E8 - The Intruder

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    Clear Mirror Temple
[00:17] Rokon
    Someone's been acting strange lately.
[00:21] Rokon
    I mean Atsufusa.
    You must have noticed, Lord Natsuka.
[00:25] Rokon
    It seems he's been in
    contact with the Prince,
[00:28] Rokon
    but who knows what he's plotting?
[00:31] Rokon
    Whatever it is, it's always
    better to nip trouble in the bud.
[00:42] Rokon
    Oh, and there has been a death
    in Cherry Blossom Palace.
[00:46] Natsuka
    A death?
[00:47] Rokon
    An imperial lady-in-waiting, I hear.
[00:55] Rokon
    I await your orders.
SIGN    YATAGARASU
SIGN    The Raven
    Does Not 
    Choose 
    Its Master
[02:35] Yukiya
    How did this happen?
[02:37] Sumio
    She fell sometime between midnight
     last night and dawn this morning.
[02:42] Sumio
    But a few days ago, she said she had a family
    emergency and spent two nights away.
[02:48] Sumio
    When I asked her family, however,
     it turned out she didn't go home.
[02:54] Yukiya
    What does it mean?
[02:56] Sumio
    It happens sometimes.
[02:58] Sumio
    Cherry Blossom Palace imposes
    strict limits on outside contact.
[03:02] Sumio
    When a lady-in-waiting wants to go out,
    visiting home makes the best excuse,
[03:07] Sumio
    even if they really want to meet a man
    or do something they can't admit to.
[03:12] Yukiya
    What they can't admit to?
[03:14] Nazukihiko
    We can rule out suicide.
[03:16] Nazukihiko
    Look how her feathers have scattered.
[03:18] Nazukihiko
    She must have tried
    to shift shape mid-fall.
[03:23] Nazukihiko
    At the very least, she wasn't ready to jump.
[03:28] Yukiya
    This is giving me the creeps.
[03:32] Yukiya
    What the heck is going on
    in Cherry Blossom Palace?
SIGN    Wisteria Hall, Cherry Blossom Palace
[03:40] Sumio
    We have identified the deceased
    as Samomo, an imperial lady-in-waiting.
[03:46] Ukogi
    Are you quite certain? Couldn't it be
    someone who merely looks like her?
[03:51] Sumio
    We had her younger brother identify
     the body. There can be no doubt.
[03:58] Sumio
    By order of His Highness, the Yamauchi
    Guard will continue to investigate.
[04:04] Sumio
    We sincerely hope for your cooperation.
[04:12] Asebi
    Wait!
[04:14] Asebi
    Please wait!
[04:16] Asebi
    Is what you just said true?
[04:17] Ukogi
    My lady, restrain yourself!
[04:18] Sumio
    And you are?
[04:20] Ukogi
    You there! You stand before
    the mistress of the Spring Hall!
[04:25] Sumio
    I beg your pardon.
[04:27] Asebi
    How did this happen?
[04:29] Asebi
    Did she lose her footing
    while running an errand?
[04:34] Sumio
    We are currently investigating the cause.
[04:37] Asebi
    I chatted with Samomo just the other day.
[04:42] Asebi
    She was so cheerful and kind to everyone.
[04:47] Asebi
    I can't believe it!
[04:49] Asebi
    Why Samomo?
[04:50] Sumio
    This incident grieves His Highness as well.
[04:55] Sumio
    He has commanded us to uncover the truth.
[04:59] Sumio
    I swear to report the truth
    if I possibly can. Please be patient.
[05:13] Fujinami
    Sister...
[05:15] Fujinami
    I never dreamed this would happen.
[05:21] Fujinami
    Samomo is dead.
[05:23] Asebi
    Princess Fujinami!
    Please get a hold of yourself!
[05:25] Fujinami
    Why? Why?
[05:29] Fujinami
    Oh, if only I'd known, I would never
    have made her my lady-in-waiting!
[05:34] Asebi
    Please don't say that. I know it would've
    saddened Samomo to hear you.
