Inspection Department Dōwā Branch
I'll make tea.
Please take a break.
Thanks.
ACCA Inspection Department Dōwā Branch Supervisor Aigrette
Can I have a smoke?
If it's in this room.
Please don't let Dōwā residents see you smoking.
If I go by what I heard in Hare District,
by now, all the districts have heard about the coup plot
and that I'm traveling as an intermediary
for coup sympathizers.
None of the districts have much activity.
Perhaps they're waiting to see what happens.
I wonder what the situation is...
High-ranking officials in every district
think me part of the coup d'état.
Chief Officer Grossular is monitoring me because he thinks I'm a sympathizer.
But some disagree with that assessment.
That's right.
I believe Grossular
started these rumors.
He is the one plotting the coup d'état.
Chief Officer Lilium believes that I'm innocent. He's on my side.
But he also worries that Chief Officer Grossular is part of the coup.
That's why he asked for my help.
ACCA may suffer internal turmoil, but I'll be sure to protect order in this nation.
Director-General Mauve asked me to investigate the coup.
I would like your help.
But she doesn't seem
to be aware of the rumors that I'm the sympathizers' intermediary.
I don't know what the other chief officers believe,
but it seems that high-ranking officials
share the same perspective on the coup.
It isn't just a rumor this time.
Chief Officer Grossular ordered Nino to observe me.
Never mind Nino...
I don't really get it.
Everything hinges on Dōwā's royal family.
On how much longer His Majesty King Falke can retain the throne.
Wait.
What's the point of setting me up as an intermediary in the first place?
I'm counting on you for security tomorrow.
Understood.
I see how relaxed you are
because tomorrow's outing doesn't involve you, Magie.
Tomorrow, when you stay behind, be sure you take good care of His Highness.
Yes, sir.
If anything were to happen to His Highness,
you are to stay by him.
Just like thirty-three years ago.
Hmm?
I was just speaking of the incident to His Highness.
Ah.
We exist to protect the royal family of Dōwā.
But at times, things beyond our control may occur.
The ship sank,
taking His Majesty's prized possession and our beloved brother-in-arms with it.
His Highness wishes to go out into the world.
Oh?
His position as sole heir
seems to be motivating that line of thought.
I see.
If it ever comes to pass, Magie, you must stay by his side,
no matter what.
Even more black clothes than usual.
The wind is cold in Dōwā.
Huh.
Taking a cake back as Lotta's present?
No, she asked for this.
Snowballs.
Knot brought some for his kids last time,
and she heard about it.
I didn't see that!
I want to try it!
So, yeah.
We bought them at a morning market,
and I don't know where the actual store is.
It's just up ahead.
It's closed now, so I'll bring you tomorrow.
Where's your audit tomorrow?
His Majesty is making an outing, so I've put things on hold.
I'm free all day.
How about three o'clock, then?
They have a great cake, so we can try it.
Chocolate cake again?
Nope, apple cake.
Choosing a cake without chocolate, that's rare.
It's great.
You haven't heard?
You sure know a lot.
Leave your uniform behind tomorrow.
It makes you stand out.
Uh, I didn't bring anything else to wear.
Jeez.
I wonder if it'll snow tomorrow.
Oh, my god! Snowballs!
Huge, too!
So many!
I'm so happy!
I want to try them now...
Jean, you'd better not have forgotten.
Oh!
It's snowing!
Hey.
Is there someone you're trying to avoid running into?
You have good instincts.
I can tell.
I don't get along with the owner here.
Lotta will be over the moon.
Which cake will you order for yourself?
I'll take this snowball.
I hear His Majesty likes them, too.
The royal family orders from here.
He really likes sweets, huh?
I'll have the white chocolate cake and the apple cake for here.
This time, His Majesty is taking his rest stop here.
Oh, you didn't know?
Every time he goes on an outing,
he visits a pâtisserie he likes.
Then we should leave.
That won't be necessary.
Please take a seat.
His Majesty requests that we do business as usual.
He enjoys spending time with customers.
The farthest seat in back is reserved for His Majesty,
but you can sit anywhere else.
The owner seems like a nice person.
I'm sure he's in a good mood because the king will be visiting.
You'll need to remove your hat and sunglasses.
That man...
Isn't he with ACCA HQ's Inspection Department?
Did he come here because he knew about His Majesty's visit?
We only learned of it this morning.
It must be a coincidence.
But he has some nerve to be present.
