01x05 - The Villainess and the Villainess Test

[bunniefuu]

[ALICIA] I'd say I pulled off

one stunningly evil debut.

The heroine preached

her foolish dreams,

but I promptly shot her down.

♪

[ALICIA]

I showed everyone the flaws

in her foolish, flowery,

"all-people-should-be-friends"

idealism.

[footsteps approaching]

[indistinct chatter]

[MALE STUDENT]

That's Alicia Williams.

[FEMALE STUDENT 1]

She's the nasty girl

who bullied Miss Liz.

[FEMALE STUDENT 2] She took

advantage of her kindness!

[ALICIA]

And I'm already hated enough

to cause unrest

in our peaceful little school.

[scoffs]

[growls]

Why does everyone have to act

like Liz Cather is

so freaking perfect?

[GILL] She thinks

she's smart enough

to change the world

but she was just sitting around

having a tea party

chatting about nothing!

[ALICIA] This only means

it'll take a bit longer

to guide her

to where she needs to be.

In other words,

my bad name will

spread even further!

I'm going to become

the greatest villainess ever!

[GILL]

Okay.

But we should

hurry home for now.

I had better get my homework

and review out of the way

if we're going

to Roana tonight.

[chuckles softly]

That's one industrious

villainess.

[footsteps receding]

♪

[insects chirping]

[ALICIA]

Rebecca,

have you surveyed

the villagers as I asked?

Yes, as we thought,

the negativity is overwhelming.

[REBECCA] Some of the more

violent ones even said that

if they ever make it

out of the village,

they'll pillage and plunder

everything in sight.

[ALICIA]

Rebecca,

remember that your own safety

comes first, okay?

[ALICIA]

If you find yourself in danger,

you won't exactly

be able to run away.

[REBECCA]

Oh, I'll be fine.

Everybody knows

I've got you backing me up.

And they're scared of you!

They're not gonna try anything.

[ALICIA]

Wow, that makes me sound

like a real villainess!

[chuckles softly]

Besides, there is some hope!

[REBECCA] Almost everyone in

this village now was born here,

so they all assumed

leaving was impossible,

and gave up on changing things.

[REBECCA]

But now,

someone who would have died

under normal circumstances

is alive.

And that person is trying

to get something started

among the villagers.

It seems like,

at the very least,

that's making people

stop and think,

"well, just maybe."

The ball is rolling

and we can't afford

to let it stop, you know?

We have so much momentum.

[REBECCA]

If anyone brings change,

it'll be the villagers

themselves, right?

But none of them

seem to believe

that I'm their savior,

just so you're aware.

[ALICIA]

That's odd.

I thought

that would be a slam dunk.

[REBECCA]

So,

from the outside looking in,

do you really believe

there's a chance this village

could ever be set free?

[WILL]

Hmm.

Public interest is growing

considerably out there.

Liz's influence

can't be denied.

But, of course,

we're not yet at a stage

where we can take

any specific action.

Remember

change of this magnitude

is never going

to happen overnight.

Don't feel the need

to rush anything.

-[ALICIA] Right.

-[REBECCA] Right.

Alicia,

I do have a favor to ask.

Go on.

Correct me if I'm wrong

but the outside world

must have crops

that we could grow

here in Roana.

When you come back

would you bring

some to share with us?

Not a chance.

[REBECCA]

Huh?

Why in the world should I have

to be the one to do that?

Villainesses don't give

handouts, you know.

Well, I suppose not, but

Though, I admit, I am curious.

I wonder how the village

would change

with more self-sufficiency.

[REBECCA]

Huh?

[whispering loudly] Rebecca,

she wants you to negotiate!

Oh!

I'll report that to you, too!

If that's okay?

Hmm.

Certainly.

[ALICIA]

You're starting to understand!

[birds chirping]

Hey, still going on

about Roana?

A written proposal, eh?

[Gill growls]

[HENRI]

Hm?

[scribbling]

You're going through

an awful lot of trouble.

[scribbling]

[ALICIA]

Brother Henri,

are you here alone?

It occurs to me

that I haven't seen you

with Brother Alan

very often as of late.

[chuckles]

[HENRI] I've put

some distance between us.

-[GILL] Hm?

-[ALICIA] Hm?

We've been inseparable

ever since we were born,

so I was always positive

that I knew him

better than

anybody else ever could.

