Has Schwan left?
Yes, Your Majesty.
It's cruel to do to that child, but we have no choice.
I regret that this is the only way to protect the kingdom.
The fault for spoiling him is ours, mine and my daughter's.
You have served the house of Dōwā to the best of your ability.
Thank you
for allowing me to meet Schnee's children while I still live.
He is like me.
You will see them again, Your Majesty.
Here in Dōwā, in this room.
Due to ill health, Chief Officer Grossular,
who is spearheading the plan,
could not attend, so I shall coordinate.
This will be our final meeting before we proceed.
I'd like to confirm we're on the same page about what will happen tomorrow.
Today, we also have Prince Jean with us.
Now, the fate of ACCA
and the thirteen territories rests upon this coup.
We cannot alter the plan,
but we can still cancel it.
No one here, sharing our goals, wishes to do so, yes?
Very well, let us proceed with final confirmation.
Your role, as patrolling beat cops,
is crowd control, in case of chaos.
We're really going ahead with this.
I think we'll succeed, though.
I hear the prince will only have around fifteen guards.
They say the Privy Council knows of the coup and doesn't support the prince.
But who'll become king instead?
If the replacement wants to abolish ACCA, what then?
You have a point...
When will they announce that the Otus family has royal blood?
I wonder if Lotta's doing okay.
When the press rushes over, I'll protect her from them.
If I may?
The plan calls for the prince to swear an oath to
concede his claim, right after he's been taken into custody.
But couldn't that wait till later?
I mean,
I don't think I should force my way to center stage tomorrow.
I feel that will make the prince stubborn.
I worry that things won't go smoothly.
You may be right.
It's His Highness, after all.
So when you speak to the prince tomorrow,
I'll leave it up to you, Chief Officers.
Once we reach an agreement with the prince,
please delay announcing my royal lineage
until a later date.
Then, let us do that.
Is everyone else in agreement?
I believe this will be a success.
That's tomorrow's schedule, isn't it?
Are you all right with this?
Please don't look at me like that.
What do you think would be best for this nation?
I've always wanted to talk to you about this, Chief Officer.
About ACCA and this nation.
Even if we talked until dawn, it wouldn't be enough.
Yes, Commander. We are fine here.
The prince is sulking a bit, but that is his fault.
You're rather harsh toward your master, Magie.
But I do wonder whether we have enough guards.
His Highness did not want them.
He said there was no need to arrange theatrics for ACCA.
The Privy Council president approved it.
I thought you were going to serve me sandwich bread, Magie.
Something's different...
I can sense the tension in the air, even so early in the morning.
How are you feeling?
I'm fine.
At the least, I can protect Lotta from the crowd.
Jean should be safe, as well.
He's under ACCA's protection.
I'm just not that worried in general, I suppose.
I wonder why.
You should stop already, Nino.
You don't exist to serve the Dōwā family.
I'm doing this because I choose to.
Then stop saying things like, "I'm not supposed to have fun."
I've always had fun.
Even now.
Maybe I'll get scolded for that, too.
Perhaps because it's about Jean...
Well, it's time.
Yes.
Huh?
Jean's all the way up there.
It's the prince!
What's the schedule?
After the anthem, the chief officers and the director-general
will address the crowd,
followed by Your Highness's speech and then—
I don't care what follows.
The only ones here
oblivious to the coup d'état are
the prince and his people.
What's the meaning of this?
How dare you treat me in this manner?!
It is to protect ACCA and the nation
from the heir who wishes to disband ACCA.
We are not the only ones.
I doubt anyone wants you to ascend to the throne,
not even the Dōwā family.
What's going on?
Disband ACCA?
The prince isn't thinking about the nation.
If one like that is king, there'll be war.
I'm against his ascension!
Not my king! Not my king!
It's the ACCA coup I've heard about.
They seek to ruin me,
and put another on the throne.
Someone who will protect ACCA.
Why are you over there?
Why will you not step forward?!
Jean...
Silence!
In this nation,
there is but one prince, Your Highness Prince Schwan.
Please refrain from referencing wild speculation.
