Chapter 13

Chapter 13

Belca walks in to talk to Musca about Orcelito. She reacts thusly:

She calls him rude for entering a lady's room without permission and darts off, straight into Seamrog's arms. Drunk, Seamrog complies, karate chopping Belca in the chest. Somehow, he remembers he has a message for Belca before Linna comes in with Eco to investigate the noise. Eco throws a blanket over Musca to calm her down, pointing out that even with the fireplace, it's still cold at night. When Musca asks who he is, Eco answers he's a wandering bard and a traveling scholar. He asks if she wants to join them for tea in the other room so they can talk about why she came to this town and Musca, flustered, agrees.

There, Belca hears Musca's theory that Orcelito was replaced with a double. Eco also shares his suspicions about Kiliko, especially since he's Lord Lagen's son. Belca then fills the others in on what happened at the cliff, letting them know about the conspiracy to capture him. Eco wonders out loud that either Orcelito is locked up somewhere while a double has taken his place or he's already dead. Musca is pissed, again revealing she knows Hector is dead, and orders Seamrog to beat up Eco. Linna tries to assure Musca that Orcelito is safe but Eco isn't so sure. And there's another possibility: since Dietrich was experimenting drugs on different subjects, he had a lot to work with since he was being supplied by Lord Lagen. A notorious drug is one that can destroy a person's mind leaving them as a blank slate. It hasn't been completed but if administered correctly, it can turn a person into a living puppet. Belca remembers the Amontel kid they saw in the forest and how he was a completely different person the next time they saw him. Freaked out, Musca screams that Eco is lying and runs away to her room, saying that she doesn't want to be disturbed. Seamrog calls Eco out for being insensitive in these matters considering Musca was in the room but Eco defends by saying she's not involved in this and there are more important things to worry about than being nice.

Belca goes to see her though, despite her telling him to fuck off. She tells him she hates him and he answers that he's known about that already. He gives her food and heads out after having a bite himself, only for her to stop him. She asks if Orcelito is really dead and breaks down crying, Belca himself admitting he doesn't want it to be true because he still wants to talk to him. Then they hear music from Eco's lute...real mood killer.

Belca tells Musca he doesn't know the whole situation but he knows it doesn't look good so he's heading back to the castle while she's staying behind. She shouts at him, telling him not to act like he's her big brother so, therefore, he has to take her back with him.

Back in the main room, Belca enters and Linna asks him how the princess is doing. He says she feels better after eating and should be quiet now. Eco roasts him for eating half her food (irl sibling behavior; can confirm). Then Seamrog reveals that Eco has already spread a song about Belca's story...most unfortunate. Especially because Eco always makes Belca look too good in his music. Then Seamrog walks out with Belca, remembering the message he had for him. It's from the castle...and Prince Hector himself.

At the castle, Kiliko gets a bird message (tweet!) from Dietrich about his experiments. Apparently, he's sick and he's sending an envoy in his place during the investiture ceremony and he requests that he meets the envoy personally. Kiliko wonders about "Dietrich's" intentions as he walks out, the guards loudly talking about well he's doing despite being adopted. Even the prince likes him! But there's no way he'll be royalty considering he's, you know, not blood related. He thinks "keep talking, bitches" and walks in to see Orcelito get fitted for his clothes for the ceremony. Both are happy to see each other...

Outside in the world, Eco ends the chapter driving a carriage to the castle, Belca wanting to see his brother.

(Bonus) Chapter 5

HOLD IT! First, a brief lecture on the fashion of the era from the omake.

A rich young man with short sleeves is a retainer.

It doesn't matter what a noble wears in their own territories. However, what they wear may signify how loyal they are to the king.

Flags distinguish which house you belong to.

The other omake shows that Eco is so damn lonely, he has waiters write "I love Eco" on his food.

...

See you later for actual story.

Chapter 20

Belca runs off to investigate what he saw in the reflection, only to come upon a guard (in fact, one of Kiliko's men) killing an Amontel. The guard tells him to sneak back to his seat without being noticed but Belca demands an explanation which the guard says he's too busy to give. When Belca presses, the guard sternly tells him to behave and remember what Kiliko warned him about. Belca and Linna slink back to find guards discussing the situation, wondering how the Amontel even got past the guards. Linna suggests informing them about the plans for the concentration camp but, before Belca can respond, the Amontel strike, going right for Orcelito. Belca jumps in to save him, pushing him into Linna's arms and saying to keep him safe. The Amontel slash at Linna and kick Belca aside before the guards surround them from above. Orcelito is taken away (despite calling for Belca) and the Amontel are more than prepared to die on their feet. However, one of them suggests taking Belca as a hostage. The other Amontel protests because he's ready to die (not because they've literally done this before...?) but the main Amontel just grabs and heads out. The guards are ready to fire (it's not like Belca will be dead from a scratch, right) but they're shouted down, forced to lower their weapons rather than harm someone with royal blood.

