Raise your head, Lady Nike.
Huh?!
Huh?
Huh? Huh?!
Huuuuuh?!
This is Nike Lemercier. Princess Nike.
This story is the story of her rain and light-filled destiny.
Keep firing them at regular intervals.
Sir!
The calm winds may delay their arrival by over half a day.
Most likely.
Without a rowing ship like ours,
who knows when they'll finally get here?
The lights! I can make out the lights of the harbor!
Your Highness, don't you think it's about time?
Nah. Let's plow right in!
Princess!
The Sun Kingdom
This really isn't acceptable...
We couldn't see anything in that fog. What was I supposed to do?
If we arrive two whole days early, they'll find out in no time!
And I know you'll be able to cover for me.
Your Highness!
You intend to go ashore already?!
I want to know what kind of country it is.
We can turn you over to the ambassador properly in the morning.
That would defeat the whole point!
It's amazing! Everyone's still awake!
You guys can go home.
The ship may be shabby, but our country needs it.
Huh? Already?
But we have important business in the harbor!
Business?
You mean drinking? Or...
Both!
Hey!
Shh!
You don't have the money for that!
We figured they'd have a welcoming party!
You shut up!
Gramps...
Do take care, Your Highness.
Sun Kingdom: Harbor Town Lepion
Your Highness!
It's not goodbye forever! Stop crying already.
I wanted to eat the good food!
I wanted to see the girls!
Welcome party...
That's what they're sad about?
Your Highness!
It's so dry here.
Stings my skin and my mouth...
Hard to get a feel for...
Your Highness! Be well!
Take care!
Drinking!
Girls!
Thanks, everyone.
This is the Sun Kingdom.
It controls much of the world.
To this land where the Sun King resides, Nike has finally arrived.
It's gonna start tomorrow at the earliest.
Then we can take tonight for drinking.
I've never seen so many people in one place before!
So many things...
Hey, girlie! Want one?
I've never seen fruit like that before!
They're freshly-picked enelot fruits.
They're called enelot?
They're usually five suns, but you're so pretty, I'll let it go at four suns.
Take one!
Four suns... converted into our sigure, that's...
Th-That's about 18 sigure! Th-That's expensive!
What? You think that's expensive?
You're seriously poor, aren't you?
Don't pass it to me! Get out!
O-Of course it's not contagious!
Don't fall in the street!
Watch where you're going!
Get it together, country girl!
C-Country girl?!
I guess I am, but...
But you bumped into—
Forget it. I need food.
I'm not saying this to be mean to you.
I just don't have any rooms.
This is the fifth place I've tried!
I'll sleep in a storeroom, if I have to.
Just let me stay here one night.
I told you, it's not possible.
Look.
We've been swarmed by the national army since yesterday.
I couldn't let a nice girl like you loose in that drunken rabble.
Even if I had a room open, I wouldn't leave it to you.
This is awful.
I can't make heads or tails of the people of this country.
Miss!
Do you have a place to stay for the night?
Would you like to stay at our inn?
Really? You have an open room?
It's our one year anniversary!
One night with two meals for only ten suns!
It comes with two meals?!
Yes! Allow me to take your bag.
No, thank you.
Oh, but we insist!
Tonight, it's all-you-can-eat and drink for the ladies!
Seriously?!
Oh, you took the bait!
A story this good...
could never be true.
Country girl!
Sorry, lady!
What a dunce!
For crying out loud...
Has this country dried out the people's hearts, too?
A little payback—
I-It's no good. I'm going to pass to Heaven now...
Miss?
Are you okay?
Oh, what a wonderful smell!
I see... Heaven must smell like freshly-baked bread and soup.
Looks like you're awake.
I'm glad!
Are you all right?
Anyway, eat up.
We can't talk over the sound of your stomach.
Go on, eat!
Can I?!
Don't stand up. You'll bump your head.
I've still got work to do, so you guys watch over her.
Okay! We will!
Liza, that's rude.
I don't mind being watched. I can eat, right?
How long has it been since you last ate?
Nothing since noon today.
I see...
The Principality of Rain?
Yes. It's far to the east of here.
I'm the fourth sovereign daughter.
Sovereign daughter?
It means she's a princess.
Is it really that funny?
Did you come here by yourself, Nike? Even though you're a princess?
I came here in a ship.
So where's your retinue?
I sent them home.
But why?
