Original subtitles

I want you to marry me.

I'm a phony... A fiancé in name only.

The place I belong is already...

Now I can't freely enter the royal archives.

This is unfortunate.

I'll make sure you have your free time. I promise you.

Yes. But the jewel pales in comparison to you.

I thought you might like it.

I at least want to hear it with my own ears and not just wait for the time to come!

Even if our engagement is cancelled...

His Highness is not the type to treat me cruelly.

L-Lady Elianna, I thought you wouldn't visit the castle today?

Will you please give His Highness a message for me?

O-one moment, ple-

Quiet down. Is something- Huh?

Lord Glen. I came for His Highness...

I had no idea that you had any interest in such handicrafts, Prince Christopher.

Perhaps because you're a good storyteller, Lady Irene.

Though I'm sure a gift I crafted for you would pale in comparison.

Oh dear... I may be misunderstanding something.

The gift that His Highness gave to me...

It was nothing special.

Eli?!

Your Highness. Please excuse me for entering without permission.

Of course, I don't mind.

I thought you were to visit your aunt today.

Your Highness, don't say it like that...

Thank you for your concern about my aunt's condition.

I had a small matter to attend to today, and I apologize for interrupting your pleasant chat.

What small matter?

This book that I got from Your Highness the other day...

I'd like to return it.

Huh?

I no longer need it.

If you will excuse me.

How am I noticing it just now?

I...

am in love with Prince Christopher.

But His Highness has already found someone he loves.

No matter the plethora of books I read, no matter the knowledge I acquire,

it is completely useless.

I pretend I've realized, and don a clever visage...

But honestly, only my heart knew.

How foolish.

The overthinking bibliophile princess.

One-Woman Show

A letter from Lord Theodore?

Yes.

I still have a dictionary he lent me, so I'm off to return it.

Then you will be going to the palace?

Yes. It's already been four days...

Eli, are you all right?

I can go return it for you.

Thank you. But I'll do it myself.

I need to make it clear where my feelings stand.

His Highness? I don't believe it.

I heard the prince sent an envoy to the Earl Casull.

That's Lady Irene's family, right?

Then is he seriously switching from the Bernstein fairy princess to Lady Irene?

Fairy princess?

I saw His Highness and Lady Irene as they went on a rendezvous.

Has the material evidence been hidden?

The warehouse has been surrounded by the third guard unit, but...

there's been a report that at daybreak a number of riverboats were headed to Ulthar.

Is the royal guard full of idiots?

Did they not look onto the Neville River warehouse and watch for boats?

N-no! We had already gotten a jump on them near the mouth of the river on to Captain Glen's orders,

and the troops were already in position.

It seems even hot-blooded idiots can achieve some wisdom after three days of no rest.

There are more guards than ever. I should leave before I'm spotted.

What's this?

Is that you, Lady Elianna?

Hello, Lord Alexei.

I'm glad to see you have time on your hands. If you're headed to the archives, will you take these too?

Okay.

On the way, will you pass this along to the royal office and ask them to resubmit the personnel affairs records?

And also...

tell him "You cannot sow seeds of progress with a joke."

O-okay.

I was only going to return the dictionary... Wait, is this how it normally is?

L-Lady Irene?!

Irene!

Irene, open your eyes!

How could this happen?!

What is this commotion?

It seems someone has fallen from the stairs!

Is she all right? Summon a doctor, quickly!

Oh, Irene... Are you all right?

What in the world happened?

L-Lady Elianna...

Lady Elianna has...!

Huh?

What's going on?

Prince Chris!

Irene, are you hurt? Are you all right?

Will you tell me what happened?

Th-there was a misunderstanding concerning you and I.

I told Lady Elianna that's all it was. But...

Lady Elianna... blamed everything on me, and I was pushed down the stairs!

That isn't true.

Has Elianna done anything else to you?

Y-yes.

Prince Chris, I haven't been able to tell you.

There's no need to worry any longer.

For all offenses to be made clear,

will you tell us what happened in your own words?

Truthfully, ever since I was appointed as an apprentice in the inner palace, I've been harassed many times.

I was called a low-class aristocrat, treated as a maid, forced to skip meals...

and on top of that, my bed was moved to the stables...

All of that was done under the orders of the future queen of the palace, Lady Elianna!

Huh?

She's become even more cruel as I've gotten closer to Lord Glen and Lord Alexei.

On the day I was soaked by the drain water,

I was told she wanted a rose from the courtyard, and when I went to go get one,

she laughed at the sight of me.

But I didn't ask for that, nor did I laugh at her...

I went to the archives on her request and the ladder had been tampered with. I nearly fell off of it!

I noticed it too, it was tampered with!

A few days ago, the snacks that I got from Lady Elianna... h-had bugs!

I had no idea. I've been an active bibliophile princess...

You've been through quite a lot, Irene.

And so, unable to contain yourself, you went straight to Elianna?

Yes. B-but for her to push me...

And you're absolutely positive Eli pushed you, right?

Yes! There is no doubt in my mi-

She pushed you with all of that in her arms?

No, she couldn't have. She isn't an acrobat.

Uh... P-Prince Chris...

Good grief.

I'm constantly telling that Alec to quit doing that...

Prince Chris!

You must believe me! It's true, Lady Elianna-

Pushed you, right?

Y-yes! Please, make a fair and just decision, Your Highness!

Then first of all, did anyone actually witness this scene?

Yes, Alan saw it.

Yes. I witnessed Lady Irene Palcas fall down the stairs.

Is it true that she was pushed by Elianna?

Well, it would be impossible to know, no matter who saw it.

Even I don't have the acrobatic ability to push someone while playing an instrument.

Alan, you-!

In addition, if I may add from a royal court musician's ear,

after Lady Irene's scream was the sound of falling down the stairs.