So...back to Musca and Seamrog. They're stuck in a room for the ceremony. Musca expresses concern for the "maid" and Seamrog reminds her that she doesn't like Belca. Musca says she still doesn't...but she doesn't want him to die either. Then a guard comes in to inform Seamrog on the Amontel situation. Hearing about how they infiltrated, Seamrog immediately suspects Eco of being involved...

Meanwhile, Linna is being treated for his injuries...and he's a bad patient, wanting to leave immediately to get back to Belca. A guard comes in to tell him to settle down...after all, the guard is Eco.

He tells Linna that he's gonna cause a commotion. Meanwhile, he needs a favor from the former captain...

Outside, one of the guards explains that they closed down the gates to trap the Amontel inside but the guards should still be alert because the Amontel were able to break through the skylight to get in; they're not normal humans. Some black op guards get ready to go hunting while the Amontel are still arguing about why they had to take a prince. The guards end up surrounding them and they say that if the Amontel hand over Belca, they will be granted Amnesty and what they did today will be overlooked. Despite that, they are clearly prepared to pump the guys full of arrows, poisoned ones at that, at any moment. Then every one hears a sound, something that sounds like a landslide.

It's one of the worms from the waterway!

The Amontel use the confusion as a chance to escape.

Meanwhile, Sir Kiliko is off to see Prince Orcelito to tell him about how his brother was kidnapped yet again. Then he sees a guard in a restricted area, grabbing his shoulder only to find out it's Eco, who ends the chapter by calling him Nathanael only to correct himself to Kiliko.

They know each other.

Chapter 17

Orcelito arrives before the elders, ready to fuck shit up.

Outside, Belca asks Orcelito what he asked the elders at the ceremony and tries to explain that the Amontel are not monsters, that they use technology, medicines and they look after their own. He says even if they are descended from a evil deity, maybe living among "actual" humans for so long has allowed them to adapt in a way that makes them indistinguishable from humans. Orcelito stops him, saying the Amontel are monsters (while obviously thinking the contrary) and says they probably put Belca under a spell while he was at Dietrich's estate. Belca tries to stop him but Orcelito says that after the Investiture Ceremony, he'll send for a skill spell caster (which they apparently have on hand in the castle) to look at Belca. He then leaves to get on with his business...only for Belca to stop him. He asks Orcelito privately (well...whispers anyway) if he has anything planned, knowing this is not like him. Orcelito angrily snatches away from Belca while thinking that he knows that the Amontel are not evil but he rather have them all under supervision instead of them all being rounded up and killed. He's taking the long road with them, hoping their descendants can find freedom where their ancestors couldn't. Outside his mind box, he tells Belca join him or fuck off...and he might as well pick the former because he doesn't have a say in the council. He cryptically finishes by telling Belca that in each of their respective areas, everyone is already making their moves...

He then says that as long as the Amontel don't resist, they can expect to live long happy lives. Belca is disturbed by that last part, thinking nothing has changed. He then goes to Linna to talk about something...

Then we cut back to Orcelito and Kiliko, the latter asking if it's alright to leave Belca alone and let him do what he wants. Orcelito points out that Kiliko was the one who said that Belca has no power to do anything, that he's a mere spare to the throne and that his life in the castle was specifically engineered to have him grow up demoralized, ignorant and lazy. Kiliko says all of that is true but people have an annoying tendency to change...

We cut to Eco finding a hidden library...but screw that, he went to see the dance! Or did he? His guard roommate hits him for not showing up to rehearsal, Eco saying he had to use the toilet. He's then ordered to help put the harnesses on the horses, meeting Belca and Linna while heading over there. Linna had summoned him because Belca wants food from town. In a stage whisper, Linna reveals that they're actually going to report to Musca...and they got another errand to run while they're outside. Belca's not coming, staying behind to convince Orcelito to think about the Amontel. They leave out on the carriage, Belca staying in the castle walls.

Meanwhile, the guards get a strange signal coming from the upper control tower, wondering if that means it's safe to open the gates. Inside, Belca overhears a guy saying the signal means they need to lower the gates, which means the carriage can't leave...

Belca tears ass outside the castle, barely managing to catch up to Eco to warn him of the danger he and Linna are in. It doesn't matter because the guards on the wall shoot out one of the carriage's wheels causing Eco to lose control. Then some guy with two knives drops down, calling himself "an irregular" and cutting the damn harness.

