01x14 - Embarking on a Challenge Once Again

[bunniefuu]

Wake up, Mithril Lid Pod!

Huh? What is it?

I saw him! Yesterday, I saw Challe!

W-What did you say?!

And when I told Challe that I'd be able to
save him if I'm successful in my work here,

he said he'd wait for me!

He did? That's so great!

Especially since he seems like he'd say,
"No one asked for your help. Get out."

Maybe being a companion to
that girl is really grueling.

It could be that he's being made to do
unbelievable things that we can't even imagine.

W-What kind of unbelievable things?

All right, let's go, Anne!

We'll rebuild this place
as fast as we can and set that guy free!

Y-Yes.

Who are you?

What?

And there's a fairy, too!

What's wrong with you?

Hey, come out! I haven't really
seen teeny ones like you!

Hey, come on! It's all right!

Stop that, Nadir.

Oh, I see everyone's all here!

Elliott, who are they?

I'll introduce you.

Anne Halford. Starting today, she'll be
working for us as our Head of Artisans.

And...

this is her helper, Mithril Lid Pod.

Halford? Isn't that the artisan who made

a sugar confection
for the former Duke of Philax?

And with this year's Royal Medal,
she's a silver sugar master!

A silver sugar master?

Why would someone so amazing
work here? And a girl at that?

Is Mister Glen aware of this?

Yeah.

Then I have no objections.

Nice to meet you. I'm King.

King?

I've forgotten my real name.

I see. It's nice to meet you.

What's that for?

A handshake?

O-Oh, right. A handshake. There, a handshake!

I'm Nadir. Hey, come on out.

No!

A wise decision, little fairy.

I'm Valentine.

Very pleased to meet you.

I'm pleased to meet you, too.

Oh! Orland's here, too!

So, these five are our artisans.

We're counting on you, Miss Head of Artisans!

Um, well then...

Oh dear. I have no grasp on exactly
what I've taken responsibility for here.

F-For now, if you could continue
your work from yesterday, please.

Sure thing!

Will do.

Of course.

Anne, what should I do?

Um... Can I leave the cleaning to you?

Yeah!

What I need to do most is get
a sense of the current situation!

Wow, he's incredibly good.

Mister Langston, what sort of commission
are you working on right now?

Don't be so polite with me.
There's no need to call me "mister."

All right.

So, what is that?

It's an order from a shop owner.

Apparently, it's to celebrate
their son's birthday.

Their son likes horses?

I don't know. I offered several ideas
and was told that horses were good.

Did they say why?

Is there some reason I should have asked?

It's easier to make something better, even
just comparing horses to horses, right?

Fawning on customers and creating what
they tell you doesn't make it good, does it?

Artisans use all their skills to
make what they want to make.

If they don't, they won't
create anything good.

Living up to the customer's wishes
isn't the obvious thing to do?

How lovely. The color is wonderful.

A-A-Aren't you a little too close?

What?

Oh, I'm so sorry!

Why don't you have Anne
dress in men's clothes?

I will throttle you.

Could it be that he's
uncomfortable around women?

Excuse me.

Yes?

I've finished maintenance on the tools.
What should I do next?

Well... Are there any orders?

No. There are only two.

In that case, will you help
one of them with their work?

I couldn't do that. It's their work, you see.

But it would be faster that way.

One shouldn't interfere with another's work.

What?

But in a workshop, isn't it natural
for everyone to help with the work?

What?

Is what I'm saying somehow strange?

Then, do you each complete the work
assigned to you solely on your own?

Yes, because we're artisans.

We take responsibility for
the work we do, correct?

Then what does the Head of Artisans do?

Manage the silver sugar,
deal with clients, and...

ascertain whether the sugar confections
produced will shame the Paige Workshop.

Ascertain whether...?

We cannot issue pieces
which will tarnish the workshop's name.

So, if you think it's bad,
you indicate corrections.

It's a tremendous responsibility.

But if you think that the piece won't be
an embarrassment, you show it to Mister Glen.

It will receive the seal of
the Paige school's Main Workshop.

That is the Head of Artisans' job.

It's very different from other
workshops and from the way I do things.

Hello.

I'm Anne Halford.

Oh, yes. I'm Daana. This is Hal.

You two look just alike! Are you siblings?

Yes.

