Chapter 15

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 3

Orcelita is pissed.

Not only is his brother apparently dead but he's just been told by the elder's son that he's going to be the council's puppet. The son says "Bro, chill...we're just doing what's best for the country.". So Orcelita finally shouts out his name (Kiliko Lagen) and demands to know why he's treating the royal family like this. Kiliko smugly leaves, saying that Orcelita is cranky and needs his rest. Before he can fully exit, Orcelita asks about Belca. Kiliko says they couldn't find him despite looking. Outside the room, Kiliko tells the guard with him he assumes he died due to all the blood found at the landing site, his body clearly having been eaten by beasts. Clearly a massive inconvenience, Kiliko orders the guard to find out if Belca's personal belongings are on the black market or are being sold in antique shops. If he is alive, he needs to be captured immediately before he starts saying shit. Prince Orcelita is not to be let out of his room. Taking out a poison, Kiliko cryptically states that while things didn't work out with Hector, there's a chance Orcelita could still be put under their control.

Meanwhile, our special guy Belca is recuperating under an unfamiliar ceiling in a dirty room somewhere. Belca wakes up thinking that he fell asleep in Ossan's barracks before he remembers what happened. While he's trying to figure out how he's still breathing, Ego comes in with breakfast! It's bear! Beary delicious!

Belca demands to know where he is before he feels a jolt of pain from his bandages. Ego tells him not to move around too much, saying it's a miracle he's still alive. He says the bear, as in the bear he is being served to eat for breakfast right now, cushioned his fall and he should eat it to show proper respect for its sacrifice. Belca is worried about Orcelita but Eco (Now going by Eco because I've apparently misread his name) introduces himself instead, saying he rents the cabin they're staying in during the winter and he works as a scholar and a bard. Eco asks his name, causing Belca to realize that 1) Eco doesn't know who he is and 2) that means he's not back in the palace. Belca tries to ask where he is but both are interrupted by guards knocking on the door, demanding to search the cabin.

They say a rebel, using the name of Prince Belca, has fled to the mountains and he stole treasure from the sacred tombs. Eco tells Belca that they're in the town district of the Royal Tomb's Palace Vila, specifically the mountain outskirts near it. Belca figures the elders haven't found him yet...but they're looking. And they'll use any method they have to make sure the secret he and Orcelita found out stays buried.

The guards burst in...to find an empty room. Eco and Belca are hiding in the storage and the guards begin their search. But on the bright side, Eco thinks this event will make a good song!

Belca points out that the guards are naturally gonna check a fucking closet but Eco tells him to be optimistic. The guards promptly find the closet and open the door...only for an old man to jump in and yell at them, demanding to know why they're breaking into his house. One guard angrily says not to talk to them like that only for the old man to snap at him to fix his damn door. He then goes on a rant about how because of the guards' deer hunt, his livelihood is ruined. The mice are breeding, the sprouts are being eaten up...the guards are too uncomfortable to talk back to him. They leave and tell him to keep an eye out for the felon, with the old man still shouting at them to fix his door.

With the fuzz sent packing, Eco formally introduces the old man to Belca as Gramps. Gramps happily says he just finished winter preparations a bit ago and is heading off to the countryside to stay until spring. He says Belca seems chill so he can stay until his wounds heal. Belca asks if anyone is taking this seriously; he is literally being chased by the king's men. Gramps says them mountain folk are different from lowlanders; they're not as softheaded. When spring comes, summer follows. That's the way things are. Nature is different from humans, who change their choices again and again. That's why they (mountain folk) can't be sure if the people on top knows what's right. And that' exactly why Belca should think for himself and make his own decisions.

Belca says Hector used to say something similar. Gramps smiles and tells him to get better soon so that he can show Hector that lively face of his again.

So Gramps leaves, telling Eco to take care of the cabin. Belca thinks about how Hector took on the council and lost. But it's not just him: Orcelito, Belca, even their father...they can't get out of the cage they were put in. Eco has more bear though! But Belca isn't hungry...ah well. Eco says it can't be helped. Belca is a prince after all.

