01x11 - Dad Gets Into an Elegant Pickle!

[bunniefuu]

Well then, the student council will handle
the scheduling of the auditorium usage

for the theater club
and the brass band club.

Thank you for your help.

I've finished asking around!

Thank you for your work.

Geez, aren't you working me
too hard, Grace?

The school festival is fast approaching.

We cannot delay the student's preparations
with our incompetence, can we?

Speaking of which, where's Anna?

She is busy preparing the play
that we will perform.

I see. So that's why
I didn't see her all day.

You mean she didn't eat lunch
in the student council room?

I thought she ate at the cafeteria.

No, she wasn't at the cafeteria today.

I think we should look for her...

Miss Grace...

Good... morning?

How long have you been here?

Uh, after the class ended?

I was reading all kinds of books regarding
a play and summarizing them...

Wait, you've been here
a whole day since yesterday?!

A whole day...?

That's impossible!

Wait, now that you've mentioned it...

I think I'm hungry...?

Anna?!

Hang in there, Anna!

♪ I can never avoid role playing
no matter how much time passes ♪

♪ I'm a cog in the machine
from morning to night ♪

♪ All systems nominal ♪

♪1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9♪

♪ There are nothing but villagers
everywhere I look ♪

♪ While people wish upon a star ♪

♪ God snickers to himself ♪

♪ Nonsense ♪

♪ Decide for yourself what to believe in ♪

♪ Don't let loud voices fool you ♪

♪ Not everything in the world is just ♪

♪ Sometimes we have to choke back tears ♪

♪ Ah, you've made your choices in life ♪

♪ To sing of the things that you love ♪

♪ Ah, I'm sure that your voice ♪

♪ Is my shining beacon ♪

(From Bureaucrat to Villainess:
Dad's Been Reincarnated!)

(Infirmary)

(Infirmary)
I'm so sorry for all the trouble...

I'm so sorry for all the trouble...

If you keep using your head without drinking
or eating, of course you'll collapse.

(Episode 11: The Old Man in an Elegant Trouble)
Look, just take your time and eat first, okay?

Look, just take your time and eat first, okay?

Don't forget the tea.

Thank you...

I'm so sorry.

I was so useless.

I had no idea that a theatrical play
isn't just about the actors acting.

Scripts, production,
costumes and stage setting,

lighting and acoustics,
big tools, small tools...

There are so many things
needed for a play.

That's why I tried starting
by writing the script,

I read the book on how to write one, but
in practice, I couldn't make any progress.

Even though Miss Grace
entrusted this task to me, I...

I couldn't be of any help...

Anna...

Yes.

What you said is true.

Right? I'm not good enough...

A theatrical play is a work of art made
from the combined talents of many people.

There is no one who can do
the whole thing on their own.

My poor choice of words
must've confused you.

My apologies.

I did ask you to take
the lead on this play,

but that doesn't mean
you have to do everything yourself.

This is my mistake.

Considering her personality, it should've
been easy to predict this would happen.

What a blunder.

B-but then, what should I do, Miss Grace?

As they say,
"Leave making mochi to mochi makers".

Right, If I were to put it
in a way that fit this country...

Perhaps it's more apt to say,
"Leave making bread to the bakery"!

Yes, my family runs a bakery,
but what does that mean?

Pardon the intrusion.

Is the president of the theater club here?

Ah, the student council.
Thank you for your help earlier.

Good day to you. The truth is,
we're looking to consult on some stuff.

Huh, I see.

So you wanted to borrow someone
who understands theatrical play

for the student council's performance?

Correct.

I see. We do have someone who can help.

Fran, are you there? Francette Mercure!

Prez, did you call for me--?!

Good day to you.
I am Auvergne, from the student council.

Wah, uh, I mean, I knhow!

I-I'm shorry! I'm a huge fan of all the
student council members!

A stan, in fact!

Stan?

W-what brings you
all the way to this filthy place of...

Fran, introduce yourself first.

F-forgive my insolence!

I, Francette, will take
any punishment you may give,

so please, do not destroy my family!

Please raise your head.

Just so you know, the student council
does not have that kind of authority.

So the members of
the student council want to do a play?

