LOVE THROUGH A PRISM
#07/A RED ROSE HAS THORNS
Does it still hurt?
What? Oh...
No, it feels much better now.
That's very good to hear.
I know we were on private property,
but it's still dangerous to go outside alone, Lili.
- Because this isn't Japan. - Hm?
Mm.
Huh?
Aphrodite.
Lili!
Hm?
Huh?
If Aphrodite hadn't been there, I wouldn't have been able to find you.
I was so worried
because it took so long for you to wake up, Lili.
Well, I... I must have fallen into a deep sleep.
I'm so sorry, Shin.
But you see, I hardly got any sleep the night before.
I appreciate all your help, and so sorry for troubling you.
You normally wouldn't expect someone to be sleeping in a place like that.
Everyone was so surprised.
I will apologise to everyone when I see them.
And let's go and see a doctor when we get back home to London.
Mm... Really, that's not necessary.
You've cut your stay short already.
There's really no need to worry,
as I was planning on going back early anyway.
Oh...
- Oh, I just remembered. - Huh?
Goodness!
It's so cute!
I carved it out of small pieces of fallen oak
I found on the Drunnheim estate.
It looks like a flower-shaped Japanese sweet.
It makes me really miss Japanese treats.
Talking food again! I suppose it does look like a sweet.
Yes, it does.
Oh, will you look at that, Lili.
We're almost back in London.
Mm!
- Lili, you all right? - Mm?
Oh, welcome back, Dorothy.
- Your foot, does it hurt? - Not much.
What did the doctor say then?
He said it was just a minor sprain.
Oh, good! I'm so relieved.
- This is for you. - Hmm?
I brought you back ricotta cheese and chocolate.
Truffles, a fancy type of chocolate! Here you go.
- You have bought so much. - I wasn't sure of your favourites,
so I bought every single variety.
I know it seems a lot, but don't worry. I'll help you get through it all.
Uh, thank you.
So, Lili, tell me, what happened? What on earth were you doing outside?
I was beside myself. We were all out there looking for you.
I'm so sorry. It was like a maze. I got lost.
You got lost?
What?
She deliberately told you the wrong way!
I'm not saying that, Dorothy.
I do have a terrible sense of direction, don't I?
No, that's not it at all.
She was jealous of you for dancing with Kit.
And she got her revenge.
I think you're exaggerating.
You're too naive, Lili.
Everyone could see for themselves how close you and Kit seemed.
And what's more,
Kit had clearly been avoiding her all evening.
She was probably just feeling embarrassed in front of her family
and all the high ranking people at the gala.
Well, that's not a concern for me any more.
I say, Lili darling, what is all that you're working on?
Balancing my books.
Your finances?
I have spent too much this month.
I haven't enough left to pay all my expenses.
What? How have you done that?
The train, the visit to Drunnheim Hall, and then I went to see a doctor.
I didn't account for all those expenses.
Oh, what shall I do?
At this rate, I won't be able to pay my rent at the end of the month.
Can't you write home to your parents and ask them to send you a bit more money?
That would take over a month, and besides,
they would have me on the first boat back to Japan if I did that.
But it is a problem if you don't have enough money to pay your rent.
Diana is ruthless with people who can't pay.
She'll kick you out. Don't think that she won't.
I need to find a way to earn some money, Dorothy.
Look, why don't you go and speak to Professor Brant when class is over?
Why Professor Brant?
He managed to secure Freya a paid engagement not all that long ago.
How interesting!
This is most irregular.
So, Miss Ichijoin,
what brings you here?
W-- Well, I thought... I came to discuss something with you.
Oh? To discuss what exactly?
I need a job and wondered if you would be able to help, sir.
Hmm? A job?
I know that the critique session is coming up,
so you might think it's strange that I would do such a thing.
But the thing is
I'm in an awfully tight spot financially right now, quite honestly.
So, would you...
would you kindly help me find a job related to painting, sir?
I understand. Related to painting, eh?
The great William Shakespeare once wrote.
"Fire that's closest kept burns most of all."
How very true.
The more a fire is restricted, the brighter it burns.
