To be fair, before she had not seen much of his face at all. There's only so much any person could glean from only seeing the set of his mouth with any regularity, and even then most of the time it was fixed into a stern line.

For all her optimism--that once he thought was foolish, though she had been proven right in the end--it makes sense that she thought that since he had given up the title, he'd also laid down his lance. Well. He had here, though through no action of his own. He shakes his head in response.

"I still must fight, though it be for a different--with hope, nobler--cause. I am ill-suited for peace."

He looks towards the Pokemon Center--if she had newly arrived here, as it seems, she and her companion may need healing.

"Come, I have been here some time, you may find healing for your companion in that building, and I shall answer your questions."