Annan had never been to the City Lord's Mansion in the Flower Capital before.
Until now, he had lacked the standing to visit. If he had called himself the City Lord of Free City, the officials would only have asked him what Free City was.
Things were different now. The Southern Kingdoms had learned what Annan had done in Strange Tales City and passed the news to the Flower Capital. When he arrived at the mansion and identified himself, he was welcomed inside as the Princess's Knight.
Annan saw the Princess.
"We meet again."
She sat in a garden crowded with flowers, still beautiful... but she was only a girl of high standing. She lacked the true Princess's... compassion and devotion.
To Annan, the Princess who had lost her left eye, then her right arm, and finally her soul was infinitely more beautiful.
"I didn't know you served the Princess..." the Princess said, rising in remorse.
Annan said nothing. His gaze fell on the butler standing beside her.
"He's my servant," the Princess said.
"It's all right. The misunderstanding's cleared up," Annan said. "But in front of others, just call me Knight."
"All right... Knight."
"The Princess told you everything, I assume?"
"Yes. You... you met the real Princess in Strange Tales City, were made a knight, and destroyed the Oddities there on your own."
No wonder the False Princess was nervous about his arrival. The Crimson Princess had talked him up quite a bit.
Annan got straight to the point. "Princess, I still have things to do in the Flower Capital. I can't stay by your side all the time."
The False Princess seemed relieved. "Is there anything I can help you with?"
"Of course."
That was why Annan had come. "Happy Water is my business, and I need