01x02 - The Villainess and a Kiss

[bunniefuu]

-Yes, Mel?

-[MEL] That's my master!

[MEL]

I tried to conceal myself,

but you noticed me right away.

-And how'd it go?

-[MEL] Leave it to me!

Your request has been relayed

to its intended recipient

but, I must ask, is there

really any point in this?

[deep breath]

[DUKE]

Who can say?

♪

[birds chirping]

[ALICIA]

There's Roana.

I could get there through

the forest behind our estate.

Sure, I told the king

the people who live there

can't even afford

their daily bread

but that's merely knowledge

you find in a book.

A true villainess

would head out

and experience

the situation for herself!

The only problem with that is,

there's no way

I'll be able to get permission.

[ARNOLD]

Won't happen! Not a chance!

Which means I have no choice

but to sneak out!

[crickets chirping]

[whimpering]

[gasps]

[screams]

What's there?

No, wait,

I'm an actual villainess!

A dark forest isn't enough

to scare me away.

♪

[ALICIA] The village of Roana

is supposed to be protected

by a magical barrier

designed to keep heinous

criminals from getting out.

But someone like me,

who has magic,

should be able

to pass through it, I hope.

[gasps]

There's the clearing.

♪

So, this is it.

That stench!

♪

Did someone pass out?

No, that's a homeless person

sleeping on the ground.

I can't believe how bad

things have gotten here.

[gasps]

I'll be k*lled

if I'm outed as a noble!

[WILL]

Young lady.

[grunts]

[ALICIA]

Something's wrong.

His eyes.

There's nothing

to be afraid of.

Though it'd be wise of you

not to draw your sword.

Carelessly flaunting

such things around here,

will only draw attention.

You're not a kid

from the village, are you?

Tell me, why are you here then?

I had to see Roana myself

to understand it.

Hmm.

In that case, come with me.

[sighs]

[footfall]

[crickets chirping]

Now then, what is it that

you would like to know?

Um, first,

who are you, exactly?

I go by the name of Will.

I'm just Will and nothing more,

my good young noble.

[gasps]

You can tell I'm a noble?

But you're blind.

Oh, I'm so sorry, sir.

It's quite all right.

There are plenty of clues I can

pick up on without seeing you.

Such as the way you walk.

[WILL] There was a slight

difference in your footsteps

between your left

and right feet.

That suggests you

are not centrally balanced,

which allowed me to infer

that you carry a sword.

[gasps]

The rustling of your clothes

told me that you were a woman,

not to mention

the scent about you.

You're clean, that stands out.

And the fact that you were able

to enter this village

from outside

confirms you are a noble

who possesses magic.

Back when these eyes

could still see,

I was surrounded by such people

on a regular basis.

For that reason, your presence

is quite nostalgic to me.

You were a noble, as well?

[WILL] I actually worked

at the royal palace,

but I quarreled with someone

of high peerage there

and incurred their wrath.

They took my sight, and I was

banished to this village

but that happened long ago.

Oh, my, why would they do

something so awful?

[WILL]

Who can say?

And what is your name?

-That would be Alicia.

-[WILL] A fine name.

[WILL] I'll say this much,

just because a tradition

has been long honored

doesn't make it moral

to practice in modern times.

Why do you think

it is that we study history?

To make today

better than yesterday.

No matter how much

you may learn from books,

it's meaningless if you don't

use it to improve the future.

[gasps]

[ALICIA] I can't believe

such a wise person

was thrown out of the palace.

Do you hate the nobility?

I'd be lying if I said

I didn't detest them.

However, I knew

the day would come

when a member of high society

would understand what I did.

Ahh!

And now I'd love

to hear your story,

if you're willing to share it.

Tell me, what made you wish

to see this place for yourself?

[ALICIA]

Well, II just had to.

[ALICIA] Before I knew it,

I was telling him everything

there was to tell about my

dream of becoming a villainess.

He retained his calm expression

while listening closely

to my every word.

[crickets chirping]

I will most certainly

visit again.

[WILL]

You mustn't.

It's very dangerous.

[ALICIA]

No use in trying to stop me.

Hmm.

[ALICIA] I know

I'm making trouble for him,

but I don't want this

to be the end.

I've never met anyone

quite like him.

[WILL] If you insist,

but only venture here at night.

[crickets chirping]

[birds chirping]

[ALICIA]

And then two years passed.

