E13 - Ravens Shouldn't Wear Kimono
Source: Crunchyroll
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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.)
SIGN YATAGARASU
SIGN The Raven
Does Not
Choose
Its Master
[01:47] Nazukihiko
Very well.
[01:49] Nazukihiko
In that case, let me tell you...
SIGN Kasuke
[01:52] Nazukihiko
what your beloved lady has been up
to while your eyes were turned.
[01:58] Masuho
A letter?
SIGN Kasuke
[02:02] Elderly Lady-in-waiting
When you return to the Center, please tell
His Highness we appreciate his concern.
[02:08] Nazukihiko
Certainly. I promise to inform His Highness.
[02:21] Nazukihiko
Shall I assist you?
[02:23] Kasuke
Huh?
[02:25] Nazukihiko
Then, you and the Second Lady
must be quite close, Kasuke.
[02:30] Kasuke
I wouldn't dare!
[02:30] Kasuke
Servant of
the Eastern House
Kasuke
[02:33] Kasuke
But her ladyship has a good heart.
[02:37] Kasuke
She even has kind words for hill
ravens with no family, like me.
[02:43] Kasuke
I would do anything for her.
[02:48] Nazukihiko
The next time I called on the Eastern
House, Kasuke had gone missing.
[02:53] Nazukihiko
Most assumed he had grown dissatisfied
with his treatment and fled.
[02:58] Nazukihiko
And just before that, an
intruder caused a stir here.
[03:01] Nazukihiko
I saved this letter from the
fire in the nick of time.
[03:05] Ukogi
Wh-What does it say?
[03:28] Yukiya
"I'd like you to come see me
without a word to anyone."
[03:32] Asebi
I'll await you on the first
moonless night after Tanabata.
[03:39] Asebi
Come to the red kimono and—
[03:43] Shiratama
A red kimono hangs outside the
Autumn Hall, not the Spring Hall!
[03:47] Yukiya
Huh?
[03:49] Masuho
Asebi, you meant to
send that man to me?!
[03:54] Asebi
You misunderstand, Lady Masuho!
[03:56] Asebi
I tried to put out a red kimono!
Right in front of my room!
[04:00] Asebi
But...
[04:01] Ukogi
I... I bear the blame!
[04:04] Ukogi
I took the kimono down, never
dreaming what it was for.
[04:10] Ukogi
My lady never meant to cause distress.
[04:13] Nazukihiko
She should have had no difficulty
foreseeing you would stop her.
[04:17] Ukogi
That is but more speculation!
[04:20] Nazukihiko
I see ladies-in-waiting
are loyal to a fault.
[04:24] Nazukihiko
I hear that Kasuke could not read.
[04:27] Asebi
What? Is such a thing possible?
[04:31] Nazukihiko
It's hardly unusual, especially
among poor, rural hill ravens.
[04:37] Nazukihiko
Samomo read your letter aloud to Kasuke
and wrote out his reply for him.
[04:45] Nazukihiko
You didn't realize? I thought as much.
[04:50] Asebi
Thank you for going, Samomo.
[04:53] Asebi
How did it go? Did you get an answer?
[04:57] Asebi
Thank you!
[04:58] Asebi
You must be tired. Take it easy today.
[05:15] Asebi
Samomo doesn't seem like herself.
[05:18] Asebi
I think she found out that I
summoned a manservant here.
[05:22] Asebi
Samomo won't tell anyone, will she?
[05:25] Asebi
Will I need to leave the palace
if this becomes public knowledge?
[05:34] Asebi
Whatever shall I do,
[05:38] Asebi
Princess Fujinami?!
[05:44] Nazukihiko
Do I have that
approximately right, Fujinami?
[05:47] Takimoto
Her Highness is in ill health.
[05:51] Takimoto
Even Your Highness has no right to...
[05:56] Nazukihiko
Now, let's read one more letter.
[05:59] Asebi
That's... the letter I wrote to you!
[06:03] Asebi
Receiving my first
letter from Your Highness
[06:06] Asebi
made me so happy that I
wrote back right away.
[06:08] Nazukihiko
Yes. And I wrote identical
letters to all four ladies.
[06:15] Nazukihiko
But for some reason, I only
received this single reply.
SIGN His Highness
the Prince
[06:24] Kikuno
Only the Spring Hall received
His Highness's letter?