That is incredibly intriguing,

but I'm afraid someone as lacking
as me won't be of any help...

No, when it comes to knowledge of plays,
nobody in the club is better than Fran.

But since the school festival
is centerd around second years,

as a first-year,
Fran doesn't get the spotlight.

In that case, I'd rather she use
her knowledge for the student council.

N-no, I'm just a complete amateur!

A first-year...

You're incredible, Miss Francette!
You're a first-year just like me,

but you must've studied a lot of plays
if the president praises you that much!

N-no, I didn't study them, I just happen
to like them, it's useless knowledge!

No, it's wonderful that you can
focus yourself so much on a single thing.

Please, I want you to help us!

I'm a complete amateur,
I don't even know where to begin.

To make matters worse, this play
will be about gender role reversal!

Whuh?!

Gender role reversal... you say?

Yes.

A-as in, the men will play as women,
and the women will play as men?

Yes.

Pardon my insolence, but I,
Francette Mercure, shall lend a hand!

I am prepared to do anything!
You may use me like a workhorse!

Thank you very much, Miss Francette!

(*Deja vu)

Please, just call me Fran!

Now then, Miss Anna,
where shall we start from?

O-okay, Fran.

First, I'd like to consult you
about the script.

Ah, I see.

So you're trying to adapt
that fairy tale into a play.

In that case, I have a good idea!

You can find scripts of old plays
the theater club has performed before here.

I'm sure you can find one where
a prince and a commoner swap places.

I see. After all, that fairy tale
has existed since long ago.

Please wait a moment,
the last time I read it,

I should've returned it
to this shelf here.

You've read it?

Fran, did you just happen
to read that script by coincidence?

Oh no, it's not a coincidence.

I've read every single script
that is stored here.

Ah, there it is.

The original fairy tale is pretty long.

If we adapt it as is, the play
will take more than two hours,

but this script summarizes the main
points, fitting for a school festival.

It should take around 25
to 30 minutes to perform.

Thank you so much, Fran!

With this, the play for the festival
is finally starting to sound feasible...

I-I didn't do anything worth crying over.

Miss Grace, this is what you mean by
"Leave making bread to the bakery", right?

Yes, Anna.

We nobles are expected to have
an extensive understanding of many things.

However...

That doesn't mean we have
to do everything on our own.

Yes, just like back then...

(Writing)
Ask the thing you don't know
to those who do.

(Commissioning)
Ask for help for the things you cannot do.

(Distributing) (New publications are out!)
It is not a shameful thing to do.

(Cosplay salesgirl (future wife))
It is not a shameful thing to do.

In fact, it is important to be able
to do that to tackle large projects!

Amazing as always, Miss Grace.

I think I saw something just now!

Now then, let us read the script.

Okay!

How odd, Miss Grace
is a noble of a high stature,

and yet I feel a sense
of familiarity from her.

It feels so strange somehow.

The casts and the lines fit us so well.

It's as if this script is written
specifically for us, the student council.

Yes, you're right.

But based on the date,
it was written around 30 years ago.

Perhaps the situation back then
just happened to be very similar to ours?

Scripts that have been performed before
would have been marked with magic,

but I can't find it here.

In other words,
nobody has actually performed this.

So it's as if this script has been waiting
for 30 years for us to enact it.

Interesting, I like how that sounds.

Fran, this signature...

This is the signature of the author.
Do you know them?

Yes...

This script was written
by Jacqueline Auvergne.

It's my mother.

(A new friend has joined the student council)

(A new friend has joined the student council)
Ah, so Fran joined here!

(Francette Mercure. Job: Theater Advisor)
I see, interesting.

Is this girl also from the original game?

Yeah, she's one of those
"Close friend" characters.

Normally, she immediately becomes
friends with Anna when school starts

and provides a lot of info for her.

(Royal Magic Academy, Theater Club's Storeroom)
Anna got close with Grace instead

so I thought Fran won't appear
at all in this world.

I see, the "theater Advisor", huh?

So the "Knowledgable Otaku" character
gets involved in the plot this way, huh?

I guess that means the play for the
school festival may go without a hitch.

What do you think, Fran?

Wonderful, Miss Anna!

You can feel the smart boy's aura
despite looking like a commoner!

