Original subtitles

The founder of Ozmargo—our first king— and his queen consort.

Endless power struggles consumed beastkind until this great hero united us.

First king, hero!

And his queen took up a sword to guard his back.

I knew about them from history books,

but it's still kind of amazing to see.

Still, I had no idea this statue was in the palace.

I've never been allowed in here, even for Duke Galois's visit.

This is a sacred place.

It's only opened for royal birthdays and coronations,

or in the lead-up to the Grand Consecration.

What's that?

Officially, it's the "Grand Consecration in Memory of Ozmargo's Founding."

Not only royalty and nobility from vassal states,

but also the common people of Ozmargo gather in the palace for a grand celebration.

No wonder everyone here has been so busy lately.

I haven't seen His Majesty all day.

His Majesty must be having his regalia fitted.

What regalia?

During the rites of the Grand Consecration,

kings customarily wear the first king's clothes.

And one day, Sari, you'll wear the first queen's—

The king is dressing up?

Okay! Let's go take a look!

What?

W-Wait, Sari!

Ri!

Day of Festival and Revelation

Sari, no!

His Majesty will be furious if you spy on him dressing!

But I want to see what he's going to wear!

Hello. Are you here, Your Majesty?

Sariphi? What is it?

I came to see you try on your fancy clothes.

Will you wear that to the Grand Consecration?

Yes. Why?

Oh, wow!

You look so dashing, like a real hero!

I love it, sire!

All but Sariphi, leave us.

Y-Yes, sire.

Sire?

What's—

Oh, is he embar—

You really do look great, sire!

The wind sure is strong today.

The skies will grow even more turbulent

until, at last, a storm drives the miasma from the realm.

I believe this will be a night of revelation.

A night of revelation... When His Majesty loses his beast form and powers...

This weak circle isn't even a consolation.

But this is my limit in human form.

If I'm found like this...

Oh, thank goodness!

I found you, Leo.

Sariphi...

Amit taught me how to bake these, and I wanted to eat them with you.

And you have a long night ahead of you.

I am... frightened.

I cannot survive here without my power as the king of beasts.

In this all-too-fragile, incomplete form, I can only hold my breath in the dark.

Once the beasts all accept me, a human,

I'm sure you won't have to hide like this anymore.

So have faith and be patient.

Touch my hand.

Well?

It feels normal.

To my shame, on the night before every previous Grand Consecration,

my fingers would grow cold and tremble.

Because you were nervous?

About appearing at the ceremony?

Yes. And not only the Grand Consecration.

I always felt that way before facing my people.

Knowing their countless gazes would bore into me at once,

I feared that one day, someone would see me

for the empty, impure king I am, and that I would lose everything.

But now I have you.

My fingers no longer grow cold or tremble.

Even if you aren't at my side tomorrow, I can sense your heart.

I'm always under your protection.

Come closer. Keep me warm.

Leo.

I'm always protected by your kindness, too.

I may not be able to stand at your side now, but one day...

Good morning, Leo.

Huh?

Human?

He's still in human form? Why?

What should I do?!

Hey, Dad, why's the sky blue?

Now this is a rare sight. It must have been centuries

since the revelation last persisted past daybreak.

So, because last night's storm blew all the miasma away,

you can't turn back into a beast?

That's the only explanation I can think of.

Then... you'll be stuck in human form forever?

The miasma will begin to fill the air again, given time.

Then my magic will return naturally, and I'll regain my beastly form.

Really? In that case, all you need to do is hide until then.

Not quite.

Haven't you located His Majesty yet?!

He isn't in his chambers.

Nor in the audience chamber! Nor in the great hall!

But the ceremony is beginning in less than an hour!

Lady Sariphi is missing, as well. What in the world could have happened?

Sari!

The bell to ring in the Grand Consecration

sounds twelve times at the exact hour our first king proclaimed this realm.

No king in our history been so much as a second late for it.

We cannot let this be the first time!

Already, many subjects eagerly await His Majesty's arrival.

Search every nook and cranny of the palace!

B-But, my Lord Chancellor, we've done all we can.

Have you searched below ground?

Set.

The subterranean altar chamber is ordinarily off limits.

Where better to meditate before a ritual of great importance?

And perhaps His Majesty has simply lost track of the time.

Lord Chancellor...

Very well.

This is an emergency. I'll assume responsibility.

We shall go to the altar.

Your Majesty! Are you here?!

Your Majesty!

We've no choice. Force it open!

Yes, sir!

He's not here, either?

Let us go!

Wow, a secret passage!

Is this how you let sacrifices escape, sire?

I never dreamed I'd use it myself.

How have we still not found him?

Where can His Majesty have gone?

Ah! You startled me!

No, you startled us!

Where did you come from?

C-Captain...

Lady Human. Isn't His Majesty with you?

W-Well, you see, I've been l-looking for him all morning, too.

But it looks like he's not over here.

Yup! Nowhere in sight!

I see.

Let's go.

The coast is clear.

But we're still in danger here.

Is there nowhere else we can hide?

They've already searched here, so it should be fine.

Leo?

What's wrong, Leo? Hang in there!

Leo! You're turning back into a beast.

Thank goodness! Now you can make it to the ceremony.

No, the bell will start to ring at any moment.

Even if I regain my beastly form by then,

I can't possibly dress and make my entrance before the twelve chimes end.

Don't say that! I know we can find a way!

You don't understand.

Even if I'm in time, would it be right?

Does a king who troubles those he ought to protect

because he can't control his own form

have any right to stand before his people?

Leo,

I think you're a truly great king.

But not because you look strong or wear magnificent armor.

Look.

You've stopped trembling.

What's wrong?

Someone's coming!

I'll delay them. Trust me.

Sari...

Why, Lady Sariphi.