[06:27] Kikuno
Ukogi, is that true?!
[06:30] Ukogi
W-Well...
[06:31] Asebi
Wait! Don't blame Ukogi.
[06:34] Asebi
I felt so giddy that I didn't
think things through.
[06:38] Cha-no-Hana
You have some nerve,
feigning innocence.
[06:41] Cha-no-Hana
Don't tell me you and Hamayu
stole those letters together?
[06:46] Yukiya
I don't think Lady Hamayu
was the letter thief.
[06:50] Cha-no-Hana
What do you mean? Hamayu
admitted to the theft herself!
[06:56] Masuho
I believe in Hamayu's innocence as well.
[07:00] Masuho
The letters were kept under strict watch.
[07:02] Masuho
Messages to Cherry Blossom Palace
are stopped at Wisteria Hall,
[07:07] Masuho
from which each house's
ladies-in-waiting retrieve them.
[07:11] Masuho
The system allows no opportunity
to take another house's letters.
[07:14] Masuho
That goes for all of us, not only Hamayu.
[07:18] Cha-no-Hana
But the letters were in fact—
[07:21] Shiratama
You said all correspondence is stored
in Wisteria Hall, didn't you?
[07:26] Shiratama
Then, even if we couldn't
take it, perhaps...
[07:36] Fujinami
B-Brother, I...
[07:41] Fujinami
Forgive me, Brother!
[07:45] Fujinami
I've been a fool.
[07:47] Fujinami
I merely wished for Lady Asebi
to become your consort.
[07:52] Nazukihiko
Hiding my letters is a trivial matter.
[07:55] Nazukihiko
At least compared to your
other crime, Fujinami.
[08:12] Fujinami
I understand.
[08:14] Fujinami
I'll speak with Samomo. She won't breathe
a word of your manservant to anyone.
[08:19] Asebi
But I can't help feeling uneasy.
[08:22] Asebi
Samomo loves to chat. What
if her tongue slips?
[08:25] Fujinami
Surely you worry too much.
[08:28] Fujinami
Samomo knows her duty, and she has
a good head on her shoulders.
[08:38] Asebi
That's true. No doubt you're right.
[08:43] Fujinami
Sister, umm...
[08:45] Asebi
Forgive me for intruding on
you at such a busy time.
[08:59] Fujinami
You've served me well all this time.
[09:01] Fujinami
You may have this. Now, leave
Cherry Blossom Palace at once.
[09:06] Samomo
Is it Lady Asebi?
[09:08] Samomo
She isn't the person Your
Highness imagines her to be.
[09:12] Samomo
Her ladyship—
[09:13] Fujinami
Enough.
[09:14] Fujinami
I told you to go. Now, go.
[09:15] Samomo
She's trying to ensnare her
rivals by underhanded—
[09:18] Fujinami
I don't want to hear another word from you!
[09:20] Samomo
Please! Please hear me out!
[09:28] Fujinami
Dawn has broken.
[09:30] Fujinami
Fly away this instant.
[09:32] Fujinami
A hill raven like you must know how!
[09:34] Samomo
Be care—
[10:06] Takimoto
Worry not.
[10:08] Takimoto
I, Takimoto, shall ensure
Your Highness's safety.
[10:15] Fujinami
I didn't know.
[10:17] Fujinami
I thought hill ravens could
fly whenever they want.
[10:20] Fujinami
How could I know her kimono
would get in the way?
[10:24] Fujinami
I only wanted her to leave.
[10:27] Fujinami
Lady Asebi was troubled.
[10:30] Fujinami
I didn't want to lose
Lady Asebi's affection!
[10:36] Nazukihiko
You share her guilt, Takimoto.
[10:39] Nazukihiko
You beheaded Kasuke while he merely
ran in panic, branded him a thief,
[10:44] Nazukihiko
and then twisted the truth to claim he
killed Samomo after falling out with her.
[10:49] Nazukihiko
All to shield your mistress.
[10:52] Yukiya
Samomo's corpse was half human
and half in raven shape.
[10:59] Yukiya
She struggled frantically to
fly until the bitter end.
[11:07] Fujinami
S-Samomo!
[11:15] Fujinami
I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!
[11:23] Asebi
Oh, poor Princess Fujinami.
[11:27] Nazukihiko
You pity her?
