LOVE THROUGH A PRISM
#08/THE PERSPECTIVE OF CHILDHOOD FRIENDS
Ah!
Come in.
My lady, Miss Ichijoin is here.
Good morning, Lady.
Lovely to see you again, Lili, dear.
Oh, you too.
Thank you for commissioning me to paint your portrait.
- I will not disappoint you, Lady. - Then why are you late?
- Huh? Sorry, I thought I was on time. - No matter. Do sit down.
Yes, Lady.
Rebecca, I'll have her paint in here.
As you wish, my lady.
Here you are.
Ah. Thank you.
Ah, this place! What a gorgeous home you have here, Lady.
- See that building across the street? - Huh?
Over there?
- You know that's Kit's mansion flat? - Oh?
It is, Lady?
Oh, you didn't know?
I thought that he might have told you everything.
The two of you seemed to be getting on so well.
Ah... Ah, no.
There seems to be a misunderstanding. At Drunnheim Hall--
My father bought this building when Kit started at school.
What? You mean... the entire building?
Well, he is my future husband.
It's only natural to want to be close by, isn't it?
Do forgive me.
It must be dull to hear about Kit and me all the time.
Well...
Well... Of course, all the time.
I heard that you got yourself lost in Drunnheim Gardens.
Oh, yes, Lady, I did.
I tried to ensure your safety.
You must've veered off in another direction.
Ah...
Thank you, Lady.
I followed the directions you gave me exactly, but...
Oh, I say. So you're saying it was all my fault then?
Oh, no, no, no, that's not what I meant!
I've always had a bad sense of direction, Lady.
Hmm. It would appear so.
I know. Perhaps we could get started with the portrait soon?
Very well. Let's move on to the task at hand.
Rebecca?
You called, my lady?
- We'll start now. - Very well, my lady.
Wait here for a moment while I go and get changed.
I will.
Lili...
It is vital that we find a way to get along, you and I.
I want to know my future husband's friends.
I don't want any misunderstandings.
This is going to be so hard.
Kit is just over there.
Sorry to keep you waiting.
Will this be all right for the portrait?
Yes, it's perfect.
It-- It is done.
Would you like to take a look?
Hmm. I do not like my facial expression there.
I look too insincere.
- I want you to do it again. - Huh?
Paint me so that I look even more beautiful and intelligent.
What do you mean, exactly?
I would think that it's the artist's job to think about interpretation.
Uh! My mistake. Of course.
What do you think?
Hmm... No. The face is better, but now the dress is dull. Do it again.
The face is now too small.
But if I change it, it'll throw off the balance of the whole painting.
Is that really my concern?
Uh, no, my lady!
You artists do take your time. I can't sit still here all day.
Please bear with me a little bit longer.
Anyway, that dress, it looks so beautiful.
I designed it for my first outing as a debutante.
Though, I wasn't really satisfied with the way it turned out.
Really? I think it's exquisite. What's wrong with it?
I had it commissioned to be an exact replica of the Silver Lily.
But no matter how much they tried, I felt it would just never be quite the same.
Two dresses have been passed down through the Church family for generations.
The Gold Rose, crafted by the finest dressmakers,
captivates all who see it.
The Silver Lily, wise like the moon, has the most elegant charm.
The first time I set my eyes on that dress,
it quite simply captured my heart.
I knew right then...
that someday...
Kit must've known!
He must surely have known how much it meant to me.
The dress, you mean?
But that doesn't change how shameless you are.
I know your game! You-- You-- You-- You--
But I didn't know anything about the dress!
Hmm.
Kit always does whatever he likes
without a single care for how I feel.
Oh.
I thought it'd get better now that we're...
- I say! Get back to your sketching, girl! - Hm? Yes, of course, my lady!
Mm.
What do you think?
I really tried to follow your instructions.
It's still not quite right, somehow. I liked your first attempt much better.
You must change it back to how you did it before.
Uh, like the first time?
Do you have a problem with that?
- My lady. - Oh!
We are ready for you in the dining hall.
Oh, thank you.
- Lili, you are excused for today. - Huh?
And about tomorrow,
I trust that we can start at the same time?
Uh, I have another job I'm meant to be doing tomorrow.
Hm?
Uh, but of course I can rearrange!
Well, that couldn't have gone much worse.
But the client knows what she wants, and I'm sure I can do this eventually.