He puts one of his knives to Eco's chest, telling him to stop the carriage. Eco silently refuses and instead takes out a canister of Arlon's poison gas, allowing it to waft into the irregular's face as he jumps on a horse, telling Linna to follow his lead. The irregular attacks anyway, the poison having no apparent effect, and keeps Linna occupied, causing him and Eco to lose each other. Linna shouts to Eco the message: PRince ORcelito is the real one and he must accompany Musca to wherever she wants to go. He tries to tell him about the Amontel...but the carriage tips over.

Eco has to keep riding, not able to confirm Linna's status.

Belca is captured and lectured by Kiliko. Linna fell into the Cassia rivers and, given it's winter, his chances of surviving the freezing waters are not good. Orcelito comes in, asking if Belca was threatened or poisoned but Belca confesses he wanted to warn the Amontel. Kiliko approaches Belca, asking if Linna was a poison user. Poison users tend to be weak in general but Linna can face five guys with a single cane. He confirms Linna is alive but he's having his guards keep an eye on him. Linna has taken full blame for his actions despite Belca protesting that he ordered him to act on his account. Kiliko then calls Orcelito away for his dinner with Lord Taine, saying the Investiture Ceremony is the day after tomorrow so...tick tock. Kiliko tells Belca not to worry and to attend the Investiture Ceremony, ending the chapter with saying it's the only way he can assure Linna's safety...

Chapter 15

According to the letter written by "Dietrich", he found Belca, nursed him back to health and secretly sent him back to the castle...and now Belca is looking at the kneeling frame of the man who killed his older brother.

Taking them into another room, Kiliko assures Belca and Linna that Dietrich will be rewarded for his actions. But...he points out how weird it is of him to act carelessly and let such valuable people travel by themselves. Linna defends him by saying that since such "groundless" rumors about Belca and Hector were spreading throughout the kingdom, he thought it would be cool to accompany Belca by himself. Kiliko chuckles at the phrase "groundless rumor"...before asking the standing, glowering Belca if he would like to take a seat. Belca, already pissed by the whole innocent act Kiliko is putting on, instead demands to meet with Orcelito at once. Belca refuses to believe that any method that Kiliko can use to make Orcelito obey him can work...only for Orcelito to walk in, all smiles.

Orcelito says he's glad that Belca is safe but he doesn't need to worry about anything anymore. They can live together in the palace again! Kiliko says that he can arrange things so that Belca can return officially by tomorrow...and Belca wonders how can he act like that after all he's done. Belca demands to know why Orcelito is with Kiliko and Orcelito tells him that Kiliko is assisting him in being the crown prince. He has the lineage and the experience for it, after all. Belca desperately tries to remind Orcelito that Kiliko is the reason their brother is dead but Orcelito cuts him off, saying it's sad that Hector passed away due to illness.

Furious, Belca manhandles Kiliko, demanding to know what he did to his brother. Linna has to pull him off as Kiliko says that, as Belca is clearly tired, for the highness to be taken to the rest chambers in Regia Mare. Orcelito waves goodbye to his wilding brother...only for Belca to collapse on the floor out of nowhere.

While he's knocked out, Linna tells Kiliko that, because of the extent of Belca's injuries, he was given a bunch of powerful drugs that are affecting his temperament. Kiliko buys this excuse even though he points out Dietrich left that out of his report...but he chalks it up to Dietrich's cautiousness. He leaves Belca in Linna's care, saying that the Arlons know more about drugs than the Lagens. Belca "wakes up", having pretended to be knocked out and congratulates Linna on telling such a believable lie. Linna says that the two should stick close together for a bit if they want to get through the next few days...

Later on, Eco wakes up in a room at the Outer Gates, complaining about the noise. He looks outside to see soldiers stepping into the castle walls, wearing Callione uniforms. Remembering that women are permitted among Callione ranks, Eco guesses that they're there to perform the Hand Dance of the Isle of Adine for the Investiture Ceremony. Eco is all randy to see it...only for his roommate to tell him they will not be attending the Investiture Ceremony. Eco falls over, depressed.

In the castle, Belca frets over his real mission: how is he supposed to figure out that Orcelito is the real one? Then a familiar intruder falls on him: Orcelito, from the upper balcony.

Belca shouts at him (this is the second goddamn time he's fallen on him) and Orcelito apologizes, saying he really needed to talk to him. He asks if Linna is asleep and reveals he remembers what happened in Sana...before expressing relief that the boy he is speaking to is the real Belca.

Belca says that's his line and that he came back to make sure Orcelito was the real one. He then asks if Orcelito's deal with Kiliko is a long game or if the elders really did something to him. Orcelito hugs Belca, saying he can't tell him what's going on yet but he's glad he's okay.