[11:30] Nazukihiko
You must have realized she harbored
special feelings for you,
[11:35] Nazukihiko
that she'd hidden my letters to
the other ladies for your sake.
[11:38] Asebi
I did, and it pained me.
[11:42] Asebi
I felt so guilty toward Lady Shiratama
and Lady Masuho-no-Susuki.
[11:46] Asebi
But Princess Fujinami acted
out of affection for me.
[11:52] Asebi
I couldn't possibly fault her for it.
[11:55] Nazukihiko
And what about Samomo?
[11:57] Nazukihiko
Did you never stop to think
what Fujinami would do
[12:02] Nazukihiko
if you mentioned leaving the
palace and begged her for help?
[12:06] Asebi
You don't mean...
[12:08] Asebi
the Princess misunderstood me?!
[12:14] Asebi
Oh, how awful!
[12:17] Asebi
I failed to make myself clear,
[12:20] Asebi
but I never dreamed she would
do anything so frightful!
[12:26] Asebi
I bear all the blame.
[12:29] Asebi
If only I hadn't presumed on
Princess Fujinami's affection.
[12:33] Asebi
Please forgive me, Princess Fujinami.
[12:39] Asebi
Samono and Kasuke should
never have had to die.
[12:44] Asebi
What a tragic twist of fate.
[13:14] Nazukihiko
I can't prove your malice.
[13:21] Asebi
Your Highness, for so long,
I've felt drawn to—
[13:26] Nazukihiko
But I'm sorry to say I loathe you.
[13:37] Fujinami
Sister...
[13:47] Fujinami
Brother...!
[14:26] Nazukihiko
I've kept you waiting, Sumi.
[14:28] Yukiya
"Sumi"?
[14:30] Nazukihiko
Hey. Face facts already.
[14:32] Nazukihiko
Did you forget your old name?
[14:34] Nazukihiko
Or did falling off a cliff on your
rump knock it out of your head?
[14:39] Hamayu
You... pasty-faced wimp!
[14:42] Shiratama
L-Lady Hamayu?!
[14:46] Masuho
Honestly! You had me worried sick!
[14:58] Hamayu
So, when did you
figure out I was Sumi?
[15:02] Nazukihiko
When I sounded out the Southern House.
[15:05] Nazukihiko
It turned out my old partner-in-crime
had entered the palace as a lady.
[15:09] Nazukihiko
I assume you sent me that warning.
[15:12] Nazukihiko
Not many people would
take my side, after all.
[15:17] Hamayu
I guess nothing gets past you.
[15:23] Nazukihiko
I got a letter from Masuho-no-Susuki.
[15:26] Nazukihiko
She wrote that she was harboring you,
[15:29] Nazukihiko
and that you'd confessed to stealing
letters you never touched.
[15:33] Hamayu
Why, that—
[15:34] Nazukihiko
You didn't shield Fujinami.
[15:37] Nazukihiko
You tried to protect her
kin in the Western House.
[15:41] Nazukihiko
A stain on their reputation would get
in the way of my marrying Masuho.
[15:45] Hamayu
You're too clever by half.
[15:48] Hamayu
I put my money
on Masuho-no-Susuki.
[15:51] Hamayu
If anyone has what it takes
to be your consort, she does.
[15:55] Nazukihiko
Well, you have a point.
[15:58] Hamayu
Then, why did you goad her into
giving you the cold shoulder?
[16:02] Nazukihiko
You could tell?
[16:03] Hamayu
Ask for Masuho-no-Susuki's hand again.
[16:06] Nazukihiko
Masuho just took holy vows.
[16:07] Hamayu
It's not too late. I'll talk to her.
[16:10] Hamayu
Of the Four Houses, only the West
can protect you going forward.
[16:14] Hamayu
You know that, right?
[16:18] Hamayu
This isn't funny!
[16:20] Hamayu
Your life is on the line!
[16:23] Nazukihiko
Thank you, Sumi.
[16:32] Nazukihiko
I want to change the status quo.
[16:35] Nazukihiko
The Empress and the Kin'u have warped
imperial relations with the Four Houses.
[16:39] Nazukihiko
I want to set them right.
[16:42] Nazukihiko
To do that, the Royal House
must have neutrality.
[16:45] Nazukihiko
For my consort, I need a
woman who can do her duty
[16:49] Nazukihiko
but who won't tip the power
balance of the Four Houses.
