Spoiler I Am a Princess Responsible For Settling Circumstances

Discussion in 'Spoilers' started by Shizun, Dec 12, 2018.

  1. sovokop

    sovokop Shameless Clifford Simp

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    Two new chapters of the light novel were uploaded of the series, and we finally got to see Clifford again! :blob_pompom::blobtaco:

    It starts after Octavia gives her suggestion to her older brother, Y-so-Celius, to take Clifford for an inspection, hence proving his innocence, and they were kinda arguing on it. Sil was there too. Eventually, Y-so-Celius agrees on the condition that Clifford’s accompaniment will be on his watch. Octavia says that Clifford is her guard so how can he accompany them, or something. Y-so-Celius says that he decided he’s replacing his knights and nominally would make Clifford his knight (Is this douchebag trying to make Clifford, who he knows is super strong as Ongarne, come to his side since him being on Octavia’s side makes douchebag become more suspicious and alert of her? :blobangery: Stay away from me Clifford! :blobspearpeek:). Octavia retorts that he saw what happened at the training ground in which Clifford (where he whopped everyone’s butts) won’t move without Octavia’s orders. Octavia wanted to meet Clifford before the inspection and was trying real hard to convince him. Y-so-Celius won’t let her meet him. Sil then butts in and I think, in his inner thoughts, says neither Octavia and Clifford are dangerous. He tells Y-so-Celius that he (being Sil) is the most dangerous guy while the suspect is in custody. Y-so-Celius tries to say something but Sil cuts him off and that Y-so-Celius thinks too lightly. He knows that he didn’t point his sword at Octavia at his own volition, but what if it happens again and he hurts someone else like Y-so-Celius. Y-so-Celius replies that that’s not gonna happen, to which Sil replies that he can’t say and finally apologizes to Octavia, saying that until the cause is clear he doesn’t himself. (FINALLY! I MEAN IT’S ALL BECAUSE OF HIM THAT HIS LOVERBOY IMPRISONED CLIFFORD AND YOU DIDN'T EVEN APOLOGIZE! :blobcat_hyper: HE’S FINALLY SPITTING FACTS TO SHUT HIS BOYFRIEND UP AND TAKING SOME ACCOUNTABILITY). He tells Y-so-Celius if Clifford is in prison, that Sil too should be in a cell too, and Y-so-Celius is like that’s stupid. Octavia feels like the situation has gotten kinda out of hand. Then she reveals that if Sil went on a rampage again, then the blood from Y-so-Celius, Alex or her dad can work, so which they were like royal blood works? Eventually some more convo and Y-so-Celius finally agrees to let her meet herhusband Clifford, but he will also be there. Sil also asks Octavia if she can take him with her when she goes to meet Clifford.