Who is the other man?
Well, should there be any risk to His Majesty,
Privy Council President Qualm will signal us.
This is good.
Can I try your cake, too?
You have nerves of steel, you know.
What?
Right now, most people wouldn't be able to say a single word.
But they said to act like nothing is unusual.
I'm sure it's fine, as long as we aren't too loud.
Is it good?
Yes, Your Majesty.
Is that a snowball?
Yes, Your Majesty.
He is with the Inspection Department at ACCA headquarters.
Is that right?
Yes.
He seems to be wearing clothes from Dōwā.
Well...
I only brought my uniform,
so he lent me these.
You are the photographer from the coming of age ceremony.
Thank you for allowing me to take photographs, Your Majesty.
I was able to get some good shots.
No, I should thank you.
You honor me, Your Majesty.
Would you like to join us?
I cannot eat so much alone.
Um...
He's telling you to come over.
You shouldn't refuse.
Over there.
May I take photos?
They won't be seen by anyone outside of here.
Very well.
That was quite a day.
Yeah, it was.
It isn't every day that you get thanked.
I always thank you, and so does Lotta.
I meant in my line of work.
He's drunk. That's rare.
When your supervisor praises you, doesn't it feel good?
Do you have one in your job?
Yeah.
I've never gotten any praise, though.
When I see him, he usually tells me off.
He did that last time.
If I keep talking to you like this,
I bet he'll grab me by the collar again.
Do you like what you do, Nino?
It isn't about whether I like it.
I'm not supposed to like it.
But I guess...
I do.
That's why I get told off...
Nino fell asleep.
This is good art, Schwan.
Grandfather, which painting do you like?
All of them.
This is our new mugwort walnut bread.
Try it, if you'd like!
Thanks.
I guess the director-general isn't coming...
Is she avoiding me?
It's chock full of flour!
It's delicious!
The powdered sugar and white chocolate
really make it look like a snowball!
Oh, right! It snowed the other day!
It also snowed in Dōwā.
Huh...
I'd love to go to Dōwā when it snows, too.
I bet everything looks super cute then.
You seem really into Dōwā.
Yeah, I love it!
What about you?
You go to all the districts.
Which one do you like most?
Hmm.
I like Dōwā a lot, too.
But I think my favorite is Bādon.
I'm sure I'm the same.
And so is everyone...
I bet they all like their home districts best.
Where are you going on your next trip?
It's soon, isn't it?
Yeah.
I'll have Nino take you out—
Nino's also busy, isn't he?
The department chief and I have plans
to go and thank the café owner for the New Year's cake!
So I won't be lonely.
Oh, okay.
That's good.
So where are you off to?
Kororē District.
Bring back chocolate for me!
Yeah, yeah.
Kororē's known for chocolate!
Chocolate, huh?
Nino will definitely show up.
Notable figures in Hare District seem proactive about the coup.
Kororē is never influenced by what happens in other districts,
so there may be movement.
I'll follow up in a later report.
Thank you.
I've finished my report to Chief Officer Grossular.
I'll be going to Kororē tomorrow.
Dōwā?
It went quite well.
I sent over the report and photos.
I'm fast, aren't I?
I haven't slept a wink after getting back from Dōwā.
It's becoming harder to shake off the fatigue.
I need to eat some good chocolate, for sure.
Yes, and Kororē is next.
I understand.
I'll talk to you later.
Thirty years, huh?
I've grown old.
Why did the director-general entrust him with such an important mission?
Sir! Ma'am!
Keep your voice down.
My apologies.
Look at this.
Connections to coup d'état sympathizers?
I knew it!
Wait a minute...
I see.
So Jean Otus is...
He's currently in Kororē, isn't he?
Kororē District
Hmm...
They could've been staring
because they heard the rumors that I'm a coup sympathizer.
I wonder if I'll have a chance to explain myself to the director-general
when she hears them.
Welcome to Kororē District.
Branch Chief Griese...
You must be exhausted.
You should try to get some rest in Kororē.
Um...
I'm sure other districts give you an extended welcome,
but we won't go to such lengths here.
The district chief and I have made our decision.
We will never take a roundabout approach
like men in other districts.
Uh... It didn't feel like the right time to probe into the coup situation.
Deputy Chief,
ACCA Inspection Department Kororē Branch Supervisor Larrousse
I've made transportation arrangements for your sector audits, starting tomorrow.
Thank you.
