01x19 - Wanting Even a Cat's Help

[bunniefuu]

Blast it! Did all of them get drenched?!

Why? How could this have happened?

There's moisture.

Why didn't we notice?

No one could have predicted the heavy rains
this season, or the leaks in the roof.

We can't use any of it like this.

We won't finish in time for
the Holy Beginnings Festival.

Don't cry, Head of Artisans.

Mister Collins.

We just have to figure something out, right?

Right.

We'll grind it down again!

Gather the silver sugar in the hearth room
to drive the moisture out!

Someone please bring the mortars
from the workroom!

Quickly! No matter what happens,
make it back here before the end of the day!

Yes, sir!

Hey, is everything all right?

This is worse than I thought.

This castle is damaged in places,
so I thought this might happen, but...

You're re-grinding it?

I can have silver sugar sent from
my school or the Radcliffe Workshop.

You know we could never ask for that.

Will you make it in time?

We will.

Good work everyone!

Rest for now.
The real battle starts tomorrow.

The rain stopped.

Yes, it did.

If we let it dry through the night, by tomorrow
we should be able to grind a few barrels.

Anne, you should go to sleep.
I'll look after the hearth.

I can't do that.

But it doesn't feel right to force
a girl to push past her limits.

I'm the Head of Artisans.

All right, then we'll take turns.

The Holy Beginnings Festival...

Do you really think we'll finish in time?

Well...

Despite everything I said to the viscount,
honestly, I'm not confident we can do it.

Even if we can re-grind the silver sugar,

creating the pieces
and assembling them will take time.

If only we had one more skilled artisan.

Do you think Keith might come?

Never. Master Radcliffe
would never agree to it.

That's just how tribalism works.

Oh, isn't there anyone?

Someone skilled who isn't part of a school...

Oh! Kat!

Right now, he's running a shop in Southcent.

He probably has hardly any business.
If you ask him, Anne, I'm sure he'll do it.

Yes. I'll bring him back here by evening!

I'll make sure to check on Noah's condition.

If you would.

Let's go.

Yes.

Everyone is so cold to you.

And when you're so very worried for them, too.

It's always been this way.
I'm accustomed to it.

He seems to have as little interest
in doing business as always.

Well, it's better than last time.

Excuse us.

Hello, Benjamin.

How odd. You look like Anne.

I am Anne. It's been a while, hasn't it?

Oh, this is a surprise.
What are you doing in a place like this?

Actually, I came to ask
a favor of Kat. Is he here?

He's here.

Kat! You have a lovely visitor!

Visitor?

You two!

You got him back?

Yes.

Thank you for all your help in the matter.

No need for thanks. I didn't do anything.

Did you come all the way here
just to tell me that?

No. Actually, I have a favor to ask.

A favor?

Right now, I'm working as the Head of
Artisans for the Paige Workshop.

Wow, that's amazing! Head of Artisans!

We were chosen to create the sugar
confections for the Holy Beginnings Festival,

but after setting up
our work space in Holly Leaf Castle...

The rain ruined your silver sugar, huh?
I know about that castle.

Yes. All of it hardened.
We're working to re-grind it now.

And you're running out of time because of that,

so you want me to lend a hand
with the sugar confections

until the Holy Beginnings Festival.

May we ask that of you?

No.

I only make things I want to make.

Besides, I've got an order
due right after New Year's

for the birthday of the old lady
at the flour shop.

More than the king, more than the kingdom's
religion, I'm prioritizing the old lady.

Please, can't anything be done?
We need you, Kat!

If I said I'm not doing it, I'm not doing it!

Hey, Mister Kat.

Challe!

Hey, did you forget that I don't want
you calling me "mister"?

I remember.

Then you did it on purpose?

Yes, I did it on purpose.

Are you trying to pick a fight?!

W-Wait, both of you!

Hey, Mister Kat. I heard that you owe
the Silver Sugar Viscount a favor.

