YOU COWARDLY RAN AWAY.
YOU WERE JUST TOO SCARED AND TERRIFIED OF THE OUTSIDE WORLD WHERE THE REVOLUTION WAS RAGING.
SO WHEN YOU OPENED YOUR EYES IN THAT DARK BASEMENT, WEREN’T YOU RELIEVED?
IT MUST HAVE BEEN COMFORTABLE AND SO COZY.
AND JUST ABOUT WHEN YOU STARTED GETTING TIRED OF THAT COZINESS...
YOU SIMPLY WANTED TO COME OUTSIDE.
YOUR EXCUSE THAT "BEING IN THE BASEMENT MAKES ME SICK"
IS JUST A PATHETIC JUSTIFICATION TO CONVINCE YOURSELF.
TELL ME HONESTLY, RIEN.
THE TRUTH IS, DIDN'T YOU JUST WANT TO STEAL LORD CASSIUS AWAY FROM ME?
...MY SISTER IS ALWAYS LIKE THAT.
SHE MAKES ME OUT TO BE A DESPICABLE AND UGLY PERSON.
BUT NO MATTER HOW MUCH I SCREAM MY INNOCENCE, NO ONE BELIEVES ME.
ALL I CAN DO IS HIDE IN THE DARK ALL ALONE.
BUT AT SOME POINT,
EVEN BEFORE MY SISTER OPENS HER MOUTH,
I STARTED IMAGINING THE MALICE INSIDE MYSELF FIRST.
I STARTED LOOKING AT MYSELF THROUGH MY SISTER'S EYES.
I DON'T WANT TO HIDE IN THE DARK ALONE ANYMORE...
I JUST WISH SOMEONE WOULD HOLD ONTO ME, PLEASE.
BEFORE I END UP HEADING TOWARD THAT DEEP SEA ONCE AGAIN...
PRINCESS.
IT IS DANGEROUS TO GO INTO THE WATER RIGHT NOW.
WHY...?
HOW COME...?
---WE HAVE TO FIND A TRUE HERO WHO WILL FIGHT OFF THE SHARKS WITH US.
BUT THAT PERSON MUST ABSOLUTELY,
POSSESS A STRONG BODY THAT WON'T HAVE A SINGLE SCRATCH EVEN AFTER WIPING OUT A SCHOOL OF SHARKS,
AN INDOMITABLE SPIRIT AND BRILLIANT INTELLECT THAT WILL NOT WAVER IN THE FACE OF ANY FEAR,
AND STRIKING LOOKS CAPTIVATING ENOUGH TO CATCH THE ATTENTION OF THE SHARKS.
WHAT IS THIS...
WHY DO WE NEED ALL THAT JUST TO CATCH SHARKS...
WHERE WOULD WE EVEN FIND A PERSON LIKE THAT?
"THAT IS A SECRET."
...TO THINK I'D HAVE SUCH A WEIRD DREAM AFTER FALLING ASLEEP FOR JUST A MOMENT.
THIS IS ALL BECAUSE THAT MAN SPOUTED SUCH RANDOM NONSENSE.
WHY IS HIS AGE EVEN A SECRET ANYWAY?
...ON TOP OF THAT, SAYING HE WOULD DIVORCE ME WHEN THE TIME COMES.
..WHEN HE SAID HE WOULD PROTECT ME BEFORE.
IS HE SAYING HE WOULD FIND SOMEONE WITH SUCH STRICT CONDITIONS FOR ME HIMSELF? AS IF A PERSON LIKE THAT WOULD EVEN WANT ME.
WHATEVER. I'M NOT IN A POSITION TO BE TALKING ABOUT MARRIAGE OR LOVE ANYWAY.
LET'S THINK ABOUT REALITY.
IF THE TRACES OF MY RESEARCH ON THE HOLY SCRIPTURES GAVE MY SISTER STRENGTH, THEN THAT'S A GOOD THING.
as if a person like that would even want me.
AT THE VERY LEAST, IT PREVENTED THE HONOR OF THE LUCIDORIA ROYAL FAMILY FROM FALLING BEYOND REPAIR,
AND IT PLANTED HOPE IN THE HEARTS OF THE DISCOURAGED CITIZENS.
IF IT HAD BEEN ME INSTEAD OF MY SISTER STEPPING UP, IT WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN MUCH HELP ANYWAY.
IT'S FINE, IT ALL WORKED OUT WELL.
Retainers of Roche Noir!
