01x07 - Omoigakenai Okurimono

[bunniefuu]

"Help me!"

"Pressure from the ducal house of Royas
is going to crush my noble house!"

Lord Jarmo, what shall we do?

Nothing.

Viscount Helco, between his
wrongdoings and penchant for alcohol,

was likely always fated
to fall into ruin anyway.

If that's the case, then being of
some use before he leaves the stage

serves him better in the end,
don't you think?

Oh, dear.

Lord Julius... Oh, that Lord Julius!

Now, stop that. Do you intend
to feather the entire house?

Dear brother...

Am I lovely?

Yes, you're like an angel.

I am well aware of that!

But, Lord Julius...

He said that Lady Elsa
is more important to him.

How tragic!

Serafina, you're far more
beautiful than any jewel.

To think he couldn't see your charms.

Brother!

Lord Julius truly is completely blind!

I'll never forgive him!

He's sullied his relationship
with Serafina.

But it should still have been
of value to Julius.

Her appearance was truly unexpected.

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

That was quite the achievement, Julius.

Falsification of the purity of ores is
a huge scandal of trust for our kingdom.

And you stopped it with minimal damage.

Still, you always take measures in the
background when you destroy things.

It's rare for you to take
action from the front.

Well, it was the only way since I was
dealing with such a fool of a noble.

And good work on your
other investigative efforts.

Devote yourself to work within
the castle for a while, won't you?

Understood.

Oh! Now that I think about it,

you attended that soirée the other day
with your wife, didn't you?

Any reports on progress on that—

If you'll excuse me.

Judging by that, something
definitely happened.

With the end of the year coming up,

we're starting to prepare for a large
amount of office work and events.

He's always so blithe about things.

Hannes, I baked some cookies.

Would you like a scone?

Oh! Thank you so much!

When will you take your next break?

Oh! Lord Julius!

I'd like for you
to give this to my sister.

What is it?

It's a book that I
picked out for her birthday.

Is Elsa's birthday soon?

Oh, I knew it. My sister isn't the type
to mention these things herself.

She's born on the tenth
of White Orchid Month.

That book is a new publication
from an author my sister likes,

but she probably wouldn't buy herself
something just for amusement,

and I didn't think she'd
ask you for it either, so...

Despite appearances, my sister
likes fantasies and romances.

Her... birthday.

Husband, happy birthday!

All this time, I've never
asked about her birthday.

Lord Julius, I'm rooting for you!

You really aren't anything
like Elsa, are you?

Lately, my husband has seemed very busy.

Even at dinner, he's
been reading documents.

Husband? I've brought you some tea.

Come in.

Pardon me.

I'll leave it here. Please make
sure to take proper breaks.

Of course.

Well then, I'll head to bed first.

Elsa?

I'm sorry. I only just noticed.

I only came to bring you some tea.

Wait just a moment. Hannes
gave me a present for you.

From Hannes?

It's a little early to give it to you,

but he said it's a book
for your birthday present.

Oh! Thank you!

I hope you'll allow me to celebrate
the actual day with you.

What?

Just like you celebrated my birthday,
I want to do something for you.

Yes, that would make me very happy!
I'll be looking forward to it!

Oh, it's the new book
I've been wanting to read!

Now that I think about it,

this is the first birthday I'll spend
with someone outside of my family.

I hope you'll allow me to celebrate
the actual day with you.

For some reason, my heart is racing.

My birthday... That's when the white
orchids will be in bloom, yes?

I'm sorry, Elsa. They've scheduled
meeting I absolutely have to attend.

Oh, don't be!
Please do your best at work.

There's a place
I'd like to take you today.

I hope you'll go there and wait for me.

I will. I'm looking forward to it.

Then, I'll be off.

Stay safe!

He seems incredibly motivated.

But all he's doing is attending a meeting.

Snow?

I hope it stops falling by evening.

My lady, it seems that
Lord Julius hasn't arrived yet.

Please wait inside the carriage.

I will.

I thought this might happen, and so...

The blanket I received from
Father and Mother is so warm.

I'll relax and wait.

This story is lovely no matter
how many times I read it.

An arrogant prince, who pays
no mind to those around him,

is cursed by a witch, and he's
transformed into a rose plant.

The prince disappears,

and every day, thorny brambles
grow larger, swallowing the castle.

The terrified villagers
try to burn the rose away.

And then...

the florist's daughter...

"A plant's thorns are there
to make sure the st*lks don't break."

"Thorns are proof
of wanting to grow stronger."

