Original subtitles

Ah, the time has finally come, I see.

Phony Fiancé

My name is Elianna Bernstein.

I am the daughter of a noble who was granted the title of duke by the Sauslind Kingdom,

and both my father and brother are employed in the royal palace.

For generations, the people of the Bernstein family have been well-known

for being full of eccentrics who would prefer books over having three meals a day.

I am no exception, and since I was a child I've always preferred an unfamiliar book over dresses and jewels,

and I was called not a bookworm, but a "bibliophile princess."

Bibliophile

Princess

A normal girl would generally lament over the shame.

That's what I'm like, but on that day four years ago...

He is Prince Christopher, first in line for the throne.

I've heard he's intelligent and a prince whose future the whole country looks forward to.

He... He's dazzling.

Lady Elianna. You need only read your books by my side.

Was I chosen to read books aloud to the prince?

I want you to marry me.

I've just met you for the first time today, your Highness.

Moreover, the Bernstein family is of the nobility, but we're currently among the lower ranks...

That is actually a good thing.

The court is rife with issues with the political factions and power struggles.

My family isn't associated with any faction,

and neither my brother nor my father have any interest in having power.

To be honest...

My mother and those around me are pestering me to hurry and find someone to marry.

What do you think, Lady Elianna?

Provided that you are also a young lady who is around the age of her social debut,

you can't escape from the duties of a noble.

If you become my fiancé, you can refuse invites to matchmaking parties and balls,

and that time shall serve as time for your reading.

In other words, an arrangement with no romantic feelings.

Besides, if you have the status of my fiancé, you'll of course be free to visit the royal archives as you wish.

You're free to read and borrow them.

The imperial archives?!

Only certain people are allowed to visit...

and it holds the cherished documents of the royal family... the...

the royal archives?!

The blood of the Bernstein family

is made of printed text.

Lady Elianna?

Then we have a deal.

In exchange for you undertaking the responsibility of being my fiancé, I'll make sure you have your free time.

I promise you.

This is my office.

You should be able to read in here without interruption.

Huh?

Make yourself at home. You are my fiancé.

But I'm a phony fiancé...

He's too kind to me.

You already finished the book you borrowed the day before yesterday?

About the tax revenue issue with Weimar, the poor yield has continued on through these recent years.

I suppose we should lower them, then?

It's amazing I can read so many books.

I have to read as many as possible while I can.

I'm concerned the price of wheat will decline sharply since we had such a plentiful harvest this year.

We're discussing counter measures as a bargaining tool for the south.

So you found the Zelger.

This is known as the hidden treasure of the royal family!

That's right.

This is quite the antique. It's also about the history of the old empire, right?

Yes. I'll have read the entire history of the old empire in the archives after I finish this.

All of it?

Yes.

It seems there are other old records written by people who are not historians or novelists,

but they're difficult to obtain.

I'd love to read them.

Lady Elianna, where is his highness?

Lord Alexei! He hasn't been here all afternoon...

That prince... Have you finished your book?

Yes, just a moment ago.

In that case, would you mind taking these documents to Lord Theodore?

Lady Elianna!

Lord Glen.

Where are you going without any guards?

To the archives, to give documents to Lord Theodore.

Then I'll give you a hand.

No, it's all right.

Don't be modest!

When are you going home today?

Around three o'clock.

I'll come see you off around then.

Sorry for the trouble.

That again? I've told you plenty of times. It's my duty to send the Prince's fiancé off.

For me, the phony fiancé of four years... I feel guilty.

Lord Theodore.

Lady Elianna.

This is from Alexei.

Even the ice lord is bothered, eh?

Unbelievable that he'd make the fiancé of the prince run an errand. I'm sure it was heavy.

Glen helped me out so it was okay.

Besides, I work out daily by carrying books.

How reliable.

Speaking of, the book you requested the other day has arrived.

Wow! Can I borrow it today?

Do you really enjoy books like "The Travels of Parco Molo"?

Of course I do!

Elianna, I knew you were in here.

Seems you enjoy talking to my uncle more than you do me.

Of course it's more fun to speak with me, the one responsible for managing this place,

than His Highness who holds such rigid duties.

There's something I want to give you, Elianna. I'll send you off today.

Okay.

I've found you, Your Highness!

There he is, the Ice Demon.

The internal documents that require your approval are piling up.

Please come to the office at once.

Alec. I'm busy to-

Please come at once.

Tch... stupid workaholic.

Elianna, will you wait a minute for me?

Yes, I'll wait for you.

But you may not wait. Hurry up.

