01x09 - The Radcliffe Workshop

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I've got a question for you, Xiao Xiao, about girls.

Do you prefer when their hair is down and flowing free,

or do you think it's nicer when they tie it back?

Come on, don't ignore me. Just say something.

Anything. You're a pain. What? I said to say anything.

But I didn't mean anything. You have

to give me a serious answer.

It was a ridiculous question, and I refuse

to glorify it with an answer. Hey, look up there.

It's Lewiston at last. It's been so long.

A whole year. Now there is the exhibition, then the Duke's castle.

I sent off Mama's spirit on Paul's Soul Day.

What's wrong, Scarecrow? Huh? You look like you have a fever. What?

No, I'm fine. He's still calling me Scarecrow, as usual.

I guess he's a little nicer these days.

Oh, well, for now, the fact that he's by my side is enough.

Hey, watch where you're leading your horse. Are you crazy?

Mr. Cat and Benjamin. I specifically told

you not to refer to me that way.

Or don't you remember? You birdbrained fool.

I'm sorry. Shameful. I haven't seen you in a full year.

And yet this is how you greet me.

Long time no see. Lewiston gets cold in the fall.

I thought cats tried to stay out

of cold weather preparing to hibernate. Mr. Cat. What?

Why you? No, no. I'm sure you

didn't come to Lewiston just to argue

with Shel. What are you doing here?

Why would you ask that? This here is different.

If I skip this, I couldn't do

business next year, could I? Huh?

Seriously, are you not aware? Not aware of what?

Oh, those insufferable tightwads. I shouldn't even be surprised at this point.

Let's go talk at my usual place.

Oh, it's been a while. I didn't know you all were acquainted.

Believe it or not, I'm friendly sometimes.

So, miss, what have you been doing

this past year? Is your work going?

Well, yes. We spent the winter here in Lewiston.

Then we traveled to some little towns and villages selling sugar confections.

It sounds like you've been busy then.

Have you come back to enter the exhibition?

Yes. Time really does fly. Proprietress. Be right there.

Wow. So, Kat, what's going on, huh?

Let me ask you something. You traveled a lot this year,

and you must have seen the sugar

apple trees along the way. Did you notice anything odd?

Actually, yes. On every tree we saw,

the flowers had set poorly for some reason.

That probably means the harvest will be lighter this time, right?

That's right. The crop is awful this year. Unbelievably awful.

Normally, everyone's free to harvest as they please,

but this time the scarcity would probably cause conflicts.

So hoping to circumvent that, the dimwitted

reprobate came up with an answer.

Reprobate Hugh Mercury. The Silver Sugar Viscount. Remember?

Oh, right. Silly me. So what did he say?

This year, individuals can't harvest their own sugar apples,

and the same policy goes for refining them too.

So we're not allowed. Instead, all the sugar

apples in the kingdom will be harvested

in the name of the Silver Sugar

Viscount, and then they'll be refined.

Only sugar artisans who help with the

refining will be given Silver Sugar.

They'll receive an amount that's reflective of how much work they did.

So if we need some silver sugar,

can't we just ask Hugh if he can spare some?

I'm afraid it isn't that simple. He did make the decree,

but the one who holds the monopoly here.

It's the Radclyffe School. I'll explain. You see,

there are Radcliffe workshops all over the kingdom.

Each one's already gathered all the sugar apples in their area.

Artisans from the Page and Mercury Schools

are meeting up in their workshops to help with the refining process,

and there's no other way to obtain Silver Sugar.

I think I understand, but I haven't heard anything about it.

Well, you should have. According to that reprobates orders,

Radcliffe should have spread the news around

and they were supposed to make it known

to all artisans, even to wanderers like us.

They chose not to tell us. They are relentless.

They're constantly harassing her, telling her to get

out of town. It never ends.

Which is why I said they were petty tightwads. Earlier,

I've heard the talk near the famous sugar artisan Anne Hallford,

who crafted that piece for Duke Allburn.

Of course, they're jealous of you, and now

they're trying to punish you for your success.

Then tell me something. If I wanted

to enter the exhibition for this year,

what would I need to do exactly?

You're supposed to use silver sugar that you refined

for yourself or they won't let you compete.

So what do they expect everyone to do?

They didn't tell you that part either, of course.

If you want to take part in the exhibition,

then for a brief period of time

you will stay at the Radcliffe workshop.

They'll supply you with some sugar apples

which you can refine for your pieces under their supervision, of course.

That being said, you do have to assist

in the greater refining process as well.