Only, since we entered

the Academy,

it's "Liz this, Liz that,"

no matter what we do.

[HENRI] Suddenly

I don't know him at all.

And then she said to me

♪

[chuckles]

It's all right, Henri.

You and Alan don't have

to think the same way.

All you need to do is be you

because that alone

makes you irreplaceable.

[HENRI]

I felt like she saved me,

like she had poured cool water

down my parched throat.

Okay, so what?

You came here

just to ramble at me

about how great she is?

[HENRI] Not at all.

The opposite actually.

-[GILL] Hm?

-Really?

[HENRI]

When you and Liz debated

over her essay

in the rose garden,

I thought what you said

was right on the money.

It irritated me that

everyone else said

you were just picking a fight.

♪

It's true that her logic

is a bit naive, isn't it?

♪

[HENRI] It made me feel

like I didn't understand him,

not only as my twin,

but as a person.

Ever since

I've preferred to keep

my distance from Liz

and her entourage.

And that's what

you came here to say?

Yes.

I thought I'd better

show my hand before asking you.

Alicia,

what exactly are you planning?

Hmm.

I know you went out of your way

to clash with Liz like that.

You must have

had a reason for it.

[chuckles softly]

Not at all.

Still won't tell me, eh?

Well, I'll give up on asking

for the time being

but I'm not buying

that innocent act.

[HENRI] I'm sure I'll see you

clash again before long.

You're both invited

to the king's next tea party.

[birds chirping]

[ALBERT]

Now, listen, Alicia.

Huh?

Do try not to speak

out of turn.

You needn't worry about me.

Hmph!

[ALICIA]

King or no king,

this is no ordinary tea party.

[ALICIA]

It's an event from the game

known as the "Saint Test."

Answering questions correctly

rewards the player

with Saint points in-game.

Canonically,

the villainess wasn't

even invited to attend.

And yet, here I am.

♪

[door creaks open]

[ALICIA] So this is also

a Villainess Test,

and a test of how I'm doing

as her watcher!

[both laughing]

-[HENRI] Henri!

-[ALAN] Alan!

[both grunt]

[both grunt]

-[ALAN] Alan.

[HENRI] Henri.

Albert, hi!

Alan, Henri.

[LIZ]

Oh, my!

Even dear Alicia

is with us today!

My Lady.

Good day to you, Miss Liz.

How unfortunate for you

that I'm here!

Not at all!

[LIZ]

I'm delighted!

[groans]

You ladies are quite

the mystery, if I may say.

Are you friends or enemies?

It's impossible to tell!

Oh, we're great friends!

Nothing could be

further from the truth.

Finn, we agreed

we weren't talking to her.

[LUKE]

Ah, I see you're all here.

[GALE]

Your Majesty!

We are humbled by

your invitation this afternoon.

Please, no need for all that.

It's a simple tea party.

[LUKE] I merely wish to express

my gratitude to all of you

for your kindness

to my dear Duke.

Just relax

and make yourselves at home.

[ALICIA] This has to be

the least relaxing tea party

of all time.

Thank you so much,

Your Majesty!

[ALICIA]

Smiling like that

when she's seated

closer to the king

than the highest nobles' sons.

She does have a heroine's

nerves of steel, I suppose.

In the regular game

the only way you could

unlock the true ending

was to totally

ace the Saint Test.

But I couldn't get

the goody-two-shoes

"correct" answers,

so I was never able to do it.

Hmm.

Other than the attendance

of the villainess,

it's playing out

just like in the game.

The "conquerable options"

are present and accounted for.

[ALICIA] And my brothers

ended up hating me,

it's a bit sad

but no way around it.

I knew it was coming.

Hmm.

[ALICIA]

The only one of my brothers

who doesn't hate me is Henri.

But that's weird.

Master Gale

and Master Eric, here.

They're acting

the same as in the game.

[ALICIA]

Master Finn and Master Curtis

are behaving as expected, too.

Inoffensively friendly,

keeping both me and Liz

at a safe distance.

[ALICIA]

But

Hm?

[gasps]

[ALICIA] The one who's acting

the weirdest is Prince Duke!

In the game,

the only one he smiles at

is the heroine!

He was consistently

cold toward Alicia!

As a matter of fact,

that's supposed to fuel

the villainess's hatred

of the heroine!

It's just different enough

that I feel confident

confirming it.