[05:40] Asebi
    Don't worry. The Yamauchi Guard
    will bring the truth to light.
[05:45] Fujinami
    There must be some explanation.
[05:51] Cha-no-Hana
    Surely either Samomo jumped
    or someone pushed her.
[05:56] Kikuno
    I suppose we should assume
     one or the other,
[05:59] Kikuno
    given that His Highness's
    personal guardsman is involved.
[06:03] Shiratama
    If Samomo was murdered,
[06:07] Shiratama
    then surely you, Lady Asebi,
    are the most likely culprit.
[06:12] Asebi
    What?
[06:14] Shiratama
    I suppose you had Samomo
    arrange your little tricks,
[06:18] Shiratama
    then disposed of her
    when she became inconvenient.
[06:22] Asebi
    What? How could you say that?
[06:24] Fujinami
    Shiratama, I will take any insult
    aimed at Lady Asebi as an insult at myself!
[06:30] Shiratama
    Taking in the Princess like that
    only makes it more plausible.
[06:34] Shiratama
    You really are just as vicious
    as your mother was, I see.
[06:39] Shiratama
    And after my Cha-no-Hana warned you
    not to follow in her footsteps.
[06:44] Masuho
    That's quite enough, Shiratama.
[06:46] Masuho
    We came here to refine ourselves
    through competition.
[06:50] Masuho
    Taking advantage of others' misfortune
    to torment Asebi is simply disgraceful.
[06:54] Shiratama
    My, how odd.
[06:56] Shiratama
    You've scorned Lady Asebi
    as a country bumpkin all this time.
[07:03] Shiratama
    When did you become such good friends?
[07:05] Shiratama
    Well, I suppose the Western House
     is famously fickle. Or...
[07:11] Shiratama
    Did you two desperate ladies
    bond over your shared misfortune?
[07:15] Masuho
    Shiratama, you dare—
[07:16] Hamayu
    Enough, Shiratama.
[07:19] Hamayu
    Samomo is dead. You could 
    at least pretend to mourn.
[07:26] Takimoto
    We of the Wisteria Guard are also
    investigating what befell Samomo.
[07:32] Takimoto
    Please refrain from communicating
    directly with the Yamauchi Guard,
[07:36] Takimoto
    even if you receive questions in writing.
[07:39] Takimoto
    As before, we ask that you only correspond
    with the outside world via Wisteria Hall.
[08:11] Nazukihiko
    See to Kazumi while I'm out.
[08:15] Yukiya
    Yes, sir.
[08:16] Yukiya
    I assume I only need to guide him?
[08:19] Yukiya
    To the spot Your Highness pushed me off
    when we spied on the ladies, I mean.
[08:24] Nazukihiko
    I wouldn't call that "spying."
    It was reconnaissance.
[08:28] Yukiya
    Yeah, yeah. Sure it was.
[08:30] Yukiya
    But I still don't quite trust that guy.
[08:36] Nazukihiko
    Kazumi is a good man.
[08:39] Yukiya
    But what's he doing here? I swear I've seen
    him working for the Northern House.
[08:44] Nazukihiko
    Of course you have.
[08:46] Nazukihiko
    He's a Northern spy, but he started out
    gardening at their main house.
[08:50] Yukiya
    Oh, no wonder.
[08:52] Nazukihiko
    He did such good work
    that I invited him to join us,
[08:58] Nazukihiko
    on the condition that I grant his wish.
[09:04] Yukiya
    Have a safe trip!
[09:10] Yukiya
    He makes this stuff sound like no big deal.
[09:12] Kazumi
    Sir Yukiya.
[09:15] Kazumi
    I'm ready whenever you are.
[09:17] Yukiya
    R-Right. Let's get going, then.
[09:25] Kazumi
    This would be hard going
    if we didn't know the way.
[09:30] Yukiya
    Cherry Blossom Palace stands on
    a steep cliff to keep out intruders.
[09:35] Yukiya
    You could fly to it, but the Wisteria
    Guard constantly patrols the skies.
