# E9 - Contrary to Wishes
Source: [Crunchyroll](https://www.crunchyroll.com/watch/GG1U2DDGX/contrary-to-wishes)
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(Please feel free to edit the speaker names if incomplete or inaccurate. Names are handled on a best-effort basis depending on the info on the source file. Dialogue is left as is.)
**[00:19] ---**
*"Never mind, face forward,"*
**[00:24] ---**
*my heart just cried until it was hoarse*
**[00:30] ---**
*When you lose something,
is that the end of it?*
**[00:35] ---**
*Is there no putting things back
the way they were?*
**[00:41] ---**
*Just as a line of clouds
moves off somewhere*
**[00:47] ---**
*when you take your eyes
off of them for a moment,*
**[00:52] ---**
*so does everything else*
**[00:57] ---**
*I never thought there was a version of me*
**[01:04] ---**
*that the world would have a need for*
**[01:09] ---**
*But when I believed in what I believe,*
**[01:15] ---**
*I found myself as I truly am*
**[01:21] ---**
*Hello, yes, the first step
I take after nodding*
**[01:26] ---**
*Hello, yes, is toward
the yet-unseen horizon*
**[01:45] ---**
"Contrary to Wishes"
**[01:54] ---**
Your Majesty? It's Juna Doma.
**[01:57] ---**
Juna? Come in.
**[01:59] ---**
Please excuse me.
**[02:15] ---**
I heard from the princess that
you have not been sleeping lately.
**[02:19] ---**
My body is tired and everything,
**[02:22] ---**
but I have a lot running around
in my mind, and I can't fall asleep.
**[02:41] ---**
Please lie back.
**[02:43] ---**
Huh?
**[02:44] ---**
Just lie back for me.
**[02:54] ---**
It's all right to show weakness.
**[02:57] ---**
I am on your side, after all.
**[03:01] ---**
I understand not wanting to look
miserable in front of the princess.
**[03:06] ---**
That is why you can put in
so much effort to appear strong.
**[03:10] ---**
But sire, when it gets to be
too tiring, please call for me.
**[03:26] ---**
It's all right. If the princess is the one
who draws out your strength,
**[03:30] ---**
then I will be the one
who conceals your weakness.
**[03:37] ---**
♪ Sleep tonight ♪
**[03:43] ---**
♪ Sleep until tomorrow ♪
**[03:49] ---**
♪ Once you awaken, walk on ♪
**[03:55] ---**
♪ When you tire... ♪
**[03:57] ---**
"Carmine Duchy: Randel"
**[04:00] ---**
Is not now our chance,
before public opinion
**[04:03] ---**
tips entirely in Souma's favor?
**[04:06] ---**
Huh?
**[04:07] ---**
Castor, are you still planning on
rebelling against the king?
**[04:11] ---**
Of course! I don't care if he is a hero!
**[04:14] ---**
And what about you?!
You disliked the king,
**[04:17] ---**
which is why you refused his request
for assistance, remember?
**[04:19] ---**
What comes first for me, above all else,
is the peace and safety of Lagoon City.
**[04:24] ---**
As if it wasn't enough that
our neighboring countries
**[04:26] ---**
are waiting for their chance to strike,
**[04:28] ---**
quarreling among ourselves
right now is preposterous.
**[04:31] ---**
You mean the Principality of Amidonia?
**[04:33] ---**
"If you wish to dethrone the false king,
we stand ready to send reinforcements."
**[04:37] ---**
That was in the letter they sent us.
**[04:39] ---**
I'm sure they sent the same offer
to the king, as well.
**[04:42] ---**
They are hoping that we
bring each other down.
**[04:46] ---**
What do you have in mind?
**[04:51] ---**
What are you asking?
**[04:53] ---**
The reasons why you, who has such
patriotism and loyalty to this country,
**[04:56] ---**
would take hostile action
against the new king.
**[05:00] ---**
Setting aside whether or not he is a
legitimate king, his reign has been sound.
