Original subtitles

Begging Your Majesty's pardon! Yet more letters have arrived!

Zamanian envoys request an audience with Your Majesty!

Goya and Sarbul have sent envoys, as well!

All concerning the acting queen consort, sire.

Turn them away. They waste my time.

Are you certain that's wise?

Nothing has even happened yet.

Let them see the acting queen's work for themselves.

If they still object to her, then so be it.

I'll hear their grievances then.

Instruct the envoys to tell their lords as much.

Ye...

Yes, sire.

I knew I wasn't imagining things.

His Majesty has changed yet again since the Grand Consecration.

Divine Protection and the Acting Queen Consort

Another flood of envoys today.

I'd expected backlash, but this is still staggering.

Lady Sariphi must be feeling nervous.

I simply must step in

to lift her spirits!

Lady Sariphi—

What's the matter, Amit? You look so serious.

Goodness.

Oh, well... Lady Sariphi, what are those garments?

Mr. Chancellor said that my normal clothes were "too shabby for a queen's work."

Y-You look l-lovely in your usual clothes, too, Sari!

Lovely!

Thank you.

You're so composed, Lady Sariphi.

The palace is in an uproar, and so is everywhere else.

I know, and I can't pretend I'm not nervous.

But worrying before I've even done anything will get me nowhere.

Brooding won't make me any more capable,

so I've just got to do what I can, as well as I can.

So our next campaign is to Aiphos.

I hear we're going to subdue an armed band attacking cities.

Royal guardsmen...

They've been infighting on and off since before the last king's reign.

Anyway, we'd better keep our wits about us.

Lady Sariphi has arduous duties as acting queen consort.

Captain Jormungand has perilous missions.

And I...

What can I do?

I've got it!

Murga, my homeland, has a tradition of charms for fortune and protection.

"May you suffer no injury."

"May you never fall ill."

"May your dreams come true."

We imbue each plait with wishes and prayers

to create an amulet of a thousand charms.

This one is for Lady Sariphi, who always gives me courage.

And this one...

This is for me?

Y-Yes.

Thank you, Princess Amit.

I had no idea that you cared so deeply for me.

Captain Jormungand...

Princess Amit...

Oh, what am I thinking?!

Thank goodness they haven't marched yet.

I must give him my amulet before the day is out.

But why, Captain Jormungand, sir?!

Why can't I march with you on this campaign?!

Enough! The captain is being considerate. He knows your wife is with child.

B-But, sir!

Our duty is to obey the king's commands.

And His Majesty wills that we protect his virtuous subjects.

That includes your family.

Your first duty now is to protect them in their time of uncertainty.

No one else can see this mission done.

U-Understood! Thank you, sir!

Captain Jormungand...

Won't you ever marry, sir?

What brought this on?

I'd also like to know, sir!

I...

swore to devote my sword, body, and soul entirely to His Majesty.

I intend never to wed.

Wow!

A charm for me?

Did you make this, Amit?

This is a Murgan amulet. There's a charm on every weave.

Every weave!

I love it. Thank you.

She loves it!

Loves!

It will be my treasure.

And what about that other amulet, Amit?

This is, well...

Is it for Jormungand?

La...

Lady Sariphi!

Wh-What's the matter?

These amulets require praying for the recipient through all thousand twists.

Yet I... I...

I couldn't help hoping that this amulet would gain me

Captain Jormungand's notice and affection.

I'm ashamed beyond words.

I cannot possibly give him such a gift.

Amit, is wishing for the person you love to acknowledge you

really something to be ashamed of?

It doesn't seem that way to me.

But, Lady Sariphi, you would never put your own wants first like I have!

That's not true.

All I've done so far is give up on everything I want to do.

I haven't achieved anything on my own.

But now I'm so greedy, I wouldn't have believed it a little while ago.

Y-You, greedy, Lady Sariphi?

That's right.

I mean, I'm just a human girl, but I want to stand beside His Majesty.

What could be greedier than that?

So I think you should be a little greedier, too, Amit.

Every one of the thousand wishes you put into that charm is genuine, right?

I...

I...

Captain Jormungand!

Is something the matter, Princess Amit? You seem quite flustered.

W-Well...

Th-This is for you.

It's a traditional Murgan amulet.

For me?

I imbued it with many charms to protect you on your mission.

Please, take this amulet with you.

Oh, please forgive me.

You live for duty, and yet here I am, forcing my feelings on you.

But even so, I...

This is serious.

If I fail to complete my mission safely, I will injure your reputation.

What?! N-No, um...

I swear to return unscathed, so that I may repay you for your thousand prayers.

I...

Thank you!

I truly, truly love that side of you.

Good for you, Amit.

I wish I could be like Captain Jor.

Jor.

I'd better work hard, too.

From now on, every day will be like an ordeal.

Sariphi.

Your Majesty.

Your first duty as acting queen has been decided.

We will go to the land of Sarbul.

Sarbul is the nearest vassal kingdom to the royal capital of Ozmargo.

King Tet VII and his consort, Queen Calra,

have four daughters and one newborn son.

Sariphi, as acting queen consort, you will give the prince your blessing.

My blessing?

No special etiquette is required.

Ozmargo has lacked a queen since my predecessor's consort passed away.

Priestesses have performed the rite in the many years since.

Wouldn't the previous queen be the king's mother?

But he sounds so distant when he speaks about her.

No.

Right now, I need to focus on the job in front of me.

I beseech you, sire!

Please refuse the rite of blessing!

Don't be unreasonable, Calra!

The rite of blessing is an Ozmargan tradition.

As a vassal state, we must abide by their customs.

