An invisible hush fell over the banquet hall, which should have been alive with conversation.
"But the older and younger sisters were bound together. Even though the little girl survived, she paid a terrible price..."
Annan stepped up beside the Princess and said softly, "I'm sorry, but I need to show them your wounds."
The Princess stood there without responding. She did not understand what he meant, nor did she have any thoughts of her own...
Annan slowly unwound the black ribbon from her eyes, revealing dark, empty sockets and one vacant eye.
"This is Curse One."
Annan lifted her gray robe, showing the guests the Princess's missing right arm.
"This is Curse Two."
Then Annan waved a hand before the Princess's face. Her vacant eyes did not react. "This is Curse Three. The Princess is only lucid at unpredictable times now..."
Standing before the Princess, Annan looked at the silent Rainer and the terrified Alberto. "This is what you called Disguise—the Princess didn't want everyone to know how badly she was hurt."
"That's the story I wanted to tell."
"In the end, before the Seal Gate, the Princess slipped the Strange Tales City Ring onto my finger. She wanted to entrust Strange Tales City to me."
"I refused and returned the ring to her."
Annan's words echoed through the silent banquet hall.
After a moment, the City Lord of the Flower Capital stepped forward. "We're willing to believe you, but we'd like you to prove that she truly is the Princess."
"Of course."
Annan lowered his eyes.
"But when this is over, I want someone to pay for it... No one gets to question the Princess, who sacrificed herself for Strange Tales City."
"No one."
"You have my word."
The speaker was a middle-aged noble, one of the powerful