Apparently we were born from
the same tree at the same time.

In human terms, we would be
something like twins.

Really? So, there are
twins among fairies, too?

Have you had dinner yet?
If not, would you like to join me?

No, we couldn't!
This table is for artisans and family.

Since we live in the same house,
aren't you and Hal basically family?

No, not at all! We are fairies, after all.

If you'll excuse us.

What a shame!

Looks like they turned you down.

Mister Collins.

How was your commemoration-worthy
first day as Head of Artisans?

I'd love to hear your opinions.

I learned a lot of things about this place.

The artisans make
what the artisans want to make.

They each take complete responsibility
for their work and complete it alone.

Those have been the Paige school's
convictions for 300 years.

Mister Glen has made sure that, if nothing else,
those have been drilled into the artisans.

I think they are perfectly ideal, but...

But?

I suppose you could say
something about it nags at me.

Well, I'm the one who piled hopes on you
and brought you here.

Do you have a moment?

What is that?

Promissory notes.

What? They're debts?

Yup. Roughly 10,000 cress worth,
with this land as collateral.

T-Ten thousand cress?!

Things have been tight since
the last master of the school's time.

If we can't repay it within the year,
half of this place will be taken away.

Do you have the means to repay it?

No.

Which is why I went to try to
negotiate again today.

Oh, but keep this a secret
from Mister Glen, all right?

He doesn't know?

He knows about the debt, of course.

But he doesn't know that we're
in a bind about the repayment.

The lenders are worried about the future of
the workshop given Mister Glen's illness.

But that's...

You mentioned earlier that
something was nagging you.

Yes.

The truth is, I have
some thoughts about things, too.

What?

We don't want to turn our
backs on Mister Glen,

but something has gone wrong here.

I've given a lot of thought
to things, in my own way,

but I can't figure out what's wrong.

Whatever the case,
I'll handle the debt somehow.

Anne, you do things the way you think is right,
just like the first silver sugar master.

What does that mean? Why do you keep
talking about the first silver sugar master?

You could at least
take your meals with the others.

I don't want to. I prefer
to be alone with you.

Even so, your expression seems lonely.

I'm not lonely.

Hold me.

Carry me to bed.

Lay me down, gently.

Stroke my hair.

Stay with me until I fall asleep.
Please don't go see that girl.

Please stay by my side. Only mine.

No matter how much you stare,
nothing interesting will happen.

You scared me!

You snuck out again? Won't Bridget
make you do unbelievable things?

Unbelievable?

Well, Mithril Lid Pod said...

Don't take his ridiculous imaginings as fact.
She is a normal woman.

You're really not being made
to do upsetting things?

No, I'm not.

I'm so glad.

I'm going to work hard, so just wait a while.

What is it?

Nothing.

Is there something about these pieces?

Yes.

Orland's clearly expresses
a sense of power and vigor.

He's a little hard to approach
and he can be taciturn,

but his passion for sugar
confections comes through clearly.

King, the one who made this,
seems like a very sincere person.

He's also awkward and
uncomfortable speaking with women,

but the things he creates
are so very romantic!

Don't you think it's beautiful?

They're both so good.

But right now, we only have
these two commissions.

Why has business declined this far?

What is it?

Nothing.

Challe!

I begged you not to meet with her!

That wasn't a request. It was an order.

But I have no intention of obeying.

Go ahead and punish me.

You won't consider my feelings?

You are my master.

Just as it is not necessary
for you to consider my feelings,

it is not necessary for me
to consider your feelings.

That's just not... No one,
no one will consider my feelings, then.

Very well.

You will be punished!

Wait!

Don't, Anne!

No, I don't want you to be punished!

That meddler.

Why...

Only I know about this place.

But it's gone! Challe's wing!

If that's what you're looking for,
Mister Glen has it.

What?

Why does father have it?

Bridget.

Someone placed the wing by my pillow.

This is a good opportunity.

I will look after the wing from now on.

That must be what the one
who placed the wing there wants.

But why?

You said that it would be
all right until I got married!

Your ways are intolerable.

Locking the fairy in your room.
Letting no one but yourself interact with him.

It's like you're obsessed.

Bridget, be sensible.

Whose daughter are you?

I don't care!

This time, you are my master?

That's right. And so, I give you an order.

Interact with her in moderation.