♪

Growing up certainly

isn't without its challenges.

[laughs]

I'm such a genius!

A total smartie pants!

For the past two years,

I've persisted in my studies,

Practiced my swordsmanship

and even continued

to visit Grandpa Will.

Only one thing has changed,

my brother Albert turned 15

and entered the Magic Academy,

where the otome game

takes place.

I'm sure Prince Duke has met

the heroine by now.

They may even feel the first

sparks of love between them.

I can't wait until the day

that I get to confront them

as the villainess!

-[ERIC] Alicia!

-[ALICIA] Hm?

Do you feel like going

into town with me today?

[ALICIA] Truly, Master Eric,

I would love to go!

Hang on a sec!

The two of you can't go alone!

I'll be going, too!

So, will Alan be joining us?

I think he still

has some studying to do.

[ERIC] Oh, I guess

being twins doesn't mean

you're joined at the hip, huh?

♪

[laughs]

Is there anything

you'd like to see?

Huh?

Ah

Oh, right.

[ERIC] I'm friends with

the person who runs that shop.

♪

-[ERIC] Hello!

-Thanks for coming in!

[PAUL] Well,

if it isn't Eric and Henri.

Oh?

And who's this young lady?

My name's Alicia.

Oh, you're Henri's

little sister, right?

I'm Paul and I own this store.

I have quite a collection

of plants here.

[PAUL] Well, it's mainly

medicinal herbs, I suppose.

My family specializes

in green magic.

Then you must be a noble.

[chuckles]

I'm just a carefree

lower noble.

[PAUL]

Plants are truly amazing.

They have the power

to cure illness, heal the soul.

I was blessed to be born

into an environment

where I could learn

all about them.

I wanted to use my knowledge

to help people

that were in need,

so I decided

to open this store.

[ALICIA]

That's exactly what it means

to make use of what you know.

[PAUL] This little

guy here, for example.

[ALICIA]

Is that Josiah?

If you infuse one spoonful

of it into liquid,

any high fever will

come down in an instant!

It's a truly priceless herb!

You're familiar with it then.

I take it you must

really like plants?

Well, it's only

common knowledge!

If I didn't know such things

I'd be remiss in my studies.

[all gasping]

[ALICIA]

Nailed it!

That's some top

tier villainessing!

I'll never use hard work and

humility to appeal to others.

After all, that would be

too "heroineesque"

for a baddie like me.

Hm?

[chuckles]

I see.

So, it's common knowledge, huh?

[ALICIA] Uh, I guess

I still need to study

how proper villainesses behave.

Well, aren't you

a clever young lady.

And, Eric, you'd better

not drag your feet

or someone will steal her.

-Huh?

-Uh, stop that!

I'd never let you date

my little sister!

[ALBERT] You three went

to town together, right?

Did you at least

have some fun, Ali?

-[ALICIA] I did!

-[CURTIS] Lucky you.

-[CURTIS] A date with our Ali.

-[growling]

What?

Stop glaring at me!

Say, you really should

go out with me next time.

[growls]

[CURTIS] Do you have

anywhere you want to go,

or anything you want to do?

Anything I want?

There is one thing.

I would like to be given

the test of swordsmanship.

-Oh, boy.

-Alicia!

[gasps]

I want to see where

my training has brought me

but my father and brothers

keep insisting

that it is out of the question.

[ALICIA]

You think that's fair?

You're only ten years old

and you're also a girl.

But you three were

even younger than I am now

when you took the test

and who cares if I'm a girl?

When we said no, we meant no.

If that's your decision,

then I'd like you

to explain your reasoning.

-Just give up already!

-[gasps]

[ALBERT]

Ah, sorry to shout.

♪

I refuse to back down.

You've given me

no good reason to.

[door slamming]

[sighs]

[footfall]

[smirks]

[ALICIA]

That was pretty villainessy,

if I do say so myself.

[birds chirping]

[footfall]

[ALBERT]

If we keep saying no,

she's going

to do it on her own.

[ARNOLD]

Maybe.

Even so, we can't just

tell her the real reason.

[gasps]

I demand you tell me now!

-[gasps]

-Alicia?

Stop treating me

like a little baby!

Understand you are still

but a young girl.

And I am your father.

How could I not worry

about my beloved,

adorable daughter?

[sighs]

But still

Here, how about this.

When you turn 15

and join the Academy,

we can discuss your goals

and dreams for the future

to your heart's content.

