Original subtitles

At the ends of the earth, blanketed by miasma,

lay a land home to monstrous vassals who once dominated and devoured mankind.

Over them reigned a mighty king,

who forbade all humans entry.

Your Majesty, please!

We beg you to reconsider!

Enough. I've made my decision.

B-But this is all far too irregular, even for a royal whim.

A queen ought to descend from a royal or noble lineage.

And a human girl is simply out—

I am king,

and I will brook no argument.

In that case, sire,

would you at least consider...

Carpenter Bees and a Court Banquet

Sari!

Cy, Clops.

You mustn't roam the palace on your own!

His Majesty will reprimand us!

The king is scary! Scary!

I'm sorry, but...

I came here as a sacrifice to the king.

Really, he should already have eaten me by now.

And yet...

Though I was born a beast, half my blood is human.

I can never truly be either.

How could such a pitiful weakling be a king?

You're not weak.

The king has been hurting himself to spare the sacrifices all this time.

And he said he would keep me at his side,

even though I was raised to be sacrificed and have no home to go back to.

He's so strong and kind.

He only makes himself look scary to stop rebellions and pointless fighting.

He's really trying to protect everyone.

I can't sit still while he argues about me with important people every day!

What are you doing here, Sariphi?

Y-Y-Your Majesty!

Cy, Clops, can't you even stand guard properly?

Wait, Leonhart! I left on my own. Don't be cross with them.

"Leo"...?

In any case, return to your chambers.

Anubis, I must bid you a moment's leave.

Sire.

I told you to wait quietly here while I was gone.

If you need something, I'll have it brought to you.

I know.

But I want to do something— anything—to help you, Leo.

I will soon hold a court banquet.

Royalty and nobility from throughout my realm and its vassal states will attend.

As will you.

From the whole realm... You want me at such an important event?

The dotards in the senate proposed it.

They seem to think that if I present you to the peerage,

the resulting backlash will change my mind.

How should I behave?

Don't dwell on it. Hold your head high.

However,

never call me "Leonhart" at the banquet or in company from now on.

It sets a bad example.

Call me "sire," as you have been.

Fine.

I wonder if there's anything I can do.

May you sleep well, sire.

Don't shout in my ear.

Beasts have far more sensitive hearing than hu—

Sorry, Your Majesty! How could I fall asleep while you're still working?!

Never mind. But what is this?

Where did you get flowers?

I made them. They're artificial.

The real flowers I picked before wilted in no time.

These will stay pretty forever,

so I hope they'll help you relax whenever you return to your chambers.

I know it's not much, but it's all I can do.

FANCY

Look! I dressed up your bed, too!

I thought I told you I take no interest in such things.

Still, perhaps false flowers suit me.

I, too, am a sham—a beast with human blood and a human form.

A false king who hides his timid heart behind a snarl.

These flowers are practically my double.

That's not true.

They may be artificial,

but if they can touch someone's heart, I think they're as good as the real thing.

Oh, but you're less like flowers and more like the bees that land on them.

Bees?

Carpenter bees are big, and they make a loud buzz,

so they seem scary at first glance.

Watch out, Sariphi! A bee!

But they're really gentle and work hard flying around for their friends.

And they're also big and fluffy, just like you.

But those creatures must merely obey their instincts.

That's true.

But since I had no choice about being a sacrifice...

Come on. The nectar's this way.

...their dedication to their role seemed beautiful to me.

So you're not a fake, sire.

I hope that one day, I'll have a purpose like that, too.

Wow!

Look at all the people!

His Majesty isn't fond of having guests in the castle,

so we haven't seen it this busy in ages.

Ages.

This is amazing!

I never knew there were so many different kinds of beasts.

Human girl.

Mr. Chancellor.

Be on your best behavior today. Is that clear?

Don't wander. Keep your mouth shut. In fact, don't do anything.

Huh? But I wanted to entertain the guests.

And I thought so hard about how to greet them.

Don't give yourself airs!

You are merely a sacrifice, kept alive by His Majesty's whim.

The peerage is certain to object.

Even I categorically refuse to accept you as my king's consort.

But since you are to stand beside him at this banquet,

I will not permit you to sully his royal dignity with your conduct.

Merely keeping company with a human is already a great hindrance to His Majesty.

Never let that fact slip your mind.

I haven't been invited to the palace in ages. Have you?

I hear His Majesty will be presenting his new queen.

I can only imagine how magnificent her fur must be.

He's always rebuffed our kingdom's proposals. How fine can this girl be?

We'll have to see for ourselves.

Good heavens.

The king would never take a bride from a backwater Reptilian kingdom.

Certainly not.

Such dismissive treatment is just what you Reptilians deserve.

You dare?!

My lords and ladies, His Majesty has arrived.

Pray be silent.

His Majesty's coat is always beautiful.

And what magnificent horns he has.

Then, the girl beside him must be...

H-Human!

A human?!

Surely she can't be the future queen?!

A human?! Preposterous!