Fine, fine.

You enjoy this, huh, Lady Elianna?

Huh?

Yes... I suppose so.

Is this for me?

Does it suit me?

Yes.

But that jewel pales in comparison to you.

I almost mindlessly believed his flattery...

Welcome home.

Hey there, Eli.

Is this from His Highness?

Yes.

Brother, when is it okay to return the adorments that I borrowed from His Highness, like this one?

Huh?

You don't need to return them, do you?

But I'm a phony fiancé.

This sort of thing takes money from the national treasury.

Hmm...

Do you know of the daughter of the viscount who came to the inner court a few days ago for etiquette training?

You mean Lady Irene Palcas?

She's very outgoing, and more like the direct opposite of myself.

Well, I haven't heard very good things about her.

Please be on your guard.

In any case, your hair is truly beautiful.

I suppose so.

I can't comprehend how His Highness puts aside such a beautiful lady.

Puts me aside?

It's been four years since you've become his fiancé, you know? And you're eighteen...

You've become a splended adult, and yet he keeps putting off marriage...

What His Highness and I agreed on was only an engagement that would coincidentally benefit us both.

Because between us, romantic feelings...

do not exist.

I deeply apologize, Lord Theodore!

It's perfectly all right.

More importantly, were you hurt, Lady Irene?

No.

That's Lady Irene.

But what should I do? I've soiled someone's book.

This book is currently popular amongst the women in town.

Is there someone in this court who likes this sort of thing?

U-um...

That's my book.

Oh my, it's Lady Elianna...

I'm so very sorry!

I soiled a posession of yours due to my carelessness.

No.

Lady Elianna is at fault for leaving her things unattended.

There's no need to go that far apologizing, Lady Irene.

I absolutely agree.

I'll clean up over here, so quickly take your leave.

Okay. Goodbye, then.

Lady Elianna, you must be careful as well.

I'm truly sorry.

Also, well, the ladder on the bookshelf in the back is broken.

Understood. Please don't take books from high places yourself.

Okay.

She really is an outgoing person.

Goodness, Lady Elianna!

Just where have you been? Everyone has been waiting for you!

I had some business to attend to... I'm sorry about that.

Um, what happened?

Please forgive my rudeness, I should not be speaking to you in such a way. Please excuse me.

But your clothes...

Lady Elianna!

Lord Glen!

You should have said something earlier. Where are you headed now?

Um, well...

Lord Glen, are you hurt?

I'm perfectly fine.

You're soaked, huh?

Y-yes.

I'd like to ask you a few things. I'll walk you to your room.

Okay.

Lord Glen, I-

This get-together has been cancelled. There's been a ruckus on the premises, so please return to your homes.

But, I must apologize to everyone for being late.

Lady Elianna!

I'll have a guard send your apology.

The guard who sent me home told me that there was a problem with the pipes in the rose garden.

Welcome home.

My lady, did something happen today inside the castle?

Huh?

Lord Glen didn't escort you home today, and... it's the first time this has happened.

The prince hasn't been here for the past few days.

I can't get in?

I beg your forgiveness. The archives are crowded at the moment.

Then I'd like to at least return this...

I will take care of it.

Lady Elianna.

Lord Theodore.

I apologize, but can you please refrain from coming here for the time being?

Lord Glen, Lord Alexei...

If you have your hands full, may I help you with something?

Not today.

Oh, I see.

Lady Elianna.

Yes?

I won't be able to escort you home for a while.

Someone else will take care of you. Please don't leave on your own.

O-okay.

Well then, I'm leaving now.

It's almost time to go home.

Okay.

I'll prepare the carriage for you.

I at least... wanted to see His Highness today.

Elianna, I have something for you.

Huh?

"Record of the Fall of the Kai Arg Empire"... "Guru Sei Edition"!

A history of the old empire not written by a novelist... You wanted to read it, right?

It was a bit of a task since it isn't really on the market, but I finally found it.

I wanted to give it to you right away.

I thought it would make you happy.

His Highness... got this for me...

I'm so happy!

Thank you, Prince Christopher!

I heard you were going to visit your aunt tomorrow.

Yes. She has a backache, and I'll spend a week caring for her.

I'm sad I won't see you, but...

Take care of yourself and come back to me.

I will.

Hello?

Talking to a companion to stave off the boredom in the name of nursing...

It was five days later that I emerged from that torment and came to the royal archives.

Ah... the time has finally come, I see.

I, the phony fiancé, will soon see the end of this.

The end... is something I knew would come...

I thought it would make you happy.