[ARNOLD]

That a good compromise?

Fine, it's a promise.

Please excuse me now.

[door closes]

[sighing]

[ARNOLD] I know all I've done

is bought us a bit of time.

But

[all gasping]

her swordsmanship

is already well beyond

what a child

should be capable of.

If I allow her to take

the official test,

she'll garner

a lot of attention,

be it for better or worse.

That is true.

[ALBERT] But I must assume that

the Five Great Noble Families

already know about

what happened in the past.

I don't think we'll be able

to keep it hidden

for much longer.

[ARNOLD]

But my dearest wish for her,

is that she have

the chance to live out

the rest of her youth

as a normal child.

[ALICIA]

This is the worst!

They keep acting

like I'm a baby!

I get that ten-year-olds

are children but

if I want to be the greatest

villainess ever,

I can't afford to let any

precious time go to waste.

I know I'll visit Grandpa Will

and talk to him.

Perhaps he can help me

sort things out.

This is the first time I've

visited him during the day.

I wonder if he'll even

be at home.

[MAN 2A]

Don't you give me that sh*t!

[grunting]

[growls]

[grunting]

[ALICIA]

Is this the true face of Roana?

It's different than I imagined.

I had no idea

since I've only come at night.

-Hm?

-[MAN 2C] Oh, come on!

[MAN 2C]

Done already?

[grunts]

[gasps]

[MAN 2D]

Hey, he's not getting back up.

[MAN 2C]

Guess he's dead then.

[scoffs]

[MAN 2D]

Don't you pass out, brat!

[WILL]

Alicia!

I warned you

not to come at daytime!

No, please wait,

there's a little boy.

And what do you intend to do?

You're no more than

a child yourself!

[gasps]

[groaning]

Will he be all right?

I did what I could

to treat him,

but it's not nearly enough.

[ALICIA]

How awful.

Unfortunately, this is a rather

common occurrence in Roana.

[WILL] There aren't any good

kinds of medicine here.

I gather all the children

together to tell them stories

and teach them writing

and arithmetic.

This boy, Gill, is an orphan,

and even though

he's only six years old,

he possesses an intelligence

that astonishes me.

Had he received

a proper education,

I've no doubt he could have

grown to be a remarkable man.

But that can never happen,

not in Roana.

In a village

of exiled criminals,

even children are seen as such

from the day they're born.

As hard as it is to accept,

there's nothing

we can do to change it

and, young Alicia,

you mustn't blame yourself.

[ALICIA] I've wanted

for nothing all my life.

I've had a supportive

learning environment

and a kind family.

Where you're born determines

so much about your life.

I was born

with enormous privilege.

I've been blessed

to be sheltered

like a special little girl.

It's so disgraceful.

Not that I want to help people,

that isn't something

a villainess would do but

I bet the heroine

could've saved him.

And if she's capable

of doing something,

then I need to be strong enough

to pull it off too!

I won't let them say

I'm too young or too powerless.

After all, I don't

plan to be ordinary.

Hello again, Mr. Paul!

I was hoping to get

some of your Josiah!

Do you need a fever reducer?

Helping someone sick

or injured?

Oh, I mean

in Ro

[chuckles]

[PAUL]

Here, no questions asked.

Dissolve it in water

and have them drink it.

Wha

Oh, goodness,

thank you so much!

And, um, how much do I owe you?

-[PAUL] Nothing at all.

-Ah?

[PAUL] It's on the house

today, young lady.

And don't make a fuss.

You just continue to patronize

this shop, understand?

I will!

That's so generous of you!

[crickets chirping]

[WILL] This won't be able

to heal his wounds,

but it will keep him alive.

I can't thank you enough.

[ALICIA]

Grandpa Will,

I am completely inadequate.

I thought I was doing

everything right

and becoming

the greatest villainess ever.

But if I can't take action

when it matters,

there's no point.

From this day forward,

I vow to work

however hard I have to.

To become a villainess

who goes down in history!

[WILL]

A villainess?

[ALICIA] I'm on a mission to

find myself a grimoire today.

To become a great villainess

I must master my magic!

Huh?

Hey, I don't have any memory

of this section being here.

What's this?

It's a real grimoire.

Look at this section.

There's a ton

of books on magic!

How did I miss these

every other time I searched?

Now, time to race up the

stairway to villainess-hood!