- What are you doing here? - Hmm?
K-- Kit? I could ask you the same question!
Well, uh, I've been shopping.
Oh...
And you?
Me? I...
If you must know, I've been at Catherine's!
She has very graciously commissioned me to paint her portrait!
Huh. How did that happen?
What exactly do you mean?
Obviously, she believes in my abilities as an artist.
It's only a sketch now,
but I'm sure she'll be very happy with it when it's finished.
It couldn't be going any better!
Oh...
- Are you free tomorrow? - Huh?
Tomorrow?
I heard there's a family of peacocks. They've been seen over in Hyde Park.
I want to draw them. Want to come?
The birds with long feathers and huge beaks?
No, I don't!
Why not?
It's just that, um...
Why are you asking me?
Of all the girls, shouldn't you be asking Catherine?
She is your fiancée, after all.
I'm sorry. I'm in a hurry.
I actually have a lot of work to do, unlike you.
Goodbye.
What a shameless young lady.
All right!
Right, I'm off.
I think I'll miss out on dinner tonight as well.
I say, are you sure you're all right?
You're not eating or sleeping at all these days!
I'm fine. I'm young and have stamina, if nothing else.
Something will give out on you at some point!
I promise, I'm all right!
Ah! Sorry, Shin!
Lili!
Sorry, can't talk right now!
- Sorry! - Whoa!
I'm not sure what's got into her.
Do you think she's all right?
Ugh, no.
Shin, you should try to find out what's wrong.
Mm.
Her expression still seems a little stiff somehow,
but she wanted it to look more cheerful.
She really is beautiful.
Stop that! You're staring off into space.
Sorry, my lady!
Um, so, Lady Catherine, do you stay here in London often then?
Only occasionally.
There are too many people here and not a moment's peace.
It's pretty lively, though, isn't it?
I really love that about it, and it's so easy to get around!
Are you always like this, my dear?
Oh, I'm not sure what you mean.
Are all art students this, uh, chatty when they are painting?
Oh. Not really, but it helps me to paint better if I can stay relaxed.
- How old are you? - Oh. I turn 21 soon.
Why do you want to know?
Oh my... You're taking your time, aren't you?
At your age, my dear,
it can be rather hard to find someone to marry.
Thank you kindly, my lady, for your concern.
Kit used to talk to me, you know, while he was painting.
Ah... Oh, really? How interesting.
I never really saw the appeal of it, to be honest.
Sitting down and just staring at one thing endlessly all day.
That's true, but you create something that didn't exist before,
even if it's not all that accomplished, my lady.
Oh. It must be nice to be able to just do what you like.
I guess that's why I like painting,
because you can draw anything you can imagine!
Do you not have a hobby you enjoy?
What? A hobby?
I don't have anything like that.
Ah... W-- Well, then... Things you like to do for fun?
To do for fun?
Yes, please tell me. There must be.
Things you did as a little girl,
games you played, or maybe swimming, or dancing,
or board games like chess or backgammon-- Ah!
Uh, sorry, did I say something wrong?
How dare you, girl? How rude you are! You should learn some manners!
- I'm terribly sorry! - Humph.
My Lady Catherine does not have as much leisure time as you.
My goodness! What do they teach you in Japan?
Unbelievable.
- I have no... hobbies. - You must ignore her, my lady.
Please do not mind anything she says. Uh, my lady?
Right then, I'll see you later.
Oh, wait, Lili! Oh...
- Lili! - Hmm?
Oh, Shin!
It's been ages since I've talked to you properly.
Seems like you've been really busy lately.
I heard you're painting a portrait of Catherine.
Uh... Oh, well, yes, I am!
Dorothy was worried about you.
She thought that Catherine might be unfairly picking on you.
She's exaggerating. She's really not that bad.
- Ah. - Mmm...
She's just picky and she wants everything to be perfect.
But it's good that she's trying to push me.
It's the first time anyone has commissioned me
to paint a picture for them.
This will be my pièce de résistance!
I'm sure it will. You're amazing.
Huh? No, I'm just ordinary.
Anyway, are you hungry?
Why don't you come to our place for dinner tonight?
Oh, thank you so much, but I wouldn't want to intrude.
You wouldn't be intruding. I mean, Sakura misses you.
And I'm pretty sure today we're having
grilled salmon, potato namasu, watercress--
Huh?