**[05:04] ---**
Why would you deliberately try
to make waves?
**[05:07] ---**
I have determined that this king cannot
govern the kingdom. That's all.
**[05:11] ---**
Why is that?
**[05:12] ---**
He has competently overcome
a number of national crises already.
**[05:15] ---**
What do you find unsatisfactory?
**[05:18] ---**
He has cast aside so much
without a second thought!
**[05:23] ---**
This king was summoned here
from another world.
**[05:26] ---**
As such, he does not hesitate
to let go of anything.
**[05:29] ---**
If he finds them to be too inefficient,
he discards our history, our traditions,
**[05:32] ---**
our soldiers, and our ministers.
Am I wrong about that?
**[05:36] ---**
Well...
**[05:37] ---**
This king did away with ministers who
served the kingdom for many years.
**[05:41] ---**
Those who harbor ill will toward the king
**[05:43] ---**
will be effective pawns
in overthrowing him.
**[05:47] ---**
Have you become obsessed with
your aspirations to the throne?!
**[05:50] ---**
This is Duke Carmine you're talking to.
**[05:52] ---**
He has no designs on usurping the throne.
**[05:56] ---**
Of course not.
Once King Souma is driven out,
**[05:58] ---**
I will have King Albert reclaim
the throne, and we will serve *him*.
**[06:09] ---**
Castor, just in case anything happens,
**[06:12] ---**
you must sever your ties
with Accela, Carla, and Carl.
**[06:16] ---**
Are you saying I will be beaten
by that lightweight kid?!
**[06:18] ---**
It is on the off chance
that something happens.
**[06:20] ---**
If you are going to go against the king,
**[06:21] ---**
then at least be prepared
in case something does.
**[06:29] ---**
Carla?!
**[06:31] ---**
Grandmother! If Father is committed
to fighting, then I will fight, too!
**[06:36] ---**
You must not! Do you intend
to turn traitor at your age?!
**[06:40] ---**
He deposed King Albert,
and attempted to violate my friend Liscia.
**[06:44] ---**
This cannot stand!
**[06:45] ---**
You misunderstand! King Souma--
**[06:47] ---**
You need not worry about me.
**[06:49] ---**
I, Carla, daughter of the House of Vargas,
will accomplish this brilliantly!
**[06:54] ---**
"Principality of Amidonia, Capital, Van"
**[07:01] ---**
Ho...
**[07:02] ---**
What is it, Father?
**[07:04] ---**
It's from Georg Carmine.
Apparently, he's finally taking a stand.
**[07:14] ---**
Took him long enough
to get off his hindquarters.
**[07:17] ---**
He must be getting old.
If he were still in his prime,
**[07:21] ---**
he would have been wise enough
not to accept our invitation.
**[07:24] ---**
That's for certain.
**[07:29] ---**
We act upon declaration of war. We'll send
"reinforcements" to the kingdom.
**[07:34] ---**
Ho... and whom will we be sending them to?
**[07:37] ---**
Whom, you ask?
**[07:40] ---**
King Souma will be sent reinforcements
against the Three Dukedoms.
**[07:43] ---**
The Three Dukedoms will be sent
reinforcements against the new king.
**[07:47] ---**
Father, you really are the worst.
**[07:55] ---**
Good grief. What am I going to do
with my old man and my idiot brother?
**[08:00] ---**
As if Amidonia's strength
wasn't meager enough,
**[08:02] ---**
they want to pare it down even more?
**[08:04] ---**
Roroa, you had best not speak
of such things too blithely.
**[08:09] ---**
The Elfrieden Kingdom sure has it nice.
**[08:12] ---**
They have a large population,
**[08:13] ---**
so they must have lots of
tax money and operational capital.
**[08:16] ---**
For goodness sake, I can't help but
be jealous of our neighbor's purse.
**[08:22] ---**
Purse?
**[08:28] ---**
As the documents state, we can look
forward to a plentiful harvest this fall.
