01x03 - A Thinly Veiled Sword Dance (Rondo)

[bunniefuu]

Have you woken up, Lady Rishe?

I am Oliver, His Highness's aide.

Yes! Please wait a moment!

Thank you for waiting.

Sorry for the intrusion.

It was the only time

I could get out of the office, so…

You haven't had much rest, have you?

I am still better off.

His Highness Arnold

hasn't even taken a nap.

He was busy with work that had accumulated

during his visit to the Hermity.

I'm sorry about that.

It's fine.

His Highness, who said he had no intention

of getting married, has now found a wife.

Please feel free to look around

as much as you like.

Yes?

You've been watching me, haven't you?

My sincerest apologies!

As His Highness mentioned,

you have a keen eye.

I can tell you are truly concerned

about His Highness, Lord Oliver.

Have you been by his side for long?

It's been ten years.

If you are so devoted to him,

then you must know why he is marrying me.

That honestly surprised me as well.

However, it's the first time I've ever

seen His Highness looking so happy.

He can smile genuinely

in front of you, Lady Rishe.

It's like he's treating me like a toy.

He didn't deny it, huh?

We're going off topic.

His Highness has asked me to give you

a list of distinguished guests

to invite to the marriage ceremony.

Thank you so much.

Her Royal Highness

Princess Harriet of Siguel.

The Kingdom of Domana

is represented by Duke Jonal, huh?

And His Royal Highness

Prince Kyle of Coyolles.

And here are the attendees

for tomorrow's dinner party.

Dinner party?

Miss Diana, where should I put this?

I want you to line them up

just like I showed you yesterday.

-So--

-I'm kind of busy right now.

It's Rishe.

Can I have a moment of your time,

Your Highness?

Yes.

Your Highness Arnold, there is something

I'd like to ask you for.

You told me to think about it, right?

Just think about what you want.

I've just broken my agreement

not to lift a single finger on you.

Would you be so kind as to leave

the selection of the maids to me?

You can do whatever you want with that.

It seems Oliver did not tell you.

Today's dinner party is meaningless,

held to maintain the fact

that the Crown Prince

is looking for a marriage partner

from within the country as well.

Your Highness, to this country,

I may be a "Crown Princess held hostage."

However, I am not dishonored by that.

So please,

go ahead and show off your fiancée.

All right.

And now I've been permitted to touch you.

We both are touching through the gloves.

It's kind of a bigger party

than I thought it would be.

This is considered a small party.

Such is the standard of a great country.

Your Highness Arnold!

It is an honor to be invited here tonight.

Thank you for taking the time to visit us.

Your Highness, please tell my daughter

the story of your journey.

Unfortunately, I have nothing much to say.

However, it was a fortuitous trip.

I was able to find the woman

who would become my wife.

Become his wife?

His Highness is smiling!

He never even paid

any attention to us before!

Then, this beautiful

young lady over here is…

Curiosity, envy and ulterior motives.

It's nothing compared to having

an engagement broken off in public.

I am pleased to meet you

for the first time.

My name is Rishe Irmgard Weitzner.

My wife has just arrived from another

country and has no one to lean on.

I hope you can assist her.

Why, of course!

For you to have said that…

You don't need to go out of your way

to agitate the other ladies.

It's better to show it right now.

What for?

That I will protect you no matter what.

Protect me?

He will protect me?

That Arnold Hein?

This man who k*lled me?

Rather, it is you, Your Highness,

who is the most dangerous.

What do you mean by that?

For starters, I don't think

I can compete with you in swordsmanship.

Maybe I should have a bout with you

sometime in the future.

I would love to do that, please!

I'd love to have the luxury

of a practice session with you!

You're going to give me

more than what I expected.

Maybe I can figure out how those

awesome sword-fighting techniques work.

You don't need to force yourself to dance.

Oh, my, if I may,

I'd like to have some fun too.

This closeness…

makes me recall that day.

Should I tease him a bit?

What will happen

if I try to take the lead?

Then, how about this?

He seems to want to say

that whatever I do is useless, huh?

Even though we're this close,

I don't feel like

I'm stepping into the gap.

Oh?

That reminds me, since a while ago…

No. Even from back then…

I will fall…

Wow, excellent!

The two of you are in perfect harmony.

It was as if we were watching

a sword dance.

Lady Rishe.

Your dance just now was so beautiful.

Thank you so much.

If you like, you can have this wine.

I shall have it.

The aroma of ground chili peppers.

I can't believe

they're playing with the food.

The wine has a somewhat pungent aroma.

It's very fascinating.

Are you dissatisfied

with the wine I brought you?

As expected,

it has a very stimulating taste.

I am very happy

to have received such a welcome!

Let us go!

It's spicy.

Spicy?

Your Highness.

It is a unique wine with chili peppers.

You could have just thrown that away.

No.

This wine has lost an opportunity

to be savored, so I should at least

drink it without leaving any leftovers.

Huh? What…

It is spicy.

I told you, did I not?

Now, I guess I've done

my justice to the wine.

Yes.

Thank you so much.

What were you thinking

in the middle of the dance?

Huh?

You were not thinking about me,

but somebody else, am I right?

There's no way I can say

that it was him from the future.

I was concerned about

Your Highness' health.

Aren't you…

injured right around here?

His left shoulder is just slightly

more sluggish than his right.

Just like that time.

It's an old wound.

It continues to the shoulder,

with a slight skin tear and scrape.

How awful.

It's really an old wound.

The wound is from a blade

that stabbed again and again

with the intent to k*ll him.

