Original subtitles

Has something happened?

There's absolutely no hope in sight.

Is this about His Highness?

Apparently, it's more in his nature to invade

and take control of another country instead of joining forces with them.

Really?

He said that?

At last, I've found him.

Someone who understands poison...

a sovereign who might use it the right way.

If the negotiations with Prince Arnold fail like this,

Coyolles might be invaded.

And if that happens...

You're enthusiastic for this early in the morning.

Lord Lawvine.

But I see hesitation in your sword.

The truth is...

my thoughts had turned in an unworthy direction.

By unworthy, you mean...

If one day we go to war with another country,

everyone here will go into battle, won't they?

They will.

I find myself afraid of a future like that.

It's only natural to find it terrifying.

What?

My son lost his life in the last war.

I'm proud of my son for fighting so bravely.

However...

in equal measure to that sense of pride...

I wish that my son had lived.

Lord Lawvine.

A war means that people will be robbed of their futures.

Others will steal them away.

To conquer the fear of that, one can only stand and fight.

Stand and fight?

I mean that you shouldn't deny your own hopes and feelings.

You should use them as fuel to move forward.

"What is it that I can do?"

Find the answer to that question.

Thank you, Lord Lawvine!

Then, I shall see you later.

I don't want to die in some war.

I don't want Coyolles to fall into ruin.

But that isn't all.

Rather than joining hands with another country,

invading and taking control of it...

that suits me much better.

You aren't that kind of person.

I want you to understand that, Prince Arnold.

And so, we have a special observer for your training,

the Crown Prince of the Empire,

Prince Arnold Hein.

Why is Prince Arnold here?!

No matter how you look at this, I've been found out!

I want to see the trainees move.

Sir.

Could this mean that he'll overlook my actions?

Of course not.

So, what exactly are you trying to do here?

Well, um...

I am most pleased to meet you, Your Highness.

That you would personally speak to a mere knight candidate

makes me feel both humbled and delighted.

Really?

If you are not the person I think you are...

then that would mean there is no issue with my touching you.

Come now. Quickly, try to refute it.

Prince Arnold, please step away for a moment!

I refuse.

If you continue, someone is sure to see!

Is there some problem with that?

Yes, there is!

How so?

Y-You have a fiancée, don't you?

Well, yes, I do.

You do, don't you? I thought so!

Still...

your manner of speech is quite disrespectful for a mere knight candidate.

My deepest apologies.

I don't know what it is you're apologizing for.

Tell me with your own lips what you've done.

I-I didn't tell Your Highness anything and dressed as a boy

so I could join the knight candidates' training!

I am truly, very sorry!

Well done.

But why are you doing this?

Because...

this training you've thought up...

I wanted to undergo it, too.

If you wish to continue, there are conditions.

You must be sure to rest.

And make sure that no one finds out your gender.

What?

Can you keep to those?

Yes! Thank you!

Are you enjoying this training that much?

Yes!

Prince Arnold, the training you've thought up is truly magnificent!

Your intention to carefully help the knights to grow comes through clearly!

Capable people are the empire's treasures.

But sending these knights into battle in the future will be...

I overheard your conversation with Prince Kyle.

I'm sure you did.

I believe I can predict what you're thinking.

You believe that we should form an alliance with Coyolles

and you're going to try to convince me, aren't you?

But there is no value in a country that has lost all its power.

When a nation's collapse is only a matter of time,

the only question is how to deal the final blow.

Prince Arnold, from time to time you are the most incredible liar.

You're free to think whatever you like of me,

but remember this...

For this empire, war is not a cruel choice.

It's simply one means of politics.

The first time I met Prince Kyle was when I was a trader.

In this rain,

protecting your wares on the road must have been very difficult.

Our kingdom lacks material resources.

It's traders like you who support us and allow us to preserve our daily lives.

I wish to express my deepest respect and gratitude to you.

Though he was a member of the royal family,

he was someone who treated people of different stations with respect.

The second time I met him was in my life as an herbalist.

Then, too, he was someone who acted from his heart when dealing with me.

And the third time...

I will speak with my father about the research funds.

Because I know that you two will produce results.

I swear that I will make him agree!

It worked?

Congratulations.

More than anything else, the fact that your unwavering hard work has been rewarded

makes me truly happy.

It's because Prince Kyle is like that...

that I...

Your Highness, starting today, I'd like you to start taking these pills as well.

Though, the flavor is just as awful.

If it means that this body of mine will move properly,

then it's nothing to me.

Prince Kyle, the truth is that at the party the other evening,

I happened to overhear your conversation with Prince Arnold.

You saw me in a most embarrassing situation.

In truth, the polite thing to do would have been to leave the country after that.

However, I cannot afford to give up.

Didn't you think that it might be dangerous?

During the war, Prince Arnold beheaded members of royal families of enemy nations.

You're aware of that, aren't you?

Everything from the fruits of Prince Arnold's battles to his political measures...

I've investigated everything I could.

It seems to have been camouflaged very cleverly,

but the care shown for the common people in domestic policies...

I'm certain that it's his intention at work there.

Killing the monarchs of enemy lands in the last war...

it was done to prevent the seeds of further trouble. It was a form of compassion.

