Machida Station South Exit
Let me carry that.
Uh, but...
Episode 11 Peridot of Blessings
Inamura
Right this way.
Sorry for making you do this.
What are you talking about?
If I didn't at least treat you to some tea, the gods would surely punish me.
L e s M i s é r a b l e s V i c t o r H u g o
Huh?
Isn't this...
L e s M i s é r a b l e s V i c t o r H u g o
Thank you for waiting.
Do you like Hugo?
I'm reading that right now on a recommendation.
I just got to the part where he steals the silverware.
I feel really bad for the protagonist.
No one who feels sorry for Jean Valjean before his encounter with the bishop
is a bad person.
Huh?
No one who feels sorry for Jean Valjean before his encounter with the bishop
is a bad person.
Is there something on my face?
Oh, no.
Pudding...
Do young folks not like pudding?
No, I love it.
Thanks for the treat.
This isn't ordinary sugar, is it?
I'm impressed you can tell.
It's honey... No, black sugar?
Well done.
Huh?
Oh, I'm sorry. Old habits die hard.
Despite how I seem now, I used to be a teacher.
Really?
I was a tutor before I became a teacher.
I'd always tell the children they'd done well when I rewarded them with pudding.
What?
Um, could I ask you a strange question?
What is it?
That photo was taken in England, wasn't it?
Yes.
That's Count Claremont's residence, right?
Does the name "Richard" ring a bell, by any chance?
Richard-san...
I work at Richard's shop.
I was just thinking it'd be an incredible coincidence if you're Richard's governess.
I'll make some more tea.
Thank you so much for today. I appreciate the help.
No, thank you for the tea and pudding.
Excuse me...
I hate to ask such a thing of a nice young man such as yourself,
but please keep the fact that we met between us.
What?
It tastes different today, doesn't it?
I demand an explanation.
An explanation?
An explanation, huh?
Um... the other day, when I went to visit my mom, Hiromi...
Seigi.
I'm sorry, but I can't tell you.
I see. So that's the only explanation you can give...
Come to think of it,
I haven't told you why I still use the name "de Vulpian."
Does that have anything to do with this?
I'm searching for a Japanese woman who once took care of me.
I took my mother's maiden name
so that she'd recognize me immediately if she ever saw it.
For three years, between the ages of six to nine,
I learned Japanese from her.
22 Years Ago
At the time, my parents were already divorced,
and I was living with my uncle.
Full marks for both of you. Well done.
Yes! We get pudding!
I'm going to show Mother!
Young Master Richard, you did a very good job, too.
3 Years Later
What are we going to do about Ashcroft?
Did something happen with Young Master Richard's father?
He's going to reconcile with Catherine and move to the Amazon.
The Amazon?
It's probably just for appearances.
It's easier for an entomologist to get through immigration with a family.
Then will Young Master Richard be going to the Amazon, as well?
Indeed.
But if the family will all be together,
that's a great thing for him.
Catherine is an actress through and through.
She's no mother.
Richard!
Maman...
Don't call me that.
I'm sorry, Catherine.
Escort me, Richard.
Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas!
It happened on Christmas night...
What is it, Catherine?
It's gone... My necklace is missing!
The piece in question was a 19th-century antique set with a large peridot.
It was transformable jewelry that could be taken apart.
We searched everywhere and still couldn't find it.
Perhaps you've just forgotten that you left it somewhere else.
It was there when I went to rest in my room,
and when I woke up, it was gone!
Someone must've taken it.
Let me go through your belongings.
Here we go again...
The queen is on a rampage.
Catherine, that's enough.
There aren't any thieves here!
Are you sure about that?
What?
You think Chieko took it?
A poor student would need the money, after all.
Stop this, Catherine.
My, my... Look at this.
What's my necklace's clasp doing inside your bag?
It's too hasty to assume she did it on the basis of that alone.
Chieko, we're all on your side.
If there's some explanation for this, tell us.
I...
In the end, we never found the necklace.
For that and other reasons, my parents didn't reconcile...
and that was the last I ever saw of Chieko.
I see.
But I absolutely must see her again.
Seigi, Japan has a tradition of visiting people to thank them.
It's considered polite to bring a gift
to the home of someone who has been hospitable to you.
It's a fantastic tradition.
