To avoid arousing suspicion, Annan did not linger at the Embassy. After sampling some delicious fruit the Elven Envoy Delegation had brought from Aldo Forest, he returned to the City Lord's Mansion.
The Free City Officials had just finished a meeting. Olmedo, Francois, Dade, and several others were chatting in the Lounge.
Annan walked in and made a show of mentioning the assassination attempt he had faced that day. Making a good impression on the Elven Envoy Delegation was their top priority, he said, so no one should let their guard down.
"Can't you see even I haven't been idle?" For once, Annan had every right to say it.
Olmedo, lounging against the sofa with a blanket in her arms, lifted her eyelids and called him out. "Were you trying to forge an alliance, or flirt with the Elven Elder?"
"A ruler... a ruler should be judged by his actions, not his intentions!"
Then came talk of "personally doing my part as Lord" and "how getting to know an Elven Elder benefits us." The Lounge filled with laughter.
"I invited them to the City Lord's Mansion tomorrow to see how the officials work," Annan added.
Olmedo had no objection, but Dade warned Annan, "Don't let the Elves see the Otherworld Tree out back."
"Why?"
"The Elves won't accept the existence of a second World Tree..."
Annan had heard something similar before, but he had not realized it was this serious.
"Understood. I'll be careful."
So keeping it from Tadel back then had been the right move, even if only by accident... But the Otherworld Tree was growing every day. Could he really hide it?
Annan soon put the matter out of his mind. The City Lord's Mansion was heavily guarded, and the Garden where the Princess lived was at its