Belca is back in his room, fuming that he still doesn't know if Orcelito is an imposter or a puppet. He's sane but is he really that crafty?

The answer is yes but in the worst way possible. Orcelito is completely under Kiliko's control and his reason for confirming Belca's legitimacy was for him and him alone. All they need is Musca and they can be a happy family again. The chapter ends with Orcelito calling Kiliko and himself "accomplices"...meaning that they are definitely working together but Orcelito is not brainwashed.

Chapter 21

So Kiliko's real name is Nathanael and, judging by what he calls him, Eco's real name is Francesco.

So our boy is not only a runaway but he turns to be in line for succession to the house of Lagen. Kiliko wants to throw him out for that reason but Eco insists that he has no interest in the House anymore, being here for a different reason. He calls the house "bound by the archives of Rovisco, like a golem that can't move at all." Kiliko orders him seized, snitching that he's the mastermind behind the whole Amontel invading thing. Eco dodges, whining that he's no good at the whole fighting thing...but is actually biding his time for the "watchdogs of the waterway" to break through the floor and give him an opportunity to escape. He tells Kiliko goodbye amidst the latter's demands he tell him his plans.

Outside, the worms are attacking everyone while Linna watches in horror, wondering if he should even help. Being Linna, he does decide to help.

Meanwhile, Kiliko tells the guards that the Watchdogs are vulnerable to light, instructing them to unlock the storeroom and smear the blade with Cantharis and Arzenica. Kiliko easily figures out Eco is responsible for letting the Watchdogs escape but he doesn't know why he did it.

Meanwhile, Seamrog and Musca are inside with the latter frustrated that she can't see what all the commotion is about outside. Seamrog also wants to use the event as an opportunity to escape but he wants to bide his time more, telling Musca that a lady knows when to wait. Musca says she knows...but she's taking a break from being a lady. Seamrog feels like his hands are tied and tells the guard that Musca has a stomachache and they need to take her to the doctor.

We cut to Belca waking up in a cold damp place. At first he thinks he's back in the Fox's Cave...but then he realizes he's in the waterways, struggling to get himself thrown down by the Amontel. One named Saku wants to cut his head off and throw it into the castle but another named Taihaku stops him, wanting to ask his name first. Saku protests that they're not here to get names; they're here to teach the elite that the Amontel are not just insects that they can hunt down whenever they want. Also, they need to be punished for spilling the blood of the Kannagi (a priestess of some kind, according to the translator's notes). The other Amontel agree, wanting revenge for the kingdom for them wiping out the bloodline of the Kannagi from their village. They say if the Amontel are going to die, they should at least fight back against their exterminators. And right now, they want to teach them the pain of losing someone they were trying to protect. Belca then speaks up, asking if there's anyone there who can understand him. No one answers but one of them is killed by a thing moving too fast to be seen. Saku tells them to head to the end of the passage to escape it, dragging Belca with him...only for a guard dressed in black to approach from the shadows, assuring Belca that he'll save him from these "monsters".

Belca recognizes him as one of Kiliko's men and asks him if Orcelito and Linna are alright. The guard assures him they are fine and Belca tells the guard to take the Amontel as prisoners so that they can be judged according to the law. He's strong so he shouldn't have any trouble with them. The guard coldly responds that only "people" have the right to be judged by the law. Belca protests that the Amontel are people, calling them by the native name "Hokulea", much to the latters' own shock. The guard doesn't care...but he and his allies are set upon by the Watchdogs, complicating matters further.

Belca and the Hokulea get away in the confusion and Belca says the names Shingetsu and Tenrou, startling the Hokulea. He knows the name of their group and he knows "the siblings"...now they know who he is. Taihaku asks if he's Belca and Saku says he thought Belca was just an impostor pretending to be a prince. But if he is indeed royalty, he has a target on his head just like Hector did. Taihaku said since Belca risked his life to save them a while ago, they would lose their pride if they allow harm to come to him. Belca identifies himself and Taihaku apologizes on his group's behalf (before awkwardly remembering that Belca can't understand them). Belca cuts his finger and writes on a random parchment (that he just carries with him?) to give to the Hokulea, needing them to deliver the message to Shingetsu or Tenrou so that they know about Orcelito's plan.

Then the guards catch up to attack, implicitly warning Belca not to give them any reason to suspect that he's in league with the Hokulea. Saku pushes Belca away, telling him to give the cloth (oh, that makes more sense) to Saisei, saying he can trust him with it. He also thanks him for allowing his younger brother to return to the village. A child Hokulea takes Belca's wrist and runs off with Belca to exit the waterways...only to find their exit blocked off.

Outside, the guards are successfully driving off the Watchdogs and Linna breaks into the castle, ending the chapter at the start of his mission to find and save Belca.