01x07 - Tsumetai Kuchibiru

[bunniefuu]

This is Hattusa,

the capital of the Hittite Empire
in the 14th century BCE.

This is the story of a girl
who rides the sultry winds

across the vast stretches of Anatolia.

The wind blows strong,
kicking up the dry sand.

The wind blows hot,

and I live under these skies,

- RED RIVER

- on the banks of the red river.

- COLD LIPS

- Cold Lips.

Kizzuwatna is a kingdom
allied with our empire.

We must muster Hittite troops quickly.

Doesn't Kizzuwatna have an army?

They do, but it's not large enough
to withstand this onslaught.

It'll fall in a day.

Yuri, can you make it out
of the city by yourself?

We must inform my brother
of this at all costs.

Can you do it, Yuri?

But what are you doing to do?

I'll mobilize soldiers from a
Hittite outpost to buy us time.

The outpost is a small stronghold
that will hold out for three days.

I assume my brother followed us
and is already at Kanesh.

I want you to find my brother
and rally my troops at Kanesh.

I'll do it. I promise to return with Prince Kail
and the troops within three days.

Kanesh is just north of here.

Just follow the unmoving polestar.

"Polestar"? You mean the North Star?

Yuri!

Don't go yet.

I apologize for abducting you
to this place.

And why did I say
I was jealous of my brother?

Were those my true feelings?

The queen was just manipulating you.
Don't worry about it.

Bye, prince. Take care.

Yuri!

I'll be back in three days!

Yuri.

How do I get past them?

Please don't!

Don't hurt my child!

Children are worthless, anyway.

No. I don't have time for this.

I can't get involved.

Mommy!

Don't!

This is too much.

Hold still, whelp.

Let go of them!

Who is that child?

My son!

There are scumbags like
you in every century.

L-Let's go! This isn't over!

By the gods. You're incredible.

Th-Thank you so much.

I'm glad you're safe.

Anyway, I have to go.

Why are you leaving?
It's too dangerous to travel.

No, I really must leave now.

It sounds like you have
a pressing need to do so.

Well, so be it.

I'll show you a safe route, so follow me.

A secret exit?

Then, everyone should
take it and escape.

We're not going anywhere.

This is our nation after all.

Warfare is always like this.

Homes burn down, stores get pillaged,
and women are set upon.

All we can do is hide and bide our time.

I'm sure the Hittite army
will come to the rescue.

I'm afraid the Hittites are no different
than the Mitanni soldiers.

The Hittites won't do
that awful stuff to civilians.

Prince Kail won't let them do that.

All right, off you go.

Be safe.

I swear I'll be back.

I'll be back with Prince Kail.

Just follow the lone North Star.

I wish upon all the stars
in the Anatolian sky:

Please take me to Prince Kail,
wherever he may be.

Yuri, please be well.

Is that a stray horse?

No, that's...

Yuri!

Speak to me. Do you ail?

Yuri!

Prince Kail? Is that you?

Yes, I'm here. Can you tell?

Thank god. I made it.

Prince, the Mitanni
have attacked Kizzuwatna.

We need more troops.

What?

Zannanza is doing his best
to protect everyone.

So you have to go help him.

All right. I'll go with all speed.

And another thing.

Please tell your soldiers not to harm
innocent people there.

Yuri!

Hadi, take Yuri.

Right.

Kikkuri, we ride to Kanesh.
We'll lead Zannanza's army stationed there.

Highness.

Won't the Kizzuwatna army aid us?

They still won't mobilize,
and we can't hold out much longer.

Yuri.

You've yet to bring my brother?

Highness!

Look!

I'm back, Prince Zannanza!

Brother! Yuri!

Chariots, advance!

I didn't expect the Hittites
to arrive so swiftly.

I must think.

How do I steep the
Mediterranean in Hittite blood?

Yuri!

Prince Zannanza!

Thank you for bringing my brother.

No, I'm just glad I made it in time.

Brother.

I beg your forgiveness
for kidnapping Yuri.

I shall...

We'll deal with that matter later.

I'll enter the city
through the western gate.

You advance through the eastern gate
and get behind the Prince of Darkness.

O-Of course.

Yuri, you will stay in this stronghold
with Hadi and her sisters.

What? No, I'm going, too.
Take me with you!

Ishtar is supposed
to remain in the temple.

But I...

Kikkuri, let's go.

Y-Yes, Highness.

The infantry will defend these streets!

Harm no citizens!

Secure all the women
and children left behind!

Harm brought to women and children
displeases the Hittite goddess, Ishtar.

We will not mistreat you. Trust us.

Why are you doing this?

It took us years to build up
this stock of food.

Wh-Who goes there?

Who the hell burns down a city?

Hadi, Ryui, Shala! Let's move!

Right.

R-Retreat!

It's you.

Thank god you're all okay.

And you as well!

So you really did come back for us
after successfully escaping from harm.

Yeah.

And I came back with the man
being pulled by palominos.

I see you honor that man.

And like I said, the Hittites
won't do anything bad to you.

That man won't let them.

The prince said he wanted
to bring about an ideal world.

Hadi, take care of them.

Got it.

My dear, who is that maiden?

That is Lady Yuri.

She is concubine to
the third prince, Kail Mursili,

and known as Ishtar
of the Hittite people.

That young girl?

I want to be with Prince Kail.
And be useful to him.

As such, I'll do everything
I can to act like Ishtar.

Thanks, Prince Kail.

Fool! I told you to stay in the fort.

You tempt people to attack you
if they see you unguarded.

I-I'm sorry.

I wanted to do something to help.