There's no time. True, you'll only get

to do your personal work at night.

So everyone who was planning to compete

began their stay at the workshop over two weeks ago.

This was going to be the year

that I became a silver sugar master

so I could make a sugar confection worthy of the festivities.

No, I refuse to let something like this get in my way.

All right, then. It would appear I need

to go visit the Radcliffe workshop.

What are you to think? Will you join me?

Of course I will. I did see

to the depths of the underworld, didn't I?

I'll go too. After all, you're a

fool. You shouldn't be left alone.

Sounds like it's all settled. I'll guide you there.

But nothing more. If you're a true artisan,

then you'll have to overcome this challenge on your own.

Right. I suppose we'll let you lead us for now, Mr. Cat.

I told you, stop calling me Mr. Cat.

Everything within these walls belongs to the Radcliffe workshop.

That's amazing.

All right. If you could

just sign this on that desk over there.

Hey, I'd like to help as well.

Oh, of course. Let's see. Your name is an R.

Just great. Do you know him? We have a history.

Hey, Jonas. It's rude to keep people waiting.

Please excuse him. I'm Sammy Jones, and I'm in charge of reception.

You're the famed Silver Sugar master, Alf Hingley, I believe.

I'm quite familiar. All we need is your signature right here.

And then I'll show you to your room.

Oh, don't mind me. The person standing

behind me is the one you'll be dealing

with. And what do you want?

I'm here to help out with the refining of the silver sugar.

You see, sir, I am entering the sugar Confectionery exhibition.

What? You a girl? Oh, right. I know the type.

You just call yourself an artisan, but you

can't make a decent confection to save your life.

Our workshop is for real craftsmen, not for silly little girls.

But I am a real sugar artisan.

In fact, I have a formal endorsement.

And who's it from? Your mom. The former Duke of Phylax.

So you're the infamous Anne Hallford.

I see. You're the one who set

Jonas up at the competition last year.

Rumor has it you seduced the Silver Sugar Viscount.

You must have done sordid things to gain

favor from the Duke of Felix as well.

How dare.. You? Regardless of who you are,

you won't be granted access. Why not?

And you've a companion fairy. We have

a strict policy that only labor fairies

and those involved in the refinement process are allowed to stay.

So we won't even consider letting you

in until you go and sell that thing.

Shell's not a companion fairy. It's the rule.

Now get out of here. Clean yourself up before you try again.

Sammy, that's enough of your rudeness. Oh, Keith, I was just.

You're tarnishing the name of the Radcliffe workshop.

So I suggest you be quiet before I get upset.

Who are you?

My associate was terribly rude. Forgive him.

Keith Powell. I'm a sugar artisan. Greetings.

It's nice to meet you. I'm in Hallford.

Hey there, Powell. I didn't know you did

business with the Radcliff School. Mr. Higley. What a treat.

Look, Keith, this young lady has a companion ferry with her.

We can't allow them inside. The rules

say that. I told you..

He's not a companion. He's a warrior type.

My goodness. How striking. I've never seen one this beautiful.

Say, Anne, I don't suppose there's any

chance you'd want to relinquish him?

Oh, no. Charles doesn't belong to me.

He's my friend. He just stays by my side

because it makes me so happy.

If that's the case, there is a way

you two can enter the workshop together.

This year, I'm competing in the Sugar Confectionery exhibition.

And to make my piece, I'll need a model.

Model, so.. I will have to borrow him occasionally.

That qualifies him to stay. If you approve.

Borrow him. He's not a possession. He's.

That's fine. Show us the papers. But, Shell.

It's just a trivial inconvenience. You want me with you?

Uh huh.

Mm.

We'll do it.

Now this building is where the artisans stay.

Most of them sleep in the same room.

Silver sugar masters or those who have

the equivalent skill get private rooms based on the school master's discretion.

And this room is just for you. Wait, I get it. Private room.

We wouldn't expect a young lady to

share her quarters with everyone else.

Then this is where I stay. Let

me know if you need anything more. What is this? Great.

Ha ha ha. Ha ha ha.

What's wrong? Keith has a private room as well,

so his skills must be worthy of it.

Unlike that braggart, Jonas, he's so arrogant.

And Keith seems to know Cat from some other place.

Oh, dear. You remind me of a squirrel. Really?

That's a lot cuter than a scarecrow.

You're frantic. Just like a squirrel that's

darting around in search of its food.

I should have known that was it.

Let's see. When I look more grown up, if my hair was down,

which way would shall think was prettier.