When passion is suppressed, it intensifies.
Please, Professor,
I really don't need a lecture on Shakespeare right now.
Ah, but there are jewels of wisdom in there.
Please, I'm counting on you!
All right then.
There are several jobs that I can think of for you.
But, Lili, I have one condition.
Yes, of course, sir. Anything.
Make sure, my girl, that you get your priorities right
and do not let your art suffer because of employment.
Don't lose sight of where your talent lies, your destiny.
Yes. I'll be diligent.
Thank you for your time.
Lili, what did he say?
He gave me work translating a book about ukiyo-e.
That's fantastic!
You were right. I'm so grateful! But it looks very difficult.
- It'll be fine. I'll help you! - Ah! Oh, thank you, Dorothy!
Why would you do that?
- It's nothing to be bothered about. - It does bother me!
Leave me alone!
Ah.
Kit, wait!
Hmm?
Where are you off to?
- Just taking a walk. - I see.
I was just considering a little trip to the British Museum,
but Joffrey put me off a little.
He said that it's such a big building that I might get lost.
That's true. It's a very big place.
There's certainly too much to see in one day.
Why don't you accompany me there, Kit?
I would appreciate being with someone who knows their way around.
No matter where you turn, there are masterpieces everywhere.
Sublime.
It's a shame some have been damaged over time.
But they are so impressive, it doesn't seem to matter.
It looks like they're suffused with eternal life.
Huh?
- I envy these sculptors. - Why is that?
There's no freedom in the work that I strive to create.
There are fixed rules about what to carve and how to carve it.
Everything I do is admired
because I have copied somebody else's style.
There's no room to be creative or original.
All I know is that I follow what my ancestors did.
Sometimes I lose sight of why I'm doing it too.
Maybe I crossed the ocean because I wanted to find the answer.
Hey, Kit, tell me, what's wrong?
Shin, I'm going to show you something great.
Huh?
The Pietà of Saint Peter's.
It's a replica, made of plaster of paris.
It's my favourite of all Michelangelo's works.
I'm speechless.
Words fail me, Kit.
This isn't even close.
Huh?
I saw the real one when I was a young boy.
In that moment...
time seemed to have stopped.
I never experienced a quietness greater than what I felt then.
All I could hear was my heartbeat.
From that cold marble statue,
I learned what the purpose of my life truly was.
I realised
people's memories lose their outlines and become hazy as time passes.
But
if I could capture that moment and give it form,
the memory would never fade.
A copy can inspire someone just as much as the original.
I say, Kit, where is the original sculpture?
In Italy.
Italy?
I say, Shin,
I came to save you.
Joffrey's here. Peter too.
Hello.
Good day, you two.
Goodness me, are you lost as well?
That's strong!
I always pop in here for a pint or two after a hard day looking at art.
Oh, right. Is that so?
I aim to down 12, in fact.
What?
It's called the 12 pint challenge.
Anyone who can drink 12 pints of beer in here is considered to be a real man.
Can't you think of a better way to achieve notoriety and infamy?
How many have you had already?
- I think we're only two pints down. - Eh?
- Ten more pints to go. - Huh?
Thanks, but I'm not joining you.
Peter, you should slow down. Your face is already red.
I'm not drunk at all.
- It only looks like it. - Peter, maybe you've had enough.
You're very annoying drunk.
Hmm? What's wrong, Kit? A penny for your thoughts?
Why the blazes are you looking so glum, eh?
Just leave me alone.
Now, you have a very beautiful horse, a thoroughbred fiancée,
and your future is secure, my boy.
- What right have you got to be sad? - You are such a pain.
How dare you? The Church Family! The Duke's family! Everyone admires them!
I don't care. I am not one of them.
No matter how you dress it up, the fact is, Kit, old chap,
that you were born with a silver spoon in your mouth.
Pretending you don't care is easy, but it doesn't change who you are.
Uh, Peter.
Also, something has been bothering me.
I know your father's retired from public affairs,
but of all the art shows there are, why would the Duke come
to the student exhibition at the National Gallery?
Tell me, why on earth would he do that?
Perhaps it was to see his son's work on show.