[09:39] Kazumi
    I see.
[09:41] Kazumi
    Oh, keyflower orchids.
[09:45] Kazumi
    They're blooming awfully late.
[09:47] Yukiya
    Why do you want to see
    Cherry Blossom Palace, Kazumi?
[09:51] Yukiya
    Forgive me for prying.
[09:53] Yukiya
    I thought maybe you knew someone there.
[09:57] Kazumi
    I'm not sure I can claim I know her.
[10:00] Yukiya
    I thought so. One of the
    Northern ladies-in-waiting?
[10:04] Yukiya
    Oh, don't tell me if you don't want to.
[10:06] Kazumi
    Well, something like that.
[10:10] Kazumi
    I'm hoping to see her, just for a moment.
[10:12] Yukiya
    Oh, so that's what this is about.
[10:15] Yukiya
    Still, the Prince sure plays dirty, using
    your romantic troubles to win you over.
[10:36] Kazumi
    Shiratama!
[10:37] Yukiya
    Wait, Shiratama?
[10:39] Yukiya
    Hold it, Kazumi!
[10:50] Yukiya
    You mean you came to see...
SIGN    Winter Hall, Cherry Blossom Palace
[11:29] Elderly Lady-in-waiting
    Thank you so much for coming all this way.
[11:31] Elderly Lady-in-waiting
    When you return to the Center, please tell
    His Highness we appreciate his concern.
[11:38] Nazukihiko
    Certainly. I promise to inform His Highness.
[11:43] Maidservant 1
    Who's that handsome fellow?
[11:45] Manservant 2
    A messenger from the Center.
    Said he knows her ladyship.
[11:49] Maidservant 2
    Her ladyship? From the main house?
[11:51] Maidservant 2
    But she has those hideous
    pockmarks all over her face.
[11:53] Manservant 1
    How would he know
    with a screen between them?
[11:57] Manservant 1
    Hey, Kasuke!
[11:59] Manservant 1
    I told you to carry this stuff!
[12:00] Kasuke
    R-Right.
[12:01] Manservant 1
    Get a move on!
SIGN    Southern Palace
[12:06] Toru
    The Prince vanished?
[12:08] Atsufusa
    I haven't seen him at all lately.
[12:12] Toru
    He's probably holed up with
    his favorite courtesan. Let him be.
[12:18] Atsufusa
    Lord Toru, you mustn't
    underestimate the Prince.
[12:23] Atsufusa
    After Tanabata, there can be no doubt
    he harbors grave suspicions of the South.
[12:29] Atsufusa
    I worry.
[12:33] Atsufusa
    Could he be guiding events indirectly
    while he's out of our sight?
[12:38] Toru
    You think a fool could
    outwit the Southern House?
[12:42] Atsufusa
    Perhaps.
[12:46] Toru
    Don't presume.
[12:47] Toru
    Atsufusa.
[12:49] Toru
    By all rights, your lowly birth
    shouldn't even entitle you to speak to me.
[12:54] Atsufusa
    I was merely thinking
    of the Southern House's—
[12:56] Toru
    I'm telling you to know your place.
[13:07] Nazukihiko
    You have my sincere gratitude
    for granting me this audience.
[13:14] Nazukihiko
    How have you fared since last we spoke?
[13:17] Nazukihiko
    I'm told an illness scarred
    your face early this year.
[13:24] Nazukihiko
    Withdrawing from the Rite of Ascension
    on such short notice must have pained you.
[13:29] Nazukihiko
    His Highness still thinks
    of you with concern.
[13:43] Lady-in-waiting
    M-My lady.
[13:45] Futaba
    Clear the room.
[13:46] Lady-in-waiting
    But...
[13:54] Futaba
    I never had any pockmarks.
[13:57] Futaba
    I meant to take this secret to my grave,
[14:01] Futaba
    but I wish His Highness to know the truth.
[14:06] Futaba
    To know the real reason
    I withdrew from the rite.
