The Case Study of Vanitas (ヴァニタスの手記)

Yes?

A letter arrived for you, Monsieur Noé.

For me?

It was left at the front desk.

I'm waiting for you with Mademoiselle Domi!

"Don't get complacent"

Or maybe, "don't fall apart"

This world's future is torn toward conflict

Amidst a headwind it'll all come to a bloom

The eyes, the voice, they're quivering

What is right?

The days scream out in a blur

Even still, my accumulating feelings come to mind

I'll listen close for signs of hope

It must be more than desire

It must be more than a vow

I wonder what it truly means to love and be in love

I'm sure if I could just manage to put it into words even once

That might just be that and it'd all work out

My story

The Case Study of Vanitas

The Case Study of Vanitas

Let me introduce you, Noé.

These are my darling grandchildren,

Louis and his little sister, Dominique.

N-Nice to meet you.

Dominique, I have a favor to ask.

I want you to give this to Noé when the time comes.

Louis?

You really are just like me.

Domi?

Noé!

What's wrong?

M-Mina is...

Mina is to be executed tomorrow? Is that it?

But why?

Why? Because she's a curse-bearer.

A curse-bearer?

They are beheaded by a bourreau. That's the custom.

Noé, I want to save Mina too.

Might we not help her flee the village?

Mina?

Domi, Noé...

Blood. I want blood.

Blood! Give me blood!

Domi, run.

Noé?

Louis, snap out of it!

What's wrong?!

Kill me.

I want you to kill me...

If I'm doomed to die, Noé...

If I'm doomed to die, I want you to...

kill me!

I can't.

Louis said he wanted you to have this when the time came.

He told me to keep it till then.

Wooden stakes?

Noé!

Forgive me, Noé.

What shall I do?

Grandfather says it is likely a psychological condition.

Whatever shall I do?

He hasn't opened his eyes for two days.

What am I to do if he never opens them again?

What am I to do?!

If only...

If only I hadn't gone to see Noé that day.

If I had handled it myself...

If only I had let go of Mina,

perhaps that terrible slaughter would never have occurred.

At the very least, Noé wouldn't have seen Louis beheaded right before his eyes.

Domi?

Veronica?!

I came all this way to fetch you after you never came home.

This place is as dirty and dusty as ever.

Now, get ready to leave.

N-No!

He ended up like this because of me.

I cannot simply abandon him.

Your little brother... Louis is dead.

Don't you feel anything, dear sister?

First of all, I do not have a little brother.

Moreover, he should have been slain the day he was born.

You should be thankful he was allowed to live this long.

Whatever are you talking about?

What?! Surely you jest, Domi!

Are you telling me you did not know?!

Did you truly believe he was hidden from the world because he was ill?

No! You are sorely mistaken!

You truly are a fool!

He was hidden away because he was your twin!

What?

My twin?

Surely even you must know?

Twins? Louis and I?

Twins are said to rob the womb of far more life than one child.

In the vampire world, they are a symbol of misfortune.

I thought Louis was a year older than me.

Should anyone learn your mother bore twins, it would tarnish the good name of House de Sade.

That's why they chose but one of you.

In truth, one of you should have been slain at birth.

But out of the blue, Grandfather said, "That would be a waste. I shall take him."

That's when he took Louis away.

Even Father cannot defy Grandfather.

He did say that there was something he wished to try.

Why?

Why did they choose me?

I wonder.

Knowing Father, I imagine he decided based on how he felt at the time.

Then again, I have no time to waste thinking of a little brother I never had.

But if he had been chosen over you, I wonder if he would have lived up to our expectations more than you have.

Louis.

Did he know about this?

Louis.

I wish I could live here all the time.

I envy you, Louis.

How could I have said something so awful to him?

Noé, are you all right?!

Do you know who I am?!

Noé!

Noé!

Louis!

Thank goodness.

I dreamt that you had died.

Thank goodness, Louis.

It really was just a dream.

Noé.

Noé, do you, too, wish Louis had been chosen?

Do you wish that Louis lived instead of me?

You poor thing.

How about calling off the search?

I'll keep looking a bit longer.

Why are you so concerned about the Hellfire Witch?

Isn't it in your best interest for those two to become an item?

Wh-What are you talking about?

I'm sorry. Are you all right?

Well, if you'll excuse me, Mademoiselle Dominique.

Oh, so your name is Dominique.

Mikhail!

That's my name!

Huh? Are you crying, Mademoiselle?

You poor thing.

Huh?

I pity you, Mademoiselle.

I wish it was I who became a curse-bearer.

I wish it was I who was beheaded.

I wish it was Louis who was now by Noé's side.

Why was it not me?

I should have died.

If I had died...

Please forgive me, Noé.

There, there.

There, there.

Don't cry, Mademoiselle.

I'm sure your prince will come for you before long.

Then the tragic princess will find happiness,

and we can return to our families once more.

Isn't that right, Big Brother?

Vanitas! I finally found you!

Amelia?

It's Monsieur Noé! Something terrible has happened!

I bid you welcome!