**[08:33] ---**
Thus, it would be fair to consider
the food issue to be largely solved.
**[08:38] ---**
That's good to hear.
**[08:40] ---**
Now we can rest at ease and
move on to the "next step."
**[08:44] ---**
We really do have to
go through with it, huh?
**[08:47] ---**
Is it weighing heavily on you?
**[08:49] ---**
Well, yeah. I understand
that it's necessary, but still...
**[08:54] ---**
Yes, it was necessary.
**[08:58] ---**
The great political thinker Machiavelli
says the following in *The Prince*:
**[09:03] ---**
If a prince must turn to acts of cruelty,
**[09:06] ---**
then his position, even in
peaceful times, is in jeopardy.
**[09:09] ---**
However, for some rulers, despite
the length and breadth of their cruelty,
**[09:13] ---**
they live out their lives in tranquility
**[09:15] ---**
without any uprisings domestically,
and staving off any external enemies.
**[09:19] ---**
The difference is in whether
the ruler's "cruelties"
**[09:22] ---**
are used properly or poorly.
**[09:25] ---**
To a ruler, "cruelties"
are a sword of last resort
**[09:28] ---**
to cut through all obstacles...
**[09:30] ---**
...but if he falls prey to
their addictive nature,
**[09:32] ---**
they are an enchanted sword,
which will bring downfall sooner or later.
**[09:41] ---**
I've said before that I've determined
your plan to be one of these "cruelties."
**[09:47] ---**
Yes, as well as saying that if we must
strike, to strike with one decisive blow.
**[09:58] ---**
Kazuya...
**[10:00] ---**
Start a family. And no matter what
comes your way, keep them safe.
**[10:16] ---**
We are hereby commencing
our "subjugation."
**[10:21] ---**
"Union of Eastern Nations
A federation composed of
smaller nations on the central eastern
region of the continent."
**[10:24] ---**
"Castor Vargas
Race: Half-dragonewt
A hot-blooded man who
values creed over interests."
**[10:28] ---**
"Principality of Amidonia, Capital, Van"
**[10:34] ---**
The time has come! Assemble the troops!
**[10:37] ---**
As soon as Georg begins his revolt,
**[10:39] ---**
we begin our invasion
of Elfrieden territory!
**[10:43] ---**
Our target is the grain belt
in the southwest!
**[10:45] ---**
The time to take back the land that was
stolen from our forefathers 50 years ago
**[10:49] ---**
is now upon us!
**[10:50] ---**
A moment please, Your Highness!
**[10:55] ---**
Oh, it's you, Colbert.
**[10:57] ---**
If I may humbly say, Your Highness,
please reconsider invading Elfrieden.
**[11:02] ---**
If you begin a war now,
the people will starve.
**[11:18] ---**
You domestic affairs ministers
always say the same thing...
**[11:22] ---**
"Now is not the time.
Focus on domestic affairs."
**[11:25] ---**
What do you have to show for it?!
**[11:27] ---**
Ever since the Elfrieden Kingdom's
new king ascended to the throne,
**[11:30] ---**
their national strength has
been making a comeback!
**[11:34] ---**
Please listen to me, Your Highness.
If you invade Elfrieden
**[11:38] ---**
our nation will be open to censure
from other countries!
**[11:41] ---**
We are signatories to the empire's
Declaration of Mankind's Common Front
**[11:44] ---**
Against the Demon Race!
**[11:47] ---**
The Mankind Declaration, huh?
**[11:50] ---**
Spearheaded by the Gran Chaos Empire,
**[11:53] ---**
the Declaration of Mankind's Common
Front Against the Demon Race,
**[11:55] ---**
or "Mankind Declaration" for short,
**[11:57] ---**
is the name of a decree from the empire,
which controls the largest territory,
**[12:01] ---**
as well as the greatest military might,
**[12:02] ---**
stating that owing to the expansion
of the Demon Lord's Domain,
**[12:04] ---**
all conflicts between mankind
were to come to a halt,
**[12:07] ---**
and to keep monsters and demons
from coming any farther south,
**[12:11] ---**
mankind was to come together as one
and cooperate with each other,
**[12:14] ---**
and acts as an international treaty.