The great detective Arzen has safely solved the case and will now be taking his leave!
Keep this in mind! This person you are looking at right now
Has officially never set foot in this place!
Well then, have a peaceful night!
HE IS SOMEONE WHOSE ACTIONS ARE COMPLETELY UNPREDICTABLE.
Chief of Political Affairs Theorix de Brecain
HE ACTS AS IF RULES AND PRINCIPLES EXIST SOLELY TO BE BROKEN...
THE INFORMATION THAT HE HAS ALREADY HAD A SURPRISE WEDDING WITH PRINCESS RIEN IS LEAKING OUTSIDE THE DUCHY.
Chief of Public Affairs Isolde de Marcelin
NOW, ROCHE NOIR CAN NO LONGER MAINTAIN A NEUTRAL STANCE,
AND WE MUST STAND AGAINST THE NATIONS OPPOSING LUCIDORIA.
MY HEAD IS ALREADY THROBBING JUST THINKING ABOUT THE TRADE ISSUES.
Chief of Intelligence Biche Bran
IT SEEMS HIS IMPERIAL MAJESTY DOES NOT CARE AT ALL ABOUT THE SAFETY OFA SMALL AUTONOMOUS DOMAIN.
HOWEVER, WITH THIS,
IT HAS BECOME CLEAR THAT THE EMPEROR OF CARDONIA IS DIRECTLY INTERFERING IN LUCIDORIA'S INTERNAL AFFAIRS
AND THAT HE HAS INTENTIONS FOR THE RESTORATION OF THE MONARCHY.
Chief Secretary Aseltein de Bievre
THIS IS A CLEAR VIOLATION OF THE DIVINE LAW.
WE MUST SUBMIT A RESOLUTION TO THE EMPIRE TO NULLIFY THIS MARRIAGE...
THAT IS DEBATABLE.
IT IS ALSO EXPLICITLY STATED IN THE DIVINE LAW, ISN'T IT?
LUCIDORIA IS THE CRADLE OF THE RAENE RELIGION AND AN INVIOLABLE SANCTUARY,
AND THE EMPIRE MUST ABSOLUTELY PROTECT AND SUPPORT THEM WHEN THAT HOLINESS IS AT RISK OF BEING DAMAGED.
THE LUCIDORIA ROYAL FAMILY FELL INTO HERESY AND CORRUPTED THEMSELVES!
THEY ARE THE ONES WHO LOST THEIR HOLINESS!
IF WE LOOK AT THE FOUNDATION OF THE LAW, CARDONIA SHOULD RIGHTFULLY STAND ON THE SIDE OF PUNISHING THE CORRUPTED MONARCHY!
THERE IS NO JUSTIFICATION WHATSOEVER FOR THE EMPIRE TO SUPPORT THEM!
LUCIDORIA HAS FIRMLY MAINTAINED A THEOCRATIC SYSTEM FOR A MASSIVE ONE THOUSAND YEARS.
DO YOU THINK THE CITIZENS COULD SO EASILY SEPARATE THE ROYAL FAMILY
THAT HAS SUPPORTED THAT MAGNIFICENT HISTORY, FROM THE SANCTUARY?
...COULD IT BE BECAUSE OF THEIR BLOODLINE IN THE END?
THAT THE EMPEROR OF CARDONIA IS GOING THIS FAR.
IN ANY CASE, THE PRINCESSES OF LUCIDORIA
ARE THE OFFSPRING OF HIS BIOLOGICAL OLDER SISTER WHO CARED FOR HIS IMPERIAL MAJESTY LIKE A MOTHER.
I'M SURE THOSE OF YOU HERE KNOW BETTER THAN ANYONE THAT HIS IMPERIAL MAJESTY IS NOT SOMEONE TO BE SWAYED BY SENTIMENT.
IT IS FAR MORE CONVINCING TO SAY HE IS JUST ENJOYING ALL OF THIS FOR HIS OWN AMUSEMENT.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO PRINCESS RIEN'S DIVINE TRIAL?
IT HAS BEEN POSTPONED INDEFINITELY SINCE SHE WAS MISSING FOR THREE YEARS,
BUT IF THEY MAKE AN OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT IN THE EMPIRE'S CAPITAL, THE DIVINE COUNCIL WILL TRY TO MOVE THE TRIAL FORWARD.
NO MATTER THE SITUATION, ROCHE NOIR WILL PROTECT THE PRINCESS.
IT IS YOUR DUTY TO PREPARE FOR ALL THE DANGERS THAT WILL COME HER WAY FROM NOW ON.