[16:53] Hamayu
I see where you're coming from,
[16:55] Hamayu
but where will you find a woman like—
[16:59] Nazukihiko
Hamayu.
[17:01] Nazukihiko
I do not find you particularly special,
and I do not love you, either.
[17:07] Nazukihiko
That will not change if I marry you.
[17:11] Nazukihiko
I will take any number of
concubines if the need arises.
[17:14] Nazukihiko
Given the right circumstances,
I may even abandon you.
[17:19] Nazukihiko
But I will not allow you to complain or
to become intimate with any other man.
[17:26] Nazukihiko
You must stifle yourself
and live only for me.
[17:30] Nazukihiko
If you are prepared to accept all of that,
would you consent to become my wife?
[17:38] Hamayu
So, that's how it is.
[17:41] Nazukihiko
You belong to none of the Four Houses.
[17:43] Nazukihiko
I couldn't ask for a more perfect consort.
[17:47] Hamayu
You don't mind making enemies
of all four houses?
[17:50] Nazukihiko
I'm counting on it.
[17:52] Hamayu
Your mother was murdered by—
[17:54] Nazukihiko
I know, but it doesn't matter.
[18:06] Hamayu
I have one condition.
[18:09] Hamayu
Let me tend to you on your deathbed.
[18:14] Nazukihiko
Very well. You have my word.
[18:25] Nazukihiko
What was that for? I thought you'd
fallen head over heels for me.
[18:31] Hamayu
I suggest you study up on women's feelings.
[18:39] Sumi
Ow.
[18:41] Sumi
Damn it. I slipped.
[18:47] Nazukihiko
Let's go,
[18:48] Nazukihiko
Sumi.
[19:26] ---
Castle Town Center
[19:29] Girl
See you later.
[19:53] Sumio
So, you're going back
to Taruhi after all?
[19:55] Yukiya
Sorry, but I guess the Center
just doesn't suit me.
[19:59] Sumio
And you're letting him go, Nazukihiko?
[20:01] Yukiya
I'm grateful to Your Highness.
[20:03] Yukiya
You saw me for myself, not
my birth or breeding.
[20:08] Yukiya
No one's ever done that before.
[20:10] Nazukihiko
I don't deserve your thanks,
but I appreciate them.
[20:32] Sumio
Well, take care.
[20:34] Yukiya
I will. You too, Sumio.
[20:37] Nazukihiko
We'll meet again someday.
[20:39] Yukiya
Er, I don't plan on coming back.
[20:42] Nazukihiko
My kin'u instinct tells me.
[20:44] Yukiya
That again?
[20:49] Yukiya
I might as well ask you
while I have the chance.
[20:52] Yukiya
Why are you so
obsessed with the throne?
[20:55] Yukiya
I've been with you for a year now,
watching court power struggles.
[21:02] Yukiya
They were a total farce.
[21:06] Yukiya
The court wants Lord Natsuka
to succeed, right?
[21:10] Yukiya
So, why not just let him?
[21:12] Yukiya
You could get involved in
government through Lord Natsuka.
[21:16] Yukiya
Why risk your life just
to become kin'u yourself?
[21:20] Sumio
You've got it wrong, Yukiya. He—
[21:22] Nazukihiko
Sumio.
[21:23] Yukiya
I'm saying this because
I don't want to let you die!
[21:34] Yukiya
Please give up on the throne.
[21:39] Yukiya
I'll stay here if you do.
[21:42] Yukiya
If you become just another
court raven, not a golden one,
[21:46] Yukiya
I'll serve you.
[21:53] Nazukihiko
If you take being the kin'u from
me, I'll have nothing left.
[22:01] Yukiya
Then get yourself killed without me.
[22:04] Yukiya
And out of my sight, if you please.
[22:21] Sumio
Nazukihiko, do you see something?
[24:30] Narrator
Having finished his service as
aide, Yukiya lingers in Taruhi
[24:35] Narrator
when a raven lands before him.
[24:39] Narrator
New encounters bring new enemies.
[24:43] Narrator
Yukiya has yet to learn of the
threat creeping toward Yamauchi.
SIGN The
Taboo
Elixir
[24:50] Narrator
Next time: "The Taboo Elixir"
SIGN YATAGARASU:
The Raven
Does Not
Choose
Its Master
SIGN Illustration: Natsuki