I told Kat that you'd probably say that
when I rejected his request.

Even then, he wouldn't back down,
so I made a bet with him.

A bet about whether you'd want me
to get involved or not, you see?

Now that he's lost,
he'll have to do anything I say.

Now that you mention it, that did happen.

I don't owe him anything!
That was just a little mistake... that's all!

It was a blunder tha—

What did he demand of you as a result?

W-Well...

Did you conclude the matter?

No.

Kat!

If we could get him to give up his request,
would you help us then?

Give up his request?

Yes. I will make Hugh give me his right
to ask a favor of you!

So, please, I want you
to help us with our work!

What?

The Holy Beginnings Festival isn't just
for the king or the kingdom's religion!

It's also to pray for the happiness
of the kingdom's people.

If we can make good sugar confections,
it will bring good fortune!

And then there won't be a poor
sugar apple harvest like there was this year!

I guess it's better than having to do
whatever that reprobate says.

Does that mean...

I'll do it!

Challe! Thank you for reminding me
of what Hugh said!

As you're both simple-minded idiots,

the conversation
wasn't likely to progress otherwise.

Even so, the fact that
Challe helped me made me happy.

It's Anne and Challe!

Welcome back!

What happened with Kat?

Hugh! The right to have Kat
do anything you say... give it to me!

What?

Does this mean that Kat turned you down?

And he said he'd help if you got me
to give you the right to that favor.

That's exactly right.

But please, give it to me.

I refuse.

He only makes sugar confections
when he's convinced it's the thing to do.

Right now, I can make him
do whatever I like, you know?

We need Kat.

I have no intention to spoil you that much.

If you want it that badly, wrest it from me.

Then I will take it.

Really? Are you planning on
a competition or something?

Normally, a Silver Sugar Viscount

is forbidden from making sugar confections
save at the king's orders.

But when it comes to competitions,
it's a different story.

Then let's compete!

How reckless.

Is she serious?

I accept your challenge,
Silver Sugar Master Anne Halford.

The judge will be...

Let's see.

I heard that there's a fairy here
who is in trouble because he isn't eating.

Whoever manages to feed that fairy wins.

Something for Noah?

All right. I accept!

Very good!

Before the night ends,
bring my tool set and silver sugar!

Bring enough silver sugar for Anne as well!

Sir.

So, that's the state of things, Collins!

I'll be asking you to put me up here.

Understood.

I'm looking forward to this, Anne.

What? You're competing with Hugh?!

You know you have
no chance of winning, don't you?!

W-We don't know that yet, do we?

Really, this is just asking too much.

To start making it now
and feeding it to him tomorrow?

For now, I'll head back to the hearth.

Anne, make sure you tell everyone else
about this, all right?

I really just can't do it.

Everyone...

Anne!

Hey, put some of this on!
Your blisters burst, right?

Are you all right?

Everyone, there's something
I'd like to talk to you about.

We heard. Elliott told us.

What?

It's all right. We'll entrust this to you.

And while you're doing that, we'll work
hard enough to cover your share, Anne!

We will take care of our work.

You do your work.

Like they said! Let's dig in
for the next big push! Right?

Yeah!

I have to do this. I have to do my job.

I have to win, for everyone's sake.

I hope he'll eat the sugar confections.

It's possible that he won't eat either of them.

That's true.

But maybe Hugh offered this idea because
he's confident he'll be able to make Noah eat.

For fairies, all sugar confections
hold that much allure, don't they?

When the shape holds meaning for you,

the more beautiful it is,
the sweeter it smells.

The urge to draw it in to yourself...

it's a lot like the desire to kiss
someone who is dear to you.

I wonder if Noah has anyone or anything
like that other than Lord Herbert.

Go to sleep. Tomorrow will be busy.

What about you, Challe?

I'll watch him.

Oh, but you can't be the only one
to stay awake, Challe!

You have an important competition, don't you?

But...

Do you require another good night kiss?

If it's necessary, I will do it.

