Original subtitles

I deeply apologize, Your Highness, but... could you please give me some time?

I want to go home, just for today.

Okay. Understood.

Eli, let's talk this over.

I should really go back and apologize to His Highness right now…

No.

That's what I really should have done at the time, but…

I…

Ran away.

I was expected to learn so many things by the His Highness' side since I became his fiancé…

But I was the same bibliophile princess who understood nothing.

No, I was the cowardly bibliophile princess.

As someone who will stand next to Christopher, are you prepared for that?

I don't even know myself anymore.

A Nuisance

Lady Elianna.

How can I help you?

Help me?

Yes. I was ordered to come here immediately because you were in the archives.

What?

Sara relayed that message to us.

Shut your mouth.

But…

Someone's in there.

Call a guard.

Wait.

Please stop this, Lady Matilda.

Just look for it already, Sara. You truly are dense.

The dress that Lady Elianna will wear is strictly controlled by the queen herself.

If she doesn't have a dress, then look for something else that will be of use!

Lady Matilda…

I'm going to make it my idea before that other woman can.

I must stand out more than she does at the Holy Night's Banquet,

or my grandfather and my mother will reprimand me!

Lady Sharon had no significant information, and since you're so useless, I have to struggle like this!

But Lady Matilda, there is nothing more.

It was us, the Dauner Family, who picked you up!

Without our help, you couldn't support your family, nor could you become a maid in the palace,

you damned Azulite!

You know this, so repay your debt!

Lady Elianna…

My, Lady Elianna.

I heard that you had returned to your home, but you have such a weak presence I didn't notice you here.

To be thrown out of public office this late in the game… are you not ashamed?

That was an aggressive shift in subject.

Due to that, even the prince is concerned

by the military personnel who say he is a "weak-kneed prince who detests the art of war,"

and that our country is in danger of being drawn into war in the future.

However, if I become a concubine, those involved with the military will be at ease.

This is the beginning of a long acquaintanceship.

What is this?

There's something called the Milulu clam that can only be harvested in the tributary

where the Tessen and Mil Rivers meet in the Azul Region.

I asked Sara to send for some. It is processed to reproduce the ink of ancient manuscripts.

If that will be of use to you, take it.

Why would I want some cryptic ink… And moreover, from the Azul Region?

Don't tell me, this is from Corba Village, isn't it?

It is, but is something wrong with that?

Do you understand what you are saying? Corba Village… How nauseating.

Lady Elianna!

It seems you have some prejudice against the Azul Region and Corba Village,

but is that because the Ashen Nightmare originated in the Azul Region?

Whatever else could it be?

Sara is from Corba Village. She is one of the loathsome and damned survivors.

You'll be tainted if you get near her.

Those words may be taken as disrespectful towards the queen, who overcame the illness.

It's an unavoidable truth that I've invaded your room,

however, do you have any idea how your information got leaked?

I see His Highness adores you,

but whatever would you think if that information was leaked by the one from the Azul Region?

They may also have to discontinue construction of that bridge in progress.

Lady Matilda.

It isn't Sara.

Both the queen and I are aware that Sara is from the Corba Village.

If Sara is the one who spread information about me to the Dauner family,

Lady Matilda would have known this when I had Sara send away for the Milulu clams.

W-well...

And, about Corba Village, there's something you're misunderstanding.

Huh?

Fifteen years ago in the wintertime...

back when the "Ashen Nightmare" wasn't known as such,

the Tessen River flooded due to unprecedented torrential rains,

and many of the bridges spanning the river were washed away.

The Azul Region, which relied on the bridges to commune with other territories,

became a solitary island on the continent.

Under those circumstances, the plague spread through the country from the northeastern area, including Azul.

Corba is a poor village.

After getting the autumn harvest from the mountains, the men have to live away from home to work.

The people left in the village had to fight off the plague, alone and unaided.

It was the end of winter when help headed to the village.

It was suspected that there were no survivors.

However, the people of the village supported each other, and losses were kept to a minimum.

At first, it was called a miracle.

But, though those were the only losses they had,

voices of doubt started to rise about why Corba Village was still surviving.

"Perhaps the Ashen Nightmare originated in Corba Village."

Is that wrong?

It's a baseless rumor.

People may have wanted a visible target of their hatred.

It doesn't take a genius to know how the person the hate was directed at feels.

The plague actually originated in the Azul Region,

and there's no proof that the survivors of the Corba Village are not cursed.

The Ashen Nightmare did not originate in the Corba Village.

According to research, some believe that the disease resembles the plague

that was one of the causes of the destruction of the Kai Arg Empire.

B-but Corba Village is-

The only way in and out of the village was by a bridge,

and the men were not present due to working outside of the village to make a living,

and that is the cause of this tragedy.

The state is responsible for this.

The people of the village are victims.

Are you speaking seriously right now? How could you blame the state?

It would be a serious matter if you made a statement like that!

His Highness dealing with the bridge in the Azul Region right now,

is manifestation of the determination that the same tragedy must not and will not happen again.

The policies put forth for the dignity of my country will not be reversed by me alone.

The people are the treasure of their country.

Without its citizens, neither king nor country will exist.

I would never accept a person who does not understand such things

and despises the people she is supposed to protect as a potential concubine for His Highness.

What?!

How dare you speak to me as if I were a child!

Please, stop!

