The Holy Grail of Eris (エリスの聖杯)

Look at all these people, Kate.

Do you think there's a festival?

Come on, Connie. Let's go home.

But—

Kate?

Kate! Where are you?!

Wow...

She's so pretty.

A curse on you.

A curse upon you all!

Y-You fiend!

Fiend!

Murderess!

Hear, hear!

You're the cursed one!

It's over! She's dead!

Dead and gone!

Serves her right!

LESSER PALACE (GRAND MERILLIAN)

It's been ten years since that night in Saint Mark's Square,

and I, Constance Grail, am now sixteen.

Allow me to congratulate you, Miss Grail.

Thank you very much, Viscount Hamsworth.

Surely the Fates will bless your union,

what with the Grail family motto of "Be you sincere."

"Be you sincere," huh?

This all started a few months ago.

My father, the living embodiment of the Grail family's sincerity,

found himself under a mountain of debt.

I'm sorry, Connie.

On the condition that the Bronson Company pay it,

I became engaged to Mr. Bronson's son and heir, Neil.

Neil Bronson, at your service.

I can't deny that I'd dreamed of marrying for love.

But a plain, dull girl like me,

getting a handsome, well-mannered gentleman to consent to become her husband?

I should consider myself blessed...

Or so I thought.

I heard the news, Connie!

You're engaged to Neil Bronson,

but everyone is talking about him and Pamela Francis!

Pamela Francis?

Yes! Someone saw them in each other's arms when they thought no one was watching!

It seems Neil simply worships her. Don't you think, Kate?

Really, Mylene, you should stop spreading groundless rumors.

No one would act that way after just getting engaged, and you know it.

I wouldn't be so sure.

I hear Pamela goes through men the way the rest of us go through dance partners.

Really, there is such a thing as delicacy, you know?

I trust Neil.

He was his usual kind self to me this very day.

Neil and... Pamela?!

Oh...

I wish I could pretend I hadn't seen them.

Given the circumstances of our engagement, I knew I couldn't expect love.

But even so, I must face him with sincerity.

We need to talk things out.

What a beautiful lady.

Um... My name is Constance Grail.

I hate to pry, but are you feeling all right?

What fun it looks.

Won't you come inside?

May I?

What? But of course.

I'm in!

You have my gratitude, girl.

"G-Girl"?

What should I say to Neil?

Um...

C-Congratulations on your engagement.

Thank you very much.

If I remember correctly,

I often see her with Pamela.

Brenda, your hairpin is falling out.

Perhaps you should just take it off.

Y-Yes, I think I will.

There. That's better.

I left my purse on the second floor.

Would you hold on to my hairpin for me while I go and fetch it?

Yes, of course. Think nothing of it.

Brenda's been gone a long time...

Constance Grail!

You've behaved outrageously.

Pamela? Neil?

I know that your family is in dire straits,

but don't you think you've taken this too far?

To be frank, I question your character.

Wh-Whatever do you mean?

My. You expect us to believe you ignorant?

That simply won't do.

I know that you stole Brenda's hairpin.

I heard the whole story. No sooner had you fixed her hair

than she realized her priceless pin was missing.

Tell me, Constance Grail, what do you say to that?

What do you mean?

I'm sure someone in need of coin would have done anything for it.

Yes, I'm painfully aware of how you must feel.

I know all about your family's lamentable situation.

B-But Brenda asked me to...

Then show us your purse.

If you're no thief, that shouldn't pose a problem.

Constance, you didn't...

No!

Oh, dear me.

And what do we have here?

I would implore you for an explanation.

So she did steal it?

A Grail, of all people?

Brenda asked me to hold on to it.

She asked you to hold on to this?

Even though you barely know each other?

I find that hard to believe.

Brenda!

Please, tell them!

You asked me, remember?!

You asked me to hold on to it while you got your purse!

You remember, don't you?

Why won't you tell them, Brenda?

Brenda, please!

Your excuses are growing disgraceful.

Look, poor Brenda is frightened.

It's all right, Brenda.

You needn't say a thing.

There you have it, Neil.

You see what Constance is like.

You ought to object to your engagement at once.

She's committed a crime.

People will lose confidence in the Bronson Company if you marry her.

But there's no proof that she stole it.

Proof?

Why, everyone here is a witness!

I know. Viscount Hamsworth is a man of the cloth.

You could lodge your objection with him now.

You're wrong! I would never steal!

"Be you sincere"?

So much for the Grail family's sincerity.

You're nothing but a common thief.

You're wrong...

No...

Someone, anyone, help me!

Help!

Very well.

I'll help you.

Who's that?

But in exchange...

A thief, you say?

I wonder...

Which of us is the real thief?

Constance Grail...

She makes such a show of her ridiculous "sincerity."