The King of Glanzreich, Viktor von Glanzreich.
He took the throne at eighteen, becoming the youngest king in Glanzreich's history.
His extraordinary strategic talents quickly transformed
the army into the strongest force on the western continent.
This achievement earned him the nickname
of the God of War.
Assailed by the Greatest of Trials
His Majesty the King has just returned after half a year away.
His Majesty wishes to meet with you and the princes.
Would you come to His Majesty's office in the morning?
Understood.
I feel more nervous than usual.
Please wait here.
The princes are already waiting.
It is an honor to meet with the king.
Your Highnesses must be happy to see your father for the first time in six months, no?
How tense...
I do not dislike Father, of course.
I respect him, but—
Let's just say there's a lot we fuss about as his sons.
For your information, only Kai here with his big heart is purely happy to see Father.
I love Father... We should all get along...
All creatures on Earth are neighbors...
We are all one family...
Big? I would say his heart is galactic in scale.
Do we have to see Father?
Perhaps I should not be surprised by their reactions.
Their relationship is that of a king and his potential successors.
It must be different from an ordinary father-son relationship.
Are you ready?
Yes.
Your Majesty, the princes and the royal tutor are here to see you.
Send them in.
The King of Glanzreich...
Viktor von Glanzreich.
Aren't you going to greet His Majesty?
Erm...
Your Majesty, we are glad for your safe return.
Thank you for your service to the country during your travels.
I am the royal tutor, Heine, at your service.
I am truly grateful for the honor of meeting you.
Your Majesty?
Wha...
F-Forgive me. I cannot contain my emotions.
My sons are already greeting their father formally...
They've grown up so fast...
H-Huh?!
Cut it out! We're not kids anymore!
You taught us how to properly greet a royal.
Don't cry...
The truth is, this happens every time we see him.
I was embarrassed about you seeing it.
Ah, so this is why you were less than thrilled.
So even the God of War is an ordinary father with his children, hmm?
I missed you, my boys.
Cut it out!
Thank you for grooming my sons.
Are you already acquainted?
No, only through writing.
I heard of an excellent tutor, and we exchanged a number of letters.
I offered him a post in the palace based on them.
So, are you getting along well with your new royal tutor?
You don't have to tell us to.
I-I don't really care...
If you aren't outright objecting, it must be all right.
Now, to business.
From now on I will be speaking to you not as your father, but as king.
According to the royal tutor's report,
Bruno and Kai did well on the competency test.
Bruno, your studies are perfect,
but you will need to think more flexibly if you are to become a leader.
Y-Yes, sir.
Kai, I have no complaints about your ability,
but you should work on your communication skills and learn how to convey your emotions.
Licht. You scored 60 because you thought it a chore and got sloppy, no?
Crap.
You will have to break that habit of yours.
Fine.
Yes, sir.
But Leonhard is the most problematic.
I was so shocked that I doubted my own eyes.
Huh?
Did I do something?
One point on your test.
One point!
One point...
You scored one point on your test, Your Highness.
Ah.
He finally remembered.
I was also surprised by the grading method.
One point for writing his name, when he answered every single question incorrectly?
You must have done so out of kindness. Thank you.
Not at all.
However, either way, if this continues you will never be ready for the throne.
Three days from now, you will retake this test.
Unless you match Licht's score of 60...
Leonhard, I will strip you of your right to the throne.
I asked Heine to give each of you equal treatment,
but I will allow an exception for these three days.
Can I count on you to give Leonhard extra evening lessons, Heine?
Yes, Your Majesty.
But, Father, isn't that too much for Leonhard?
That is all I have to say. Forgive me, but I must attend to my duties now.
We'll catch up later, my dear sons.
I'm too stupid to be king... It's all because I'm dumb... What do I do?
He's churning out reflective diaries at a tremendous pace.
What do I do? What do I do?
But I am impressed with His Majesty.
When he speaks as king he is unsparingly stern, even with the sons he loves dearly.
Leonhard...
Our dumb dad didn't have to do that to him in front of us.
He must have judged that we should also know, as competitors for the throne.
Do not speak ill of Father.
Don't get so down. You could actually be lucky!
See, being king must come with tons of trouble.
Think of it as dodging that bullet.
No...
I'm not upset about my right to the throne.
It just hurts that Father is unhappy with me.
It's miserable. I never knew bad grades could be this frustrating.
Leonhard...
But Your Highness has a history of driving out royal tutors.
Only Yourself To Blame
You have only yourself to blame, no?
H-How dare you...
I'm willing to listen to a counterargument.
Ugh. Say whatever you want.