**[12:17] ---**
Its main points consist of
the following three articles:
**[12:21] ---**
One of those articles states that any
changes in borders among mankind
**[12:25] ---**
that come about through conflict
will not be recognized.
**[12:29] ---**
If we invade Elfrieden, we will be
courting intervention from the empire.
**[12:34] ---**
Your Highness, please!
**[12:43] ---**
Colbert, that will not be a concern.
**[12:46] ---**
For you see, Elfrieden has not signed
onto the Mankind Declaration.
**[12:51] ---**
Julius... sir, that is just sophistry.
**[12:54] ---**
Diplomacy is something where only
signed treaties carry any weight.
**[12:58] ---**
--But sir!
--Enough already!
**[13:01] ---**
As of this moment,
**[13:02] ---**
Colbert, you are removed from
your post as finance minister!
**[13:10] ---**
Yoo-hoo, Colbert! You sure have
a depressed look on your face.
**[13:14] ---**
Princess!
**[13:16] ---**
That bruise... You must have been
admonished by my old man.
**[13:21] ---**
Princess, I am perfectly all right.
**[13:24] ---**
You are? Then go get ready.
**[13:26] ---**
Huh? Um, Princess, what exactly
are you planning to do?
**[13:31] ---**
That's obvious. We're both
going to drop out of sight.
**[13:34] ---**
Sebastian is already getting things ready.
**[13:37] ---**
For now, just come with me.
**[13:39] ---**
Huh? Huh?!
**[13:43] ---**
What is it, Souma?
**[13:45] ---**
I'm about to meet with the Three Dukes.
**[13:49] ---**
But before I do, there's something
I very much need to ask you, Liscia.
**[14:13] ---**
This is the first time we're meeting
face-to-face, isn't it?
**[14:15] ---**
I am the interim king,
to whom King Albert,
**[14:18] ---**
the previous ruler of Elfrieden, has
yielded the throne, Souma Kazuya.
**[14:23] ---**
Air Force General Castor Vargas.
**[14:26] ---**
It is a pleasure to meet you,
our new king.
**[14:30] ---**
I am Excel Walter.
**[14:33] ---**
I am Army General Georg Carmine.
**[14:38] ---**
Very well, I am now issuing my
ultimatum to the Three Dukedoms.
**[14:43] ---**
If you continue to disobey
my orders moving forward,
**[14:46] ---**
then I will have no choice
but to recognize you as traitors.
**[14:50] ---**
I would like to hear your
thoughts on this matter.
**[14:53] ---**
Your Majesty, I would like
to ask you a question.
**[14:57] ---**
What is it?
**[14:58] ---**
What do you plan to do
with the Three Duchies?
**[15:02] ---**
If you do as I say,
**[15:04] ---**
I have no intention of taking action
against the Three Duchies themselves.
**[15:06] ---**
Then what about
the Three Dukedom's armed forces?
**[15:09] ---**
I will incorporate
the Three Dukedom's armed forces
**[15:11] ---**
into the Forbidden Army,
creating a new, united force.
**[15:13] ---**
In doing so, I will abolish your
previously recognized right
**[15:16] ---**
to maintain armed forces
within the Three Duchies.
**[15:19] ---**
So, I was right.
**[15:22] ---**
You have some idea of what the hell
you're trying to do, don't you?!
**[15:26] ---**
If a despot becomes king,
and asserts his own racial supremacy,
**[15:31] ---**
then the other races may face oppression.
**[15:34] ---**
The Three Dukedom's armed forces
are what our forefathers came up with
**[15:38] ---**
to prevent that from ever happening.