    In the next chapter, Y-so-Celius and his loverboy are arguing on why Sil wants to meet him, but eventually, Sil won. Y-so-Celius gestured to her and Octavia agreed (tbh I don’t want to either of them when the reunion happens :blobpopcorn_two:). Octavia recalls the underground battle at the ball. She says (not sure in her inner thoughts or to Y-so-Celius) that Clifford is an “obey” (translation for “jyuu”) and so is Sil (I have a theory about this which I’ll discuss in another post). She then asks herself why Y-so-Celius is interested in her brother, and then BL enters her mind. As they enter the dungeon, the three are also accompanied by Hugh-pain-in-the-ass and Nothin-who-lost-against-Clifford-like-a-sore-loser (WHY ARE THERE MORE OF YOU FOR THE REUNION!?!?!?!? :blobcat_hyper: :blobcat_knife:). In her inner thoughts, I think she says that in the original “King of Nobility” novel, Hugh-pain-in-the-ass liked Sil in a romantic sense. She didn’t want him “to wander around”, which I think means she doesn’t want him to be with another guy (since she shipped Y-so-Celius and Sil in the original novel), but she would support Hugh-pain-in-the-ass and Sil. She then shifts on what if Hugh-pain-in-the-ass is replaced by Clifford. She hates thinking about that (I do too, Octavia). And she wonders why she hates it and ponders if it’s because it’s a three-dimensional reason, since the original “King of Nobility” novel is, or rather was, three-dimensional to Octavia, as Maki in her past life. She says “Clifford doesn't sprout like BL” in translation, which I think means she doesn’t associate him with BL, (since in the 3+ months he’s been with her, he hasn’t shown any interest in men (or any person aside from Octavia, really:bloblove:)). She wonders if the fujoshi soul in her is dead (since she’s a huge fujoshi, but, imo, she was a huge fujoshi as Maki. She hasn’t shown much fujoshi tendencies since she also wants to love guy, but each guy she meets is gay and that depresses her and most of the female staff in the castle. She still supports consensual guy X guy tho). She denies her inner-fujoshi being dead. If it was just Clifford, she wouldn't like it he decided to go down the BL route (I think, at this point, she shows a blooming crush on him :bloblove::blobmelt:). But BL is normal in her world, so she shouldn’t be surprised if he does go down that road. However, to her, “Clifford doesn't feel like that at all?” (yessssss :blobmelon:) “Or, when it comes to "master", maybe there is a desire for exclusivity for "subordinate"?” (ohmegosh yessssssssss :blobnom:). She has a slight inkling that he may not be gay (like I said, he hasn’t shown any form of even platonic interest in a man or a person, apart from Octavia) and shifts to maybe she’s possessive of him because she’s his master and he’s her subordinate (since they also have a shuu-jyuu relationship). Anyways, the dungeon is a place to temporarily keeps a suspect, and there are different cells depending on the different degrees of suspicion. Clifford and Y-so-Celius’s suspected knights were kept in a cell that’s for captivity so they weren’t tortured. She asked if the leaders of the enemies at the ball were there too, instead they passed by Y-so-Celius’s suspected knights in their cells who were polite to Octavia but were curious why she was there. She simply passed by the knights and her brothers and (FINALLY :blobsmilehappyeyes:) found Clifford in a cell at the back. She tried to get close to the iron bars of the cell but Hugh-pain-in-the-ass stopped with a hand in front (U S.O.B!!!!!! :blobtorch:). Then someone tells him not lower his arm, and he sulks, and Octavia looks at her older douche brother, so I’m assuming it’s him. He wants her to leave her black fan, and Octavia thinks that he thinks that she might pass on something to Clifford via the black fan. She consents and hands it over to Hugh-pain-in-the-ass. She approaches the cell closer, and Clifford, in the darkness, moved as well. She could clearly see Clifford now, and, on the spot, kneeled down on one knee. She tells him to stand up, and he looks up for a moment, and sees the Lishran flower in her hair that Edgar, the Queen, had earlier put in her hair, and Clifford stood up. She checks Clifford. When she saw him on the training ground, he was wearing his guard uniform, but now he was wearing a “rough outfit” of a black shirt and a pair of trousers. It’s the same attire that Y-so-Celius’s suspected knights wore. She then wonders if the shirt was tight since the shirt has only one button on the chest coming off and can also see the scars on his neck (I WANT TO SEEEEEEE!!! :blobnosebleed::blobnosebleed::blobnosebleed::blobnosebleed::blobnosebleed::blobpats::blobpats::blobpats: VOLUME 5, WHERE R U!!??!!!? :blobcat_hyper:). Clifford mutters that he was showing her an "Unsightly appearance" and buttoned his shirt tightly (nah, Clifford, that’s called fanservice :blobnosebleed:). Octavia thinks that he has a wild beast-like atmosphere :blobmelt:. She was slightly disappointed and doesn’t think he looks unsightly or sloppy (ig she was disappointed that she couldn’t see more idk :blob_blush:). She thought “What can you do with your face and physique?” and she “… wanted to see it a little more …….” (idk anymore lol :blobamused:). She’s impressed with Clifford as a knight, but she feels like he isn’t the type to serve people (and I would say she’s right becuz Octavia, as Clifford’s second master, was the first master Clifford chose himself, much to his disbelieve, implying the Clifford’s first master was not chosen out of his will so probably didn’t enjoy working for him). In the original novel, Hugh-pain-in-the-ass was also put in this prison but he, while innocent, mentally endured it. She was worried about Clifford, but he looked well. She thinks that Clifford seems to be able to break out of jail easily if he wanted to, and then wonders if there’s anyone who can physically harm Clifford (in the castle? hah!) She then asks, and I assume to him, that nothing’s terrible has happened to him, right?, like torture, torture and torture etc. (actually the translation gives me “--You haven't done anything terrible, right?" but this line doesn’t make any sense in this context so I’m guessing there’s a translation issue). He says there’s been no problem with a straight face, so it was okay, but Octavia was still a bit worried. Y-so-Celius butts in with “No harm done”, to which Octavia looks at Nothin-who-lost-against-Clifford-like-a-sore-loser, so Douche Y-so-Celius adds that Nothin-who-lost-against-Clifford-like-a-sore-loser ran ahead (to interrogate/torture Clifford) but torture is only possible if there is evidence that he’s the culprit (petition to place Nothin-who-lost-against-Clifford-like-a-sore-loser-and-tried-to-hurt-him-unjustly-just-because-he-is-a-sore-loser in that cell instead of Clifford :blobtorch::blobtorch::blobtorch::blobtorch::blobtorch::blobtorch::blobtorch::blobtorch::blobtorch::blobtorch:). Octavia decides to take Y-so-Celius’s word that Clifford wasn’t tortured. She then looks at Clifford and says that she has something important to tell him. She tells him the plans and asks him what he thinks about it. But she realizes that Clifford doesn’t have the right make a vote this time (since he’s an imprisoned suspect to her brother and there might a chance that Clifford won’t listen anyone but Octavia), so she rephrases that it’s an order, and he accepts since it’s her order (but I don’t think he likes it). As always, though she’s his master, she’s always reluctant in ordering him. She asks him that if he has something to say, say it. He looks at her and says “I will obey your orders, but I am the knight escort of His Highness Octavia. In the event of an emergency, I will not give priority to His Highness Cellius." (I love this man! :blobnom::blobnom::blobnom::blobnom::blobnom::blobnom::bloblove::bloblove::bloblove::bloblove::bloblove::bloblove:) She’s speechlessly confused and Y-so-Celius doesn’t mind if Clifford plays as his knight escort but chooses Octavia over him in a crisis. Clifford then asked if she was done with her conversation with him, and she was, but told him that Sil wanted to talk to him too and called Sil over who was quietly standing in a corner. And that’s where the updates end for now.
     
