Edda will consider. (Chapter 55)

Skyla brings the disguised Nux to Annice's home. Annice is immediately attracted to him, accepts his claim to lead a Woods Dynasty merchant company, and welcomes him inside. His compliments and polite manner contrast with the contempt she expects from wealthy men, so she refuses payment and promises to arrange a meeting with Edda on returning to work. (Chapters 62–63)

Annice completes the introduction and leaves Nux and Edda to discuss the supposed company's perfume. She remains interested in “Dio” afterward and repeatedly asks Edda about him, but Nux does not pursue her and the corpus does not return to her own viewpoint. Her later life and whether she ever learns his identity are unknown. (Chapters 64 and 118)

Appearance and personality

Annice is twenty-seven years old, with blonde hair, crystal-blue eyes, a small nose, cherry-red lips, freckles, and a thin build. She is hospitable, easily flustered by Nux's appearance, and eager to help someone who treats her with respect. She also takes pride in serving guests, insisting on making tea and cookies despite rarely having time to maintain her own home. (Chapter 62)

Abilities and cultivation

Annice is a human Advance Stage mana cultivator with mortal body cultivation and medium talent when Nux inspects her. She does not fight or demonstrate a named technique, affinity, spell, weapon, cost, or range. Her practical value comes from palace access and social trust rather than combat. (Chapter 62)

Relationships

• Skyla: Skyla knows Annice well enough to arrange a meeting, though even Skyla privately notes that Annice suddenly calls her a best friend more readily than their prior closeness warrants. (Chapters 55 and 62)
• Nux: Annice meets Nux as Dio Brando, responds warmly to his deliberate charm, and provides the introduction he needs without learning the deception in the supplied corpus. (Chapters 62–64 and 118)
• Edda: Annice uses her palace position to bring the supposed merchant to Edda and later continues asking the head maid about him. (Chapters 63–64 and 118)

Items

Nux uses stolen perfume samples as part of the merchant disguise Annice helps present to Edda. No cataloged item is owned by or independently associated with Annice. (Chapters 62–64)