01x03 - Cufflinks and a Music Box

[bunniefuu]

At last, the day of the
Sun Festival has arrived.

On this day, a celebration commemorating

the founding of the Ralt Kingdom
is held every year,

and nobles from across the kingdom
gather in a single hall.

The Duke's Son Claims He Won't Love Me,
But Showers Me with Adoration

The ceremony in the royal capital
really is amazing.

It made me so nervous.

Pardon me!

Big Sis! How have you been?

Hannes!

How was your tour of the castle?

I heard that you'll be employed
here starting next year.

I've just returned from paying
my respects to Prince Aleksis.

How are things for you?

You're not being bullied
or treated unfairly, are you?

Right now, I'm learning about the justice
system, so you can tell me anything!

And make sure that you
set some evidence aside.

I-I'm perfectly fine!
I'm being treated very well.

I've borrowed a corner of the garden
to make a vegetable plot,

and I sew with the household staff...

The other day, I even went to a tea party.

I wonder if she isn't spending
much time with Lord Julius.

It's a lovely day, befitting
a memorial like today.

The festival in town must be bustling!

I haven't gone out to anything other than
society tea parties for a while,

so this is fun!

Sister!

Since I'm here, let's go
and see the stalls in town!

Lord Julius was in a meeting
with Prince Aleksis.

It seemed like it was
going to take a while.

But...

If she's with me,
it should be fine, right?

Then, just for a little while.

Lord Julius!

Thank you for all your work leading
the organization of the ceremony.

Serafina.

You are as lovely as ever today.

Even among the flowers of the festival,
you shine quite strikingly.

Lord Julius!

Um, after this, my father
is hosting a soirée.

Could I persuade you to drop by?

After all, it is
the evening of the festival.

In terms of investigating Count
Parnilla's family's movements,

it would be best to attend, but...

If you're thinking of Lady Elsa,

I just saw her with a man,
heading into town.

As your wife seems to be
behaving with such abandon,

Lord Julius, you should also—

What part of town were
they headed toward?

I'm not certain where,
exactly, they were going.

Lord Julius?

I'm terribly sorry, but
I already have other plans today.

Now, if you'll excuse me.

What?

He turned me down?!

"From Elsa to Julius."

A present from his wife?

Where is Elsa?

Master?

Lady Elsa has gone to see the festival.

She's likely in
the plaza on the main street.

Don't tell me she actually
has gone with a man?

Master?

What am I doing?

This is a marriage of convenience.

My marriage to her began
as a mutually beneficial relationship.

Being a married couple is
only for outward appearances.

Whatever she may do, it isn't
supposed to matter to me...

and yet!

I found her!

Right now, I find myself
hoping I can trust you!

Elsa!

Husband?

You...

Who is this man?

Allow me to introduce you.
This is my younger brother, Hannes.

Hello, Lord Julius!

We didn't have time for leisurely
introductions at the wedding, did we?

H-Her brother?

I came today as a representative
for the Eukarainen family

and to take a tour of the palace.

Oh. Now that he mentions it...

Um...

Husband?

Oh, so that's it.

I'm...

Pardon... my abruptness.

No, I'm the one who's sorry for going out
without leaving you a message.

Are you here because of your work?

Not really.

What's this? So, he actually
does love my sister.

Then, would you like to join us?

They had mulled wine and
cheese gratin over there!

Oh!

It's almost curfew for the place
where I'm staying, so I have to go!

I completely forgot about it!

Is it already that time?

I'm staying nearby,
so I'll leave you to it.

Lord Julius.

Look after my sister, won't you?

See you later!

You and your brother
aren't much alike, are you?

You don't think so?

Back home, we were often
told that we are a lot alike.

While the public is largely
safe in the royal capital,

I'd rather you didn't walk around
without any attendants.

Oh, I wasn't thinking!
The festival looked like so much fun.

My apologies.

I was worried.

Also, I've finished my work for today.

Where can I buy one of those?

I'd like to try one, too.

Of course!

Let's go together!

It's delicious.

Husband, it appears that there is
something going on over there.

Would you like to go and see?

Yes.

Attending the festival with someone...

I had no idea it was so much fun.

Hmm?

My cufflink... It's gone.

I never imagined I'd be able to attend
the Sun Festival with my husband.

What a surprise!

Lady Elsa, I've brought some tea.

I see! Thank you!

Lady Elsa?

Oh! It's Lord Julius.

Being able to see him must mean
that today's our lucky day!