I wanted to get a feel for what the people here were like.
Hmm.
This town might be very different from the capital, Ginitariques.
Really?
I don't like to say it,
but this is a harbor town, so a lot of people come here.
That includes people like the ones who stole your luggage.
But there are nice people like the three of you, too.
Hey, Nike, why did you come to our country?
Oh... to get married.
Wow!
To someone from our country?
Who? Who?
Your king.
King? The Sun King?
Okay. Get the laughs out, first.
No way!
Amazing!
Are you really for real?
You don't believe me at all.
Flashback
And so, the Sun King has given special dispensation
Ruler of the Principality of Rain: Tetere Lemercier
for our principality to remain autonomous.
Principality of Rain, 1st Sovereign Daughter: Mila Lemercier
Flashback: Not Actual Image
Are you sure he just can't be bothered to conquer us?
Principality of Rain, 2nd Sovereign Daughter: Nia Lemercier
Flashback: Not Actual Image
All we have here is rain and peace. It would be pointless.
Principality of Rain, 3rd Sovereign Daughter: Kara Lemercier
Flashback: Not Actual Image
That's cool. I guess being broke has its good points.
In exchange, he's asked for one of my daughters' hands in marriage.
Marriage?!
To one of us?
Rock, paper, scissors!
Incredible!
Nike, you're gonna marry the Sun King! You'll be a total celebrity!
This is so hilarious!
I'm so jealous!
Then one of you guys go instead!
No way!
What the heck?!
Because he's the Sun King!
He's merciless to those who oppose him.
He's cold-blooded and cruel.
In the three years since his coronation,
he's conquered the whole world!
Plus, I hear he's a total lecher! It's awful!
I hear he's bald with two big horns, tons of body hair,
and horrible breath.
He doesn't even sound human!
Anyway, our future is riding on this marriage.
Take care!
It really is true!
You believe me now?
Well? Have you found out who she is?
Dad! Listen!
Nike's gonna be the princess of our country!
If things go as expected, it should be tomorrow evening, right?
They should be receiving her on the high seas about now.
Like a package, huh?
Marrying a princess from a secluded country like that...
it's certainly eccentric.
The fourth sovereign daughter of the Principality of Rain.
Do you know about it, your Excellency?
I've heard that it rains all year round,
but no one in the Naval Department had even heard of it.
Then the best way
to learn more would be to ask the princess directly, right?
Yeah. It's our job to escort her to the castle, after all.
And if anything should happen to her...
To allow a piddling little country to maintain its autonomy...
what kind of price tag did that come with?
Would it cause a dispute? A few little countries like that...
The outcome doesn't matter.
If it comes down to his diplomatic skills,
it will be the prologue to his downfall.
What's wrong with that girl?
She took us for a ride!
Hey, bro, keep your voice down!
They're all passed out drunk! Don't worry!
Damn, I don't know what kinda money that was,
but it only paid for one drink?!
I didn't think I'd have to pay for my own drinks!
That moneychanger guy was pretty stingy, too.
"This sigure stuff is basically worthless!"
"If you don't like it, go home!" Right?
Wonder if he knew we were desperate.
It pisses me off!
What should we do with the cloth here? Pawn it?
We couldn't even get a piece of candy for that!
At least go for two!
I know! We won't just act like it's normal.
We'll say it's rare, expensive cloth from a far-off land!
That's what we'll do!
Good idea! And it really is from a far-off land!
You sure are smart, bro!
We got it for free, after all. Anything we get is a profit!
You two.
I'm sorry!
We were just about to bring it by!
Could you explain to me what you were talking about?
Y-Yes, sir!
Gladly!
That looks great!
They look really good on you, Nike!
Does it?
We'll wash this. I hope you don't mind this for a day.
I don't mind at all! Thank you, Mina.
It might be a little small on you, though.
That just makes you look more like a princess!
So you do believe me?
Yeah!
Dad said that if you were gonna lie,
you'd make up something more believable.
That's right. I'd make up something more believable.
Sorry. I keep having to apologize.
It's okay. I'm used to it.
Now, Liza, go look with Nike-chan.
Is it really three days by horse to the palace?
You could do it with a fast horse,
but you really couldn't make it there without a caravan.
Don't eat my hair!
That's too bad.
What can you do?
We'll find a caravan to the capital eventually.
Until then, I guess I'll stay here and work.
You can stay with us! We have a lot of work you can do!
