"Good day, Your Grace."
Lai greeted Annan, who was standing in front of the church.
"Lai, prepare a carriage and a bouquet of flowers." Annan wasted no time going inside.
"Yes, sir."
Before long, Rainer returned with the carriage. Annan took the bouquet. "Come with me."
On the road, Rainer rode his warhorse beside the carriage. "Where are we going, sir?"
"Today is Colette's birthday, but we upset her yesterday."
"Do you want me to apologize to Miss Colette?"
"No. I'm going to apologize."
Sincerity was the best approach. Lai smiled faintly and continued riding beside the carriage.
On his fifth visit to Rosella House, Annan went through the familiar routine: the door was shut on him, and he entered through a side door instead. But Colette was nowhere to be seen in the living room. A servant said she had gone to her bedroom.
"Lai, wait outside for me." Annan suspected this had something to do with him... Colette must have misunderstood something.
"Yes, sir."
Annan and Rosella went to the bedroom. The door was unlocked, so he could speak to Colette face-to-face.
"I owe you an apology... I made a mistake." Annan gently set the flowers beside Colette, who sat on the sofa. "Lai being here was a misunderstanding. I've already sent him away."
Colette said nothing, her gaze drifting toward the window.
"It's your birthday. I took the day off so I could take you somewhere."
At last, Colette spoke. "Where are we going?"
"Swan Lake."
The lake outside Strange Tales City had a beautiful name: Swan Lake, for the countless swans that made their home on its broad waters.
In reality, Annan had arrived too late. After Oddities had ravaged Strange Tales City for months, little remained of it or Swan Lake.
Lai walked with