I don't believe we've spoken personally before.

Who are you?

Pardon my late introduction.

I am Set, a humble justice.

It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance.

A judge? And what brings you here, Mr. Justice?

Everyone in the palace is looking for His Majesty.

Indeed.

I turned back because I couldn't stop wondering about this room.

And my instincts, it seems, have served me well.

I sense someone's magic from within, albeit faintly.

H-His Majesty, um, said that he wants to concentrate before the ceremony.

Oh, but what good will that do if he arrives late?

I have heard many desperate people speak in the course of my duties.

And you, Lady Sariphi, are a poor liar.

But please, do not misunderstand me.

While the chancellor fears only an interruption in the ceremony,

my concern is purely for His Majesty's safety.

If he is experiencing any difficulty,

I dearly wish to be of assistance.

Surely you feel the same way.

Now, Lady Sariphi,

would you kindly open that door?

No!

Then I suppose I have no choice.

I do not wish to manhandle one who may be our future queen, but needs must.

Have no fear. They are my men.

Now, open this door.

Stop!

Don't!

Y-Your Majesty!

A th-thousand pardons.

I thought I'd find Your Majesty here.

What have you been doing all this time?

The bell!

It seems I was a little too late.

You will never arrive in time for the ceremony if you start dressing now.

No, I will go as I am.

Y-You mustn't.

R-Respectfully, sire, you are hardly attired for—

Whatever my appearance, I am king.

Is that not so, Sariphi?

Yup!

The bell! It's almost time!

I can't wait to see his regal figure again.

Still, it's odd.

The king usually comes out as soon as the bell rings,

but I don't see him yet.

It's hopeless now!

Lord Chancellor...

He'll never make it! Now that it's come to this...

Stop the bell now! Cancel the ceremony!

Lord Chancellor!

It's the king! That's his holy beast!

What divine splendor!

Your Majesty!

Huh?!

Wh-What? He's not in full regalia.

But Ozmargo's Grand Consecration is a time-honored tradition.

Why would he come looking like that?

Your Majesty, what is the meaning of...

Today, I have cast off the armor of our founding king.

But not out of disrespect for tradition.

This realm is our first king's legacy. My duty is to defend and strengthen it.

But I cannot do so by merely treading in the footsteps of my forefathers.

Rigid adherence to precedent will leave it merely a shell,

which will ultimately encase our minds in stubborn clannishness.

To change for defense and defend through change:

that is what it truly means to honor tradition.

Unless we change, unless we progress, we can blaze no trails!

Follow me! I shall clear the briars and forge a path for you to tread.

It will lead us to the future we should strive for!

Your Majesty!

Long live the king!

Ozmargo forever!

Your Majesty!

Long live the king!

His Majesty is amazing.

What a lovely speech that was, Lady Sariphi.

Lady Sariphi?

I want to go.

I...

I want to be there, too.

At his side.

A magnificent address, sire.

But when you make such bold plans, I wish you would inform me of them beforehand.

You would have objected if I'd told you.

Besides...

Sire!

Something Sariphi said gave me the idea.

A king must do more than dress magnificently for his people.

No wonder, then.

I, Anubis, am deeply impressed.

Mr. Chancellor gave me a normal compliment.

I thought you'd be waiting to bully me with another ordeal.

Another day, perhaps.

For the present, your ordeals are at an end.

Huh?

But all I've done is summon Bennu and entertain Duke Galois.

Henceforth, you will take your place as acting queen consort.

Acting queen consort?

Precisely.

But I ask that you nevertheless perform all of a queen's public duties.

Should you do so without incident until the next Grand Consecration,

we shall recognize you as queen consort in full.

However, your public presence as acting queen consort

will naturally entail revealing your existence to the people.

Harsh protest from many quarters will be unavoidable.

If you should fail to perform your queenly duties

and seriously tarnish His Majesty's reputation,

I shall return you to Yoana.

To the human realm?

That said, there is a way for you to remain in this land.

You could decline to become acting queen consort.

In that case, I will ask His Majesty to take a formal wife.

And you...

may have a position as His Majesty's pet.

This is Sariphi's dilemma. All I can do is accept

the answer her heart gives.

This is a considerable gamble for me, as well.

Now, what will you do,

wench?

If I agree to be acting queen consort and can't do it right,

I won't even be allowed to live in this realm.

If I give up on becoming queen, I can at least stay here.

But...

Hey.

Huh? Bennu?

What're you brooding for?

You know what you gotta say.

Go on. Queen it up.

This country's like a big, stagnant pool.

You'll never get anywhere unless you make a splash and stir things up.

But...

Missy,

clench your teeth for me, wouldya?

Huh?

Well?! Hurts, doesn't it?!

In no pain whatsoever

Huh? Nope.

Well, the wingtip I socked you with sure does, nincompoop!

You're no sorry excuse for a sacrifice anymore.

So hold your head high and say,

"I'm the only one who can make His Majesty into a great king!"

Only me?

Remember this:

the only woman I desire is you, Sariphi.

That's right.

Leo only wants me.

Wen—Lady Sariphi, where did you come from?

Your Majesty! I'll do it!

I don't know if I'll be any good, but I'll be the best acting queen I can!

So...

So have faith and be patient!

Let me stay with you!

I've been waiting for that answer.

Your previous ordeals were assigned to you alone.

I could only gnash my teeth and watch.

But a king shares responsibility with his chosen consort, acting or not.

This is a test of me, as well.

Sariphi, I will always be with you.

From now on, the two of us

will share the same burden.

You accepted the post?! You've gone too far, wench!

I hope you disgrace yourself on your first—

What is this strange presence I sense?!

Lord Chancellor, would you care for one of my amulets?

Next Episode

Divine Protection and the Acting Queen Consort

No, thank you.