That's settled, then.
I would love to come for dinner.
Perfect. Let's go.
I'm home!
Hello, Sakura!
Sakura! I haven't seen you in ages! I trust you're well.
Sit down, Lili. Make yourself at home.
Oh, thank you so much!
Oh.
Mm. These are so good!
Have you been working on these for the next assessment?
Yes. It feels like I'm finally getting somewhere with those.
Looks like it!
Are you ready for it, Lili?
Mm.
I'm really going to have to up my game though.
Sakura made all this?
It looks delicious!
- Lili. - Oh.
Ah, thank you.
Oh. It's miso soup.
We brought a little miso with us along with the rice.
Ah...
I thought that we'd want a taste of home from time to time.
Please, let us begin.
Yes, let us eat!
Lili?
Sorry. I haven't had food this good in so long.
I wouldn't go that far. It's not worth crying over.
- But... - Huh?
I simply haven't had any, you know, proper food lately, like this.
I don't mean to cry, but I just can't help it.
Hey! Don't laugh at me.
I'm full to the brim!
Mm. Thank you so much, Shin, for inviting me today.
I really had a lovely time.
You're most welcome, Lili, and I'm so glad you came.
Well, I would come over every day given the chance.
I would love that. And Sakura would too.
I'm always here, and I want to help you whenever you need, Lili.
Oh.
Thanks.
Besides, you can't go worrying Dorothy too much, can you?
I know. I'll try not to.
Excuse me, my lady.
Oh, I see that artist girl has not yet arrived.
Goodness me. Where on earth could that silly girl have got to?
- Rebecca. - Yes?
I doubt I was smiling.
I'm sure I was being far more reserved when I posed for her.
No doubt you were, but she's painted you smirking at her.
How positively rude.
What do I want to do?
I'd never even thought about it before.
About what, my lady?
What I'd like to do with my time.
Ridiculous. Who needs hobbies anyway?
I'm going to be a member of the renowned Church family.
It's all been arranged.
And I will be worthy of the Silver Lily-- Oh!
She knows nothing whatsoever about my life.
Who is she to see me smiling?
After the way she humiliated me the night of the gala.
She's making a mockery of me!
I don't need a smile like this. Get rid of it!
Very good, my lady.
Hmm.
Uh... Rebecca?
I'm going to throw it in the Thames!
This painting isn't good enough for my lady.
Wait, Rebecca.
I'm sorry I didn't get here on time.
I'll get set up right away.
You're always late, aren't you?
I'm so sorry.
What do you like to do for fun?
I want to get to know you better, my lady.
Oh no!
Rebecca, wait!
Rebecca!
Hm?
- And you're going in there! - Is that you, Rebecca?
Huh?
Oh, ah, Christopher, what are you doing here?
- Huh? Hmm. - Why are you? What...
- What is that? - Ah! Oh.
- What were you doing? - Oh, ah, um, I was... I was, uh... Catherine...
Rebecca!
Wait, that painting is--
Kit...
Good evening, Kit. What is it you are doing here?
This...
Hm?
This painting is Lili's, is it not?
If I wasn't here, what were you planning on doing with it?
Well, I commissioned this painting, and it has to be right,
so I can do whatever I like with it.
Any painting is not just canvas and paint.
It's hours of commitment and a moment in time.
To throw one away
is like throwing away the person who made it.
Ah, I could eat Sakura's food every day!
- I wish I'd brought miso too. Hm? - Why are you siding with her?
I've never seen you act this way before. It's as though you're infatuated with her!
Huh?
- What a fool I am! - Catherine!
We're supposed to be engaged, Kit. What the hell am I supposed to do?
I can't believe that you would treat me this way!
Huh?
- I have no idea what you're talking about. - Stop being so oblivious!
You never paid the slightest attention to me.
You were only ever interested in paintings.
And now you dressed that girl up in the Silver Lily and danced with her,
in that ballroom, right in front of me, your fiancée!
Can't you see how that makes me feel?
I'm going to ask you a question now, Kit.
Think carefully how you answer.
Are you in love with her?
With Lili?
Perhaps...
Perhaps, I am...
I think I'm in love with her.
Huh?
Yes, I am... in love with Lili.
- Huh? - Huh?
I say, that's dangerous. Look where you're going.
Oh, I'm so sorry!
Lili?
Oh!