Don't you agree?
I do.
I'm sorry.
I couldn't keep it to myself.
I had a feeling this would happen.
But as I mentioned the other day,
a lot happened between me and Young Master Richard.
Um, I came with a message from him today.
A message?
Yes.
Regarding the particulars of what happened on Christmas nineteen years ago.
What did Young Master Richard tell you?
No, I should explain myself.
I don't know if I did the right thing.
All I can say for certain is that I hurt Young Master Richard.
Today is... a very... auspicious day...
22 Years Ago
Now say your greetings in Japanese.
Nice to meet you, Chieko.
It's good to see you.
Well done, both of you.
Here. This is your reward.
The children adore you.
Keep up the good work.
I'll do my best not to disappoint.
Les Misérables...
Thank you, Chieko!
Why do these things keep happening to Jean Valjean?
I feel bad for him.
No one who feels sorry for Jean Valjean before his encounter with the bishop
is a bad person.
You're a good boy, Young Master Richard.
Where's Young Master Jeffrey?
He has a cold.
Auntie is caring for him at his bedside.
If you catch a cold, I'll take care of you.
It's a promise.
Three years passed in the blink of an eye,
3 Years Later
and the day I was to return to Japan was fast approaching.
Chieko, if you were to take work with us formally,
we'd pay you appropriately.
What? But I'm going back to Japan...
At home, isn't your only option to get married and become a housewife?
You should instead remain here, where you can study all you'd like.
I appreciate the offer, but...
There's no need to hold back, Chieko.
In the first place, do you have any idea how sad Richard will be if you leave?
Richard loves you like a mother.
You don't want to leave him either, do you?
I...
I trust that you won't betray me, Chieko.
Then, that fated Christmas day...
Lady Catherine summoned me to the garden at the edge of the lawn.
I have a request.
For me?
Think of it not as helping me, but helping Richard.
What?
You know Ashcroft is planning to reconcile with me, don't you?
Yes.
I want to wipe the slate clean.
You're not going to get back together?
No. I've realized this is best for Richard.
Honestly, at first, I wanted to take him back from you.
That made me want to reconcile.
But that boy is part of the count's family.
He should receive an appropriate education.
It's best for Richard to stay here.
Are you okay with staying like this?
Me?
I trust that you won't betray me, Chieko.
Please let me help you, Lady Catherine.
Are you sure?
Thank you, Chieko.
I hid the necklace inside a Christmas present.
It's gone... My necklace is missing!
The next morning, Lady Catherine retrieved the necklace.
She claimed that she couldn't reconcile
with a man whose family treated her like a liar.
Lord Ashcroft accepted that,
leaving Young Master Richard with the count's family
and departing for the Amazon alone.
In the end, I returned to Japan
without even saying goodbye to Young Master Richard.
At the rate I was going, I would have been under the count's thumb forever,
unable to ever return home to Japan.
So in fear, I betrayed the young master.
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Young Master Richard...
Richard's been looking for you this whole time.
Please...
Chieko.
It's been so long.
And, uh...
What was I trying to say?
I can't do it... I can't find the words.
Chieko, I'm sorry for causing you pain for so long.
I'm the one who should apologize.
All I could think about was fleeing the manor.
I knew what happened wasn't your fault,
and that you'd continue to feel responsible for it.
I've never been able to stop thinking about how cruel I was to you.
I'm so very sorry.
"Javert, there's nothing that I blame you for."
"You've done your duty, nothing more."
Those were Jean Valjean's words to Javert.
Let bygones be bygones, Chieko.
Thank you, Young Master Richard.
I'm too old to be called a young master anymore.
Back then, you used to look up at me.
You've grown so much.
Chieko, I have a request.
Shake my hand.
No...
Allow me to embrace you.
Is this half of the necklace?
Before I returned to Japan, Lady Catherine left half of it behind.
I've never been able to return it.
I'm like a thief.
You're wrong.
Just as Jean Valjean didn't steal anything,
this was a gift to you from Catherine-san.
Was the reason he recommended this book to you...
That's right.
You've made a good friend, Young Master.
Regarding this piece of jewelry, why not take this opportunity to remake it?
I know a skilled artisan.
You really have become a fine man.
Thanks to you.
Seigi.
It's been a while. It's Dad.