Sara!

Let it go!

Lady Matil-

How awful!

What have you done?!

Excuse me.

I tried to greet you all, but I heard a huge commotion.

Your Hi-

Prince Christopher!

Lady Elianna used the maid and now my dress...

Eek! Wh-what are you doing?!

Let's see... caught in the midst of attempted assault on the lady.

What?!

Also, perpetrating falsehoods against the crown prince,

and the crime of contempt against the fiancé of the crown prince... that sounds about right.

Let me go, you insolent brute!

Once I report this to my grandfather, you are entirely done for!

Oh? I might like that more than being anywhere near that demon king.

Jean.

Let go! Your Highness, this person-

Good grief.

This happens every single time... do they think I'm that slow of a guy that I can't tell what the truth is?

Matilda, young granddaughter of Earl Dauner;

Your grandfather is definitely a man of influence for the military,

and not a person to be trifled with by a greenhorn like me.

However, I'm thinking the time has come for him to resign and make way for the next generation.

The Dorud Company which the Dauner family has capital in is in competition with the Mers Company,

which the royal family makes use of.

It's his usual trick to force a subordinate to infiltrate in order to outwit the other party,

but it seems sights have been set on the wrong ones.

The Dorud company has scandalous rumors floating around about it, and I could have taken then down, but...

I decided to replace the head and engage with them.

The new chairman should soon cut off support to the Dauner family.

You can't...

The company will also take over the debt, so...

Well, I can see where the Dauner family is headed.

Now, for my concubine problem, the only ones who spouted that kind of nonsense is the Dauner family.

No other nobles have said anything of the sort.

My princess is Elianna, and her only.

There will never be another woman beside me apart from her.

Take her away.

Sara, you will be dealt with shortly. You may go.

Eli...

I have to apologize.

I have to apologize to His Highness...

His Highness must be disappointed in my cowardly escape.

I'm sorry, Eli.

This is my fault. I'm sorry.

Why is His Highness apologizing?

I'm the one who worried on my own then came to my own conclusions.

My heart became so full of jealousy...

Even now, I've hurt the person I love.

Your Highness...

Your Highness, you've done... nothing wrong. I was...

I'm sorry.

Eli, I'm sorry.

After that, I talked about the anxieties that burdened my heart one by one...

Not being able to become like Queen Henrietta...

The misappropriation of remarks that happened when I was trying to do my best...

Once again knowing the horrors of the court and being discouraged by it.

The anxiety I had about His Highness' concubine problem...

The doubt that gnawed at me due to Lady Mireille...

I knew I had to ask you, Your Highness, but I was so afraid...

and moreover, I couldn't become a burden to you.

I thought my failures held you back, and it was so painful and miserable...

Eli, that isn't the slightest bit true. You haven't done anything wrong.

Your Highness, it isn't your fault.

I know that you are very earnest and always try too hard, and yet...

I should have considered that and stayed by your side. I'm sorry.

The thing with Lady Lamond is truly just a misunderstanding.

I know that you've been devoting yourself to official business you aren't yet used to,

so I was going to take care of it on my end.

You're seeing my bad habit now, huh?

My mistake was trying to resolve everything on my own.

Your Highness...

I've never seen you cry so much, Eli.

It might become a bit of a bad habit.

What do you mean there was a commotion in Elianna's room?

Oh, crud.

What did Chris do?

They've run away, those children.

According to a maid, Earl Dauner's granddaughter entered the room without permission.

Truly, that Dauner family just never learn, do they? But...

It looks like Chris has finally given up.

He would not dislike her for such a small thing of that magnitude.

Besides,

though the Holy Night's Banquet is the day after tomorrow, Elianna's jewelry has yet to be decided.

Still, he keeps Elianna to himself every single time...

and I've refrained from inviting her frequently to social gatherings because

I knew she'd run away if I interrupted her reading time.

She didn't almost run away because of her unworthiness.

Goodness... How shameful.

My Queen, it's time for your next appointment.

What's so bad about keeping your fiancé to yourself?

Eli, I think you may not have noticed, but my mother started liking you four years ago.

Huh?

My mother repeatedly invited you to tea parties when you had just become my fiancé, right?

That was because she wanted to boast about you to everyone so much she just had to do it.

You wouldn't be able to resist fawning over getting all close and personal

with someone you respect and strive to be like, would you?

My mother tends to you strictly because she loves you so much. She just can't be honest about it.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with you the way you are.

It's important to try to be perfect, but don't get caught up in only doing that.

You, who thinks about the people first and foremost, are fine the way you are,

and as someone who stands by my side, you are worthy.

Your Highness...

At your back, Eli, are the people of Sauslind who you are trying to protect with all your might.

Everyone knows that, so there's nothing for my concubines to say.

I will always be protected and supported by you being you, and I will never lose confidence.

The reality of becoming a princess unknowingly made me feel overwhelmed and terrified me,

but to me, I am fine as I am now, and there is a beloved person by my side who says so.

Is there anything else you want to ask me, Eli?

I...

Please don't marry another woman besides me.

Eli, that's breaking the rules.

Your Highness...

I don't need anyone but you, Eli.

Even if you run, I'll catch you every time.

If it were that easy to give up on my emotions, I wouldn't be in such pain.

Eli, don't ever doubt my feelings.

I love you, Christopher... I will never run away again.