Drink up.
A Timid Heart
What brings you here in the middle of the night, Prince Kai?
Actually...
Have something... I want to talk to you... about...
Me?
Heine!
There you are!
It's terrible. I just dreamt I was an octopus!
Slime. Slime. Slime. Slime.
Aaaugh
I don't have eight limbs, right?
My body's not all slimy, right?
I'd be chased out of the palace. I know it!
Master!
I'm glad I found you.
Forgive me for disturbing you at this hour.
I cannot sleep until I understand this problem.
My apologies,
Prince Leonhard, Prince Bruno, but could this wait until another occasio—
What are you all doing living it up in here in the dead of night?
Seems fun!
My sincerest apologies.
It seems it would be difficult to do this now.
Huh? What's up, Kai?
I need... advice... from him...
You need advice?
I can't see it.
Oh! Actually, I need his help, too.
There's this beautiful flat-chested girl and a girl with an ordinary face but a gigantic chest.
Which do I date? Which do you think is better?
I think you should sleep and never get up, for the sake of all the women in the world.
All right, Your Highnesses, you are interrupting Prince Kai.
Please see yourselves out.
Aww!
Professor... it's okay... It's not a secret...
Please, go on.
What Father said to me...
Kai, I have no complaints about your ability,
but you should work on your communication skills and learn how to convey your emotions.
But... I don't know how to become a good communicator...
I see. So that is what brought you to me.
As family, I understand you,
but it could be difficult for strangers to read your expressions, indeed.
And... sorry to say this...
but sometimes your gaze is so sharp that I get a little scared...
What a thing to say.
Gloom
I-I'm sorry! It was a lie! Kai!
Father told me to become more flexible. He pointed out flaws in all of us.
You aren't alone in worrying, Kai.
Yup. Hardheaded, small-hearted Bruni has a bigger problem.
He doesn't have the soul of a king.
I intend to be more careful about that.
Oh, really? Do you have it in you to be relaxed?
Relaxed, relaxed.
Smack
Relaxed, relaxed.
Stretch
See? He's not relaxed at all.
Being relaxed and never getting angry are separate things.
Not to mention, Father told you to be more serious.
But in my case, that's what makes me unique.
He is completely remorseless.
And Leonhard, too...
You noticed, dear brother?
Proud
I'm the only one who wasn't chastised for a personality problem.
That is to say, once I overcome the problem of my studies,
I'll be the perfect candidate for king!
Isn't that because your other problems paled in comparison to your hideous grades?
I'm a failure...
Ouch, Professor. Way to be adult.
Prince Leonhard is the type that goes rotten if you baby him.
Now, Prince Kai.
From what I have observed, you are able to communicate well with your family.
I want to talk more with the palace staff... not just my family...
Is that so?
And... I think when I look at someone... they start assuming things...
Oh. Good morning, Prince Kai.
Don't speak to me so casually.
I'll crush you!
I'll crush you.
Your tea, Prince Kai.
You would make me drink this lukewarm muck? Useless.
I-I'm sorry! Do you prefer it hotter?!
His Highness would never say such things,
yet judging only by his appearance, it is easy to imagine.
When I think I might scare them... I don't know what to say...
And when you are silent, they fear you. A negative cycle.
Shall I coach you to be able to speak with the palace staff?
Communication does require a certain amount of practice.
I will help, too. I cannot leave Kai by himself.
Me, too!
All right! I'll lend a hand, too.
Follow my lead, and you'll charm all the ladies into coming home with you.
That is not the goal.
Well, Prince Kai, we will begin first thing in the morning.
Okay.
Good morning, Prince Kai.
Good morning, Kai.
I'm sorry, but Adele says she wants to go to the zoo.
Huh?
The zoo?
Yes. You see...
Wasn't that Adele?!
Adele! Are you okay?!
Shadow ruined my favorite picture...
What is that disgusting picture?
Who drew that?
Bad Shadow!
I'm not playing with you anymore!
I'm going to find a new friend!
Wait. Where are you going?
To the zoo.
The zoo?
I went with Grandmother before.