[15:15] Masuho
    Kikuno?
[15:19] Masuho
    Who's there?!
[15:21] Kikuno
    I-Intruder!
[15:23] Kikuno
    Intruder!
[15:25] Shout
    Intruder!
[15:36] Takimoto
    We will see to this at once.
[15:38] Takimoto
    Your Highness need not trouble herself.
[15:43] Fujinami
    Takimoto.
[15:45] Lady-in-waiting
    What's going on?
[15:46] Wisteria Guard
    Please turn back. It's not safe.
[15:48] Wisteria Guards
    Where is he?
[15:49] Wisteria Guards
    He's not here!
[15:50] Wisteria Guards
    Find him before dawn breaks!
[16:00] Wisteria Guards
    Dawn's here!
[16:03] Wisteria Guards
    There he is! I found him!
[16:05] Takimoto
    Don't let him escape! Use arrows!
[16:07] Wisteria Guards
    Fire!
[16:11] Wisteria Guards
    Don't let him escape!
[16:12] Wisteria Guards
    Surround him!
[16:12] Wisteria Guards
    Hold him down!
[16:13] Wisteria Guard 3
    Take him alive!
[16:15] Wisteria Guard 3
    Bring rope! Rope!
[16:16] Takimoto
    Move! Stand aside!
[16:20] Wisteria Guard 3
    Huh?
[16:49] Hamayu
    Are you hurt, Shiratama?
[16:57] Shiratama
    It can't be. Not that filthy corpse.
[17:01] Shiratama
    Not that...
[17:02] Hamayu
    Shiratama, are you...
[17:05] Cha-no-Hana
    My lady!
[17:06] Cha-no-Hana
    What happened to you?
[17:09] Cha-no-Hana
    Takimoto! What is all this commotion?
[17:13] Takimoto
    We had an intruder.
[17:15] Cha-no-Hana
    An intruder?
[17:18] Takimoto
    I had no choice but to take his head.
[17:23] Takimoto
    Lady Shiratama had the misfortune
    of witnessing the act.
[17:27] Cha-no-Hana
    What?
[17:28] Cha-no-Hana
    First, Samomo, and now, an intruder.
    What has palace security come to?
[17:33] Shiratama
    You coward.
[17:34] Cha-no-Hana
    What?
[17:37] Shiratama
    You never came. I knew you wouldn't.
[17:41] Cha-no-Hana
    My lady?
[17:43] Cha-no-Hana
    In any case, let us return to Winter Hall.
[17:43] Lady-in-waiting
    What happened?
[17:44] Lady-in-waiting
    Look at all that blood!
[17:45] Shiratama
    I'm telling you, it's not true!
[17:49] Shiratama
    What an awful smell.
[17:50] Shiratama
    What shall I do?
    His Highness will find me repulsive.
[17:54] Shiratama
    Cha-no-Hana, bring incense.
    I must scent my kimono.
[17:56] Cha-no-Hana
    Lady Shiratama.
[18:06] Ukogi
    Takimoto, would you kindly
    explain what happened here?
[18:11] Takimoto
    A scoundrel slipped into the Autumn Hall.
[18:13] Lady-in-waiting
    Autumn Hall?
[18:15] Takimoto
    Fortunately, he was soon discovered
     and took to his wings.
[18:19] Kikuno
    He didn't lay a finger
    on Lady Masuho-no-Susuki.
[18:22] Ukogi
    And who was this ruffian?
[18:24] Takimoto
    A member of a robber band, I presume.
[18:27] Takimoto
    As a matter of fact, items that
    belong in Cherry Blossom Palace
[18:31] Takimoto
    have been appearing on the market
     for a little while now.
[18:35] Takimoto
    We believe the late Samomo
     had ties to this man.
[18:41] Lady-in-waiting
    Samomo?
[18:43] Takimoto
    I had planned to tell you all
    this formally at a later date,
[18:48] Takimoto
    but we discovered this on Samomo's body.
[18:52] Takimoto
    This comb is clearly
     far beyond her station.