I'm no good for the throne, anyway. My life as a prince is over.
Oh, no. You can rise back up.
It is only truly over when you are no longer frustrated.
You still have three days. I will do my utmost to help you.
But...
Bruno?
We brothers are rivals vying for the throne.
But I cannot watch my dear brother lose heart.
I will also do whatever I can for you.
Me, too...
Sheesh. I'd look heartless if I was the only one to abandon you now.
Kai... Bruno... Licht...
Bring it on. I swear I'll show Father!
Are those tears in your eyes? Did you cry?
Wha... N-No! This is just a runny nose!
Gross!
Come to think of it, we cannot help if we don't know Leonhard's academic level.
I'm sure he can at least add one and one.
Huh?
What?!
Leonhard, what is one plus one?
Three?
Hang on! How can he retake that test in three days from nothing?
He has to score at least 60 or our cold-hearted dad will kick him out of the line of succession!
I told you to stop speaking ill of Father.
The test consists of basic questions in language, arithmetic, history, and geography.
Arithmetic has the highest number of points. It would be difficult to pass without it.
I said I would help him study, and I want to do all I can...
Leonhard, are you sure that one plus one equals three?
Think really hard!
I've got it!
One plus one is eleven!
That isn't how arithmetic works.
Prince Leonhard, the answer is not eleven, either.
What?
If you do not know the answer, count on your fingers.
Oh, right. I did learn that.
Erm... One plus one...
I know! One plus one is two!
Correct.
I can see those 60 points now.
I can't.
Let us try a slightly harder one. What is four plus three?
Okay... Four plus three...
I don't have enough fingers...
Observe. He does not even consider using his left hand.
This should give you a glimpse of my daily struggles.
My respect for you grows greater still, Master.
Forget about the test. Doesn't this bode badly for him as a person?
How should we teach him?
It's easier when you mix things you don't like with things you do.
Leonhard is athletic...
He could run until he solves the problem.
That would be a punishment.
No good...?
Do cheer up.
The part about things you like could work.
I bet I could learn formulas in one glance
if they were written across the bosom of a buxom lady.
Why not have Bruni teach you? You like him better than the professor.
You might start to like studying.
D-Do you hear yourself?
What? Writing formulas across Bruno's bosom?
Do you hear yourself?
Goodness gracious. I could never teach you better than Master. How outrageous.
You should certainly try it, if there is a chance it might work.
Please leave it to me, Master. I won't let you down!
Straight to it, then.
Listen, Leonhard. When adding, the sum might be two digits...
He's saying such complicated things. Bruno never fails to impress!
Amazing, Bruno! What a genius!
Are you listening, Leonhard?
Huh?
In other words,
if you memorize the sums of single-digit numbers, you can add up to any digit...
He's perfect. I respect him so much.
No! I can't concentrate on my studies because of Bruno!
He's too amazing. Arithmetic is the last thing on my mind.
A brother complex for Prince Bruno only.
I don't understand what went wrong. I'm sorry.
His respect backfired? We'll have to resort to drastic measures.
The test will be the same as before.
Therefore, he only has to memorize all the answers and he's good!
That is not good!
What did you hit me for?
Cheating is unacceptable. We cannot do that.
Agreed.
But come on...
Do you really think he can remember more than 50 answers in order?
Please do not underestimate his brain.
That's your objection?
Master, is there any studying method that would work for Leonhard?
It seems hopeless...
I have made arrangements, though I cannot say if they will work.
Excuse me.
I have what you asked for.
Sachertorte!
There are six slices of torte.
If each of us took one, how many would be left?
There would only be one slice left, of course.
You did it, Leonhard. You subtracted five from six in an instant.
If there's only one slice left and we give it to Father, it's all gone.
Leonhard? Are you listening? Hello?
I wanted at least one more slice...
Huh? Did I just do math?
I believe that your anxiety toward studying sends you into a panic.
If you slowly grow accustomed to studying, you will be fine.
You're onto something. Using torte as an example makes it feel more relatable.
Say there are 30 slices of torte.
If five people take one each, how many slices are left?
U-Um, 25?
Say there are 250 slices of torte.
How much torte are we going to have?
Shh. It's working. Keep your comments to yourself.
Wow, 15 points? I've never earned such a high mark before.
You are still short of 60 points.
Oh, right. I have to get 60. So I still need...
27 points?!
That would be 45, Your Highness.
Leonhard...
Don't panic. There's still... No time!
The test is tomorrow morning!
How will he get from 15 points to 60? He'll lose his claim to the throne!
Licht!
Leonhard. It'll be okay.
