01x09 - Jarmo no Chikai

[bunniefuu]

Enter.

Is that the child?

Yes, I've verified it.

Starting today,

you will call yourself Jarmo Parnilla.

The Duke's Son Claims He Won't Love Me,
But Showers Me with Adoration

Someone's going to be sold again.

They'll work us until we die.

This is the one.

There's no mistake?

Yes, I'm certain.

Come on. Stand up!

Follow me.

This is the child.

It's so warm.

Looking at you like this, I understand.
There's a striking resemblance.

Do you remember anything
about your father?

I see. Well, he did die before you
were old enough to understand anything.

You'll understand this someday
anyway, so I'll tell you now.

And to understand your role,
I think this would be best.

Your father was my younger brother.

After he fell in love with a girl in
town, then had a child and eloped,

I thought I would never again
be involved with him.

But my wife is, as you saw,
weak from poor health.

The long-awaited child
she gave birth to is a girl,

so I now require a male heir.

And so I hired people
to look for my brother...

Soon after leaving the house, he and
the town girl had a fatal accident,

and the whereabouts of the child
they'd left behind were unknown.

I continued the search, and the child
that was finally discovered was male.

And so, I've had you brought here.

Starting today, you are a member of
the Count Parnilla house and our family.

Family?

Be sure to behave in a manner
that befits your position.

I-I'm sorry.

Stop.

How unbecoming.

Here.

Here, you can have this.

I'm all right. Thank you.

Family...

This is...

my family?

I don't want to go back.
Not to that place.

I want Father to acknowledge me.

I'll be stronger than anyone.

I'll be more brilliant than anyone.

Father, now that I've managed
to enter this prestigious school,

will you praise me?

Prefect, Julius Royas.

Yes, sir.

As a representative for the new
students, I will now give a greeting.

Julius... Royas.

Julius is number one again.

The house of Royas
is just different, isn't it?

I'm second again.

I... I can't beat him.

Julius is the one person I can't beat,
no matter what I do.

Big Brother Jarmo!

You came!

I was certain you'd win, and yet...

I'm sorry, Serafina.

Julius, congratulations on first place.

You really are incredible!

Your stretch on the straight was amazing!

Thank you.

Big Brother Jarmo.

What is that gentleman's name?

So, there isn't any way for me
to beat the real thing?

Mister Jarmo, you've
already read all of these?

Yes.

Julius?

I didn't mean to say that out loud!

Um...

I'm sorry.

Who are you again?

I see.

He doesn't know who I am.

I've been watching him all this time,
but to Julius, I'm just...

Just like back when I was
in that place, I'm invisible...

someone whose name isn't worth knowing.

If it isn't an urgent matter,

my carriage will have arrived,
so if you'll excuse me.

That was a terrible dream. Why now?

Lord Jarmo, so this is where you are.

This is the latest report
regarding the investigation

into the ducal house of Royas.

Lately, in an act of philanthropy, they
seem to have bought a children's home.

I see. You may go.

My lord.

A children's home, of all things.

I'm certain you have never known...

humiliation enough to make you despair.

Yoo-hoo, Big Sister!

I came to visit!

Welcome, Hannes!

You're on your way home
from school today, aren't you?

That uniform suits you very well!

That reminds me, today, I heard this
from the librarian for the first time...

Lord Julius is an alumnus
of the school I'm attending!

My! I didn't know that!

Which means...

my husband also wore this uniform?

What were you asking about me?

Oh! I just heard that you're an alumnus
of the school that Hannes is attending!

So I couldn't help
imagining you in the uniform!

What?

I-It's nothing, really!

Lord Julius, do you have some
business here at the children's home?

I've come to pick up Elsa.

When he leaves work early,
he comes to pick me up.

I'd feel bad to leave things
a mess like this.

I'll get ready straight away!

There's no need to rush.

What is that?

I was calculating the costs
for necessary items.

We are making the most
of donated items and the like,

but there are a lot of things
we're short of.

We can't simply rely on others.

We're receiving sufficient funds, but
I'd like to be frugal where we can.

In that case, what about holding a bazaar

that would encourage
donations to the home?

Oh, I see! A bazaar!

It will help people in the neighborhood
to learn about the situation here,

and it should also help the children
to learn about society!

A bazaar?

Ms. Elsa, what's a bazaar?

A bazaar is a place where everyone
takes the things they've gathered and...

In the short time since I last saw you,

you've grown quite
sweet towards my sister.

She is someone...

that I want to always smile.

Oh, then you're Mister Julius's...

Yes, I'm his younger brother-in-law!

So, I wanted to know how Lord Julius
spent his time here, as reference.

Mister Julius was, well, he was the
number one student in excellence here...

but he was always alone.
He was a quiet boy who never smiled.