And I've heard that Saint Thomas's was established
with a large endowment from a certain wealthy individual.
Saint Thomas Art Academy.
I gather your father's middle-name is Thomas, is it not?
And due to his skills in diplomacy,
in global politics his nickname happens to be The Saint.
Is all of this merely coincidence?
Hey! Some interesting coincidences there.
- Don't you think, Kit? - I've had enough of this.
- Huh? - I'm going.
Kit, don't forget your bag.
Oh, thank you.
Hmm.
What the blazes is wrong with him?
Maybe he just can't handle his Pimm's.
Thank you, Professor.
Well done, Lili. Keep up the good work.
Yes, I will. Thank you very much, sir.
Mm.
Thank you, Professor.
Well done, Lili. Keep up the good work.
Yes, I will. Thank you very much, sir.
Mm.
Ugh.
Everything here is expensive.
But I need some new white paint.
Are you feeling quite all right, Lili? You've got big bags under your eyes.
It looks like my current job will be done soon,
so I'll start preparing for the next one right away.
Lili, you should really consider taking a break.
It's too much. But I can't paint if I don't buy it.
But if I buy it, I can't pay the rent!
What are you going to do? Buy it, or not buy it?
- Yes! No! I'll just not eat then! - Oh!
Life tests you, not to show your weakness, but to reveal your strength.
- Pardon? You're not really making sense. - Oh. It's an old samurai saying.
You are a samurai!
No! I just made things more complicated for myself.
- Goodness, it's busy in here! - Huh?
Fancy bumping into you two again.
Lady Catherine.
So Lili, how's your foot? Better, I hope?
It's fine. It was just a minor sprain.
I've been walking without any problems at all.
I'm glad to hear that.
I've been thinking about you since the gala.
So, what are you doing here in London then, Lady Catherine?
A fabulous dress designer that I'm acquainted with
is holding an exhibition at the Royal Academy of Art.
I'm helping her out a little with the design, and also modelling,
so I'll be residing here in my London home for a while.
That's wonderful. I'm pleased for you.
I was taking my afternoon walk just now,
then what a surprise, quite by chance, I spotted you two.
Huh? I'm surprised you found us,
considering we were at the back of the shop.
It may be my imagination,
but it seems as if you were looking for Lili.
Now that you mention it, this is great timing!
To commemorate my debut in society this year,
I want to commission a portrait,
a celebration of me, if you like!
So, Lili, would you kindly paint my portrait?
- Huh? - Huh?
W-- why would you want me to draw your portrait?
Yes, why, when you could have your fiancé draw it?
Kit's not really a portrait artist.
Oh... Well, of course I knew that.
I had already decided to ask an aspiring artist around my own age.
So I get to choose one lucky artist
who will get the great honour of immortalising me on canvas.
Lili, please, I really don't want to let this wonderful coincidence pass me by.
Perhaps it was fate that led me here. You are destined to paint my portrait!
I-- I-- I-- I-- I-- I don't--
Of course, I'll pay for your work, including all your expenses.
- Two hundred? - Two hundred?
- This is so much money! - This doesn't seem right, Lili.
- There has to be some sort of catch. - Kerching!
Lili, I can see you've got pound signs in your eyes!
Don't let her buy you, Lili!
Mmm. All my problems will be solved.
You're already under her power and influence.
And of course, if you don't have enough painting supplies,
I'll buy you everything you need.
- What? E-- everything? - Lili, think about it.
Please don't hesitate to ask for anything that you need.
I'm sure that this opportunity will enable me to get to know you better,
maybe to become friends.
I don't know many people in London.
I'm begging you, could we be friends?
Friends?
I... I think so, if you're fine with working with me.
Are you quite serious, Lili?
Thank you, my dear!
I'm so delighted! I'm thrilled you were able to accept.
I'll have Rebecca come and pick you up from your lodgings.
I'm so excited.
Well, I have some business to take care of, so I'll be off.
But I will be in touch soon. Enjoy the rest of your day, girls.
- Come on, Rebecca, let's go. - Yes, my lady.
What on earth?
As if she was just out for a walk!