The prince falls in love with
the girl's beautiful heart,

and, feeling ashamed of his arrogance,
prepares to be burned away.

The girl finds it strange that the thorny
brambles have stopped growing,

and she finds a blue rose
among the thorns.

When she gently touches the petals...

the witch's curse is broken, and
the prince returns to his human form.

The two fall in love, and, as they
share their love with each other,

they live happily ever after...

This cold. It reminds me
of when I lived with my parents.

It's so strange.

I'd always hoped for an intimate
marriage, like my mother and father's,

and I thought that in this marriage,

I would simply be fulfilling the duty's
of a wife in a ducal house.

But now, my husband is...

Elsa!

I'm sorry I'm late!

Husband, you must have been
working very hard.

I'm sorry to rush you, but we're going
to the National Arts Theater now.

What? Do you mean
that large building there?

My present to you is the opera that
the book Hannes gave you was based on.

Opera?

Have you already seen it?

No, it's my first time seeing anything
at a large venue like this!

I'm so happy!

I'm glad.

Let's go. It's about to start.

Of course!

It was a good production, wasn't it?

Yes, it was wonderful!

I'm sorry that it was
only exciting for me.

It's been a while since I last saw it,
so it was quite interesting for me.

Thank you for bringing me
to such a lovely show.

No, I should thank you.

If you hadn't shown me
that birthdays are special,

and taught me how to celebrate them...

I don't think I would
have had a heartfelt wish

to celebrate anyone's birthday like this.

Happy birthday, Elsa.

After this, the staff said they wanted
to celebrate your birthday, too,

so when we get home,
we'll be having dinner.

Oh, I see!

I did think that everyone
was being secretive today.

I'm certain they've put
a lot of effort into it.

Mother, Father...

Hannes...

I know you must be worried about me...

It seems they've come to fetch us.

Come, let's go home.

...but my birthday this year
has been dazzling.

Yes.

It's been a very special day.

Spinach, broccoli, onions,
carrots, broad beans...

There!

Have you decided?

Yes!

The other day, my husband
helped me to prepare the soil,

so I just know I'll be able to
grow delicious vegetables.

Oh, that's right, Lady Elsa!

Would you like a seedling
of a new rose variety?

They bloom in every season, so
if you take good care of them,

they'll keep flowering.

Roses?

It looks a little like the roses
in the opera we watched on my birthday.

Yes, I would very much like
one of these, please.

I made some very good purchases.

Wait...

Where am I?

I've come to a place I don't know.

There's a church in a spot like this?

Wait for me!

This way!

They appear to have
a children's home as well.

I wonder if everyone's doing well.

Hiring teachers?
And a request for donations?

Just because they're orphans
doesn't mean they can eat for free.

Make them work! They can be
porters or chimney sweeps.

The royal capital is
overflowing with work.

For these children,

spending time toiling isn't as important
as spending time studying.

Even though you have
no one to teach them?

It wouldn't bother me if a facility
like this got demolished, you know.

Excuse me!

I read that you're looking for teachers.

I'm from the ducal house of Royas.
My name is Elsa.

You seem desperate to avoid
business trips, Julius.

Of course I am. It would mean leaving
the mansion empty for several weeks.

Before, he'd go anywhere
he was ordered to go.

So, you intend to take some time off
once this measure is finished.

Yes, that is my intent.

Blasted newlywed.

That reminds me.

When I went out this afternoon,
I spotted your wife in town.

She was alone by the church and seemed
to be deep in thought about something.

Without an attendant again.

"Whew, I hope we can have
dinner together tonight."

Th-That's not what I was thinking.

Yes, you were.

Welcome home, Lord Julius.

Your wife is waiting in the living room.

Yes, thank you.

Elsa.

This is unusual.

Your meal is ready. Shall I wake her?

No.

Let's let her sleep a little longer.

Certainly, sir.

Husband!

How silly of me! I'm so sorry!

You must be tired from your outing.

Yes, I went to look at seeds and
seedlings to plant in the garden.

And the opera from before was so lovely,
I ended up buying a rose, too.

Apparently, it blooms
several times through the year,

so I hope you look forward to them.

I see.

And...

I have to tell him about
the children's home.

I, um...

Shall we have our meal?

You waited for me?

Not exactly.

I wanted to sort out the work
I'd brought home, that's all.

You're always so busy, aren't you?

We've crossed the turning point, so
things should calm down next week.

Once they do, please show me the garden.

Of course!

I'll wait on the children's home issue
until my husband's work has settled down.

Really? Thank you for the report.

A teacher for a children's home?