Though I Am an Inept Villainess

Now, can you call over a Lady Gayou wearing ivory silk?

There is nobody with the name "Gayou" among the ivory silk, though?

SHU CLAN COURT LADY LEELEE

What?

SHU CLAN MAIDEN - SHU KEIGETSU

I have heard of someone lamenting about losing her hairpin.

Lady Seika...

you have a court lady who has lost her hairpin?

KIN CLAN MAIDEN - KIN SEIKA

About when did that happen?

I believe it was about one month ago.

One month...

REIRIN'S HEAD COURT LADY KOU TOUSETSU

I apologize for my rudeness during the ritual.

EMPRESS - KOU KENSHUU

What is it, Tousetsu?

Your Majesty, please return to the Kou Palace right away!

My Lady...

Lady Reirin is losing consciousness due to her fever!

CROWN PRINCE - EI GYOUMEI

What?

KOU CLAN MAIDEN - KOU REIRIN

Lady Reirin!

Please pull yourself together!

THOUGH I AM AN INEPT VILLAINESS

Tousetsu, did you call for the apothecary?

Yes. We called them, but none of the medicine has been working at all.

Lady Reirin tends to be ill often,

but something like this has never happened before.

Quiet.

I see the whole picture now.

But, Tousetsu, you are the head of the court ladies.

You should not let your unease show.

Reirin has quite a strong will despite it all.

She is bravely enduring things once again.

Why should those around her be losing their composure?

However, Your Majesty,

this time around, things are different than usual.

I fear that Lady Reirin may not last through the day.

Suppose...

Suppose that the child I love so much

completely burns her life away as of today.

That would still be her destiny.

Your Majesty!

However, if she were to fight against that and try to keep living,

we must not be reluctant to help her in any way possible.

Understand, Tousetsu?

Yes!

Kin Seika.

It was a marvelous ritual.

Forgive my discourtesy of leaving before ends.

Those words are more than I deserve.

Please wait, Your Majesty and Your Highness.

I beg of you, please allow me to visit the Kou Palace as well.

What was that?

I have some knowledge of nursing.

I believe that I can heal her illness.

Absurd!

Are you saying you have more skill than an apothecary?

As far as I know, the only person who can be that brazen is Reirin herself.

-That is why-- -Know your place, Shu Keigetsu.

Why are you getting so worked up about this?

Everyone knows it's a fact that you envied Reirin

and always glared at her with contempt.

Is that so?

No, y-you are correct.

I have been glaring at her.

However, that was not out of ill will.

I-It was because I am fond of her!

Why are you blushing?

I beg of you.

Call it the reward for my dance earlier.

Because I have troubled her in the past, I must save her.

I can't trust you.

All right.

Shu Keigetsu, if you're going to go that far,

I will provide you with a chance.

Your Majesty! Thank you very mu--

However, it will not be an opportunity as a nurse.

First of all, it will be a chance for you to gain our trust.

Eagle Eyes Captain. Bring the Bow of Warding.

With all due respect, Your Majesty,

CAPTAIN OF THE EAGLE EYES - SHIN-U

the Bow of Warding is a sacred treasure maintained by the Gen clan

and has very strong water qi.

I believe it is not suitable

for the Maiden of the Shu clan with her blessing of fire.

That is exactly why.

There's no way a task for gauging sincerity

should be something simple, right?

Yes.

Something this heavy?

That bow senses maladies through string vibration

and purifies them with the sound of striking a mark.

If you can draw this bow all night praying for Reirin's recovery,

I will accept that you have no ill will and allow you to treat her.

All night?

This is a challenge worth attempting!

As I'd expect from the Empress, Your Majesty.

I shall make it happen, the Archery Vigil!

Mother, please let me out! I'm begging you!

This is a dream.

Oh, shut up.

You are an embarrassment to me, so I must hide you.

So big and ugly. A truly embarrassing child.

I don't remember when, but I started talking to the flames in search of warmth.

I found out such an act was forbidden magic after seeing Father's scrolls.

And by the time I could control them at will...

Both parents at your age.

How miserable it must be.

NOBLE CONSORT - SHU GABI

The only time I almost remembered the feeling of trust

was when Noble Consort Shu took me under her wing.

However...

If you could only have been just like Lady Reirin, right?

Then, I will become her.

And now finally the misfortune I unfairly received will end,

and brilliant days will begin.

Or that's what I had thought.

Damn it!

My Lady?

Lady Reirin!

Am I...

going to die?

Milady, I have brought you some water.

You said you were definitely going to eat your meal this time!

Are you listening?

Leelee...

I'm sorry.

Um, were we talking about whether honey or salt is better for fried potatoes?

You're just taking a complete shot in the dark!

I was talking about how you need to eat properly.

Oh.

I told you earlier, didn't I?

After dancing such an intense Sogdian Whirl during the Ghost Festival ritual...

you hurried back and made some medicine...

and delivered it to the Kou Palace.

If my sincerity is accepted, please use this medicine.

And you've been shooting that bow ever since, for over six hours straight.

Even you might collapse at this rate.

Dearie. Leelee, you have been worried about me.

If you were to collapse and everything,

I would no longer have a place to spend the night.

That's all.

I have accepted your feelings, Leelee.

Thank you very much.

But I will absolutely not collapse...

not until I save her.

Have we still not heard from the Kou Palace?

I am terribly sorry.

The entire palace has been sealed off, and it's quite hard...

It's fine. You are not to blame.

Gyoumei, return to the main palace.

However--

I also ask you, as someone from the Kou clan.

I feel so worthless.

I cannot do anything about the crisis of the woman I fell for.

It's always like this.

It appears that I am given utmost authority as the Crown Prince.

But in reality, I am kept away from any adversity

and respectfully locked up inside a cage.

It is a pleasure to meet you.

My name is Reirin.

Why do you use makeup?

It is because when I am not pale, everyone seems happier.