FURTHERMORE, TREAT HER WITH THE UTMOST RESPECT AS A NOBLE PERSON, NOT AS A PRINCESS OF A RUINED NATION.
ESPECIALLY YOU, ASELTEIN.
YOU'RE TELLING ME THIS PERSON IS THE *CHIEF OF PALACE AFFAIRS?
*A GOVERNMENT POST THAT OVERSEES THE ADMINISTRATIVE AFFAIRS OF THE LUCIDORIA ROYAL FAMILY.
YES, IT'S A PHOTO THAT WAS LEAKED JUST TWO WEEKS AGO.
IT IS OBVIOUS THAT IT WAS ORCHESTRATED BY SOMEONE, BUT...
I REALLY WANT TO BELIEVE IT'S A FABRICATION...
TO SEE SUCH A SIGHT OF THAT NOBLE CHIEF OF PALACE AFFAIRS...
Cardinal Argento Grisen
HE WAS MY FATHER'S MOST LOYAL RIGHT HAND.
A MAN WHO LIVED HIS ENTIRE LIFE IN MODERATION AND ABSTINENCE, PURSUING ONLY THE DOCTRINES OF THE RAENE RELIGION.
HIS DEVOTION WAS SO FLAWLESSLY NOBLE THAT ALL THE PRIESTS OF LUCIDORIA HELD HIM IN AWE...
CARDINAL GRISEN IS THE PERSON WHO LED THIS REVOLUTION ALONGSIDE THE DIVINE ROYAL GUARD.
UNTIL RECENTLY, HE HAD BEEN ACTING AS THE REGENT OF LUCIDORIA, TAKING STEPS TO ABOLISH THE MONARCHY.
HE WAS PREPARING A CITIZENS' VOTE TO BREAK DOWN THE THEOCRACY AND TRANSITION TO AN ELECTIVE PAPACY.
BUT THE MOMENT THIS PHOTO WAS LEAKED, THE JUSTIFICATION FOR THE REVOLUTION MORPHED INTO THE AMBITION OF A USURPER.
AND AS IF THEY HAD BEEN WAITING FOR THIS EXACT MOMENT,
THE EVIDENCE USED IN PRINCESS IREMIA'S DIVINE TRIAL WAS LEAKED.
THE THOUSANDS OF PAGES OF TRANSCRIBED SCRIPTURES, THE EPIC POEMS FILLED WITH DEEP INSIGHT,
AND EVEN THE FACT THAT SHE PERFECTLY RESTORED AND PERFORMED THE DANCE MOVEMENTS OF THE ANCIENT LITURGY THAT HAD ONLY BEEN PASSED DOWN THROUGH LEGENDS.
THEY WERE ALL LIVING PROOF SHOWING JUST HOW DESPERATELY PRINCESS IREMIA HAD HONED HERSELF.
ALL OF THOSE ACTUALLY BELONGED TO PRINCESS RIEN, DIDN'T THEY?
I KNEW IT. BECAUSE THE PRINCESS IREMIA I INVESTIGATED IS NOT THE TYPE OF PERSON TO DO SOMETHING LIKE TRANSCRIBE SCRIPTURES.
THAT SORT OF THING IS FOR SOMEONE WHO STAYS COOPED UP IN THEIR ROOM EVERY DAY...
...I MEAN...
SOMEONE WITH AN INQUISITIVE NATURE...
SOMEONE WHO SITS AT A DESK ALL DAY.
THE ONLY PROBLEM WOULD BE PRINCESS RIEN'S DIVINE TRIAL.
BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO GO OUT THERE EMPTY-HANDED, WITHOUT ANY EVIDENCE.
THINGS LIKE LETTERS WRITTEN ON PAPER...
EVEN WITHOUT SOMETHING SO TRIVIAL, I'M NOT AFRAID.
NO MATTER WHAT CHAPTER OR VERSE THEY ASK FOR, I CAN RECITE IT ON THE SPOT.
BECAUSE EVERY SINGLE SENTENCE IS ALREADY ENGRAVED IN MY MIND.
IT'S JUST LAUGHABLE.
THE SHALLOW IDEA THAT THEY CAN JUDGE A PERSON'S DEVOTION BASED PURELY ON "WHAT THEY KNOW."
WHEN TRYING TO PROVE SOMETHING ABSTRACT LIKE FAITH,
WOULDN'T TRACES OF STUDYING THE SCRIPTURES DILIGENTLY ALSO BE EXCELLENT EVIDENCE?