Go to sleep.

G-Good night!

Viscount.

Anne has brought your breakfast.

You've scattered things everywhere again.

I have asked you to treat books
with care, haven't I?

And the fathers who lent them to you
asked you to be careful as well.

Try to imagine being me,
the person who has to return them.

When they said, "be careful,"
that's not what they meant.

They meant don't show them to anyone.

If I weren't in the peerage, I wouldn't be
able to read any of the books I have here.

They're all what you might call banned books.

Banned books?

Wh-What's written in them?

Now, I can't go lending my enemy
a helping hand, can I?

Have you decided what you'll be making?

N-No, not yet.

You should decide soon.

I know.

Oh, right. Anne, after breakfast,
there's somewhere I'd like to go.

Noah, may I have a moment?

There's someone here
who would like to speak with you.

Excuse the intrusion.

I'm the Silver Sugar Viscount, Hugh Mercury.

What? The Silver Sugar Viscount?

You can stay like that.

There's something I'd like to ask you.

What?

Was Lord Herbert an upstanding person who
would not shame the crest of House Chamber?

Yes.

I heard that he liked the game of fief.

Yes.

It's rude of me to say,
but he wasn't very good at it.

He wasn't good at it?

Yes. That's why the only one
who would play him was me.

I see.

All right. I understand. Sorry to bother you.

I'll bring you something nice
later as a thank you.

Something that holds meaning
for Noah. Something he'll eat.

If I recreate Lord Herbert's likeness in
a sugar confection, it might make him happy.

Just like that time with Duke Philax.

But...

I hear that you're competing
with the Silver Sugar Viscount.

What's this?

Did Challe warn you not to get too close to me?

No, he didn't, but...

I don't want you to worry.

I am someone who is very close to him.

But as I can't read his true intentions,
I can't get him to open up to me, that's all.

Close?

And that is why...

I hold no ill intent toward him
or anything he holds dear.

I have no intention of hurting him.

Anne, he and I—

What are you doing?

Nothing.

I was simply asking Anne about her
competition with the Silver Sugar Viscount.

Competition? With the Silver Sugar Viscount?

Are you serious?

It's the only way.

You have no chance of winning.

So, why would you...

What?

Let's go, Gladus.

Yes.

I'll see you later, Anne.

Just now, was that...

I'm amazed you don't get
bored staring at that.

Have you thought of something?

Nothing.

Just how badly I feel for him
because he's been hurt...

and how it must be so painful to keep looking
at this even though the person is gone...

There may be something there we can't see.

Something that only he can see.

Something we can't see?

That's true.

If all he wanted was to remember the past,
there's no need to come all the way here.

There's something about this portrait.

There should be something there,
but it's something we can't see.

Challe...

Can you take this portrait down?

Yes.

This is...

It's a crest, right? Of House Chamber.

So, there was still one left here.

It evaded the eyes of the royal family.

Noah knew. He knew that this was hidden here.

A crest is the pride of a noble house.

This is the only one left.
It's Lord Herbert's heart in physical form.

This is what Noah was really looking at.

Challe, I am going to make this.

This crest is taboo.

The Millsland royal family
erased its existence from this world.

And you're planning to resurrect it?

You, a silver sugar master?

It's true that I might appear
to be defying the royal family.

But... what does it matter
if people see this crest?

There's no one left from House Chamber anymore.

I'm not making this
for the sake of the royal family.

I'm making it for the person who needs it.

After all, making the best version
of what someone wants

is what makes a person an artisan, right?

If it's at all possible
that someone wants it...

then I will make it.

You're fearless, aren't you?

You could be turning the royal
family into your enemies.

I'm not trying to fight with the royal family.

Though they might not understand that.

Even so, I can't not make it!

Then make it. Make what you want to make.

No matter what may happen
because of it, I will protect you.

I swear it.

I will always be by your side.

Challe will protect me.

Wanting Even a Cat's Help

A Purple Promise