Still has
___a fever
Nike, you okay with that?
Huh? When did you get here?
That's some impressive cutting!
Today's the Sun King's welcome feast, and all...
So we can never have too much firewood...
We don't need that many potatoes.
It's so strange. Ever since last night...
C-Calm down!
You've done it with him a lot, haven't you?
Be calm. Be very calm.
If my heart keeps pounding like this,
I won't be able to hold out much longer.
Livi, I'm coming in.
Hey! Don't open the door so suddenly!
Self Restraint
Y-Y-You're the one at fault!
Here... i-in the middle of the afternoon... put on some pants!
But I'm used to seeing Livi naked, aren't I?
I went for a walk, but I got soaked, so I came back.
Capes and parasols really are useless against this rain.
Y-You want to take a walk together, then?
I can bring a proper rain umbrella.
R-Right.
A Righteous Country
I see.
It's repelling the rain.
Yeah, it's coated in a substance made from from the
fermented pulp of compressed fruits.
It makes it that much heavier, though.
Want to carry it?
If I carried it, you'd probably get soaked.
I-I guess.
I-I can't keep the dialogue going.
I don't really mind. I won't be this way forever.
I'm sorry about... that.
"That"?
About threatening to burn your country to the ground.
Oh, that's right, you did.
I'm glad this is a rainy country.
You're so close to me.
We were together in the Sun Kingdom, too, weren't we?
I can't express it well...
When we're under clear skies, you're so free.
Sometimes I think you might just fly away.
It's such a bright, blinding scene, and yet...
It's strangely heartbreaking.
Here, we're closed in by the rain.
Like there's no one but us in the world.
Nike.
Kitora!
It's been so long.
That's right, so you're back, too?
This is my cousin, Kitora.
He'd been traveling the country with grandma until recently.
O, great Sun King. It is our deepest honor to have you in our presence.
You're as earnest as ever, I see.
This is normal. You and our sisters are just too frank, Nike.
By the way, what are you doing in a place like this?
The Duke wanted to take a walk,
so I came with him.
It's fine. It's fine.
The Sun King and Nike have both forgotten about me.
W-Well, Father! I-I was just thinking I should introduce myself!
F-Father! It's been so long!
Well, I hope you'll excuse me.
I am the reigning Duke, Tetere. A pleasure.
N-Not at all! Please forgive my rudeness.
No, don't worry. Honestly, I just carry the title of the duke,
and I'm just the son-in-law.
It's actually Nike's grandmother who really controls things.
Hey, hey...
Grandmother is like the spiritual fulcrum for the people of our Principality.
She first took the throne when she was not much older than you.
At the time, there was a certain amount of drought around the world,
and our country was at the center of attention...
We had always been a small country,
and many people were passionate that this was our chance to expand
into the world, but she knew better.
By closing our borders and forbidding even the slightest contact
with the outside world, she protected our secret talent.
She prevented our "power" from getting mixed up in ugly wars.
Grandmother makes no mistakes in her actions.
That's right, she's always righteous!
And I... in her absence, acted selfishly,
and got her very angry with me.
What? You sent Nike to get married?
This is what happens when you let me make decisions!
Nike, Kitora! If you're here, you should help out!
Coming!
All right. See you later at the feast tonight, Livi.
Right...
Kitora there lost his parents when he was a child,
so he and Nike were raised by Grandmother.
They're like brother and sister.
Pardon me for asking, but where is Nike's mother?
My wife has always been sickly. Even now she's on her sickbed.
In addition, Nike and Kitora were the black sheep of the royal family.
The two of them couldn't call the rain at all.
Sometimes, I thought it might stay that way all their lives.
But Nike was different, thanks to grandmother's teachings...
She endured the overwhelmingly severe training
and became the best singer in the principality.
Seeing that she wasn't crushed despite bearing the same handicap,
Kitora admired her from the bottom of his heart.
You could even call it "adoration."
Ladies and gentlemen, sorry to keep you waiting!
With all of our hearts, let's make a rain of welcome fall for the Sun King!
Third sister Kara, with Hot Five will sing...
"It's Raining in the Principality Today"
Hey!
Who left the planning of the feast to her?
What? What is that shining thing?
She wants to make us sing, too!
What's that in her hand?
No! No way! I'm not doing it!
Mila Lemercier "I'm singing energetically!" Downpour Surprise Nia Lemercier "A dignified ballad."
Are you just going to let it continue?!
Don't sweat the details! By the way, where's the kid?
We brought so many cute things for him!
Good grief... I can't slip away with Nike
if I get involved with that.
Where did she disappear to?
Nike...
Nike.
Eat this. Your voice is hoarse from overpractice.
So many... thank you. But I don't need it.
It's okay. I know you'll be able to call the rain, Nike.
Why did you call me to a place like this?
It's rare for you to ask my advice.
No, it's not about advice. I just wanted to talk with you in private.
Really? I wanted to talk to you, too!
The last time I saw you was just before you left the Principality.
I was surprised when I came back and you weren't here.
Yeah. It was so sudden, after all...
If I had been here...
I wouldn't have let you go!
Kitora?
Are you okay with this?
Being married off? Made into a sacrifice to appease that kingdom?
It's not like that! I...
Are you in love with him? It just looks like playing house to me!
It's true that I was pressured into it, at first,
but I started to learn about him in my own way.
I saw his weakness and his kindness,
and now I want to support him!
I want to stay with him!
And then...
are you going to become his mother?
That's not love!
The Sun King is just taking advantage of you,
because you can't abandon someone who's damaged!
