01x08 - Gokai to Fujitsu

[bunniefuu]

That's all for today.

All of you learn things so quickly.
You're amazing!

Let's all keep working
hard together, all right?

Yes, ma'am!

Ms. Elsa, will you
bring treats for us again?

Stop that!

Of course I will, Oliver.

But let's have our snacks after we've
worked hard at our studies, all right?

Yes, ma'am.

Lady Elsa, thank you so much, truly.

Not at all.
I'm glad that I can be of help.

Still, it would be nice to have more
notebooks and quills and things, yes?

Professor Elsa!

Come play with us!

Yes, of course I will!

Yay! Let's play hide and seek!

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

I've started serving as a teacher
at the children's home,

but I simply haven't been able to
talk to my husband about it.

It's gotten very late.

But the children certainly
were adorable again today.

There are those who are
good at calculations...

those who are good at reading books...

those who draw lovely pictures...

To help them improve in what they're
good at and accommodate where they lack...

I really would like to separate them
by skill level and teach them that way.

I haven't found the right time before now,

but tonight, I'll be sure to
consult with my husband about it.

Oh dear!

I-I'm so sorry!

Lord Jarmo!

You're not hurt, are you, Lady Elsa?

I'm so sorry. I wasn't
paying enough attention.

Not at all.

Are you out alone today?

Yes. Actually, I'm teaching at
a children's home at a church near here.

A children's home?

Then, you're a teacher for
children you have no relation to?

Lady Elsa, you're quite
the philanthropist.

Oh no, not really.

I enjoy playing with
the children, that's all.

I believe your lady wife is at either
the gardening shop or the church.

I see. Thank you.

She seems to be going out
quite often of late.

I wonder if it's the season
to transplant vegetables.

Look at how much I was
able to harvest, Husband!

I wonder if Elsa will be
surprised if I say,

"I finished work early,
so I came to pick you up."

Husband! What brings you here?

Els—

Jarmo?

Why is he with Elsa?

I hate this.

Would you please choose
your partners more prudently?

What about you?
Stop bringing men into this house.

I hate this!

- I hate this!

- I hate this!

There, I've removed
the scrap of paper, Lady Elsa.

Thank you. I'm so embarrassed.

I was playing with the children, you see?

It's starting to get dark.
I'll walk you to the carriage stand.

That's very kind. Thank you.

By the way, does Julius know that
you're working as a teacher, Lady Elsa?

Actually, I haven't been able to
speak with him about it yet.

I just haven't found the right moment.

I see.

After hearing that report,
I decided to see it for myself.

These two appear to be a friendly
married couple, and yet...

as I thought, there's
something that feels amiss.

Why was Jarmo with Elsa?

Is it for the Parnilla family?

Did he approach Elsa
to get information about me?

If so, I have to assign guards
to Elsa to protect her.

But, if...

if Elsa herself wants to see Jarmo...

if they've seen each other
before now, too...

then I...

Husband, I'm sorry I'm home so late.

Do you need something?

What will you do for dinner?

If you're tired, I can
bring you a light meal.

Unnecessary.
I don't need anything tonight.

As you wish.

I'm worried.

I hope my husband isn't
overly tired from his work.

Or could it be...

Have I made another clumsy
blunder of some kind?

I wonder if I've caused my husband
trouble in some way.

I thought my husband and I had
grown a little closer, but...

What is it? What is it that I've done?

All right.

After last night's exchange, I haven't
been able to speak with my husband,

so I'll make certain
to do so at breakfast.

Good morning!

Good morning!

If you could, please use these.

Lady Elsa...

Lord Julius had to be at work
early, so he's already left.

Oh, he did?

Then, I suppose
I harvested a little too much.

It's all right.
Why don't we pickle them in salt?

If you would, please.

Lady Elsa?

Will you be going to
the garden again after this?

Yes.

But it will be cold today.

Touching the earth makes me feel calmer.

Watering, weeding,
pruning, and thinning...

Perhaps it's because I know
exactly what I'm supposed do.

What you're supposed to do?

In any case, as long as there's food,
it's possible to live very happily!

I suppose so.

But, you're right.
Today will be cold, won't it?

I'll go and spend my time reading a book.

Lady Elsa...

What am I supposed to do?

I just don't know.

Husband...

Ow...

Are you all right, Lord Julius?

I'm sorry.

I'm all ri—

I'll go and take a short break.

Understood.

I wonder if something
happened to Lord Julius.