He knows who he is. And he especially knows he's third in line to the throne. Belca shoves him away, accusing him of actually being up to something while demanding to know who he is. Belca says he's nothing but a nuisance in the castle and he's a wanted criminal now. Not only will the guards kill him, they'll kill Eco too if they find out he was harboring him. Eco denies trying to do anything but Belca ain't hearing it, saying if his only choice is to live or die, he should have died when he fell off the cliff. Eco tells him to calm down, asking if he already did his best to improve his situation. Belca stammers over his words and Eco smiles, saying that he knows he did nothing to begin with. Belca says what does he know...before Eco wraps his hands around his throat and pins him to the bed, saying if he's serious about what he said before he can give him what he wants right now.

He even apologizes for unnecessarily treating his wounds, not wanting to delay his trip to the grave. He also tells him it's useless to resist in his current condition so just let the sweet grip of death take him so he can bury him in the area around the cabin so the guards will never find him. Belca is just going to let himself be killed...before he flashes back to Orcelita, remembers him trying to save him and realizes that his dumbass of a brother will never let himself be a puppet for the elders, which leaves only one fate for him...

He suddenly punches Eco off of him, deciding he's sick of letting people die.

Eco is nursing his sore cheek but laughs, betting on Belca not really wanting to die. He apologizes for trying to strangle him to death in order to illustrate a point and goes off to chop wood. Belca isn't sure if Eco was really trying to kill him but rationalizes that if he wanted to, he would have done so before. He wants to see Orcelito (gonna use that name for him; the manga I got goes back and forth) but he remembers Eco's words: "You did nothing to begin with.".

He gets up, gets dressed, eats his bear and leaves behind a note before exiting the room before Eco comes back in. Eco reads that Belca thinks he's creepy but he did help him out so he owes him. He paid for the clothes he took with some earrings.

The chapter ends with Eco realizing in comical horror that Belca is heading down the mountain in that condition.

Chapter 9:

Just a reminder:

Because I am NOT typing it out again.

Anyway, Eco says that even if Dietrich put weird ideas in his head, he hopes his words would keep Belca safe for a while. He knows that Belca might be happier as Dietrich's puppet but...that'll be no fun for a little stinker like Eco. Then he hears a bunch of noise from outside...

But the Captain first! He can't relax in the mansion while the Amontel are attacking so he walks outside the room. Then he sees Belca confront the Amontels outside. When Belca is shot at, he manages to dash down and take the arrow for him, protecting his precious Mariebelle.

Then the captain sees his pendant, finally (actually) recognizing him. Tenrou thinks that, with Belca's fancy clothes, he's the young master of this place so he wants him to take him to where the slaves are. But Shingetsu tells him to wait, saying there's a signal from the bank of the lake and that means Dietrich's men already knows they're there. They do a Pincer attack on them, they're screwed. Tenrou says oh well, they got all the information they need from the maid. They can just take Belca as a hostage instead and get out of Dodge. The Captain tries to protect him but ends up with an arrow through his ankle, courtesy of Shingetsu. Belca tries to protect him but he's outmanned; they give him a choice: come with them or the captain and the maid dies. Despite that throwing a wrench in his "return to Orcelito" plans, Belca agrees, becoming a hostage.

Captain is thrown into the waters and the Amontels board a boat with their new hostage. They tell the maid to send a message: they're return with Belca later, offering his life for their comrades.

Later on, Dietrich gets word that Belca was kidnapped, the Amontels cleverly outmanuevering them by going someplace where they weren't expected to show up and thus taking advantage of the lack of guards there. Dietrich's attendant guy says that it's kind of a good thing that this happened before word was sent back that they have the prince in their custody. Dietrich says the prince must be rescued; he can't miss this chance to get a connection with Lord Lagen!

Shingetsu and Tenrou are greeted back at their meet-up spot by another Amontel, Belca in tow. Then the Captain walks up, having swam after them to save Belca. Then he passes out.

Back at the jail, a maid comes with Eco's blanket and heater (Oh, he was serious about that...). Eco recognizes her as Annette, a maid who's been working in the mansion for years. She's happy to be recognized and gives him his blanket...and his missing poem book, knowing how much he missed it. Eco is so happy...which is a feeling he'll want to hold onto as much as possible because Annette then tells him Belca was kidnapped.