There are lots of animals. I'll make a new friend there!
I hate to tell you this,
but the national zoo is a fair distance away.
You won't make it on foot.
Unless you take a carriage...
P-Prepare a carriage! We're going to the zoo, immediately!
Yeah!
Huh?!
And so we must go.
Let's all go together, then.
Okay! Thank you, Kai!
Isn't that nice, Adele?
Indeed. This may be a good opportunity, Prince Kai.
Shall we begin with smiling practice at the zoo?
Smiling?
Yes. A smile is a communication tool that surpasses borders and language.
For example, like this...
A full-faced smile is enough to give someone a good impression.
H-How was that a smile?
Like this, Kai! This is a smile!
Model yourself after me.
Okay.
Let us be off, then.
So many animals!
Where should we start?
Prince Kai, please walk around with a smile as you look at the animals of your choosing.
Okay.
Smile... smile...
Ah... smile... smile...
Kai! Time out!
You are smiling, but it's a different kind of smile.
At any rate, forcing a smile isn't good.
Say, Kai? What's that bird called?
It's an ostrich.
Whoa! What's it doing?!
A courtship dance. It seems even the animals love you, Prince Licht.
By the by, that is a male.
No, thanks!
Let's look at the bears next.
They'll be so cute!
It's okay, Adele.
It's not every day we're at the zoo. Let's have fun.
Want to feed the animals over there?
O-Okay.
His communication skills are quite high when it comes to his family.
What is this?
So cute! Eat up, okay?
Come on, there are carrots, too! Eat up and get bigger!
Why are they avoiding me and only me?
I'll have to will them to me.
Come to me... Come to me...
Come to me...
I believe that is having the opposite effect.
Where has Prince Kai gone?
They've become one being.
Prince Kai. Are you all right?
Surrounded by fluff... In heaven...
Glad to hear it. Let us take that happy smile on to the next step, shall we?
We have run out of feed.
Could you ask that attendant for more?
Ah... okay...
You needn't be so nervous.
Also, there is no need to force yourself to smile as earlier.
For today, interacting naturally with someone outside your family will be sufficient progress.
Okay.
Oh, boy. He's sweating up a storm.
I've never seen him walk with such heavy steps before.
Will it be all right?
Mission failure, huh?
You can do it. Give it another try, Kai!
Ow!
Adele!
Adele. Are you okay?
The bunny bit me.
That must have surprised you. Shadow never bites.
Yeah.
Let me look at it.
Okay.
Can we go home?
Want to go with me, Adele?
Okay.
Do you think she really doesn't want to see Shadow?
Perhaps.
What's wrong?
I don't wanna go back.
What? Why not?
'Cause... 'Cause...
I was really mean to Shadow.
I said I wouldn't play with him anymore, and I'd make a new friend.
Adele...
It's okay. Shadow misses you, too.
No, he doesn't!
You realized that Shadow is your dear friend.
Yeah.
Shadow?
Shadow!
I'm sorry, Shadow!
You're my best friend.
I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Shadow.
Happy ending.
It's your turn next.
Seeing you with Princess Adele,
I again feel that someone who cares for his family as much as you do
should certainly be able to communicate with the palace staff as well.
Is it my time to shine now?
I'll teach you my secret conversation techniques.
Begin with a safe topic, like the weather.
Then, ask what your conversation partner likes.
When that gets them excited, don't waste any time complimenting them.
Like, "Your dress is so cute," or "Your makeup looks great," and so on.
Those are pickup techniques.
Be that as it may, they could be effective in ordinary conversations, too.
How would you feel about putting this into practice with those maids, Prince Kai?
Go get 'em, Kai!
This time, try not to pass them by.
Okay...
Weather... likes... compliments... weather...
Huh?
P-Prince Kai! What can we do for you?
Nice weather today...
Huh?! Oh, um, yes...
I like... soft animals...
What?
Why did he jump straight to that?
This towel feels like a soft animal...
U-Um, okay...
Was that meant to be a compliment?
W-Well... E-Excuse us...
Ah...
That didn't go so well.