HOW COULD ANYONE DOUBT THE DEVOTION OF SOMEONE WHO HAS MASTERED COUNTLESS SCRIPTURES?
IT COULD JUST BE AN OBSESSION BORN OF DOUBT.
WANTING TO KNOW THE TRUE NATURE OF WHATEVER THIS IS THAT BEWITCHES PEOPLE,
WHAT IF SOMEONE OBSESSIVELY CLUNG TO IT SO THEY COULD ULTIMATELY DENY IT COMPLETELY?
...IT WOULD BE BEST IF YOU REFRAINED FROM SAYING WHAT YOU JUST SAID.
IT IS A HIGHLY DANGEROUS AND INAPPROPRIATE STATEMENT FOR A PRINCESS OF LUCIDORIA TO UTTER.
ANYWAY, THANKS TO THAT, IT SEEMS THE DIVINE TRIAL WILL GO SMOOTHLY.
ESPECIALLY NOW THAT WE HAVE HIS IMPERIAL MAJESTY'S PROTECTION ON TOP OF IT.
PLEASE LEAVE THIS MATTER TO US AND REST EASY.
FIRST, WE WILL DEVISE A COUNTERMEASURE IN THE STAFF MEETING.
WELL THEN, PLEASE CONTINUE YOUR CHAT.
I KNOW IT MUST BE VERY FRUSTRATING SINCE HIS GRACE IS SO TACITURN.
...WELL.
I'M ACTUALLY WORRIED ABOUT WHAT HE MIGHT SAY NEXT TO EMBARRASS ME...
...YOUR HEART MUST BE HEAVY, BUT
JUST AS ASELTEIN REALIZED, EVERYONE PROBABLY ALREADY GUESSES THE TRUTH.
WON'T THERE COME A MOMENT WHEN EVERYONE WILL HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT?
DO NOT BE HASTY; TAKE IT SLOWLY, ONE STEP AT A TIME, STARTING WITH THE REALITY IN FRONT OF YOU.
AH...
YES... THANK YOU...
...WHAT'S THIS,
...I AM JUST SORRY FOR CAUSING YOU A NUISANCE ONCE AGAIN.
I HAD POINTLESS THOUGHTS...
HAVING PREJUDICES SO EASILY, I NEED TO REFLECT ON MYSELF...
A NUISANCE, YOU SAY...
DO YOU MEAN YOU ARE WORRIED THAT BECAUSE OF YOU, PRINCESS, THE SPRING OF ROCHE NOIR
MIGHT PASS BY MUCH FASTER THAN USUAL?
...PARDON?
BECAUSE YOU, PRINCESS, HAVE TAKEN ALL THE SPRING OF THIS PLACE.
THE FLOWERS THAT BARELY BLOOMED AFTER OVERCOMING THE BITTER WINTER WILL RESENT AND ENVY YOU, PRINCESS.
SAYING THAT THE BEAUTY PERMITTED BY THIS SEASON
HAS BEEN COMPLETELY MONOPOLIZED BY YOU.
THIS... THIS MAN IS DOING IT AGAIN...!
ROCHE NOIR DUCHY AUTONOMOUS DOMAIN OF CARDONIA
HOLY LUCIDORIA AS THE SANCTUARY OF THE CONTINENT'S RELIGION, RAENE, IT HAS THE CHARACTERISTICS OF A PROTECTORATE. AFTER THE ROYAL FAMILY FELL DUE TO THE HOLY KING'S CORRUPTION AND THE REVOLUTION, A REGENT SYSTEM IS CURRENTLY IN PLACE.
CARDONIA EMPIRE A MASSIVE HEGEMONIC STATE COMPOSED OF A CENTER RULED BY THE EMPEROR AND INDEPENDENT AUTONOMOUS DOMAINS. HOWEVER, IMPERIAL POWER IS GRADUALLY DECLINING, AND THE CENTRAL CONTROL IS WAVERING.
Chapter 7 of Clockwork Lovers opens with Princess Rien being accused by her sister and with her inner reckoning. Rien is charged with cowardice, hiding in the basement, and wanting to steal Lord Cassius; she begins to see herself through her sister's eyes and says she does not want to hide in the darkness, wishing someone would hold on to her. This is followed by a warning about entering the water, a dream of a hero who will fight sharks, and, upon waking, reflections on how marriage, divorce, and research into the holy scriptures empowered her sister.
