Original subtitles

Will nothing convince you, sire?

Of course not. I refuse to accept your sophistry.

Sophistry? You wound me, sire.

At last night's ball, Lady Sariphi said herself that she is unfit to be queen.

In other words, she abandoned her ordeal.

We thus consider that she disqualified herself from queenship at that moment.

But Sariphi performed her duties as hostess

and ultimately won Duke Galois over to her cause.

That took place after she renounced her ordeal.

Whatever the outcome, you cannot deny that she refused queenship.

I ask you, can such a half-hearted candidate be trusted with responsibility?

In any case, we categorically refuse to recognize this ordeal as a success.

Recollections of a King and His Chancellor

Welcome back, Your Majesty!

Are you all right?

Merely a touch tired of quibbling.

Was it about me again?

You have nothing to worry about.

I shouldn't tell Sariphi.

She may regret her actions if I do.

I don't want to force any more constraints on her needlessly.

Sire.

If something really is wrong, tell me. Okay?

One day, even he will understand.

Huh?

The rest of this book is missing.

Ichthyan history?

This must have slipped in from another library.

You mean this isn't the only one?

Of course not.

There are enough to fit the whole history of Ozmargo.

There's even a forbidden library, which only royalty may enter!

Enter!

Really? A forbidden library?

J-Just to be clear, "forbidden" means that you're not allowed in!

We'll find the next volume of that book, Sari. You wait here.

Here.

What? Don't worry. I'll find it myself.

I'm always making you two do all the work.

I'll check the nearest library first.

I wonder where it is.

And then—

You there!

How dare you indulge in chitchat while on duty?!

A-A thousand pardons, sir!

Only truly devoted servants of His Majesty have a place in this palace!

Remember that you can always be replaced!

Y-Yes, sir!

It won't happen again!

That scared me half to death. He's been pricklier than ever lately.

Not that I don't sympathize.

Still, after seeing that ball,

I wound up thinking that humans aren't all bad.

Fools. Don't they see her virtue is an act?

That wench beguiled the king to escape being sacrificed and save her own skin.

She can't pull the wool over my eyes.

I must remove her from His Majesty's side,

by any means necessary.

Mr. Chancellor!

I'm so sorry for asking you to show me the way. I know you're busy.

Don't mention it.

Still, look at all these books.

How will I ever find the one I want?

I don't know how she seduced His Majesty,

but I swear... I will end her life.

End her life?!

I could do it now. No one else knows that we're here.

It would be easy to engineer an accident amid all these bookshelves.

I can kill her!

I have no reason to hesitate. None!

Oh, Mr. Chancellor!

Are you all right?!

Don't worry. I'll keep looking on my own.

No, allow me to assist you.

Really?

Thank goodness.

To be honest, I wanted to solve this problem myself,

but with you on my side, I'll have nothing to worry about!

Thank you.

Is she dim-witted?

She has no sense of danger. Her folly is stunning.

I'll finish her quickly,

with these hands I swore to devote wholly to His Majesty.

Mr. Chancellor!

Mr. Chancellor!

Master! Master Sirius!

Your lord father's funeral is about to begin.

It's time for you to dress.

I won't go.

What do you mean?

This funeral is where you will formally inherit the name of Anubis.

That's the problem.

I don't want to become the royal family's lapdog.

Listen well, Sirius.

Generation after generation, we of the line of Anubis

have lived to serve and protect the royal family.

Your blood and your life exist to be sacrificed to the king one day.

My father never stopped telling me that,

and he died saving the king from assassins.

But his death didn't move the royals one bit.

They only thought of him as one lost pawn.

You're Anubis's boy? I hear you didn't attend his funeral.

Yes, Your Majesty. I took ill.

Well, no matter. You're too young to assume his duties in any case.

Henceforth, I command you to attend on the prince.

As you wish, sire.

My name is Sirius. It's a pleasure to make Your Highness's acquaintance.

Sirius? I thought you were Anubis.

I have not yet formally inherited that name.

Ha! Why would I ever take a name that makes me your servant?

Oh, I see.

Nice to meet you, Sirius.

I swear I'll rise to greatness.

I'll study my head off, and someday I'll be the greatest in the kingdom.

Even more important than royalty.

And to make that happen, I'll do anything...

What is it?

What about them?

It would be a shame to step on them.

Pardon?

With all due respect, hundred-eyed ants are incapable of fearing death.

Stepping on one or two will hardly drive them extinct,

and they lack the intelligence to mourn their fellows.

Only proper culling allows both plants and animals

to maintain a healthy circle of life.

Naïve and misplaced pity for them is the true danger to our ecosystem.

I see. You sure are smart.

Then did you know...

that hundred-eyed ants always follow the ant in the lead?

That's better.

Why step on them when you can go around?

Yes, that's all well and good for royalty.

You get to choose whether you crush others underfoot.

Your Highness, where have you been?

It's time for your swordsmanship lessons.

I hate swords.

What lily-livered nonsense.

Your Highness will lead troops into battle yourself someday.

But getting hit with a wooden sword hurts.

Getting cut with a real sword must be even worse.

Have no fear. Your Highness will be struck last of all.

Your minions will be the first to die.

Friend or foe, everyone feels pain when they get hurt.

We should just make a country where no one, of any race, has to fight.

Yes, that would be wonderful.

Fanciful idealism.

And only those able to truly face reality can realize their ideals.

I see the world as it really is.

One day, I'll be unrivaled in this realm.