That's how I think of it.

And, the reality is...

even if His Highness is a cruel and barbarous person,

it doesn't change what I must do.

I have a request to make of you, Prince Kyle.

Won't you first form a modest alliance with me?

An alliance?

In order to convince Prince Arnold,

I will need your strength.

Thank you so much!

Everything in it was incredibly intriguing!

You love to learn, don't you?

Yes, very much so!

Learning new things, whatever they might be, makes me very excited.

The world gets wider and wider,

and even the view I saw yesterday looks different to me!

That settles it for me.

You aren't suited to be an empress.

Professor...

You should just come and join me.

If you did, then if there were anything you didn't know, I would teach you.

Thank you for your invitation,

but I am here to marry Prince Arnold.

Arnold Hein, is it?

I understand why you're drawn to him.

I'm interested in him, too.

It seems he's turned down Kyle's request.

And the reasons he gave for his refusal were exactly the sort of thing I love.

If it were Arnold Hein, then I have the feeling that he'd use it quite effectively...

this compound I've created, which I call black powder.

I've been looking for so long!

I never imagined that I'd meet the right person in this country.

Despite his appearance, His Highness is a very kind person.

Even if he said some harsh words to Prince Kyle,

it's likely that he didn't truly—

Say, Rishe!

Will you help me meet with him?

Of course.

I'll see if he can make some time for you soon.

Then, let's go and see him right now!

His Highness is very busy, so a sudden visi—

If he's as kind as you say, then I'm sure he'd forgive us.

Well, that's...

I understand.

The truth is that you don't want me to meet with him, right?

You...

haven't asked me what black powder is, have you?

The professor told me all about black powder...

back in my third life.

So, you won't cease your experiments, no matter what?

I'm sorry, Rishe.

Not even if it means that many people will lose their lives?

"That which humans have created must be used the right way."

There's a problem with this warning.

Which is that no one can accurately define what "the right way" is.

If this black powder of mine is used the right way,

I'm sure that this world would easily be destroyed.

But would that really be wrong?

"How will the things I create change the world?"

Is wanting to see that really such a bad thing?

Professor...

Farewell, my student.

I sincerely hope that your life

will unfold in a way that you feel is right.

I couldn't accept this black powder.

It will turn the world on its head and scramble it.

I've been looking for a leader capable of using it for so very, very long!

A leader like Arnold Hein.

I must find a way to establish friendly relations between Coyolles and Galkhein.

And with Professor Michel in that state,

he'll stop at nothing to approach Prince Arnold.

If he does, then His Highness will use black powder in the war and—

Prince Theodore?

I heard he found out. About you dressing as a boy.

I'm very sorry.

I had mixed feelings about you being able to completely deceive my brother,

so I don't particularly mind.

Still, the news reached you very quickly.

Well, my retainers are outstanding, after all.

Whatever my brother does, no matter where he is, I know about it right away.

I have a perfect information network set up.

And it isn't just my big brother I hear about.

I've got my sister-in-law in there, too.

I've already looked into the backgrounds of the knight candidates.

If anything happened to you, I wouldn't know how to face my brother.

Thank you!

It's nothing. And it's not that I'm worried for you.

I'm doing this for my brother.

I understand.

Actually, I have a favor to ask of you, Your Highness.

May I borrow your outstanding retainers for a short while?

Is it something that will help my brother?

No. In fact, it would be an act of rebellion against Prince Arnold.

I like it.

Since it sounds like fun, I'll join you.

Then, we've come to an understanding.

Because you were born,

my wife is dead.

Which is why you must atone.

You were born to bring us misfortune, you harbinger of death!

Whether I was hungry...

or I was lonely...

the field of learning always accepted me.

Knowledge swiftly entered my mind and settled into my body.

It was just like breathing, or drinking water.

This child has inherited my genius.

Use him as much as you like in my place.

After being allowed into the laboratory, my world expanded.

If I wanted to know something and performed enough experiments...

my efforts would always be repaid.

What is going on here?

To think he'd be so adept at making something that would kill people...

After some time, a war broke out.

Everything burned.

All of the alchemists in the laboratory...

everyone, including my father, lost their lives.

It was by chance that I created it.

A compound capable of destroying everything.

That was black powder.

You truly are a harbinger of death.

It's just as my father said.

It seems I've been born to bring misfortune to others.

In the past, I was unable to convince Professor Michel.

Professor...

Well, hello, Rishe.

Have you managed to find a way for me to meet with him?

Professor, do you truly intend to give black powder to Prince Arnold?

If something has been born as a poison,

then only in fulfilling its task will it find its true place.

Everything, no matter what, must fulfill the role for which it was born.

My own existence is the same.

A person who was born to upset the ways of the world

must act in accordance with that duty.

Even back in my third life, the professor said these same things.

Even if many people will lose their lives for it?

That's right.

Black powder's reason for being...

is to bring misfortune to others.

I'm sorry, Rishe.

It isn't that I want to say mean things to you.

That's the honest truth.

This is the calling I've been given.

I'm certain that the professor will use any means necessary to give

black powder to Prince Arnold.

Good night, Rishe.

If things keep going this way...

I won't be able to stop the professor.