He's acting strangely.

He was able to go home early yesterday,
so I thought he'd get some rest, but...

But his paperwork is still perfect.
He's as impressive as ever.

At some point, I forgot.

I forgot the habits of my parents,

who sought attention
from unknown partners...

Please behave yourself.

Have you never considered
my position in all this?

...the way that all they'd do is argue
whenever they saw each other...

and that around the time
they stopped arguing...

I'd been left alone
in that vast, vast house.

Elsa...

by spending time with you,
I was able to forget.

And that's why I'm terrified.

If you tell me that you've found
someone you love, so you're leaving...

just what am I supposed to do?

I...

I pushed her away because ours
was a marriage without love.

And yet, as I spent time with her...
I came to rely on her.

To be afraid to confirm things
through words now is just...

Is something the matter?

I'm sorry to ask so suddenly,
it's just that you appear unwell.

Not at all, Sister.
I was simply taking a short break.

Oh, I'm so sorry.
I shouldn't have meddled.

Not at all.

If you don't mind my asking, do you
have business here at the palace?

Yes. I had hoped to increase the budget

for the children's home
where I'm assigned,

so I came to make an appeal today.

For a children's home?

Yes, but I'm embarrassed to say that
I've gotten lost on my way to the counter.

In that case, allow me
to show you the way.

My! Thank you so much.

The neighborhood surrounding
the children's home

where I'm assigned is quite bad.

We're understaffed, and our budget
is reduced year after year.

The owner is threatening to close us down.

I myself was raised at
a children's home, you see?

We aren't tied by blood,

but all of the children who live
there are my precious family.

I was at a complete loss as to what to do,

but recently, at long last,
I've found a volunteer

who is serving as a teacher
for the children.

Really?

Yes. And what's more, she treats
the children with such kindness.

That has given me such encouragement,

and I wondered if there was
anything I could do.

That's why I've come today.

I see. I'll help to make certain
that your appeal goes through.

My, how reassuring. Thank you so much.

Still, it's wonderful that
you've found a good teacher.

Yes, she's the wife of a ducal house...

but she says that she
enjoys growing vegetables.

She often speaks with me about gardening.

And that's why I found myself
interested in the garden here.

Earlier, I found myself
entirely captivated by it.

Is something wrong?

Could it be that your new teacher is...

Don't tell me it's been shut down!

No...

Are they repairing it?

What is all of this?

Professor Elsa!

Look! Look!

Aila!

New books arrived!

Oh! And they're brand new!

We got these fancy quills, too!

Amazing!

Lady Elsa, the owner
changed the other day.

Oh my.

Did he quit?

Allow me to introduce the new owner.

Of course.

Elsa.

Husband?

Lady Elsa, may I ask you
to show him around the grounds?

Of course!

Through my investigation
of the operations here,

I discovered that the previous owner

was misappropriating
the funds from the kingdom.

And so he received strict punishment,

and the ducal house of Royas
bought this place.

My, I had no idea.

What a large-scale plan.

Um, Husband...

I'm very sorry I didn't tell you
about my volunteering here sooner.

Elsa...

Even now, the Eukarainen lands are
still receiving support from you,

and I'm able to live
without a single need unmet.

When I thought about whether or not
I was allowed to wish for anything more,

I couldn't find the
right time to tell you.

Please lift your head, Elsa.

You do not need feel indebted
to me about a single thing.

As a noble house, engaging in
philanthropic work is one of our duties.

And while it's not pleasant to say,
it can also serve as political posturing.

Husband...

More importantly...

I'm the one who's sorry.

Huh?

I should have spoken with you.

I spotted you in town, speaking
in a friendly manner with a man.

Were you in love?

Was the reason you
kept leaving the house

so that you could see him? I couldn't
stop myself from thinking about it.

I just didn't know how I should
interact with you anymore.

In love with a man in town?!

Um, when could that have been?

There isn't anyone like that!

If I tell you that, will you believe me?

Elsa... I don't want you to let
anyone else touch you ever again.

I don't think I can
forgive such a thing...

even if it's just a lock of your hair...

If you're touched by anyone other than me.

O-Of course! I'll be careful.

Ms. Elsa!

Let's go play together!

Yes! Of course!

You, too, mister!

Wait for me!

Hurry up!

I'm not sure why...

but when my husband touches me, I'm aware
of a heat that spreads from the contact.

And it grows hard to breathe.

Husband...

what has happened to me?