Only a few people know about this wound.

Nor was anyone else aware of it.

How can you have such a wound?

The night breeze is getting colder.

It's about time

to choose the maids, right?

Yeah.

But at this rate, I don't think

we're going to be chosen.

Are you girls still not done?

I'm sorry, Miss Diana!

Sorry.

The sheets from this morning weren't even

folded the way I had explained to you!

If you're like this, you'll never be

chosen as the Crown Princess's maids!

I will help you.

You again?

I don't know where you are from,

but I'm amazed you have the time

to help people.

You girls need to finish quickly!

Looks like the tablecloths for the villa

will be arriving today.

I'm sure we'll get a better evaluation

if we help with that!

We're going, Maya, Laura.

Yes.

I'm sorry.

It's because we have trouble

remembering things.

You have only been at the castle

for a short time, haven't you?

No one can do it correctly from the start.

It is not that Elsie and the others

are unfamiliar with laundry.

They're getting the job done,

but it's just taking too long.

Diana is right about that part.

But the cause is quite obvious.

Did you hear anything about Diana's life

before she came here?

I believe she is from

a wealthy family with several stores.

I've also heard that before.

But they got into debt

and had to part with everything.

Oh.

It looking sparkling.

Since when…

I wonder who cleaned it.

Come to think of it, that girl

who always interferes isn't here.

A c*ck newcomer like that

deserves to be removed.

You're right.

If you're going to serve the

Crown Princess, you need to be polite.

It's exciting, right?

Yes.

What does the Crown Princess

look like, I wonder?

Lady Rishe has arrived.

My name is Rishe Irmgard Weitzner.

I'm sorry.

I thought the best way to get

a true understanding of your situation

would be to talk to you as a fellow maid.

Then, I will call your names now.

Marguerite.

Elsie.

Nichole.

Rosa.

Hilde.

Amelia.

Those names called out

will become my maids.

Huh?

I look forward to working with you.

Now, those of you go to--

Why, Lady Rishe?

The only ones chosen are the newcomers!

We have more experience than them!

-You're being impudent.

-It's okay.

I certainly said some rude things!

But please, evaluate my abilities

as a maid!

Diana.

Yes?

You are to resign from your position

as a maid effective today.

Huh?

No way.

Say, Diana.

Do you recall what you struggled with

when you first came to the castle?

Were you able to do your job as well

as you do now from the beginning?

No, at first…

I had a hard time understanding

how to do it.

I couldn't remember things

just by hearing them once,

but all the seniors were busy.

They said, "We don't have time

to teach you, so just watch and learn."

And yet this is how I grew

to become a full-fledged maid!

In contrast to them!

You are right.

Indeed, you are very different from them

in some ways.

Huh?

That's your ability to read and write.

You were born into a merchant family and

had access to a high level of education,

but the average person rarely has access

to the same kind of education.

You write down what your seniors tell you,

and you can read it again.

But what if you can't?

I want you to line them up

just like I showed you yesterday.

So…

The sheets from this morning weren't even

folded the way I had explained to you!

My family went bankrupt,

I lost everything

and I had no one to back me up.

Even though I become a full-fledged maid…

And here I was thinking,

"Why can't you girls do it?"

It's because I never taught you

how to do it properly.

I'm sorry.

It's all my fault.

I'm really sorry.

Lady Rishe, Miss Diana is excellent

and always hard-working.

So please, don't make her quit!

Thanks.

But I didn't deserve to be chosen.

Miss Diana…

I have a favor to ask you.

I would like to make this villa

a place of education for new maids.

I want them to learn to write

alongside learning the other skills.

If they learn to read, write and work,

it will be a weapon anywhere

and in any situation.

It'll come in handy

if you ever have to live another life.

Diana, I need you to help me create

those educational materials.

Me?

Even though I said some rude things?

Whatever it is?

Would you lend me your strength?

Yes, it's my pleasure.

I see.

Is it what you expected?

No way.

I knew she would do something.

It would be disrespectful

to your future wife

if you were too blatantly amused.

But I think I might enjoy it too.

What she will accomplish in our country?

Oliver.

Rishe is not a wife I brought in

for the royal family's national interests.

How about learning the letters

of cleaning tools first?

It's something they use every day,

so I think it's easy for them to feel

that what they've learned is useful.

Yes, I think it's a good idea.

Thank you so much.

Lady Rishe!

I really enjoy thinking about

how to teach everyone!

I'm glad to hear that.

Please excuse me.

Lady Rishe, it is time

for you to get ready.

Yes.

Then, if you'll excuse me.

I'm counting on you.

Miss Diana, can you teach me again

after dinner?

Well, of course.

Thank you so much.

Such a beautiful dress.

It's the most expensive one I have.

Can you help me tie my hair up

to match this dress?

Yes.

I heard that your guest is a merchant.

So do you really need

the most expensive dress?

Well…

It might be one of the materials

for now, so…

Materials?

After all, he was the one

who taught me

what it means to be a merchant.

With them on our side,

we'll have a lot more options

down the road.

At this time, Aria Trading Company

has just been established.

If it's a business meeting

with the Galkhein royal family,

they will want to seal the deal

no matter what it takes.

Would a little more flamboyance

make me look like a

"sucker who likes to shop"?

I'm sorry.

But I think this dress would look better

on you with your hair in a bun

and slicked back in a dignified manner.

Thank you, Elsie.

But this is the outfit

for the match today.

The match?

Your guest has arrived.

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding.

I am Kaine Tully

from the Aria Trading Company.