Now, now. There's no need to rush.
What's this?
Thank you... I'm terribly sorry, Prince Kai...
It's fine...
Helping someone naturally leads to communication. An excellent idea, Kai!
Keep it up, Kai!
I am so sorry, Prince Kai!
We beg your pardon, Your Highness!
Your Highness...
I never knew my own brother was that monstrously strong.
What's that?
I'm not sure. It must be an intruder!
Guards, charge!
Go! Capture him!
I can't apologize enough. I didn't realize it was Your Highness.
My sincerest apologies.
It's okay... It was my fault...
Nonsense! We are truly, truly sorry!
We're truly sorry!
It's all right, Kai.
I'm sure you'll be able to talk to the palace staff, if we look for another way.
Where are you going?
I don't want to scare people, or be a nuisance. It's okay.
Kai...
Prince Kai...
I'm sorry! I didn't mean to wake you.
I'm sorry...
Um, I apologize for being presumptuous, but the wind is cold today,
so I brought you some warm tea if you'd like.
E-Excuse me!
You need a lesson.
Prince Kai.
Are you sure you should give up?
It has not been even three days since you told me
you want to communicate with the palace staff.
You were able to sense the complexity of Princess Adele's feelings in no time at all.
You possess a sensitive and great heart.
You know how to communicate with your family,
yet you cannot converse with anyone else.
Before that, do you say your proper greetings and thank-yous to the other people in your life?
Greetings... thank-yous...
No... I don't want to scare them...
As I suspected.
You are so afraid of being feared that you do not have the courage to say hello.
But no one will think ill of you for being polite.
Won't you try starting with greetings and thank-yous, for now?
But what if... that scares them, too?
Everyone has a different personality.
This means there will be times when you have to give up.
But, on the other hand, it also means there are people who would get along well with you.
This is a large kingdom in a wide world.
There must be tens of thousands of people who can understand you.
I think it would be a terrible waste to give up because of only one or two people.
E-Excuse me!
I'm here to change your sheets.
I'm so sorry! I'll finish it up quickly!
She's scared again...
Talking now might scare her more...
But...
This is a large kingdom in a wide world.
There must be tens of thousands of people who can understand you.
Um... Yes?
Thank... you...
For always... changing... the sheets...
And thank you... for the tea... I was happy...
Not at all! I'm not worthy, Prince Kai. Thank you!
Excuse me!
I didn't scare her...
When I talked to her, she smiled!
Prince Kai?
Professor! I said thank you, like you said.
Exhausted...
Is that so? You must be glad, Prince Kai.
Yeah.
Wow, Kai! You got along with them?
So the tricks I taught you worked, did they?
I highly doubt it.
By the way, Kai, Licht was turned down by both of the girlfriends he was wavering between.
Hey! That doesn't matter right now!
Forget about that, Kai. Tell us how it went!
Yeah.
That's amazing, Kai!
Please tell me everything!
Me too, me too!
Well done, Prince Kai.
Kai!
That is a very charming smile.
Professor Heine. Will this frame do?
Thank you.
Ugh. It's that creepy picture again.
It gives me a bad feeling.
Isn't that the picture that led to Adele's fight with Shadow?
Maybe it's cursed.
By the way, Professor Heine. Princess Adele said she wants you to draw her portrait again.
You're kidding me.
Heine, you drew that disgusting picture?
Yes.
I-I can't believe it.
It's beyond awful.
I am well aware of that, but the princess took a liking to it.
Ahem. When I saw the painting again,
I noticed what looked like a burn mark on the corner.
Huh?
If it was near a candle, the princess could have been in danger.
Thus...
Are you implying that Shadow knocked the painting to the ground to save Adele?
Yes. That is my suspicion.
N-No way...
Herr Shadow!
Shadow! There you are!
Good grief. Don't go off without me!
I drew to kill time when I was little. Do you draw, Kai?
I drew this the other day.
Uh, what is this weird creature?
Next Time:
The Price of the Past
Next time, “The Price of the Past.”
It's fun to draw Shadow.
This is supposed to be Shadow?