Maybe not during the current king's reign, but once this spoiled prince succeeds him,

my time will come.

I need to study.

I don't have time to rest.

The young master has a fever again.

He's never been strong.

Of course, I'm sure waiting on the prince is tiring, but still...

Will he really be able to succeed his late father?

Shut up, shut up, shut up!

I'll never follow in my father's footsteps!

He never once came to visit me when I was ill!

His duty meant more to him than I did!

What's this?

It's warm...

Your Highness?! What are you doing here?!

I heard you weren't feeling well, so I came to check on you.

You came all this way alone?!

I'm sure no one spotted me.

I brought you healthy food from the kitchens.

Eat plenty, and get well.

Wh-Why have you done all this?

Huh? Can't I worry about you?

Huh?

Worried? The prince is actually concerned

about me, a mere vassal?

Besides,

your father saved mine.

My father is strict and scary,

but I still love him.

So I'm grateful. Really, I am.

Oh, so that's it.

I have no need of this.

Huh?

Kindly return to your chambers.

Sirius?

You mustn't linger.

Wait, Sirius.

Please just leave already!

The prince has been kidnapped!

And the son of the late Anubis with him!

Organize a search party at once!

Where...

Your Highness!

Huh?

Oh, one of the brats woke up.

Thanks. We couldn't have taken the prince hostage without you.

Now we can get our comrades set free.

Then we really will take the king's head.

No more screw-ups!

These are the assassins who targeted the king?!

That means...

Yowch!

What's the big idea?!

Give back my father!

Huh?! What'd you say to me?!

So you're Anubis's brat!

Anubises die as the shadows of royalty.

If you've got their blood in your veins, this must be fate.

Why do you think we took you and not just the prince?

So we can kill a kid to show we mean business.

The prince is our ace in the hole, but you're worthless as a hostage.

This is for your prince. Don't you feel honored?

If you wanna blame someone, blame the royals who drove us to this,

and blame your own blood.

Y-Your Highness!

Royal blood.

A royal is shielding a vassal.

No...

It's unpardonable. I'm done for.

This is the end for me!

Moron! That's the kid you wanna kill!

Y-Yeah, I know!

Y-Your Highness! Please stop this!

A future king should not put himself in peril!

A king is someone... who protects everyone.

If I can't protect... even one friend... right in front of me...

what kind of king am I?!

Your Highness!

Your Highness, please stay strong!

Sirius... Are you... hurt?

N-No.

I'm glad.

I must escape.

I must get away while they're unconscious.

I must...

protect the prince!

I sensed magic up ahead!

There he is! Lord Anubis's son is with him!

Hurry... Get His Highness to...

I'm so glad you weren't hurt.

They say the prince will recover with a few days of rest.

I see.

And I hear the prince made a plea to His Majesty.

He begged for you not to be held accountable.

So the house of Anubis's reputation will not suffer.

Isn't that wonderful?

I...

I had only thought of myself until it came to that.

But I finally understand, Father.

Are you out there somewhere, watching me?

I've found my king, too.

What's wrong, Sirius?

Although I serve Your Highness, I was unable to defend you the other day.

I humbly beg your forgiveness.

Don't worry about it.

I was the one who got you involved in the first place.

So I should apologize to—

Your Highness, royalty must not utter words of apology lightly.

And endangering yourself to shield others, as you did on this occasion,

is a rash and thoughtless act.

Please be more circumspect in future.

Sirius?

No.

I am Anubis.

As your shadow, I shall henceforth devote myself wholly to Your Highness.

I'll do anything to make him a strong, stern, and absolute monarch.

Even if that means

I may never again feel his warmth.

What's this?

It's warm...

Your Highness?

You're finally awake!

How do you feel, Mr. Chancellor?

W-Wen—

I've never been so ashamed!

How could I have seen His Majesty in this wench?

Lady Sariphi, what is the meaning of this?

You collapsed all of a sudden in the library.

But you feel better now, right?

Don't touch me!

Do you imagine this places me in your debt?

Despicable.

You'd flatter anyone to ensure your own survival, vile human wench!

You may have fooled His Majesty with your wiles, but you won't fool me!

I won't stand for an upstart human girl to further disturb his royal heart!

I will never accept you!

Oh, good! I'm so relieved!

You're finally acting like yourself again!

What?

I mean, when you started going, "Lady Sariphi..." earlier,

it was downright uncanny.

Besides,

His Majesty worries about you, too.

Don't act as if you know him!

It's a thousand years too soon for you to speak on his behalf!

You know nothing of all that has passed between us!

No, I don't.

But I've watched His Majesty, and I can tell what he cares about.

He may not show it on his face,

but he worries a lot about you, Mr. Chancellor.

So get well soon and think up my next ordeal, okay?

Your—

See? I knew it.

...think up my next ordeal, okay?

Now, permit us to open this council.

As to the treatment of Lady Sariphi, which we so recently discussed—

My Lord Speakers.

On this occasion, let us respect the royal will

and consider that she has succeeded in her ordeal.

I move that we continue to test Lady Sariphi's worthiness as a consort.

Are you certain that's wise?

I stand by what I have said.

Wench.

Henceforth, I will judge you in earnest

to see whether you are worthy of my king's heart.

Be prepared.

The Grand Consecration?

Yes. I hope that Milady will attend.

Is that what you expect me to say, twit?!

You, accompany His Majesty?! Maybe in a hundred years!

Did you mean to say that out loud?

Next Episode

Day of Festival and Revelation

What?!