I'm glad to hear that!

By the way, what is that flashing thing?

This is the latest magic tool,
it's called a camera!

It can record someone's appearance!

In the game, this is the icon
for the screenshot feature.

I see.

But I don't think you need
to record my appearance.

On the contrary, it's incredibly
important that I record this!

Thank you for waiting.

Pierre!

Does this look good? I never
had worn a maid uniform before.

It fits you great, Pierre!

That seems to fit you well, Pierre.

You look good in that dress
as well, Your Highness.

Who would've thought I would become
a queen before I succeeded the throne.

My thoughts exactly, Your Highness.

Words cannot describe what I'm seeing!

I can't take any good pics because
my hands are shaking! But who cares?!

Wait, I get to see these wonderful sights
up close without even paying?

Really? There's nobody I need to pay?

Did I just use up all my life's worth
of luck and then I will die today?

So, do you find the clothing sewn by the
Auvergne's tailor department comfortable?

Yes, not bad at all.

But I do find the hip part
excruciatingly tight.

I'm afraid you will have to bear that.

That said, Miss Grace...

It's good and all
that the costumes are all ready,

but we still don't know
about the contents of the play.

Ah, yes. I haven't given you
the script, have I?

I will give you a short summary.

The main character is Toby,
a poor boy from a certain country.

I'm playing this character!

And Edmond, the prince of said country.

I will be playing this character.

They happen to be born on the same day,
but they have very different circumstances.

Sorry, if only I had been heaLTHY,

we wouldn't be living
in a shack so fiLTHY.

You seem totally fine.

One day, Toby just happened to meet
Prince Edmond in front of the castle gate

and was invited inside.

In there, they talked to each other.

"I wish I could try living in the town."

"I wish I could try living
in the royal palace myself."

It was then and there...

...when Fae,
the mischievous fairy, appeared.

In that case, how about I swap
your looks with my magic?

He's so perfect for this.

After using the magic,
the fairy just left,

and Edmond who now looks like Toby
was kicked out of the royal palace.

By the way, fairy magic
cannot be discerned by humans.

What a troublemaker.

The Prince who turned into Toby
was walking in the city,

was caught by an evil merchant
and is about to be sold off.

Let me go! I'm the prince
of this country, you know?!

Ha, as if!

How dare you rough up a kid?!

You claim to be the prince?
Quite the sense of humor you have there.

The prince was rescued by Marielle,
a female knight that just returned from battle.

We hide his wide shoulders
using the armor!

Meanwhile, in the palace,
the Queen's health is worsening,

and she is planning to have
the Prince succeed the throne soon.

("TBH, it's a pain in the a*s"
- Queen)

You're actually a commoner?
You sure love to joke, Your Highness.

The Prince has been acting weird lately.

My son would've been
a better King than him!

The Queen's sister, Simone,
is making a scheme to obtain the throne.

She's more of a villainess than me.

And so, will Edmond and Toby
be able to return to normal

before the day of the coronation?

I see, that is very interesting
and all, but...

There are only two weeks left
before the school festival.

I know we're amateurs,

but we won't make it in time
if we don't start practicing soon.

Yes, that is true, but...

It is a rather old script, so there are
some parts that have to be revised.

Isn't that right, Fran?

Uhh, yes!

I'm currently revising the script
as fast as I can.

I hope you can wait a little longer.

I see, there's no other way then.

We will be counting on you, Francette.

Y-yesh! I'll do my best!

I know this is a tough task for Fran,
but I cannot avoid this.

I have to reduce Grace's role
no matter what.

After all...

(One week ago)

I realized something
after reading this script.

Both Anna and I actually
have to act as two characters each.

What do you mean?

First is Prince Edmond.

And then Toby in Prince Edmond's body.

These two have different personalities.

You're right!
You will need to act differently.

But I think the Prince's role
fits you well, Miss Grace.

T'is quite the intriguing matter
you're speaking of!

You may speak more of it in detail!

It's how you usually are!

I should be able
to do this part just fine.

Next are the lines when Toby
is inside the Prince's body.

"Oh boy! I gotta hurry
and go to Ma's place!"

- "Oh boy!"
- "Oh dear me!"