It is quite late. Please return to your rooms, Your Highnesses.
But...
Leave this to me.
Now, let us study.
The test is tomorrow. It's pointless.
Father's going to abandon me. I hate studying.
I give up. I can't do this.
Father's going to hate me. My life is over. It's all over...
It is time for a lesson.
You learned something from this test, no?
What could I learn from a mere 15 points?
You learned that studying is difficult for you, did you not?
You can learn once you understand how little you know.
You cannot grow from a test with perfect marks.
But with this score of 15, you can grow another 85 points.
If you think of it that way, a bad mark is very exciting, no?
Oh? Are you going to study?
I'm suffering so much, and you think I should be excited? I hate teachers.
I'll show you. I'll study all night and score at least 60 tomorrow.
Hurry up and teach me!
Very well. But be sure to sleep, for health's sake.
I would like to sleep, myself.
Glanzreich Fortress was built in 1620.
When its lord's grandson, Otto II, was named Count Glanzreich,
the current royal line began...
That is enough for your last-minute cramming. It is almost time.
I will go with you.
Good morning, Leonhard. Royal Tutor.
G-Good morning, Father.
Come have a seat.
We will begin the test now. You have one hour.
If Leonhard scores 60 or higher, he will keep his claim to the throne.
Begin.
Once a test begins, no one can come to his aid.
A teacher can only believe in his student.
Time is up.
Royal Tutor, if you would grade the test.
Your Majesty.
Your score is...
59 points.
Awesome! I got 59 points!
Seriously, Leo?!
Incredible! You answered more than half correctly!
Great job.
Ahem. That is less than 60 points.
This is exactly why Father's going to abandon me.
Your Majesty...
If he cannot show results, then I cannot allow Leonhard to be in the line of succession.
But...!
However, this test may be graded incorrectly, Royal Tutor.
Pardon?
With your grading method, don't you add one point for writing one's name?
60 points. Congratulations, Leonhard.
Leonhard...
Th-Thank God...
Oh? Aren't you happy?
B-But I really only scored 59... Are you sure, Father?
I only followed Heine's grading method.
You are Heine's student now, after all.
Do you not want to be his student?
I-I hate teachers. But I don't hate Heine.
I don't think I could have gotten a 59 without him.
Then continue to pay attention to his lessons, and study hard.
So that you will be fit for the throne.
Yes, sir!
Can you promise the professor that, too?
Thank you. Um... I'll keep trying, so...
keep... keep teaching me, Heine. Professor Heine.
Of course. I look forward to our lessons, Prince Leonhard.
What is this?
I am returning your personal handshake.
Besides, if I gave you a firm handshake now, I think you would cry again.
Wha...! I-I wouldn't...!
Besides, the time for this has already passed.
Huh?
I ponder my students' futures night and day as a teacher.
You're only asking me to now,
but I've actually already done a considerable amount of work.
Wh-What's with the cold reaction? How do you think I felt saying that?
Calm down, Leo. He's just being shy.
Snort
How is that shy?!
Wonderful, Leonhard.
You've protected your claim to the throne and come to appreciate Master's brilliance.
Yes, all those who are lost on the path to knowledge
will be enveloped by the ocean known as Master...
I don't follow.
I don't think you're brilliant, okay? You nasty teacher!
I am only ever honest.
Excuse me?!
Oof. That's harsh.
They're already so close.
Keep studying happily under a teacher you can trust, my sons.
Your Majesty, you have a request for an audience.
It is long past the time for audiences. Turn them down.
The request is from the royal tutor.
Send him in.
What can I do for you, Royal Tutor?
I thought you might enjoy a respite from your work.
A child bringing me wine? That won't do.
I am quite tired of that joke of yours.
Let me joke, at least, after you told that awful lie about never having met me.
What else was I to say?
I have the Niederglanzreich white wine you like, but not to curry your favor.
Let us drink into the night as we used to.
Viktor.
Thank you for pushing Prince Leonhard.
Had you not given him an ultimatum, he may never have been motivated to study.
I only wish for my children to be happy, and to build a bright future for the kingdom.
Yes, I am well aware.
For I am here to grant that wish.
You have not forgotten our promise, yes?
Hmm?
That if my past ever comes to light...
I remember.
That was your condition for becoming the royal tutor...
Studying is so hard...
It's important to try. You can do it, Leonhard.
Yes! I'll study this... tomorrow.
Badum Badum Badum Badum
Next time, "At Café Mitter Meyer."
Next Time
At Café Mitter Meyer
You can have this sachertorte once you're done.
Forget tomorrow, I'll do it right now!