♪

[ALICIA]

Magic has different levels.

Levels 50 and up require

the mana

of the Five Great

Noble Families.

The highest recorded level

is 100,

but I know,

in one part of the game,

the heroine and Prince Duke

both exceed level 100.

As the villainess of the story,

there's a fair chance

that I'm designed to always

fall short of the heroine

but that's no excuse

to not get out there

and work as hard as I can!

You never know until you try!

♪

Let's see, I'll start

with Level One magic

and make something float.

I just focus all the mana

in my body

and guide it down

to my fingertips.

There's no incantation,

so I'm a little confused.

Float on air!

♪

It's really floating!

Does this mean

I'm able to use magic?

I'm in awe!

[grunts]

Yeah, I guess I might

I need a little more practice

to master it.

Wow, I'm fired up now!

I'm gonna keep learning

as much as I can!

♪

[rumbling]

Wow, look at them!

I did it!

And that's Level Five magic.

If I can move all of these,

it's safe to say

I've mastered this objective!

[groans]

[ALICIA] I stayed up all night

practicing instead of sleeping.

My limbs feel heavy.

My head won't stop throbbing.

I must not have

enough stamina yet.

I wonder if I can train

to raise it?

I'll take a five-minute break

before starting

on the next level.

-[ARNOLD] Alicia!

-Hm?

[ALICIA] The king is here

to meet with me?

Yes, I know it's out

of the blue, but he says

[ALICIA]

My first villainess trial

in only two years' time!

[DUKE] I don't understand

why you insist

on seeing Alicia.

It's been too long

since I asked her opinion.

Is that the only reason?

You wouldn't be here if you

thought it was the only reason.

Is that not the truth, my son?

[sighing]

It is an honor to see you

once again, Your Majesty.

I hope you're in good health.

Ah, there you are,

I see you're doing well.

[ALICIA] The heads of the Five

Great Noble Families together.

I can't be that famous

of a villainess yet.

All right then, to the point.

[LUKE]

Do you love this kingdom?

Hm?

[ALICIA] What does that mean?

I can never understand what's

behind the king's questions.

Let me phrase that

in a different way.

What do you think of the way

this kingdom operates?

[ALICIA]

What can I say

and sound like

an actual villainess?

[inhales deeply]

I detest its preferential

treatment of nobles.

[all gasp]

Do you now?

And?

Well, it's systemically bad.

After all, merely

proclaiming oneself a noble,

places even the most

incompetent individuals

at the top.

Who are you

to insult us like that?

No matter, continue, please.

Majesty!

Forgive me, I did not mean

to defame all nobles.

[ALICIA] But one only needs

to possess mana to be one.

Mana's very different

than political prowess.

No matter how much

potential they have,

commoners are never granted

these kinds of opportunities.

In such a magic-based

class system,

how much raw talent

must be going to waste?

It makes so little sense.

It's giving me

a horrible headache.

[chuckles]

That's enough!

Watch your tongue this instant!

Now, there's no need to shout.

She's just a young girl

with lofty ideas.

[ALICIA] I do wish they'd

keep their voices down.

That part about having

an awful headache was true.

[gasps]

Father, please, should we

My dear, one last

question for you, if I may.

[LUKE] What you said

applies to you, as well,

so you're aware that would mean

being ousted from your place

in the Five Great

Noble Families?

Yes, of course, I'm aware.

[all gasp]

I was born into this family

through good fortune alone.

And I believe

it would be most uncouth

to want my status guaranteed

at the expense of people

with more talent than me.

You are truly an unusual child.

[footfall]

[ALICIA]

That's enough for me.

I don't know if I gave

the right answers

for the villainess I want to be

but I need to rest.

I feel so very weak.

[sighs]

Alicia, what's happening?

Please wake up!

-[DUKE] She has a fever!

-[ALICIA] Prince Duke?

[footfall]

What's going on?

-[ALBERT] Ali?

-[DUKE] She just collapsed.

[DUKE] I'm afraid she's

been unwell this whole time.

Um, let's get her

to her quarters for now.

I'll carry her there.

Ahh?

[gasps]

[ALICIA]

Is someone there?

Alicia!

Have you come to?

[DUKE] If you're awake,

then take this.

Can you drink some?

[deep breaths]

[DUKE] Alicia, I'm begging you

to please take the medicine.

[deep breaths]

[DUKE]

Forgive me.

♪

[gasps]

♪