As usual, you're efficient.
In Kororē, men feel inferior.
It's simply due to women being slightly superior.
There are many competent men here.
By the way, about Dōwā...
Is His Majesty in good health?
He looks like he is.
Everyone is worried
about ACCA's future.
What will happen when the next ruler takes the throne?
My, Schwan...
How unusual for you to come visit.
I hope you are well, Aunt.
Why are you here?
To hear a story of the past.
The past?
The incident happened when my mother was still young,
so I wished to hear about it from you, her older sister.
Please tell me about your younger sister,
the second princess, who passed away thirty-three years ago.
There are so many shops,
I can't tell which one's good.
Isn't Nino around?
I wish he'd tell me where to go.
I received a report concerning you, Otus.
Director-General, about that...
It's only rumors. Or, um...
You are royalty.
You are first in the line of succession.
As I suspected, you didn't know.
Let us walk as we talk.
I learned from a subordinate's report
that you are an intermediary for coup sympathizers.
That's...
And from another report that you are of royal blood.
In that moment of revelation,
I suspected, "Jean Otus is being used."
I try not to overestimate my intuition,
but that is what I thought.
And I don't think I am far from the truth.
Well?
Aren't you just being set up as this intermediary?
That's right.
I believe you.
I know that you are incapable of lying.
Earlier, when I said you were useless,
I was overly harsh on you.
You are in the thick of things.
What I wanted from you was beyond your reach.
It's true that I had nothing to report.
No, there was.
For example, the matter in Suitsu.
You specifically chose not to tell me about Chief Officer Grossular, did you not?
I've heard you often spend time at Mauve Avenue.
Because you knew of my respect for the chief officer,
you chose not to inform me that he was suspected of being a coup sympathizer.
Am I right?
When you put it like that, it's hard to deny.
You're right.
Had you reported it to me, it would've been a major accomplishment, too.
You chose not to out of consideration.
But such consideration is unnecessary.
There is a different reason why I didn't report it to you.
I don't believe Chief Officer Grossular is involved.
That's why I didn't report it to you.
Director-General, it wouldn't have been an accomplishment.
You don't ask any questions about yourself.
Did you suspect the truth?
No, I'm still half doubtful.
You're calm.
I wouldn't say that.
But I must ask someone for the truth.
Travel outside the district?
Why should I?
I thought you wished to go to Bādon, to broaden your horizons.
My horizons are broad enough.
I said I wanted to go to Bādon
because I wanted to learn more about the girl.
I didn't know you felt so strongly about Miss Lotta.
That isn't it!
It was to determine if she would stand in my way.
After listening to my aunt's tale, I believe I get it now.
I believe that girl is related to the second princess.
Did the princess really die thirty-three years ago?
That girl looks just like the princess,
in her portrait at age 16.
Well, even if she's related, she's a girl.
My line of succession remains unaffected.
Miss Lotta has a much older brother.
The disrespectful man
who was smoking on castle grounds, the day of the ceremony.
This is the first I'm hearing of this, Magie!
Is that so?
If necessary, I can return to Bādon and
conduct a full investigation into Miss Lotta—
I don't care about that girl!
Go look into her brother!
Wait, I cannot.
Why not?
I cannot leave you, Your Highness.
I was ordered to stay by your side, just like the guard who disappeared
into the sea with the princess, thirty-three years ago.
The guard...
What was his name?
Abend.
You won't find any guard who is ignorant of that name.
He was said to have had beautiful white hair
that caught the eye of the beautiful second princess,
who was as beautiful as snow herself.
He should be remembered for his loyalty.
Jean has learned the truth.
Director-General Mauve informed him.
I don't know the exact nature of their conversation.
Jean will come to me,
and I will tell him.
Now that he knows why he's being involved in all this,
isn't it okay to tell him the truth?
Well?
Do you wish to tell him yourself?
You don't have time to consult Privy Council President Qualm.
He is here now.
I understand.
Excuse me.
You don't need to stay on the call, Nino?
No.
Did you finish buying presents?
Not yet.
Tell me if there are any good places to go.
All right.
It's going to be a long story.
Tell it to me.
The Princess Who Spread Her Wings and the Friend Who Had a Duty
Next time on ACCA: 13-Territory Inspection Department,
The Princess Who Spread Her Wings and the Friend Who Had a Duty.
Tonight's special...
On principle, I don't dwell on the past, after all.
So this is the first and only time.