The only son of the ducal house of Royas,

he is a personal aide to the crown
prince of the Ralt Kingdom,

an elite amongst elites.

Add to that his handsome good looks,

and even now, after his marriage, women
continue to approach him, and yet...

Crown Prince Aleksis, and Lord Jere, too!

That very same man has been
marching though the palace,

displaying some very odd behavior.

While we're on the topic,

please don't use this as an excuse
to evade your duties.

Still, even with all the commotion,
he doesn't appear to have noticed us.

That's unusual.

Yes, it's quite intriguing, isn't it?

I can't find the cufflink.

I must have dropped it
either inside the palace

or at the festival around the plaza.

I've searched so much.
Why can't I find it?

Should I give up and
tell her I've lost it?

Husband?

May I have a moment of your time?

Elsa, has something happened?

I wanted to discuss something with you.

This dispirited expression...

Has she realized
that I've lost a cufflink?

It's about this music box.

Music box?

I was wrong.

Through my own inattention,
it fell and broke.

This is a personal treasure of mine,

so I'd like to go into town and
look for someone who can repair it.

I see.

In that case, allow me to introduce you
to a repair shop that has helped me.

Really?

Thank you so much, Husband!

Maybe it would be better
to talk about the cufflink later.

Repair will be difficult.

I don't have a spare part on hand
to replace what was broken.

Both the inside and the outside are
of a make I've never seen before.

I'm certain this wasn't made
in the Ralt Kingdom, yes?

It isn't from the Ralt Kingdom?

If only I were a little more responsible.

Elsa.

It's a shame, isn't it?

But all things will someday break,

and this is all due to my own
carelessness to begin with,

so please don't let it bother you.

You like sweet things, don't you?

I do!

Good.

Husband, what...

I am truly sorr—

A waffle?

About that music box...

Will you entrust it to me
for a little while?

Of course.

Oh, this is...

This is from the Nation of Liberum.

I see. The country adjacent
to the Eukarainen dukedom.

I studied abroad there briefly
to gain more knowledge of the world,

and I remember seeing
construction like this at the time.

Would it possible to contact
a repairman in Liberum?

I'd like to have this music box repaired.

Is it important in some way?

Some sort of bargaining chip?

No, it's... Apparently,
my wife treasures it.

I see. Then, do as you see fit!

Please stop looking so enthusiastic.

Still, it's truly rare for you
to make a personal request.

Julius, it wasn't you
who broke it, was it?

No, it wasn't.

Then, tell me your reasons.

There's something
I want to apologize for,

and you might say this is,
in part, to make up for that.

What could it be?

You lost the first present
your wife ever gave you?

If it were my wife, we'd definitely
get into an argument over that.

And really, if you don't apologize
quickly, she'll end up hating you.

I'm only joking.

On the day of our wedding,
I imperiously declared

that even though we're married,
I have no intention of loving her.

And yet, from the very next day,
she's treated me as family.

On my birthday,

she celebrated it as though it was
the most natural thing in the world,

and she gave me a present.

Julius.

I may have ordered you to marry,

but I never ordered you
to be married only for show.

I thought he'd lost
the ability to love anyone,

but this is heading
in a very good direction.

After going to the repair shop,

my husband took
the music box away with him.

I wonder if he ended up disposing of it.

Should I have told him that even if
it's broken, I'd like to keep it with me?

Since then, Lord Julius has been away
for work, inspecting a different region.

I wasn't able to ask him
where my music box had gone.

Oh! In my daze, I've accidentally
dug outside the garden plot!

Elsa.

So this is where you've been.

Husband!

Welcome home.

I'm sorry it took me so long.

Is this...

Oh, I see now.

The tune you hum from
time to time was from this.

This is something passed down
to my mother from my grandparents.

Perhaps it's because, when I was a child,

I pestered my parents
to let me listen to it;

so when I moved to this estate,
they were kind enough to give it to me.

I'm so glad.

You've finally smiled.

Also, I brought this gift for you.

Oh, it's lovely and...

Could it be that you went to that other
region in order to have this repaired?

Something like that.

You didn't have to go to all that trouble.

May I put this in your hair?

Yes!

Just as I thought, it suits you very well.

Master!

So this is where you were.

You're dining with others after this,
so we must make preparations.

I'm aware.

Husband! Thank you.

Travel safely.

I will. I'll be going now.

Elsa.

That music box is our treasure.

Elsa, one day, you will also...

together with your beloved...

I hope you'll be able to
listen to this song together.

For some reason, my face feels hot.

Now... When shall I send it?