ACCA will protect the nation.
It is the same as protecting the Dōwā family, the nation's symbol.
The nation has enjoyed constant development and prosperity
under Dōwā family rule.
The Dōwā family's continued peace
assures peace for this nation, in turn.
I do not believe this was a part of the schedule.
We would like you, the family heir,
to take better care of yourself.
We are honored that ACCA has your trust.
However, we would still prefer that you not attend functions
with such a small guard detail.
We understand, of course, that your guards are highly trained elites.
But we wished for you to realize that,
as you just experienced, a gun may
be pointed at one any time.
To that end,
we incorporated a highly theatrical exercise into the ceremony itself.
Please forgive our insolence.
Your thoughtfulness in avoiding a brazen show of power will
surely be admired by the people.
The Dōwā family avoids conflict.
That is why we have peace.
Rulers who favor shows of power will not bring peace to the nation.
That is why the Dōwā family symbolizes peace.
Under the Dōwā family, ACCA will continue to protect the nation.
We entrust the future to you, Your Highness.
I would like ACCA
to safeguard the nation for posterity.
Your Highness, your hand.
Thank you, Your Highness.
Nino?
This is...
It seems that Furawau alone
was not informed of this farce.
Evidently, you relied on trickery too much to win such a major wager.
Will Furawau continue the game?
You were involved, too.
Then, it was you?
Once Director-General Mauve
told me about my royal heritage,
we strategized in Kororē, to prepare for today.
So that your game would become ACCA's game.
And now, we've won.
In this game, a win for Furawau would look
different than a win for ACCA.
For us, a win is to have ACCA's continued existence assured.
But for you and Furawau, that wasn't the case.
ACCA's preservation was mere pretext and justification.
Your true win would be for you to usurp the Dōwā family's position.
Fear that local autonomy would fall with ACCA
bred self-preservation in each district.
If you could take advantage of it,
attainment of your goal wouldn't be impossible.
But if ACCA won first,
Furawau's game would be over, then and there.
You acted on speculation?
No, you didn't.
Director-General Mauve has
conducted a thorough investigation of Furawau's internal affairs.
She has testimony from the Furawau representative
in the central council.
I knew no one outside the Lilium family could be trusted.
What will you do now?
Will you still play the game with another strategy?
Furawau will leave the game.
The game called "Dōwā Kingdom."
This was your feat of strength, Director-General Mauve.
The Five Chief Officers are no longer needed in ACCA.
The five leaders, central to ACCA's creation a century ago,
became its chief officers.
We are their remnants.
I believe we can abolish the position now.
You are the leader.
Last night, Otus briefed me on the plan.
Today, I was hesitant to stand here as one of the Five Chief Officers.
To me, the thirteen different uniforms look like
the symbol of solidarity now.
Thank you.
An exercise kept secret, even from us.
The director-general is quite the leader.
Jean!
Sorry to worry you, Lotta.
Nino was with me!
But when I looked for him, he was gone.
I see.
Um, thank you for telling me about the danger
when my life was at risk.
I told her.
Then you should thank him.
Yes, His Highness was worried about both of you
and ordered me to warn you.
You both should come to the castle.
I'm sure Grandfather would be pleased!
So, in the end, not even their royal lineage was publicized.
That was well done.
Yeah.
So, though matters have been resolved,
tensions will remain high in each branch for a while.
We return to our important work of monitoring each district.
First, we have a staff dinner tonight.
I'll have your next assignments then.
Here it comes.
I'm so nervous!
Chief, what's in that envelope?
Jean's normal transfer request.
For ACCA, the ceremony marked a transition to a new system.
The positions of the Five Chief Officers were abolished,
and Director-General Mauve became the highest-ranking official.
Question!
Yes, young man?
Why does ACCA's symbol still have a thirteen,
even though there are twelve districts?
ACCA Headquarters Director-General Mauve
It's what Chief Officer Grossular wanted.
I agreed wholeheartedly.
Grossular submitted his resignation,
but Mauve dissuaded him.
He remains a chief officer, in an advisory capacity.
