Gankutsuou (巌窟王)

The Count of Monte Cristo

Ladies and gentlemen, good evening.

On that stormy day that announced the end of spring,

...my friend and I arrived in Paris, where the boy awaited us.

I tremble in silence at these emotions which leak out...

...as the hour of reunion draws near.

This must be your guest.

Count, if you don't mind, I'd like you to join us for dinner after you've met my parents.

Count?

If it is not too much trouble.

Please do. After all, we owe you our son's life.

Welcome to our home, my good Count of Monte Cristo.

Act 4: A Mother's Secrets

To our new friend, the Count of Monte Cristo.

Oh, is that so?

I'm embarrassed that you know of the Janina campaign.

The people praise me as a hero,

...but to a soldier, such things mean little.

After all, nothing good ever results from destruction.

No, these idyllic times in which we live were built on the back of sacrifice.

Such is my opinion, at any rate.

I expect that the far corners of the galaxy are echoing...

...with the name of General Morcerf by now.

You honor me by saying so.

Oh, dear, the food wasn't to your liking?

Not at all. Please, think nothing of it.

I am in the habit of eating very little.

I can't say that I don't understand how you feel.

Having advanced in years, I find myself weary of extravagant meals such as this.

In my case, I find lately that I seldom sleep, either.

I'm amazed that you've managed to stay healthy.

It is because of these.

Are they some sort of space rations?

In the course of wandering the sea of stars for so long,

...my body and soul have changed beyond recognition.

Even so, I hope that you would at least eat something...

The thought of neither sleeping nor eating is too sad to bear.

Too sad to bear?

Very well, then.

In that case, perhaps I shall sample this.

Please do.

This taste brings back memories...

Brings back memories?

I once experienced delightful cooking such as this in the south of France.

This is the dish that you've made for as long as I can remember, right, Mother?

Yes.

By any chance, you wouldn't happen to be from Marseilles, would you?

No.

My wife has nothing to do with such a barbaric province.

Isn't that right, Mercedes?

Y-Yes...

Oh, really?

What's the matter?

One of my friends is from there.

His name is Maximilien Morrel. He's a really nice person.

Morrel...

Forgive me if I misspoke. Please, do not take offense.

That's all right.

Our family traces its roots back to a powerful Catalan family.

This soup has been a specialty of my wife's ever since she was a young girl.

Oh, I see. So, you and the Countess were childhood friends, then?

Yes, that's right.

Which explains why you seem so close. I am jealous beyond words.

I had no idea that a man like you could be jealous of anyone, Count.

Yes, of course.

If that person is a man of your father's caliber.

Get the Count something to drink. His glass is empty.

Please stay for as long as time permits.

Sitting around the table like this, it almost feels as if you are a member of the family.

What a maddening scent this is...

Count?

It is from the muscat grapes.

Are you fatigued?

No, please forgive me for forcing you to eat earlier.

Not at all. I had always hoped to experience that delicious flavor again.

It was a sublime experience.

It was a simple rustic dish.

But it makes me happy to hear you say so.

Have you heard of this? There is a saying that goes,

..."Those who share bread and salt under the same roof become eternal friends."

That is a tradition handed down in Eastern Space, is it not?

Yes.

Which means that we are now friends. For all eternity.

However, this is not Eastern Space. It is Paris.

In Paris, everlasting friendship is impossible without the act of sharing bread and salt.

Your soup truly was delicious.

Warm, and yet evocative of past memories.

It is something which gives comfort.

Like a breeze blowing across the Mediterranean Sea.

Count, are you very familiar with Marseilles?

I could say that I am aware of it.

But perhaps I never truly knew it at all.

Infidelity. Adultery. Dalliances in the dead of night.

You aristocrats are as energetic as the rumors say.

Spare me your crude comments!

The Count is a friend of mine.

Honestly, you're such a child.

If people could become friends simply by sharing bread and salt,

...life would be simpler.

What are you talking about?

You'll understand sooner or later, little boy.

I am most grateful to you for allowing me to experience a day such as today.

Not at all. I'm proud that I had the opportunity to introduce you to my parents.

To introduce a man I admire.

What say you?

I would like to invite you to my residence on the Champs-Elysees in the near future.

I'd love to come!

The Count of Monte Cristo was a mysterious man, don't you think?

Yes. There was a sternness somewhere in him that keeps people at arm's length.

That just means that compared to the Count, the people of Paris are dull.

My...

You might not know this, Mother, but there's more to the world than Paris.

Out beyond the walls, there's a world that's endlessly captivating.

I think you've changed since your journey to Luna.

My journey is just beginning.

Don't go to worlds too far removed from our own.

You should exercise moderation in your association with the Count.

Oh, please, Mother... You sound just like Franz.

Well, even though he seems more than a little shady,

...having the Morcerf family establish ties with a man like him might not be a bad thing.

Not when this family is about to throw its hat into the political arena.

Good grief, why do aristocrats eat like this all the time?

Dinner parties, high tea, balls.

It's probably because they don't have anything else to do.

In other words, if you took away the gluttony, lust, and avarice,

...there wouldn't be anything left.

You need to watch your mouth.

Didn't you think that their guest today was rather elegant and handsome?

I'm not so sure. He wasn't very refined.

Maybe, but he had a pretty good vibe going with the mistress under the grapevine trellis.

What, really? I'd always thought that the master was the only man in the world for the mistress.

I think that any society lady would fall for that Count if he worked his mojo on her.

Give it a rest, already!

That was definitely the face of a woman in love.

If you don't stop that, I'm going to report you.