[ALICIA]

This Saint Test

is really a Villainess Test!

I can't rely

on the canon for this one.

[LUKE]

Oh, Alicia,

do you remember

three years ago,

when you managed to predict

the economic downfall of Duran?

[ALICIA]

The what?

Three years ago.

[gasps]

[ALICIA] He's talking about

when I snuck into the academy!

Can't believe

my little blackboard scribbles

made it all the way up

to the King.

[LUKE] Things in Duran

have been proceeding

just as you foresaw.

I was shocked

that you were able

to make such a judgment

at that age.

You mean to say that

Duran has gone bankrupt?

But their economic measures

were working.

[ALICIA]

Their production capacity

and purchase capacity

were at odds.

-[ALL] Hmm!

-Oh!

The measures

from four years ago

that Liz speaks of

were a stopgap.

Anyone could have guessed

three years ago

that they would

reach their limit.

Assuming

everything will be resolved

without bothering to look ahead

is a weak point of yours.

Isn't it, Liz?

[all grunt]

♪

[ALICIA] This is definitely

a test of me as her watcher.

It's a completely

different topic

than the one in the game.

I'll show them!

[ALICIA] If Duran

has collapsed financially

we of Durkis cannot simply

write that off as irrelevant.

What is your opinion, Liz?

I think we should

form an alliance with them.

With a bankrupt nation, really?

What would we gain from that?

It's sad that all you see is

what we stand to gain or lose.

[LIZ] Truly helping someone

requires sincerity.

[ALICIA] If sincerity was

enough to help,

they wouldn't have gone

bankrupt in the first place.

I guess.

All you're doing

is negating her!

Let's hear your opinion, then!

Well, let me see.

With Duran in

its weakened condition,

we should make it

a vassal state.

You mean we should conquer it?

How cruel!

[ALL]

Hm. Hm.

[HENRI]

Hm?

[ALICIA] What our kingdom

needs to be careful of now

is not

the small nation of Duran,

but our rival country, Laval.

Do you understand me?

It's true that our nation

would gain very little

from taking over Duran,

but we stand to lose

a great deal if Laval takes it.

That's true.

My father was saying

that anxiety is rising

near our border with Laval.

It's getting tense up there.

[gasps]

But what about how the people

of Duran might feel?

Prioritizing a neighboring

nation's happiness is foolish

if we're putting ourselves

in danger to do it.

You think?

Is there nothing

we can do for them?

Yes, of course, there is.

Why don't you try

using your head for once?

[ALICIA]

What they need

isn't temporary aid

from another nation.

That won't fix anything.

They need economic recovery

within their own borders.

For example,

turning a profit by exporting

some of their

local specialties.

Duran is quite famous

for its potatoes!

Although,

they're not the same type

as the ones

we grow here at home,

so foreign demand

for them is low.

[LIZ]

I know!

Why couldn't

they make modifications

to add to their value?

If the whole country

produces them

then the profits should be

that much greater!

That's a great idea, Liz!

Yes!

She's done it again!

Thank you so much, gentlemen!

[chuckles softly]

[chuckles]

How wonderful to have

such brilliant youths

among my subjects.

[LUKE]

You do your king proud.

[ALICIA]

Well, that's good.

I think it's safe to say

I passed the

Villainess/Watcher Test.

[ALICIA]

That was utterly exhausting.

I can't wait to get home.

The moment the king left,

the entire party was

all about Liz, Liz, Liz.

I can't deal with that.

[footsteps approaching]

[ALICIA] Did I pass through

this part of the castle

when I arrived?

Paintings of the royal family.

Huh?

Where did this one go?

Huh?

[ALICIA] That looks

just like Prince Duke

when I first met him.

But his skin's

a different color,

so it can't be him.

[ALICIA]

This man looks familiar, too.

[DUKE]

That's a painting of my father

with his brother

from many years ago.

[ALICIA]

Prince Duke.

[chuckles softly]

You're right,

I take after my father.

And all I got from Mother

was just my complexion.

[ALICIA]

He had an older brother

but the younger brother

is on the throne now.

Probably not something

to bring up lightly.

[DUKE] Allow me to accompany

you to the exit.

[gasps]

Are you sure you wouldn't

rather stay in there with Liz?

Ah, I'll bet you came

to keep an eye on me!

Make sure

I don't do something bad.