ACCA Chief Officer Grossular
I still hope that someday,
Furawau will return to Dōwā Kingdom.
No need to change it for now.
With Furawau's secession, there were
concerns about a resource shortage.
But the discovery of underground resources in Pranetta
drastically changed the conversation.
Many flocked to Pranetta and
applied for residency, to pursue their dreams.
In particular, a growing number of young applicants from Yakkara.
Of course you bet on the winning horse.
Former ACCA Chief Officer Spade
Anyway, I'm retired now...
Just an ordinary citizen, so never mind me.
With ACCA's transition,
the other chief officers left for their own destinations.
As Jumōku's district chief, my goal is obvious.
Jumōku District Chief Pine
To spread our specialty goods throughout the nation.
Naturally, that includes Suitsu.
In Suitsu, for the first time,
residents will be able to elect their next representative.
My reasons?
Just look at this beautiful scenery.
Suitsu District Chief Pastis
I've realized that all residents love this beautiful land of Suitsu.
That is all.
Who knew you'd be nominated for the council?
Suitsu will change from being a nation to a district!
Suitsu's development was
welcome news to citizens who were shaken by Furawau's secession.
So ultimately,
where did the leak regarding Jean Otus's bloodline originate?
Who knows?
It doesn't matter now.
Nothing to do with the Lilium family.
Or with Furawau Kingdom.
Your Highness, Miss Lotta has arrived from Bādon.
This is a present, sandwich bread!
I accept.
This is for Magie, from Agent Rail!
You really care for your friends!
Oh, and this is for the first princess,
to thank her for telling me so much about my mother.
She tried to have you killed.
"Because the first princess apologized," she said.
And above all, because she was her mother's older sister.
Grandfather is waiting.
Well done.
Everything was Privy Council President Qualm's orders.
We had to eradicate
the Lilium family's plots before Prince Schwan's ascension.
Even if that meant involving the Otus siblings.
I would never have conceived of such a thing.
But you supported his plan by insisting that Jean
would never want the throne himself.
And for the past six months, you guided Jean's actions.
In terms of orchestration, an impressive feat.
It was nothing so grand.
You know that better than anyone.
His Majesty no longer needs photos.
You are released from your duties.
You are free.
Live as you see fit.
I will do so.
It's time...
I'm leaving.
In any case, we'll meet again.
After all, you and I will live as we want.
Where to?
To Beak Beauty Salon, in the east sector.
Can you make it quick?
Dyeing my hair blond is such a hassle.
Inspection Department
Welcome back, Deputy Chief.
You must be tired from your trip!
I'm not that tired, actually...
The schedule's relaxed this time of year.
Your previous rounds were just too tough.
Is coffee all right?
Sure.
Hey, I saw them again in the downstairs café,
Director-General Mauve and Chief Officer Grossular!
Don't you think they're a great pair?
I do! They'd be wonderful together!
My parents died in the Peshi-Rokkusu train accident.
Due to the accident, I once met Chief Officer Grossular back then.
He came to meet with bereaved families.
He laid a hand on my shoulder,
and looked at me, without a word.
If I really do have royal blood,
I believe the chief officer may have already known, even back then.
But if he did, he never spoke of it to anyone.
I think that's the kind of man Chief Officer Grossular is.
I became interested in ACCA
because I sensed how proud he was of it.
You really like him, don't you?
And in time, another who shared the chief officer's perspective emerged
and became director-general.
I know my feelings will be unrequited.
You are the same way.
I have boundless respect for the chief officer, as well.
Here.
There's enough for me?
Yes.
It was for Knot,
but he left early.
His wife contacted him.
He's going to the airport to pick her up!
By the way, Deputy Chief, isn't Lotta traveling now?
Have you been eating okay?
We can all go out for dinner.
I'm fine.
Even if I were drinking by myself,
my partner in crime would just wander in.
Are you having fun, Jean?
Having fun at prom?
Well, it was all unfortunate...
In many ways.
And why are you ditching the queen?
You were voted prom king, right?
Isn't it hilarious?
It's more suited to you.
We really haven't changed, have we?