There's no need to respond
to her every demand.

And don't do anything that would hurt her.

Mister Glen, Challe is...

I decide what happens to him.

So, you got your wing back?!

No, it's just that Mister Glen has it now.

But you can walk around freely now, right?

It must have been so torturous,

having that woman do those things
and even those things to you!

Stop your imaginings.

Well then. There's a guest coming by,
so I'm going to go now.

All right!

It has been quite some
time, Mister Radcliffe.

Mister Radcliffe and Keith?

I'm glad that you're doing better
than rumors would have you.

And the new silver sugar master, as well.

We have high hopes for our Head of Artisans.

From the fact that you've
brought her in at this point in time,

I assume you'll be participating in the
selection for the Holy Beginnings Festival?

Selection?

Of course not. My father rejected it.

I see.

Well, I did suspect that would be the case.

Oh, yes. I brought Powell's son with me.

I am Keith Powell.

I've heard rumors of you.
Apparently, you've become a good artisan.

Yes, I...

I'm sorry.

There's nothing to feel badly about.
You are free to do as you like.

Keith?

I was surprised to see you, Keith!

Mister Radcliffe suddenly
announced that we were coming here.

And I had been wondering about you.

You're not having any
sort of trouble, are you?

Are things with Challe all right?

Yes, we're managing.

What about all of you? How are Kat and Jonas?

Mister Hingley has returned to his own shop.

But...

it seems that Jonas
hasn't returned to his hometown.

No one has been able to
get in touch with him.

I see.

Oh, right!

Keith, what is this "selection" for the
Holy Beginnings Festival you were talking about?

Every year for the Holy Beginnings Festival,
in celebration of the coming year,

they set out sugar confections in
the Church of Saint Lewiston Bell, don't they?

Sample models of those
are created in advance...

and they decide which workshop
to entrust the work to.

Really?

It's a great honor to be chosen.

And if you deliver the pieces successfully,

the kingdom's religion pays 10,000 cress.

What?!

On top of which, that school becomes
popular and lots of commissions come in.

Oh, you have a guest?

A boyfriend?

Stop that.

I-It isn't like that! Please, don't say
such awful things to Keith!

I don't mind.

What?

I'm Keith Powell from the Radcliffe Workshop.

Oh! You're Powell?

Are you? Well, please spend
as much time as you like here.

Let's go.

Huh? But...

Um... Bye, then!

Why did they rush off?

They couldn't do otherwise.
To them, I'm a traitor.

A traitor?

When my father was with the Paige Workshop,
he became the Silver Sugar Viscount.

It brought vigor to this place.

And yet, when my father d*ed, they
thought I would join the Paige Workshop, too,

but I chose the Radcliffe Workshop.

When I did, a rumor went around, saying,
"Powell has given up on the Paige Workshop."

It caused artisans affiliated with
this place to go to other schools all at once.

Something like that happened?

But it wasn't that I'd given up
on the Paige Workshop.

I didn't want to be affected
by my father's influence.

I resisted the idea of
following in my father's footsteps

and joining this school, that's all.

I endured it while my
father held his position.

But I hated the idea of being called
Edward Powell's son even after his death.

I am Keith. I have a name, too.

Don't worry.

It isn't your fault that this workshop
has ended up this way, Keith.

Everyone here understands that.

It's just that their feelings
haven't quite caught up yet, that's all.

Once things have calmed down,
all their ill feelings will disappear.

Thank you, Anne.

If this place is rebuilt, then
Keith's sense of self-condemnation

and the artisans'
ill-feelings might all disappear.

I have to rebuild it.

Keith!

We're going!

Yes, sir!

Leaving already?

I wonder if Mister Radcliffe
is feeling pressured.

There's only half a month left
until the selection, after all.

The selection...

That's right! That's it!

What?

Thank you, Keith!

Um, I don't know what I've done...

but I will say you're very welcome.

That's it. If we win the selection,
then we'll become more popular,

and we'll get 10,000 cress, too.

The things that Mister Collins said,
and the things that keep nagging at me...

it could be that...

I have a request.

I want the Paige Workshop to participate
in this year's festival selection.

If we do, then perhaps
this workshop will, just like the old days—

No.

What?

We will not participate.

Embarking on a Challenge Once Again

Oh, but...

Sugar Confections in the Service of Others