Trying to break the mirror with your mind?

No. I was checking on my hair, that's all. Is it all right?

It's the same as always. No issues.

Um. Shell. Do you think.. It looks better for hair to be?

Be what?

Never mind. It's not important. I have to go.

I'm asking the same questions as Mithra led Pod.

It's time to start working as hard as I can. All right.

Anne. Good morning. Hello there. Keith. Are you starting your work now?

Oh, no. I'm off today. Every seven days,

one of us gets a day off.

So I was hoping you might let me borrow Shell.

Look, Keith. I told you, Shell's not

an object I can lend.. Out.

Oh, right. You made it clear that he was

a treasured friend of yours. I chose my words poorly.

It's fine. Oh, I wanted to thank

you for yesterday. You really saved me.

Though I don't understand why you're being so kind to me.

You're an artisan who's been recognized by the Duke of Felax himself.

I have no reason to treat you poorly. Also.

But I get the sense you and I are similar.

What do you mean? Well, your mother's

name was Emma Helford, correct? You've heard of her?

Yes. In fact, I met Madame Hallford

when I was only about or years old.

I was surprised to find out there

was a woman. Silver Sugar master.

You meant mama.

You see, I'm the son of Edward Powell.

Silver Sugar master. Just like your mother.

Wait a minute. Edward Powell. Right. Previous Viscount.

Indeed. Thanks to him, I met a lot

of silver sugar masters, including Alf Hingley.

My mother told me he was a wonderful

silver sugar viscount who served for over years.

And if I recall, about six months before Mama passed away.

Sickness took him. He may well have been wonderful,

but I wouldn't have known that.

Back when my father was Viscount,

there was a year like this where

the sugar apple harvest was lacking.

Apparently there was a great deal of chaos.

My father always regretted that year.

I believe your father came from the Page school. Isn't that right?

So why are you with the Radcliffe School?

Because if I'd enrolled with Paige, they'd

have given me special treatment. Since I'm Paul's son.

I hated that idea. So I came

here where I'd be just like any other artisan.

That's what I thought, at least. But it's not all that different.

I respected my father, but my situation

was terribly restrictive and I couldn't participate

in the exhibition as long as he was alive.

Why not? Because if I had received the royal medal,

the critics would have spread gossip about me.

They'd say the royal family favoured me because

I was the son of the Silver Sugar Viscount,

and if I hadn't won, they'd have

judged me for failing in spite of who my father was.

I couldn't risk his reputation. But the mourning period is over,

which means as of this year, I should be

able to compete in the exhibition.

Huh? Anyway, I thought I'd work on my piece for a bit.

Today is Shall in your room. Yes. If you ask him, then I'm

sure he'll be glad to help you. Excellent. Well, then, good luck.

Keith isn't letting his circumstances hold him back from doing his best.

So I can't either. I won't let him b*at me.

I'm sorry for the early hour. I did make

a promise, so I'll keep it.

Shall I do a trick? Take off my clothes?

Perhaps. Give your orders, boy. Quickly.

Boy. All right. It appears we're about the same age, though.

Could you go stand by that window there? That should be great.

I want to get a good sense of your air and appearance.

It's too bad for Anne. She just got here,

and the rest of us already refined all the sugar we need.

I hope she prepared ahead of time.

Not at all. In fact, your school

mates neglected to tell her what happened this year. Lucky you.

They didn't tell her. Selfish cowards, the lot of them.

It's downright disgraceful. That upsets me.

But I'm glad that Ann is entering the exhibition anyway.

If it were only the artisans from here,

I wouldn't have any competition to speak of.

Rumor has it the Royal Medal is going to Sammy this time.

But if you ask me, he isn't even worth a mention.

Jonas is capable enough, but his work is missing a crucial element.

I've been waiting for an opponent with equal skill.

So she's going to make it worthwhile for me.

Also. This is probably the only time

I'll get to compete against Anne at the exhibition.

This year will be Anne's final chance.

It is a great honour for me.

It's her final chance. That's right. If she

can't become a silver sugar master this time.

Then she can never become one.

Everyone's too jealous of her.

There was last year's contest. Then all

that business involving the former Duke of Phylax.

Even if this had been a normal

year when artisans could harvest their own sugar apples,

they still would have hindered her in some way.

I'd say this was a stroke of good

fortune because working with us will guarantee her some silver sugar.

But it won't happen again. This way.

She'll never be able to get the supplies she needs.

That said, you mustn't tell her. I don't

want her to feel that additional pressure.

I'd rather compete with her fairly.