    Last edited: Mar 11, 2022
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  2. sovokop

    sovokop Shameless Clifford Simp

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    Another chapter of the novel was released, and it is so swwwweeeeeeeetttttttttttt :cookie::cookie::cookie::cookie::cookie::cookie::cookie:. The conversation between Octavia and Clifford is just awwwwwwwwwwwww :blobmelt::blobmelt::blobmelt::blobmelt::blobmelt::blobmelt::blobmelt:. I’ll be re-reading it 10 times but for now here’s the translation.

    So Sil comes forward and Clifford and Sil just slightly stand staring at each other. Her brother, Prince Douche doesn’t like it, but says nothing. According to Octavia’s monologue, “Sill has a hard face that feels expressionless, which is different from tension, and Clifford is expressionless ...”. She then feels like the two feel similar to one another in a sense that their appearance (of being calm and expressionless) or because they’re both "subordinates" (jyuu). She thinks, “If I was told that they were brothers now, I would believe them ...” (Could this be hinting at Clifford and Sil’s possible relation one another!? :blobfearful: Either they’re blood-related or kin-related by being associated with the same Jyuu clan. :hmm:I have a theory about this!!!!). Sill mutters "... It looks like it's no good", then shakes his head and bows his head to Clifford, telling him that he hoped he would remember something in the Sky Room after meeting Clifford (since, y’know, Clifford fought him when he was brainwashed). Octavia again feels like they look similar, though others didn’t to notice this. Sil bows to Clifford again and apologizes. This line is interesting by Octavia. “Clifford, who was expressionless, changed for a moment. Tremendous and unpleasant. It dwelled in his dark blue eyes.” First, this also supports the idea that Clifford hates Sil. And, two, CLIFFORD R U OK!?:blob_teary: Octavia unintendedly calls out Clifford’s name, who looks at her and responds to Sil. Actually, what he says is a bit confusing depending on the translating software. His line 「……バークス殿に謝られるようなことではありません」translates to either "... I'm not apologizing to Mr. Burks" (Google Translate) which can mean that he’s not gonna apologize to Sil for idk ig trying to injure him for attacking Octavia. Or it translates to “...... It's not like Lord Barks can apologize" (Bing Translate) which feels like he’s saying there’s nothing for Sil to apologize for since he was brainwashed, but I have a feeling there’s something else. The manga might visually give me more insight (visual ethnographic analysis~ woooo althoughimnotstudyingaculturebutCliffordismyculturesorrynotsorrynohatenobully :blob_blush:). Anyways, Sil is about to apologize again but stops and leaves. His Douche lover goes with him, but Octavia stays where she is (my girl don’t wanna leave her imprisoned hubby!). She begs her older brother to give her more time. He sighs and says Hugh-pain-in-the-ass remains. So the two lovers are finally gone (I have no idea what happened to Nothin’ Sore Loser lol. Guess he gone too lol :blobhighfive:).