I can conduct battles perfectly well
without your help.

I shouldn't have yelled.

I grow agitated
when engaged in battle.

You have served as Ishtar more marvelously
than I could have imagined.

You have done enough.

Prince Kail.

Tell me what to do.

Say what you want, and I'll do it.

I do not wish to take her
to the b*ttlefield.

In fact, I'd rather she not
set foot outside my palace.

I would confine her deep in the palace,
allowing her to see no one,

so that no other man
could lay eyes upon her.

She would be mine alone.

Your Highness!

The Kizzuwatna troops
have sided with the Mitanni!

What?

King Sunash has turned against us!

We were betrayed?

The Prince of Darkness
stormed the palace.

Damn it.

Our army will be destroyed
if we don't act.

If the Mitanni invasion makes it
to the city, the w*r is lost.

What are they doing?

We're always being ruled
by some army or another!

So we'd rather be
under Ishtar's protection

than subject to the
Prince of Darkness's bloody reign!

Even if the king is with the Mitanni,
we're with the Hittites!

I've come to report.

The citizens are revolting.

What?

The townspeople are attacking
our troops inside Kizzuwatna.

Everyone is resisting our forces
while invoking Ishtar's name.

How irksome.

I wish to finish the job here.

But it would be unwise to incite the
people throughout this land.

It's no use remaining here.
We will leave.

Highness.

And tell me: Do you know
who leads the Hittite army?

Yes.

The c*ptive soldiers tell us
it's their third prince, Kail Mursili.

Kail Mursili.

I'll remember the name.

Prince Kail Mursili,
p-please forgive my treason.

It goes entirely against
the alliance we formed.

I-I beg of you to spare me.

Allow me to leave with my life!

King Sunash.

Our king will be the one
to decide your fate.

You'll confine yourself and
relinquish your rule to the prince.

Yes, Your Highness!

Ishtar!

Ishtar, grant us your blessings!

We pray for your blessings, Ishtar!

Their blind worship of Ishtar
has started to take root.

There's no going back now.

Yuri, bestow your blessings upon them.

What? But how?

His lips are cold.

Ishtar imparts her blessings
upon Kizzuwatna!

Their hearts burn with passion.

The sun is as hot as
the ground we stand on.

But his kiss was cold.

I thought we'd won the battle,

but those three look miserable.

You know very well why.
There's still that unanswered matter.

W-We've received a message.

The king has summoned
Your Highnesses and Lady Yuri...

to his palace.

I see. The queen must have sought
to convene the council of ministers.

Ministers?

The king and queen share power
with these men.

Kail Mursili. Zannanza Hattusili.

I first commend you
for your deeds in Kizzuwatna.

But they do not erase the need
to censure both of you.

Princes are supposed to be
examples to their people,

yet a scandal involving my sons has shaken
the royal house and the capital.

Especially you, Zannanza.

Abduction is a grievous offense!

Your Majesty, let me speak!

Stand down.

There is no defense for this.

Multiple guards witnessed Zannanza
take this girl by force and depart the city.

Indeed.

As punishment,
I fine you both 80 mana of silver—

We can't be soft!

I demand that both princes
be stripped of their royal titles!

She means to deprive them
of their right to succession?

Your Majesty, you said a prince
should be an example to their people.

That is why I request this penalty.

Strip the princes of their ranks.

I call on the council to vote!

Y-You can't!

I side with Her Majesty.

I side with her.

As do I.

The ministers are backing the queen.

Not even the king
can overturn the decision.

Th-This is absurd.

Your Majesty, you may render the verdict.

Then, I shall make the decree.

Kail Mursili and Zannanza Hattusili,
I hereby divest—

H-Hold on!

Prince Kail planned
the whole fake kidnapping!

Child, cease your prattle!

Let her speak.

The floor is yours.

Y-Yes, sire.

So anyway...

Prince Kail planned that whole stunt
to fool the Mitanni army.

He did what?

He knew the Prince of Darkness was going
to pull a surprise attack on Kizzuwatna,

so he sent Prince Zannanza and me
there early so we could fight back.

There was never any real kidnapping.

And we have not done anything we regret.

Do you speak the truth?

She's clearly lying.
It's a search for an alibi.

Do you think we would have won
if there'd been no preparations in place?

The victory in Kizzuwatna
proves what she says.

So why didn't you report this
prior knowledge of the Mitanni as*ault?

To fool your foes,
you must first fool your friends.

And nowadays, you never know
who might try to sabotage you.

I-I see. An excellent move, Prince Kail.

What a bold stratagem.

Oh, I for one knew
there was something more to this.

As you say.

You have performed superbly,
Kail and Zannanza.

You shall be rewarded for your deeds.
I bid you well.

Yes, sire.

Th-Thank god.

Thank you, Yuri.

You have saved me once again.

No, it's thanks to everyone
backing up my made-up story.

Seriously. The queen will jump
at any opportunity to bury us.

Oh, thanks.

Prince Kail?

Wait. Prince Kail.

Come on, Prince Kail.

Do you think something happened
between me and Prince Zannanza?

Whatever could you mean?

You saved me.

You must be weary, so you may retire.

Then why won't you look at me?

If there's something
on your mind, say it!

Stop it, you brutish girl.

I told you to stop.

No. Let go.

Prince Kail?

You need to sleep.

It's because I'm "brutish," isn't it?

Just go to one of your girlfriends!

I'll bed down with Hadi and the twins.

Kail's such a jerk.

I'm done with him.

What was I supposed to do?

Yuri is destined to leave
for her homeland.

If we grow closer,
I won't be able to let her go.