[18:56] Ukogi
    You mean to tell us
    Samomo was engaged in theft?
[18:59] Takimoto
    Indeed I do.
[19:01] Takimoto
    The man received the goods
    she took and sold them.
[19:06] Takimoto
    But they fell out, and he killed her.
[19:08] Takimoto
    So this time, he tried to
    infiltrate the palace himself.
[19:13] Takimoto
    That must be the truth
    of this affair, more or less.
[19:16] Lady-in-waiting 2
    I thought it would be something like that.
[19:19] Lady-in-waiting 3
    They did say Samomo was a hill raven.
[19:22] Lady-in-waiting 3
    Breeding always shows through in the end.
[19:25] Asebi
    Samomo wasn't like that.
[19:28] Asebi
    You should all know
    what a nice girl she was.
[19:32] Takimoto
    In that case, Lady Asebi, how do you
    explain Samomo having this comb?
[19:39] Asebi
    I don't...
[19:43] Hamayu
    Try using your heads, dimwits.
[19:48] Masuho
    Hamayu.
[19:55] Asebi
    Lady Hamayu!
[19:59] Asebi
    Lady Hamayu! Lady Hamayu!
[20:02] Asebi
    Where are you going?
[20:10] Cha-no-Hana
    What's all this racket?
[20:12] Lady-in-waiting 4
    Cha-no-Hana, ma'am!
    It's the lady of Summer Hall!
[20:16] Cha-no-Hana
    Lady Hamayu. And Lady Asebi, too.
[20:20] Cha-no-Hana
    To what do we owe the honor?
[20:23] Hamayu
    We want to see your mistress. Show us in.
[20:25] Cha-no-Hana
    I respectfully decline.
    My lady is indisposed.
[20:30] Hamayu
    I can guess what state she's in.
[20:34] Cha-no-Hana
    You mustn't!
[20:37] Hamayu
    Clear out the ladies-in-waiting.
    Yourself included.
[21:01] Hamayu
    Hey.
[21:02] Hamayu
    I see it hit you hard, Shiratama.
[21:06] Shiratama
    My, Lady Hamayu. When did you get here?
[21:10] Shiratama
    Do forgive me for neglecting you.
[21:13] Shiratama
    Did you wish to see me about something?
[21:20] Hamayu
    You must be at your breaking point.
[21:29] Hamayu
    Why not excuse yourself
    and go home to the North?
[21:33] Shiratama
    I can't do that.
[21:36] Shiratama
    I must make an imperial marriage.
[21:39] Shiratama
    Perhaps you should
     take your leave instead.
[21:46] Hamayu
    Yeah, maybe I should.
[21:49] Hamayu
    But you'll snap if you keep on like this.
[21:55] Shiratama
    I already have.
[22:00] Hamayu
    You knew that intruder.
[22:03] Hamayu
    And pretty well, too. Am I wrong?
[22:11] Hamayu
    You should never have come here.
[22:14] Hamayu
    You should never have
    taken part in the rite.
[22:18] Hamayu
    Not if you were in love with another man.
[22:24] Shiratama
    You say such amusing things.
    Me? Carrying on an affair?
[22:38] Shiratama
    I hate to disappoint you.
[22:39] Shiratama
    There was nothing between
    Kazumi and me! Nothing!
[22:43] Shiratama
    How could you think I'd ever be so foolish?
[22:46] Shiratama
    I was born solely to marry a prince!
[22:51] Shiratama
    My heart doesn't belong to me!
[24:31] Narrator
    Sweet yet cruel memories
    wear away Shiratama's mind.
[24:37] Narrator
    A lowly raven has entered the palace
    in the guise of a dazzling lady.
[24:43] Narrator
    A false noblewoman
    starts telling the truth.
[24:50] Narrator
    Next time: "Lady Raven."
SIGN    Lady
SIGN    Raven
SIGN    YATAGARASU:
    The Raven
    Does Not 
    Choose 
    Its Master
SIGN    Illustration: Natsuki