No, you're just lost.

The exit is this way.

[chuckles nervously]

[groans softly]

♪

What's wrong?

Am I walking

too quickly for you?

No.

[ALICIA] In the game,

the only one the prince

smiles at is the heroine.

♪

[DUKE]

Here.

[ALICIA]

But

this smile doesn't seem fake.

He means it.

[chuckles softly]

[grunts]

[grunts]

[grunts]

Every day.

That's dedication.

You're originally from Roana,

aren't you?

Maybe, why?

Hang on, really?

Huh, were you testing me?

Sort of.

In the rose garden

you and Ali

both gave the impression

that you were strangely

attached to Roana's well-being,

so I thought you might be.

I don't like being tricked.

You're Gill, aren't you?

You're scared of everyone

except Alicia.

[HENRI] It's written

all over your face.

Shut up!

Go away and mind

your own business, okay?

[HENRI] You're going

to be her weakness.

What?

You want to stay with her,

don't you?

Then hide your emotions

or you'll be used.

Oh, yeah?

Why are you telling me this?

She really hates Liz.

She's going to keep

picking fights with her

over the tiniest things.

Having someone clever

who can hold her back

will do her a world of good.

Whatever.

[ALICIA]

Hardly.

It isn't that I hate her,

that's far too personal.

Oh, what then?

[ALICIA] I can't tell him

about the whole watcher thing.

Hmm.

I'll fill you in,

dearest brother of mine.

My dream has always been

to become a villainess!

Standing in the way of someone

as perfect and popular as Liz

makes me feel good!

I find it rewarding.

Villainess.

Indeed!

What's that look?

Quit it.

[Henri laughs]

[ALICIA]

Hey, don't laugh at me!

I think

it's a natural response.

[carriage rumbling]

[Henri laughs]

No one ever told me

my own little sister

had such a great

sense of humor!

You're really funny!

-I am entirely serious!

-Hmm.

Well, if you really want

to stand in someone's way.

Liz is the one to pick.

If we were characters

in a storybook right now,

she would be

the protagonist for sure.

She's special, isn't she?

[HENRI] Words seem

a little more meaningful

when they're coming

out of her mouth.

The most mundane observations

sound like salvation.

To be quite honest,

I never thought

"goody-two-shoes" girls

like her were my type,

but I was smitten

with her anyway.

Hey, is there any chance

that it could be magic?

[ALICIA]

Hmm.

[ALICIA]

Interesting.

Even if she is the Saint

the way everything

works out in her favor

does look a little

You think

she manipulated my mind?

I can't say that's very likely.

[HENRI] There is magic

that can temporarily

manipulate a person's mind

but meddling with them

long-term?

That just isn't realistic.

Is that true?

Even I don't know

every kind of magic

that exists out in the world,

so it could be written

in some ancient grimoire.

[ALICIA]

I haven't read the ones

that are written

in ancient languages yet.

Wait a second,

you don't really

suspect it's magic?

I know that I said

she's not my type,

but any guy would fall

for a girl who looks like her.

Sorry, did I say something

I shouldn't have?

No, no, it's quite all right.

[birds chirping]

[water gurgling]

[ALICIA]

Even I don't believe

that Liz is secretly evil

and manipulating people.

Her superficial,

innocent behavior

is straight from the game,

and it's only natural that

people would love

such a nice girl.

But maybe

she's not as identical

to the game's heroine

as I think.

I should know

better than anyone

that deviance from

the core game is possible.

Canon Alicia

acted like a big shot,

but when her own

lack of talent was exposed,

she was driven off.

[ALICIA] I wanted to be a much

more powerful villainess,

so I've polished my strength.

Henri and Alan

were never seen apart,

for any reason.

Duke is only supposed

to be nice to the heroine.

And Roana was

only ever mentioned,

never explored.

This is the world of the game

but so much is different.

[GILL]

Alicia, run!

-[GILL] Let me go!

-Damn!

Hold still, brat!

[ALICIA]

Gill!

[grunts]

[Alicia gasps]

Where am I?

[ALICIA]

A storage shed?

Huh?!

[gasps]

[ALICIA] I was knocked out

and kidnapped!

The villainess was

never kidnapped in the game,

so what gives?

[gasps]

Huh, look who's up.

[groans softly]

[ALICIA]

Gill!

[whimpering]