**[15:40] ---**
This allows us, the Three Dukes,
**[15:42] ---**
to support as well as watch
over the royal family,
**[15:44] ---**
and if it becomes necessary,
to remove that despot.
**[15:48] ---**
Are you trying to overturn that system?
**[15:51] ---**
That may have been fine
during times of peace.
**[15:54] ---**
But right now, the state
of the world is unstable.
**[15:57] ---**
The Principality of Amidonia, which
cries out for vengeance against us,
**[16:00] ---**
and the Republic of Turgis,
whose aim is to expand northward,
**[16:03] ---**
are out to claim our territory
if they see any opening.
**[16:06] ---**
The Nine-Headed Dragon
Archipelago Union to the east
**[16:09] ---**
is relentless in their disputes
over fishing rights.
**[16:12] ---**
In times of strife, having a military with
multiple command structures is futile.
**[16:16] ---**
Now is the time to centralize our power.
**[16:19] ---**
And what if that center
of power grows corrupt?
**[16:24] ---**
If that happens, you can come
and claim my head!
**[16:33] ---**
There is one other thing
I would like to ask you.
**[16:36] ---**
Your Majesty, I hear that you are
constructing a new gulf coast city.
**[16:41] ---**
Once that city is complete,
what is to become of Lagoon City?
**[16:45] ---**
The new city is planned as a port
of trade as well as a tourist spot.
**[16:50] ---**
Thus Lagoon City will likely continue
to serve as our naval port.
**[16:56] ---**
I am relieved to hear that.
**[17:02] ---**
As of this moment, I, Excel Walter,
**[17:05] ---**
along with the Elfrieden Kingdom's Navy,
**[17:07] ---**
place ourselves under Your Majesty's
command, and will follow your orders.
**[17:13] ---**
I am grateful for your wise decision.
**[17:15] ---**
I look forward to working together
from here on for the sake of the kingdom.
**[17:18] ---**
As you wish, sire.
**[17:21] ---**
Duke Vargas, extend to me your help
for the good of our kingdom.
**[17:26] ---**
Unfortunately, I can't do that.
**[17:29] ---**
I have been defending
the Elfrieden Kingdom
**[17:32] ---**
since the reign of the king
two generations prior.
**[17:34] ---**
So then, why did King Albert
abdicate the throne to you,
**[17:38] ---**
without so much as a word
to us Three Dukes?
**[17:42] ---**
That... is something I would
like to know myself.
**[17:48] ---**
Princess Liscia...
**[17:49] ---**
...do you know anything about this?
**[17:51] ---**
I am sorry, but Father stubbornly insists:
**[17:53] ---**
"If I take any action,
some would begin to suspect things.
**[17:56] ---**
Souma is the king now,"
and that is all he will say.
**[18:00] ---**
I see.
**[18:02] ---**
I cannot accept you as our king after all.
**[18:07] ---**
Duke Vargas!
**[18:09] ---**
I will side with Duke Carmine.
**[18:12] ---**
Is that... your final decision?
**[18:16] ---**
Yeah. But this is a decision
I reached on my own.
**[18:20] ---**
The ones siding with Duke Carmine
**[18:22] ---**
are 100 members of
the Red Dragon City knights,
**[18:25] ---**
while the remainder of the air force
will not be mustered,
**[18:28] ---**
and will remain neutral.
**[18:30] ---**
I see.
**[18:32] ---**
Is Duke Vargas's decision in
consideration of his possible defeat?
**[18:35] ---**
How can this be?
**[18:38] ---**
Now, Army General Georg Carmine,
**[18:41] ---**
I'll not ask whether
you'll follow me or not.
**[18:44] ---**
The moment you accepted the nobles
who were guilty of corruption,
**[18:47] ---**
it was evident that you had
no intention of following me.
**[18:51] ---**
So I would like to ask you one thing--
**[18:53] ---**
what was it that stirred
you up so intensely?
**[18:57] ---**
My pride as a warrior.
**[19:01] ---**
After passing 55 years,
it was my lot to decline with age,
**[19:05] ---**
but I have gained a supreme opportunity.