It was as if she knew she would be attacked before the fact.

What in the world are you getting at?!

Lastly, that was fairly ill-prepared, right, Irene?

You may think you've played your cards well, but...

everything is in the palm of His Royal Highness' hand.

Especially today, what made the decisive blow, was the march of father and daughter toward ruin.

Father!

Who is that?

Shall we get down to business, then?

Irene Palcas, and your father, Duke Palcas.

You are both under arrest for the assault

and attempted assassination of Elianna Bernstein, daughter of the Baron!

Guards!

Assault? Assassination?!

No, wait!

Your Highness! This must be some mistake! I'm the victim here!

The prince who was with me is who you truly are!

Please! Go back to being the wise prince you were!

By all rights, those are words worthy of disrespect, but

if false impressions have been given, my duty is also to correct that.

Lady Irene. Let me recount to you your reasoning, fairly and justly.

First, concerning the inner palace. As of now, Elianna has no authority in the inner palace.

The one who controls that is the current queen, my mother.

If your testimony is the truth, as I am the prince, I will hold my mother accountable.

However,

on the occasion that falsehoods were spoken, that is a crime against the royal family,

as well as treason for undermining authority.

Therefore, I will ask once more.

Lady Irene, is it true that you were harassed in the inner palace?

W-well...

Th-the witness knows!

Oh, I'm sorry.

If you mean everything that says you are a self-made victim, I can prove it.

You betrayed me.

Let me see, I'll let you know to avoid any misunderstandings.

For times like this, I am His Highness' secret pawn.

I keep watch to make sure there is no one who will bring harm to Lady Elianna.

Huh?

You... you can't...

Lady Irene, your earlier remark...

Your Highness! It seems this was my mistake!

But I beg you to believe me! I have never conspired to assassinate Lady Elianna!

You made the statement yourself. The tampering of the archive ladder, the contaminated snacks...

the water from the pipes in the rose garden...

The other day, when there was that excitement from the spraying water,

a scandal where an unidentified intruder got into the royal palace occurred.

Fortunately, the intruder was seized by Glen and other royal guards, but

do you know anything concerning this matter, Duke Palcas?

I-I know nothing...

The goal of the intruder was Elianna's assassination.

The tampering with the ladder and the contamination of tea leaves...

were both meant for Elianna, things that happened immediately after Lady Irene frequented the palace.

The manager, my uncle Theodore, gave a warning.

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

Lady Elianna!

Then at that time...

they all protected me.

This is a false accusation! Someone plotted all of this!

To begin with,

is it not strange that a bibliophile continues sitting in a position beyond her status?!

Do you truly think that person is worthy of becoming queen?!

Prince Chris, you are being deceived by the bibliophile princess!

I see.

I understand that your motives differ from those of your father.

There is nothing I would like more than to personally elevate my fiancé's achievements and reputation.

I will now offer the floor. Those who agree, say so!

Y-Your Highness. Not everything Lady Irene said is wrong.

Excuse me...

Four years ago, Lady Elianna was the one who recognized the corruption

with the lords of the Weimar region.

Thanks to her, the seafood brought from the Weimar fishing harbor now has the markets crowded!

Excuse me! The cookbooks using fish and shellfish are so revolutionary, even we cooks are learning from it!

Now that I think about it, books about the routines of the Weimar housewife are extremely popular.

A new variety of medicinal herbs and their benefits have been discovered

from the book "Oral Narratives of the East" that Lady Elianna sent for.

Last year, for the predicted damage from Maldura's massive cold front,

I heard that Lady Elianna was the one who suggested stockpiling resources.

Thanks to her we paid our debt to Maldora by sending food assistance.

Lady Elianna revived the Surian weave and made it fashionable!

It seems everyone can also sufficiently understand the influence and achievements of my fiancé.

Your Highness...

Why does it feel like...

I'm being told "You can't escape now"?

Your Highness.

I've brought Earl Casull.

Here.

One month ago, a Zelger that had been discovered was presented by Earl Casull to the royal family.

An appraiser also determined it was the real deal, but...

This is fake, isn't it?

Upon a second appraisal, it was determined to be counterfeit.

With this as an impetus, we took a closer look

and found there have been frequent incidents of forged art pieces in the royal capital recently.

The mastermind is hard to track, but...

immediately after the suspicious death of the appraiser who had been kept in the dark,

Elianna's personal life became turbulent.

The intention was to undermine Earl Casull using the fake Zelger, but Elianna saw through that...

Perhaps this is unjustified resentment?

Or maybe by getting rid of her, you were hoping to put your own daughter in her place?

Which is it, Duke Palcas?

I-I've done neither! There is no proof!

Among the lumber and materials you own, Duke Palcas of Neville River,

forged materials have been discovered.

What?!

We have all the evidence we need.

Would you care to explain?

Well then, Earl Casull...

This forgery fiasco...

You are also one of the victims, but I must say that as the head of the family you are heavily responsible.

I am acutely aware of the weight of my responsibility.

To the lady of Bernstein, who spotted the forgery and prevented dishonor from being brought on the house,

I thank you wholeheartedly.

With your permission,

the Casull family would like to give our support to Her Royal Highness, Lady Elianna Bernstein!

Huh?

He's given in.

The last of the nobles who would not accept Eli...

Thank you, Earl Casull.

I will gratefully accept your offering!

Her Royal Highness? I'm a phony...

I feel I should be cautious making it public like this,

but a moment ago, I heard everyone's candid assessment of Elianna. Therefore, let me say this!

Anyone who has any objection to Lady Elianna Bernstein standing as my queen, come forward now!

Oh no. I thought I was supposed to be a fiancé in name only.

Even when you leave the stage, I don't intend to let you go, Eli.

Ever since that day...

I've eagerly waited for this moment.