The room may be small, but I don't mind sleeping in the middle,
and I'll show you all my treasures, too!
I get it. I'll do that.
Wow, it doesn't rain?
We get storms here from time to time,
but there's none in the capital.
That's why it's called the Sun Kingdom!
You have incredible irrigation technology.
So you don't have any problems with drinking water?
It's our current king who set it up!
What?
He built aqueducts and settled the quarrels among the royal family
and drove out all the bad people and...
And the e... econmoney...
Economy?
Yeah! He revived the economy!
He did, huh? You really know your stuff.
You're so smart, Liza.
My dad says that it's because
of the Sun King that we can run our business without fear.
Is this your favorite place, Liza?
It's my dad's favorite.
He'd come here with my mom. He said it's like snow.
Your mom? I didn't see her yesterday...
She died.
Four years ago.
There was a battle in this town, too.
Everyone got mixed up in it.
In order to raise us
my dad worked from morning 'til night
until he finally got this inn.
I wanna get big and strong soon, so I can let him see it.
I hope he can see it soon, too.
Yeah.
Bro, I don't think this is such a good idea.
Are you still on that? We get a big money reward if we take her out.
It's kidnapping! You sure we can handle this?
I wish we could take a job that was a little more low-profile.
This is our chance! This is our time to level up as villains!
But I'm happy with the way things are!
You make me sick!
Let's do it!
Mina?
Mina! Mina!
Dad! Where's Mina?
You haven't seen her?
No, I just got home.
I heard her out here a moment ago.
Hurry! Hurry!
Let's get this done quick and get something good to eat!
We'll open up a savings account, too!
Hey, bro...
What is it? I don't got time to talk right now!
You're sure this is the girl, right?
Why do you ask?
There's something about the smell, I guess...
She was a bit more rude, wasn't she?
It's not even the right color hair!
I know!
Don't say "I know!" Say this stuff sooner!
Sorry, I thought it might just be my imagination.
Her tits were bigger, too.
I think you made her mad.
We don't have a choice. Let's try it again.
What do we do with her? Kill her?
You jumped a few levels, there.
We wasted our time. I think we deserve some compensation.
Sounds good! Then we can have a scene with a ton of service shots!
Sorry, lady.
We gotta please the male viewers. Give it up.
What?!
If you put one scratch on Mina,
you'll pay for it.
Hey! It's her!
Lucky us!
This is great. If you come along quietly, we'll go easy on you.
Bro, you're so cool!
I can use it...
the air of this land.
Maybe we can get along after all.
You're heading out now?
My clothing's dried and I got my luggage back. I'd better get moving.
Good luck!
Thanks.
After you become a princess, will you stay away forever?
Do you really think I'm that cold?
I'll stay in your room next time I'm here.
I want to see your treasures, Liza!
Sis!
We're about to head out!
It's getting dark!
Are you sure you can trust them?
You don't think they'll take you somewhere shady?
Yeah.
If they're not stupid, they'll have learned their lesson.
I meant to present this to the king upon my arrival,
but I wanted to thank you.
Wow. You're really spoiling us here at the end.
My daughters did this out of kindness, so—
I know. So I want to repay you with kindness, too.
Nike!
They're like dancing flower petals...
Yeah.
Just like those flowers...
Wow! That's our gal.
That's what she'll do to us if we double-cross her on the way.
That's our gal...
Withdraw! Throw one more!
It's just as you thought, General.
We were unable to rendezvous with the other ship.
We'll have many other chances.
Many, indeed...
Several Days Later
Sun Kingdom, Capital City: Ginitariques
Halt!
State your title, name, and reason for entering the castle!
I am Nike, the Rain-Summoning Princess.
I've come here to marry your king.
Welcome,
Fourth sovereign daughter of the Principality of Rain, Nike Lemercier.
If you had just shown this to us from the beginning,
you could have avoided a brawl with the guards.
They treated me like a suspicious person out of nowhere!
Anyone would get violent over that!
No, they would not.
Take Lady Nike to the audience chamber.
Sir!
Raise your head, Lady Nike.
Now, come to me... my destiny.
I bid you welcome after your long journey.
I am the Sun King, Livius I.
Next time:
Make it rain, Princess. I wish to see it.
Rain-Summoning isn't a parlor trick!
The world exists to be conquered.
The Rain Princess
You've got to be kidding me!