**[19:08] ---**
I will decide the fate of Elfrieden
through my own acumen.
**[19:13] ---**
You are being a complete fool!
**[19:16] ---**
Needless to say. One cannot serve as
a warrior without being a complete fool.
**[19:20] ---**
I will let you witness how I live.
**[19:24] ---**
Are you sure you don't mean
the way you die?
**[19:26] ---**
They are the same thing. Those who aim
to live, die; those who aim to die, live.
**[19:32] ---**
Such is the way of the warrior.
**[19:34] ---**
In that case, I will step over
your old-growth trunk.
**[19:39] ---**
Hmph, though I may be rotting, I am
a great tree, with roots long and deep.
**[19:44] ---**
If it's resolve you want, I have it!
**[19:49] ---**
Georg Carmine, as well as Castor Vargas,
**[19:53] ---**
before we head into battle,
I have one proposal.
**[19:58] ---**
You do not wish for
the fighting to drag on,
**[20:00] ---**
and for it to involve innocent citizens
of the kingdom, do you?
**[20:05] ---**
So I'd like to establish the rule
that if you kill or capture the other,
**[20:07] ---**
the forces under their command
immediately switch to fall under yours.
**[20:11] ---**
Mm-hmm.
**[20:13] ---**
All right. If I am defeated, take good
care of my men who still remain.
**[20:22] ---**
With that, I will excuse myself.
**[20:26] ---**
Wait!
**[20:30] ---**
Princess...
**[20:33] ---**
Duke Carmine...
**[21:00] ---**
This is my resolve.
I will stride alongside Souma.
**[21:06] ---**
I see and acknowledge your resolve.
**[21:24] ---**
I'm sorry. I couldn't convince Castor.
**[21:29] ---**
There was nothing you could do.
He made his decision for himself.
**[21:33] ---**
Duchess Walter, is she there?
**[21:36] ---**
Yes, she is.
**[21:40] ---**
You called for me, Your Majesty?
**[21:45] ---**
Thank you for everything, Juna.
Because of your connection,
**[21:49] ---**
we will not have to fight
against Duchess Walter.
**[21:52] ---**
I only did as I was ordered to.
**[21:55] ---**
Though she is my granddaughter,
**[21:57] ---**
I had the audacity to have her look
into Your Majesty's fitness to be king,
**[22:00] ---**
and for that I apologize.
**[22:03] ---**
It's all right. As a result,
I have you on my side now.
**[22:09] ---**
Souma...
**[22:13] ---**
...you have us on your side as well.
**[22:18] ---**
*The wind blowing by rushes
through the world,*
**[22:22] ---**
*connecting us when otherwise
we never would have met*
**[22:27] ---**
*Unfurling wings that no one else can see,*
**[22:31] ---**
*I take flight in search of a miracle
that no one else can find*
**[22:43] ---**
*Seeking the courage to keep on choosing*
**[22:48] ---**
*the outcome of an ever-meandering morrow,*
**[22:52] ---**
*I never want to fear change*
**[22:56] ---**
*or doubt the blueness of the sky*
**[23:01] ---**
*More than any dreams I once had*
**[23:03] ---**
*and beyond any future I've imagined,*
**[23:05] ---**
*I want to keep on drifting along*
**[23:09] ---**
*within this transcendentally beautiful
moment I'm spending with you*
**[23:13] ---**
*If I can make that come true...*
**[23:17] ---**
*I shoot up through the blue
to the sky where we connect*
**[23:22] ---**
*Grasp my destiny and reel it in*
**[23:25] ---**
*And through our joined hands,*
**[23:30] ---**
*you feel my helpless wish for eternity*
**[23:35] ---**
*Even if this is only an illusion*
**[23:37] ---**
*taking place within someone's dream,*
**[23:39] ---**
*I'll still take this blowing wind*
**[23:41] ---**
*and hold on tight as I take flight*