Eco demands to be let out to rescue him but Annette says that's impossible. Dietrich has the keys and if she steals them, she won't just be flogged...she'll be subject to the experiments, just like the Amontel!

Wait, what?

Yeah, that's what Dietrich has been using the Amontels for, shooting them up with drugs and stuff like that. Eco asks if he's working with Lagen on that and Annette confirms it, asking how he knows about that. Instead of answering, he asks Annette to do him another favor...

Meanwhile, Hostage!Belca wakes up against a giant fox in a cave somewhere. Shingetsu greets him, currently dressing the Captain's wounds. Belca tries to push him away, thinking he's attacking him, only for Shingetsu to take out a knife and throw it at him...hitting the rat about to pounce on him. Apparently the rats in this setting are venomous...he then tells Belca that because he's their hostage, they're not gonna hurt him because they need him for the exchange. Until then, he should get some rest. His giant fox doesn't bite. Also, the captain's wound is (somehow) shallow and the shot was just meant to scare Belca. Some herbs have been applied on the wounds so he should be fine in 2 to 3 days. Belca is awed that these monsters are behaving in such a surprisingly rational manner. He still wants to leave...but the Captain has a fever so it's impossible to move him. He sighs and calls the Captain an idiot, asking why he had to pull such a dumb stunt for him...

Outside the cave, an Amontel named Izayoi comes in and is briefed on the situation. Then he finds the pendant the Amontel swiped from Belca, horrified that they KIDNAPPED THE FUCKING PRINCE.

Now, at the Royal Prefecture in Neue Favrille, Kiliko and Lagen's men are trying to locate pages from the Rovisco Documents as well as decipher them. Turns out Lagen's family are called the Guardians of History and this is their main duty. Then they find some controversial literature, including some text explicitly speaking out against the royal family. The missing pages were most likely taken out by someone who is against the crown which also means someone else knows about the secret backroom...

Tenrou stomps back into the cave when we cut back to Belca, demanding to know if the latter is actually the Prince. He then comments if he's Hector's brother, he's his exact opposite. That pisses Belca off and he charges him, screaming that it's the Amontel's fault that Hector is dead because he wanted to treat them as human beings and the elders killed him for it. The other Amontels are shocked to hear this...and so is the Captain who just woke up. Tenrou recovers quickly, glad that they can now do a hostage exchange with the Stone Capital's King. Belca laughs at him, saying there's no way that the kingdom will bargain for a troublemaker like him. Sure, the elders want him but that's only because he knows they killed Hector. The Captain tries to get Belca to stop talking but Belca goes on, saying they wasted their time and that the kingdom wouldn't want to negotiate with a bunch of evil disgusting creatures like them anyway.

The Amontel are about to fuck him up but Shingetsu stops them, wanting to ask Belca a question: did he see it? You know, when the Evil Deity that created the Amontel...did it? They were just minding their own business in the mountains and then the Stone Capital guys came in and started colonizing. Being hunted, treated as slaves, eaten like food...they keep calling the Amontel evil but the way the Amontel are treated is evil in of itself!

So...on the Western Trail at the Florel Town Outpost, Musca is being prepared for her stay. While there, she overhears rumors that Orcelito is indeed acting strangely and some think he has been replaced with someone else. Musca thinks to herself: her mom's dead, her dad's sick, Hector's "gone away" and Belca is missing...she's the only one who can save her older brother. But how is she going to get back to the palace?

Enter Ossan.

It's his last day in Florel and he's about to head to Lobnec Peninsula, having already submitted his resignation. The chapter ends with Musca seeing him...

Chapter 12

At the Royal Prefecture at Neue Favrille, Kiliko gets the itsy-bitsy news that Musca in Florel and a search party has been sent out for her. Orcelito hears it too...

Two days away from Florel in O Di Juste, Musca is demanding a piggyback ride from Seamrog. He grants it. She's thirsty. He grants it. She doesn't want water, she wants fruit juice. He grants it. She doesn't want to stay in such a dirty inn...