"I must hurry and return
to where my mother is!"

Was that the Prince's line as well?

N-no...

That's odd, let me try a different line.

"The real Prince already left just now!"

"The real Prince has departed
just a moment ago!"

"Do you have any proof
that he's the one who did it?"

"Was there any concrete evidence
that he was the perpetrator?"

Elegant Cheat!

(Elegant Cheat)
Elegant Cheat!

(Elegant Cheat)
It still converts Grace's words
to sound like a noble no matter what!

(Elegant Cheat)
They all sound like the Prince's line.

This is bad...

I already have this Elegant Cheat
from the moment I came to this world,

so I don't know how to turn it off!

And so, I asked Fran to revise the script
while hiding my real reason, but...

I-I'm so sorry!

This lowly Fran has tried to revise the
script to reduce Miss Grace's screen time,

but this script is so tightly written.

If I remove one scene, there will be
contradictions in other scenes.

And if I try to fix it,
more contradictions appear!

Madam Jacqueline Auvergne's ability
to compose is not to be trifled with!

Mother...

By the way, if I may guess
your true intentions, Miss Grace...

Are you trying to reduce your screen time
so that Anna would get more?

U-umm, yes, that might be part of it...

Anna is this world's
protagonist, after all.

I knew it!

The theme of this story
is "Swapping Positions".

It also coincides with the fact
that Anna, a commoner,

has become a pillar
of the student council.

In other words,

By having you, a high-ranking noble,
take a step back,

the story's theme
will stand out even more!

That's what you're planning, right?!

I see! Amazing as always, Miss Grace!

That said, I'm very sorry.
I still lack the ability to help you!

Miss Grace, please don't blame Fran!

N-no, I'm sorry as well,
for asking such an arduous task.

Well, if she can't do it,
then I just have to accept it.

In the end, it's just a performance
for the school festival.

A failure would only mean
a small embarrassment.

Oh, Grace, you're back!

Father.

I just received a letter from Mother.

She did?

Mother is overjoyed when she hears

that you will be enacting
a script she's written in the past.

She will come to watch no matter what.

You know, maybe if the performance
somehow ends up bad,

maybe she will end up falling sick again.

No no, there is no way
Miss Grace would ever do that.

True enough.

In that case, I will have to practice!

I will dedicate any free time
I have to practicing the lines!

Or at least, there was
a short period when I believed that.

As the school festival approaches closer,
all the students become busier.

Of course, the student council
who supervises that will also get busier.

And on top of that...

We're sorry, His Highness
have to meet a guest in the palace.

Sorry, we also have a meeting
to discuss the school festival's security.

We will make sure to memorize our lines.

I forgot the seniors also have
duties beyond student councils'.

At this rate, the school festival will
arrive before we can practice together.

I don't want that
worst-case scenario to happen!

It happened...

♪ Come play the bongos ♪

♪ Come hear the samba ♪

♪ Dance to the rhythm of the carnival ♪

♪ Let's party day and night
until we feel all right ♪

♪ Don't stop the fun tonight,
we are shining bright!♪

♪ I feel the hot breeze blow
and let my body go ♪

♪ I wanna dance and dance
until I'm in a trance ♪

♪ The waves sing my song
with samba, we belong ♪

♪ The rhythm in my heart,
we'll never be apart ♪

♪ Olé, Olé!♪

♪ Matsuken Samba ♪

♪ Olé, Olé!♪

♪ Matsuken Samba ♪

♪ Ah, fall in love (amigo)♪

♪ Just dance (senorita)♪

♪ Forget about the time today
and let's dance the night away ♪

♪ Samba, viva, samba!♪

♪ Matsuken Samba!♪

♪ Olé!♪

(Illustration: Satoshi Mizukami)

A certain person said,

"There is no grass named weed."
In other words...

There is no role named "Villainess"!

Father is becoming defiant! Why now?

Ah, such a benevolent mind!
Amazing as always, Miss Grace!

This is how it's supposed to be.

Do you understand?

If I say it's true, then it's true!

(Next Episode: )
If I say it's true, then it's true!

(The Old Man Finishes the School Festival)
If I say it's true, then it's true!

(Next Episode: The Old Man
Finishes the School Festival)