    Octavia tells Hugh-pain-in-the-ass that she won’t do anything suspicious and stay away from them. He does so which is about one prison (cell?) away. And then Octavia gets closer to the bars of Clifford’s cell.:blob_blush:

    AND HERE’S WHERE WE GET TO THE JUICY PART! THEIR CONVERSATION!:blobparty::blobparty::blobparty::blobparty::blobparty:

    Octavia asks him if he’s okay and he says what is (the romanization is “Nani ga deshou”). I think Octavia sees answer blurred, like it didn’t answer her question idk. But she notes that “when Sil apologized, his attitude was obviously strange!” So I’m assuming she’s talking about the battle between Clifford and Sil since she says that it was Sil's psychology was normal (ig in terms of apologizing for attacking Octavia, which forced her to make her hand bleed to calm him down). She thinks that it’s wasn’t catastrophic since Clifford was there (marry him and your lover problems will be gone too :blobamused:. Hell, he’ll attack anyone that tries to hurt his waifu and the babies :blobthinkingsmirk:). Octavia was “grateful and wanted to apologize” (ig to him for her injuring her own hand), but Clifford was uncomfortable (I know he didn’t like Sil’s apology. Not sure about Octavia’s apology since she did apologize, albeit in her drowsiness, but he was seemingly happy with it). She wanted to, which I’m assuming, was about his unpleasant expression to Sil’s apology (in his defense, I would also have an unpleasant expression since Clifford is in prison because of him and he didn’t even apologize to him about THAT! :blobangery: JUSTICE FOR CLIFFORD!!!!:blobhero:).

    And it's not just unpleasant. ……pain. Even though it was only a moment, I felt something like sadness. What do you say ... The pain of digging up the wound that I felt when I remembered the fucking horrible memories?” I think she felt pain or sadness in Clifford (I thought it was anger tbh :blobowoevil:), and ig she compares it with the sadness she felt from the “fucking horrible memories” which was her death and meeting with jerk god who reincarnated her into this predicament (tbh, tho, totally different levels of pain since Octavia has something akin to PTSD when thinking about the “fucking horrible memories”. Clifford hasn’t shown something like that yet). Octavia hoped her assumption was her delusion.

    Clifford, unusually staring, then turned his eyes and mutters “…. I’ve shown something unsightly” (the translation for 「……お見苦しいものを、ご覧に入れました」 kept giving me “...... I've seen something unsightly” which makes no sense becauseeeee --->) Octavia replies that "It's not unsightly. Clifford, get closer to me." (GURRRLLLLL! blobmelt_thumbs :blobcheeky:)

    She then reaches out both of her hands through the gaps of the iron bars “and touched Clifford's cheeks so he couldn't escape” (OHMEGOSH!!!! :blobfearful: CHEEK TOUCHING! :sweating_profusely: ALREADY! AM I DREAMING!?!? :blobastonished: I NEED TO SEE IN THE MANGA!!!! :blobphone:). She again asks him are you really okay? She didn’t ask about the strange look he gave to Sil’s apology because it may be too extra (an ode to when Clifford patted Octavia’s head when she was crying, and he apologized that it was extra, but she appreciated it :blob_patpat:). However, Clifford hid her when she was crying so she wanted to return the favor. Clifford, while looking at her, nodded firmly and just said “Yes”. The “yes”, to Octavia, was real, meaning he wasn’t pretending to be okay. He added "It's okay", and smiled :blobnosebleed:. Octavia’s hands still had Clifford (well, his face:blobowoevil_horns:) captured. She notes that both his cheeks are sandwiched between her two hands (did you squish his cheeks tho, Octavia?:blobnom::blobhyperthink:). She becomes aware of it, but Clifford acts normally and, while looking at her left hand (the one that was injured), asked "When will this injury heal?" (he's still worried about it~ :blobmelt:) When he speaks, the feeling transfers through her hands :blobthinkingsmirk:.

    Octavia: "If you apply the medicine properly, it will be cured without it."
    Clifford: "... I don't think so. What is the specific number of days?"
    Octavia: "I don't even know that."
    Clifford: "I see."
    :bloblove:
    She wonders if he’s dissatisfied. “He thinks it should be cured soon.” She then drops her hands.

    Clifford: “Your Highness?"
    Octavia: "What is it?”
    Clifford: "Can you leave your right hand to me? - Just in case." ( :blob_plusone: )
    Octavia: " Just in case?"
    Clifford: "I can't protect you on your side, instead."

    I don’t know what his last statement meant exactly.

    Octavia pushes her right hand through the bars (the symbol of their Shirushi (master-subordinate) bond was on her left hand which is now injured. Symbolic?) Clifford crouched, hiding her from Hugh-pain-in-the-ass and kissing the back of her hand. The symbol appears then disappears. This allows Clifford to come to her if anything happens on the inspection day. She notes that “the "signs" are getting darker and stronger ...?” (I wonder if it relates to Clifford’s emotions or the seriousness of the command given :hmm:).