Can I sell snacks?
I want to bake cookies!

That sounds wonderful!
Let's all bake them together!

Husband, may I search the mansion
for things to showcase here?

Well, in that case...

Today is the day of the
church-hosted charity bazaar.

Thank you for your purchase!

Lady Elsa, we seem to be
nearly out of cookies.

Lady Rebeka, I'm sorry you've
had to help out so much.

Oh, not at all. I'm enjoying
myself, so please don't worry.

Ms. Elsa!

I've brought more cookies!

Oliver! Thank you so much!

We were just about to run out.

Excuse me?

Yes?

So many people have come.

And everything we've prepared
seems like it will sell out quickly.

Oh, what's that?

These are cookies I asked
to have set aside for my husband.

Julius wasn't able to come today, was he?

Yes, he seemed quite disappointed.

Ms. Elsa!

Is something wrong, Oliver?

Ms. Elsa...

is it true that you're
married to Lord Julius?

Yes, that's right.

B-But... when I grow up...

You shouldn't get between
two people like that!

A-Aila!

The two of them love each other.
That's why they're married.

Oliver!

Oh dear.

Ms. Elsa, I'm sorry
about my little brother.

It's all right.

I'll go and check on him.

I'll go, too!

I spy romance. I'll have to
tell Julius about this later.

I knew he'd be here.

Aila, please wait here.

Oliver.

I was worried when you ran off like that.

Let's go back and rejoin the others.

Ms. Elsa...

Ms. Elsa, I love you!

I'm so happy you've taken a liking to me!

I love you too, Oliver.

B-But...

I'm not your number one, right?

If you're married, then Lord Julius
is the one you love the most, right?

Honestly...

stop being a pest!

Aila! You were here, too?!

If you cause her too much trouble,
Ms. Elsa will hate you.

I-I don't want her to hate me.

I would never hate you.

I know that you are a kind boy, Oliver.

Right.

Let's go back and have snacks with
everyone. You can have my share, too.

I don't want it!

Come on, let's go.

Hey, stop pulling me!

They love each other.
That's why they're married.

Ms. Elsa, Lord Julius is
the one you love the most, right?

Regarding the progress of Julius's
regional city development plan...

I've received reports that
things are progressing smoothly

in the Eurola and Velli regions.

We should begin work in the Eukarainen
region in this upcoming fiscal year.

Which means that the Kreisa region
will be the point of difficulty after all.

Why is progress so slow there?

My subordinates are
handling it, however...

However, it hasn't been settled.

Julius, go and inspect the situation.

Understood.

You've been trying your hardest
to avoid business trips, haven't you?

Jere.

The Kreisa region is a lot like the
Eukarainen region.

The air is sweet there.

And the cheese is delicious!

Right.

A business trip...

I am deeply grateful for your support

with regards to the situation
in the Kreisa region.

Thanks to you, a portion of the delayed
road maintenance has been completed.

If you are so inclined, please do come
and visit our lands. You are very welcome.

As promised, I will support Count Parnilla
in the next election for chairman.

Lord of Kreisa, Adolf Escola

Welcome home, Father.

That blasted ducal house of Royas.

They are absolutely infuriating.

What's happened?

Just as the measure
I've been laying groundwork for

behind the scenes was about to
pass, Julius raised objections

and now the whole thing
is being reevaluated.

All he does is get in my way,
that dog of the royals.

As I've mentioned, there's no
need to worry about him.

Before too long, I shall ensure
that our house of Parnilla prevails.

It's delicious.

Everyone worked very hard.

I'm sorry I couldn't help
with the bazaar today.

How did it go?

It was very successful!

And the children seemed to be having fun.

Ms. Elsa, Lord Julius is the
one you love the most, right?

Elsa?

You must be tired from today.

I'll go and brew some new tea.

R-Right!

Oh, but no! Husband,
you went to work today, so...

Sorry!

No, please excuse my rudeness.

Sh-She's keeping her distance.

It's been bothering me for a while,

but she won't look me in the eye,
and she seems distracted.

She's been busy preparing for the bazaar
for days alongside her teaching duties,

perhaps she's simply tired.

Speaking of which, all I did was listen.

I wasn't able to help her with anything.

Leaving Elsa in this state to go
inspect some other region is just...

The Kreisa region is a lot like
the Eukarainen region.

The air is sweet there.

Elsa.

Yes?

Do you like cheese?

Do I like... what?

Cheese? Um, yes, of course. I love it!

The truth is, I'll have to take a one
week business trip to the Kreisa region...

and apparently, the cheese
is delicious there.

Yes?

So...

if you don't mind,
would you come with me?

I-I'll go! If I won't be in your way,
then I'll gladly go!

I'm looking forward to it.

Of course!