Sick of her shit, he lectures her on what it means to travel in disguise. He says if she wants to reach the royal prefectures without being seen, she has to bear with it for now. If not, she can go by herself. Some guards see them, mistaking them for father and daughter. They approach them about the missing princess but Musca shouts that she doesn't know Seamrog, running off while screaming that she hates him.

So back to Belca and co. A carriage takes The Captain and a disguised as a girl Belca to a fancy inn where they will be staying for the night. Eco is with them (rescued?) and says it's fine to stay there because it's on Dietrich's dime. The Captain offers to get something for Eco and the latter asks him to go out into town to get information...and something to eat. Belca wants to go too but is denied due to being incognito. He still heads out with The Captain who makes him wait behind as Belca huffs about not being able to do anything. Then some guards approach him, looking for the missing princess (identified as a "missing girl".) Then the guards get fresh with him, saying they might bring him in as a kidnapping suspect if he doesn't comply. That's when none other than Musca comes in to save him, asking the guards if they know how to treat a lady.

She runs off with Belca and another guard shouts at the guards to chase them, pointing out that Musca is probably the girl they're looking for. Belca thinks that she reminds him of Musca (actually calling her Musca the 2nd in his head) and jumps off a small cliff to escape. After some thanks are exchanged, Belca discovers that Musca the 2nd is actually Musca the 1st. After the initial shock, they both discover that Seamrog has been captured by the guards because they found out that he's a mercenary and therefore don't believe Musca can be his child (because soldiers of fortune are infertile...). Musca fills in Belca on the whole "knight" situation and Belca decides he will fill in for Seamrog for the time being.

Seamrog thinks to himself that he can take a few of the guards and escape, silently telling the princess that he's sorry but he'll take his leave here. Then Belca throws a bunch of powder at the guards, saying it's a specialized drug and that they won't be able to move for a while. Belca guides Seamrog away back to Musca and the three escape.

Regrouping, Musca introduces Seamrog to the "lady" who helped her...and Seamrog easily identifies him as Belca. Musca reacts appropriately:

The guards surround them and it looks like the jig is up but then the Captain calls out to "Mirabelle", with Eco in tow. He introduces himself to the guards as Orhaldi, the representative of the Earl of Arlon. Who they have surrounded are his maid, his bodyguard and the bodyguard's daughter. Recognizing the shoulder decoration The Captain is wearing, the guards apologize and leave. Eco calls out Belca for getting in more trouble while going out and tells Eco to thank Orhaldi...which is apparently the Captain's actual name. Orhaldi says that it's cool, he's just glad that no one was hurt...and then he finds out Musca is the princess.

Later that night, everybody's chilling in the inn. Belca asks Orhaldi why he didn't just tell him his name before and Orhaldi reveals there's a rule that you can't be the first to introduce yourself in front of royal family. You give your name when it's asked for. Belca then asks Orhaldi his given name since "Orhaldi" is clearly a surname. Orhaldi answers his first name is Linna Dzintars...which Eco overhears and is surprised by. The chapter ends with Musca waking up.

Chapter 2

Belca sums up what happened at the end of the last chapter: it's all just a bad dream.

Hector is dead. His siblings watch his body burned on his pyre with Musca trying to put the fire out, not comprehending what is happening. She manages to catch on fire and Belca moves to dunk her in water to put out the flame, cursing her out and saying if she wants to die too. Her handlers yell at him but Musca is oddly silent, watching as Belca stomps off...

On the balcony, Belca notes that today's funeral was for the relatives; tomorrow, the state's guests will be invited to the funeral rites. Looks like he won't be studying abroad either. Just when he's ruminating on always having to be stuck in the castle, Orcelita swings down from a sheet ladder above him to talk.

He falls on him.

Anyway, Orcelita wanted to thank him for saving Musca today. Belca tells him if he's really grateful then use the damn door from now on. Orcelita counters that he had to come from the above window; his guards told him that if he just wanted to say thanks, they would tell Belca for him. Belca says that's because Orcelita is the crown prince and that with the incident, it'll be unwise if he keeps talking to the next in line in person. Orcelita says that can't be true because they're brothers and they gotta support the country together...but Belca snatches away from him, telling him to leave him alone. He shouts that no one in the castle wants him to be involved in politics. He finishes his short rant telling Orcelita that he was just giving him sweet talk and that being around him irritates him.