I can't believe it! Her face is flat! Her limbs are like twigs!

And her skin is as bald as a Reptilian's!

How unsightly!

M-Mind your tongue! How dare you compare us to humans?!

Your Majesty, what is the meaning of this?! I demand an explanation!

Silence!

Sire...

It's fine.

I knew this would happen. I've always been a fake.

But at the very least,

I need to hold my head high like he told me to.

I'm standing next to the lord of this kingdom!

Now, my lords and ladies, please enjoy yourselves at this evening's banquet.

This is so awkward.

Isn't there anything I can do to help the king?

No! Don't rise without—

Oh, how dreadful. That wretched human wasted no time.

We can hardly touch that dish now, can we?

This is for you.

The king arranged this feast for tonight's banquet—for all of you.

Please, eat your fill.

Here, help yourselves.

How do you find it?

Most... delicious.

Thank goodness!

We'll help, too!

Help! Help!

My, this is delectable.

Truly, food fit for a king.

And all in our honor.

To His Majesty!

Cheers!

Oh, that wayward girl...

Never mind.

B-But, sire, after all my orders to stay put...

Yes.

She refuses to be governed by me, let alone you.

Oh, I'll help you with that.

I couldn't possibly presume.

There's still plenty of food, isn't there?

Where are the kitchens?

Right this way.

Way.

You think you can barge into my kitchen, human girl?

Y-You see...

Go away! The palace kitchens are sacred ground!

If a human comes in here...

You'll spoil the dishes we worked so hard to make!

Sari is the future queen!

Queen! Queen!

Hmm? So you're the one who dumped this last-minute banquet on us?

And now you want to carry our cooking?!

Okay. I'll allow it.

What?!

Are you sure, Head Chef Todd?!

What if the king finds out?

She just came from the king, numbskulls!

He must have something in mind.

Hey, what're you standing around for?!

Get carrying! Do you want the food to get cold?

Right!

Um... Thank you very much

for letting a human like me into your kitch—

Get going! We're trying to work here!

Y-Yessir!

Damn that filthy human. She won't fool me.

Cy, Clops, what's this?

This rare fruit wine was a gift from the mayor of Amernia.

Amernia is a trading city, so it gets lots of unusual goods.

Wow.

I know!

I'll bring this to the king!

Wait! His Majesty doesn't consume gifts from abroad!

Our princess will be crowned queen!

And then my people will be thick as thieves with royalty!

Sire, this is a rare wine from—

Oh, sire, I'm so sorry! Are you all right?!

Wh-What impudence! And what a graceless girl!

Wretched human! I'd wager you did that deliberately!

Huh?

Not a bad vintage. I appreciate it.

Sire...

P-Pardon me, sire. Are you hurt?

What a fine tail you have.

No wonder it gets tangled around others' feet.

F-Forgive me, sire! I didn't mean to—

Sariphi is to be my queen.

Discourtesy to her is disloyalty to me, your king!

You owe your life to the human girl you insulted. Remember that.

But I won't be so lenient again.

Cheer up, Sari.

His Majesty is always angry.

Not your fault.

Thanks, Cy, Clops.

But it doesn't change what happened.

...a great hindrance to His Majesty.

I'm on course to prove the chancellor right.

Huh?

What in the...

Grab hold, Sariphi.

Sire...

Why would you grab me there?

But...

No matter. Just don't let go.

Huh? What?!

What's going on?!

This is my holy beast, Gwiber.

A holy beast?

Wow! We're so high up!

You're not afraid of heights?

I love them!

That's convenient.

The gusty upper airs should blow away your gloom.

Thank you, sire.

For a moment, I thought you would get rid of me.

What?

I mean, no one wants a human queen.

And today went just like the senators hoped it would.

And if I'm just a burden to you, I'd rather you did get rid of me.

Sire?

You...

little fool!

SQUISH

Have you forgotten?

I've already devoured you once.

Did I not say that you're a part of me now?

Who would hack off his own hand or foot because it got in his way?

But at the banquet,

you almost killed that beast in front of everyone.

You don't really want to hurt your people like that, do you?

If you keep me with you,

you'll have to do something like that again.

When that time comes, you'll stop me again.

Behold, Sariphi.

I am king of this realm.

I have a duty to defend the land and lead my brethren.

For a false king such as I, no burden could be heavier.

But when I'm with you, and only then,

I am freed from the shackles of kingship.

I feel as though I could forget my duty when you merely call my name.

I've never felt this way before.

And only with you can I someday become

a truly mighty king.

Stay by my side. That is your role.

Sire...

Now is the time to call me by the name you gave to me.

All right.

Leo. Leonhart.

That's right.

That's what I can do now. My reason to go on living.

I'll give sweet nectar to a big bee flying through the fields.

One day,

I'll be a real flower.

Curse you, human wench!

How dare you act out at the banquet?

I shall soon expose your vile—

Wait, where did she go?

To Karanbul City, sir. With His Majesty.

Date! Date!

Next Episode

Beasts and a Human Town

Wh-What?!