You're wrong!
You just feel sorry for him because of his sad upbringing, right?
You're wrong!
If I'm wrong...
Have you ever made love to him?
Have you ever felt...
On fire for him?!
An imported incense.
It works quickly on those who haven't built up an immunity.
Li... vi...
Don't worry.
By the time you wake up, it'll all be over.
Isn't that right,
Grandma?
Sick?
Nike is?
Last night, she was struck by a sudden fever.
It seems to be a local disease.
She could end up in bed for a month.
I'll go see her.
You mustn't. We can't allow someone without immunity to see her.
Majesty, we can't possibly remain here for a month.
Once she recovers, we'll send her back to the Kingdom immediately.
I urge you to go on ahead of her, Majesty.
The Black Lotus Tower.
I'm shocked. I thought you wouldn't wake up for a while yet.
What are you doi—
It's better not to move.
This is the tower where they put royalty who have broken the law.
Why am I here?
You haven't broken any law.
There's a barrier here that restrains our power.
We just need you to stay here until it's all over.
What do you mean "it"? What are you trying to do?!
Kitora!
We're going to hypnotize the Sun King.
We'll put to rest his attachment to you and give him a change of heart.
Then, he will nullify your engagement.
We'll use the hypnotism a little bit every night.
It will be complete in three days' time.
If he sees you before then, the spell will be broken.
That's why I need you to stay here.
Grandma decided it.
What? Grandma... I don't understand.
You don't understand?
Nike, we need you to stay in this country, support it,
and protect our secret art.
That's the reason,
I've been watching over you all this time.
Kitora?
It wasn't to give you to a child like that!
I offered him tea laced with myrrh. He should be deep asleep by now.
Aki... you're really going to do this?
I will handle the hypnosis.
I implore Your Highnesses to make up your own minds.
I feel bad for Nike, but this is important, too, right?
But...
We greeted him like friends. To tear him away from Nike like this...
It's cowardly!
I know that, but there's nothing else we can do!
My. He looks so innocent when he's asleep.
Ruinous Sun King,
your memories lie beyond the mist.
Your feelings lie beyond the mist.
Stay where you are!
You! The medicine...
I never even tasted what you gave me!
Neil!
S-Someone come here at once! The Sun King has lost his mind!
Prince Aki!
Tell Grandmother!
Majesty!
Got it!
He ran downstairs.
After him!
You'll need to get through me, first!
It's slippery, so be careful.
An underground passage? It's a bit like the one in the palace, I suppose.
The Black Lotus tower where Nike's being held is through here,
but you'll need Grandma's key to get inside.
Just as I thought: that old woman is behind this.
I'm sorry. None of us can go against her decisions.
No, I actually find it amazing that she can achieve this
kind of control over people without employing the politics of fear.
Will you be okay?
Who knows?
They might gang up on me if they find out about it.
They all do whatever Grandma says.
But... I want to think for myself.
Even if the answer I reach is different from my grandma's,
I want to follow it.
You two really are sisters.
You're so brave.
Is that it?
Be careful.
If word gets out that Aki failed, she might try to make a move personally.
You work quickly, Sun King!
I was hoping to meet the mastermind!
When did you realize it?
From the start.
Someone as formidable as you,
calling back your engaged granddaughter over a strained back?
You were after Nike from the start.
You're certainly a bright one.
Let's go elsewhere. Come with me.
I miscalculated. I didn't know you were this obsessed with Nike.
You're making me work harder than I expected.
Serves you right.
This key is imbued with my magic.
No one can enter or leave the tower without it.
What?!
I will not give Nike up!
Even if you are the king of the world,
that refers only to the world of humans.
She can alter the world itself.
If she wishes it, she can call down its terrible wrath.
Can you swear that you will not make use of it?
How about your children and descendants?
You...
Ma'am, you speak righteously.
But I am, as you say, the king of humans,
so I'm less concerned with the future
than I am with what I want in the present!
What I want, I always get.
She is my woman!
Our negotiations have broken down,
but in deference to your spirit, I will give you one chance.
If you can find the key I dropped, I will let you take Nike back.
What's wrong?
Sun King, you've stopped looking.
If you don't hurry, the swamp will soon be over your head.
You damned old woman...
That one was close. I wonder who summoned that lightning.
"To a child like that," he said...
I wish I'd brought that ring.
Livi will lose his memory?!
Do you understand now?
It's not possible to find that key.
If you admit defeat, I'll let you out right now.
Shut up!
You are the man who has ascended to rule over the world.
You don't want to die over something so trivial, do you?
Something so trivial?
Losing my future life with Nike
would be the same as dying!
Nike...
Stop it! What are you doing?!
Getting out of here!
Don't be ridiculous!
What can you do without your powers?
What you're doing is pointless!
I'm leaving!
Grandma, did Nike collapse again?
She overapplied herself at her training.
She'll remain stubborn until she gets it right.
It would be easier on her if she just gave up.
For Nike, that would be even more painful, I expect.
Stop it!
Don't you realize what you're doing?
To go back on Grandmother's decisions is akin to treason!
This won't be forgiven!
I don't care if it's forgiven.
Kitora... just now...
I feel like I realized... what you meant.
When I think about losing him, I can't stop shaking.
I think what Grandma said is righteous.
And yet, I... even if it turns everyone who raised me against me...
I can't possibly... give up...
Because...
I love him!
Preview
What would you understand?!
I've always kept my eyes on Nike!
If you wanted Nike, you should have done that from the start!
If you ever make Nike cry, I will go there and kill you!
A Passing Wind