Yeah, even Belca thinks that he was being too harsh, saying he was just taking his feelings out on the nearest target. Thankfully (even if Belca doesn't see it that way), Orcelita followed him out, chasing him down to talk it out with him. Belca runs into a weird bunker to hide from him, going into a weird door to hide further only to pause. Orcelita catches up and stops behind him, asking what's the deal with the door and what stinks about it. He does recognize it as an important place for the ancestors, saying that he has to find someone to clean the place for them. Belca wants them to go back to their rooms but Orcelita says it's the duty of the royal family to upkeep the place.

So...they find a body.

Belca recognizes the skin color. It's not "human"; it's an Amontel. He carries Orcelita's fainting ass out of there while not being able to shake off the feeling of being followed. While they're walking, Orcelita discusses how Amontel are supposed to have been created by an "ancient evil" in "man's likeness" but he till can't stand to see them in pain. Belca says that that makes him just like Hector (Eh...). That makes Orcelita walk on his own and say that if he really is like Hector, then he can't let Belca do something so simple with him. Belca tells him it's too late to be acting cool now before they head into a chapel. Belca says it isn't part of the vilia's main grounds and that if they cut through the forest, they can get back to the main house.

Orcelita then brings up that this is the first time the two have talked so much...and that Belca is not using formal speech to talk to him. Belca says it's a habit he started since his last talk with Hector involved the latter telling him it's weird for siblings to speak so politely to each other. All in all, Orcelita prefers to talk to him like this. But Belca is not optimistic about getting to talk to him much anymore, considering Orcelita is the crown prince and all. Orcelita asks why, outside of the fact that other people decided it for them. Belca is eager to dismiss it as more sweet talk but Orcelita is coming off as particularly intense, saying if something can changed then someone should change it. Belca says it can't be changed...but, hypothetically, if it can be, he would like to do something about it too.

He then says if Orcelita wants to investigate why shit is so fucked, it's fine if they do it together. Then they hear someone come inside the chapel, Belca covering Orcelita's mouth to keep him from giving away their position. After all, it's the middle of the night and the guys came in by the hidden passage. They listen in through a window and discover it's two elders, Lord Lagen and Sir Orbus. Orcelita wants to go in and join the conversation only for some other guy to walk in: it's Sir Orbus' son who discusses shipping the "goods" before sneering at the Amontels who are coming over to see Hector's funeral. Sir Orbus placates him by saying the Amontels may be monsters but their young females can be sold at a high price. Listening in, Belca and Orceita begin to suspect the body they saw earlier belonged to the Amontel who was with Hector, killed for "rising above his station". Then they reveal they're poisoning the king, the whole murder forcing them to put off the whole assassination plot a little longer.

Oh, and they totally killed Hector.

Orcelita stomps away too loudly, signaling the elders inside to the brothers' presence. Luckily, they're mistaken for maids or tutors. Unluckily, the elders casually order the guards to get rid of them. Orcelita, being dragged away by Belca, demands to know why he's being taken away; he has every right to question them. Belca points out they weren't supposed to hear that and now they have a target on their heads. Belca wants to hide in the forest but Orcelita points away, angrily shouting that they didn't do anything wrong. When the guards levy their bows and arrows at them, Orcelita turns and faces them, loudly demanding to know why they are trying to kill the crown prince. One trigger happy guard fires his arrow at Orcelita accidentally and Belca moves in, pushing Orcelita away and taking the arrow himself.

Belca is hanging on a cliffside and one of the guards suggests helping him, Orcelita running over to do just that. However, Sir Orcus' son walks over, telling him it doesn't matter if he and Belca are brothers: he can't associate with someone of a lower status. Orcelita screams at him to help him pull up his brother but the son calmly tells him to choose wisely who he wants to side with. Orcelita says he'll do whatever they want if they just help him pull his brother up. The son is pleased...and then Orcelita loses his grip.

Belca plummets to the bottom.

The chapter ends with Ego somehow finding his body, saying that Belca is going to die...

(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.