But how can we let a human hold Calcara?

He's our precious little prince!

Begging Your Majesty's pardon!

The frontier guards report that the king of Ozmargo has crossed our borders.

I see.

I have no more time to waste listening to your whims.

Prepare the prince to greet the king of Ozmargo!

Sire!

Calcara...

His Majesty thinks only of our national reputation.

No one will lend an ear to my concerns.

Oh, my dear little Calcara.

Don't be afraid. I won't let any human lay a hand on you.

No matter what, I'll keep you safe.

The king of Ozmargo is here!

Your Majesty!

Long live the King of Ozmargo!

Long may he reign!

The king of Ozmargo...

Our king's nowhere near as intimidating.

Welcome and well met, Your Royal Majesty of Ozmargo.

I believe I told you that I needed no grand welcome.

Yes. Please forgive me.

This was the very least I could do to greet Your Most August Majesty.

And this must be...

So that's the human girl the king of Ozmargo wants for his queen.

It's a pleasure to meet Your Majesties, King Tet VII and Queen Calra of Sarbul.

I have come as the acting queen consort of Ozmargo

to perform the rite of blessing on your royal son.

You may call me Sariphi.

My, what a surprise!

I had heard of your human lady, but I never dreamed she would be so charming!

Did you, Calra?

No. She is...

truly lovely.

I really ought to have brought the prince to greet you as well,

but he has been feeling somewhat unwell all morning.

What, Calra?!

Is he all right?

You honor us with your concern.

I promise he will be fit for the royal presence before the rite tomorrow.

W-Well, then, I will have a magnificent feast prepared for this evening.

Please enjoy the finest cuisine Sarbul can offer.

Acting Queen Sariphi, I am told that strong drink disagrees with you,

so I have prepared a mild fruit wine.

I hope that it pleases you.

They're treating Sari like a proper guest.

And the queen of Sarbul seems nice. I'm so relieved.

Relieved.

Ah! You ate!

It was delicious!

Lady Sariphi, allow the servers to pick it up.

Oh, I'm sorry.

Huh?

Oh, no. I feel kind of...

I-Is anything the matter, Your Majesty of Ozmargo?

If anything disagrees with you, then...

I feel somewhat fatigued today. I will take my rest early.

Come, Sariphi.

What? Me, too?

Why wouldn't I take my queen with me to my chambers?

Now, come along.

FUME

I'm sorry, sire. I spoiled that lovely banquet.

I promise I'll do better at the rite tomo—

Sariphi,

aren't you always telling me that I need not act tough for you?

Yes.

Then you mustn't put on a brave face for me. It wouldn't be fair.

Sire...

You're right.

I'm used to beasts not liking me, and I came prepared for it.

But earlier... I could hardly breathe.

The feeling I got from the way the queen acted...

I've known it for a long time.

Since the morning after I learned I was a sacrifice.

Oh, good morning, Sariphi. You're up early.

Breakfast is ready.

Go wake Maria for me.

Okay.

Right up until the day I was offered as a sacrifice,

they acted like nothing had happened.

But it was suffocating, like sinking to the bottom of a dark sea.

I didn't feel like I was really alive.

And the queen reminded me of back then.

NUZZLE

Huh?

NUZZLE NUZZLE

Um, s-sire?

NUZZLE NUZZLE

Boor that I am, I cannot find the right words for a time like this.

So I'm imitating what you always do for me.

Yah!

Until a moment ago, I was getting cold feet.

I was nervous about the rite tomorrow.

I'm sure that suffocating feeling will swallow me again.

I didn't know if I could stand on my own two feet and perform the rite.

But...

I'm fine now.

As long as you're with me,

I won't be in that cold, dark sea anymore.

When I'm at your side, I can always have warm dreams.

There, there.

Don't fret, Calcara.

I won't let that human touch you.

No matter what,

I'll keep you safe.

Let us now bless His Highness, Calcara, first prince of Sarbul.

The Lady Sariphi, acting queen consort of Ozmargo,

wishes to bestow her blessing on Prince Calcara.

Oh, he's adorable!

I'll pick him up, and then kiss his forehead.

Oh, goodness! What's wrong, Calcara?

My humble apologies. He's usually such a well-behaved boy.

There, there, darling.

We cannot continue the holy rite while he's acting out.

Loath as I am to ask this, might we please postpone it?

Wh-What are you saying, Calra?!

Excuse me. I also think that we should wait a little.

I'd feel sorry for the baby, being held when he doesn't want to be.

B-But...

Let my queen have her way.

As we will stay through the day, we need only attend to other matters first.

Of course! Thank you, sire, for your magnanimity.

Let it be so.

I had heard rumors that Queen Calra dotes on her only son.

I suspect that she is shielding him deliberately.

She plans to avoid completing the rite at any cost.

If she succeeds, our acting queen consort's first duty will end in infamy.

What will you do, wench?

Your Highness is still feeling out of sorts, I see.

Yes. I'm so terribly sorry.

Um...

If you don't mind, I could help soothe him while Their Majesties finish talking.

While I appreciate your offer,

I could not be so cavalier with the acting queen of Ozmargo.

So thank you very much, but no.

Oh, I see.

You must have nothing to occupy you until the talks end.

Please, have a look around our palace in the meantime.

I'll summon someone to guide you.

U-Um...

Please wait.

If the acting queen of Ozmargo needs a guide, then allow me,

Mother.

Tetra is so precocious and spirited.

And she keeps the demands coming, just like Mr. Chancellor.

Ah-choo!

But that's all part of what makes her such a cutie-pie!

Next Episode

Blessings and a Vow for the Future

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