    Hugh-pain-in-the-ass calls her out, meaning time’s up :blobpopcorn_two:. She tells Clifford "The next time we meet will be the day of the inspection. Finally, is there anything?” She wants him to say anything because she wants him to prove his innocence by ensuring the inspection day goes smoothly. He immediately answers “No. Nothing at all”. But, to Octavia, “when you say that, it is human psychology that makes you want to bring out something!” She asks again "Any questions? Can you ask me anything?" and sees a little reaction from Clifford.

    Clifford: “………… Then”
    Octavia: “What?”
    Clifford: "It seems that the Lishran orchid flowers are displayed on your hair ..."

    (Clifford, you cutie! :aww:)

    She touches the accessory in her hair and explains that Edgar, Esphere’s male Queen, put it in. “It seems that good luck will come if you decorate your hair with fresh flowers from a man's hand .... You encouraged me." She wondered if Clifford knew about the story of good luck (I’m pretty sure he does since the maid who first explained about this legend that’s mostly popular among commoners right in front of Octavia and Clifford before Clifford put the flowers in her hair at the ball (that’s right Edgar, Clifford did it first :blobwoah:, and now he a jelly boi :blobmelt:).). She then asks him if it looked strange. She began to worry if it looked misaligned and maybe her maid, Sasha, and her brother didn’t tell her when she was feeling good. He tells her no, it suits her well :blobmelt:, which made her feel relieved.

    Clifford: “………… just?”
    Octavia: ………… just? (in her inner thoughts)

    (Lol, Clifford is so hesitant in this chapter but he’s still going for it :blobmelt:! I feel like there’s progress! And Octavia just parroting him in order for him to talk honestly :blobpopcorn:)

    Clifford looked confused at himself at his possible question and frowned little at himself which Octavia noted (much like the confusion of himself when he stroked her hair at the carriage when she was having a nightmare and at the ball when she was crying from her traumatic memories. Basically, his own confusion at his feelings of sympathy implies his lack of individuality as a person and a human).

    Then Hugh-pain-in-the-ass called out and shook his head with a sense of no more (Damn you, Hugh-pain-in-the-ass!!! :blobhero:). She wanted to extend it further but had to leave.

    That's it for the update.
     
    Last edited: Mar 13, 2022
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  3. sovokop

    sovokop Shameless Clifford Simp

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    I think Octavia's foster dad, the current king, Enoch, also hates the norms and history of Esphere.

    When he first said that he won't restrict Octavia's movement and choice, a lot of readers praised him, but I found him to still be sus.

    HOWEVER

    The red-haired guy who was with Sil said the current king actually hates Esphere and "he's doing something that weakens Esphere.", giving the Sazah war as an example (the same one Clifford was in that earned him the title of Ongarne). I still don't know why since Esphere did win, but ig it's a political war, since only the ones in high places benefit from war, but the question is what exactly did he do and why?

    Before this, in the translated chapters he did tell Octavia that he envied her for daring to insult the Sky God because he yielded. This implies he also dislikes the norms of Esphere and the royal family.

    But I thought that was a front since he said it to Octavia. I realized but he might actually hate Esphere since he told Clifford, and Clifford alone in this office, that "If our treasure were to be destroyed, it might bring about change in our stagnant Royal Family". The treasure in this case is Octavia, who is the supposed child-bearer for Esphere's future heir since Prince Douchebag is gay and doesn't want a consort, and Alexis isn't even considered. The fact that he himself, the king, is casually insulting the Royal family shows his dislike for the norms. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, the very line also shows him going with the norms of forcing the sisters and daughters of the royal family to become baby-machines and give up their kids. He himself adopted Octavia and Crown Prince Douchebag from his sisters. So he hates the norms but continues it because he gave up.
     
    Last edited: Jan 8, 2023
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  4. Hypothon

    Hypothon Semi-known disqus/NUF smut/shoujo commenter.

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    I would like to thank @sovokop for keeping this thread alive with his analysis, novel feedback and infos, and even spoilers. Much appreciated. Now I wish the novel and adaptation pick up the pace
     
  5. sovokop

    sovokop Shameless Clifford Simp

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    Thank you for your thank you. :blobmelt: I appreciate it, especially since it's just me posting.

    First, I'm happy that someone enjoys my analysis. I already know that I have posts going from pages 7 to 9, which is kinda ridiculous but you see, Clifford is my standard :aww:

    Second, I'm a she....

    I do agree the novel is super slow, however, the manga artist is kinda picking up the pace consistently (but they do have another new manga they're making that does take up their time I assume). They've already uploaded three chapters of volume 5 and I'm loving Clifford's expressions. They should be uploading the fourth chapter (or rather the fourth part of a chapter) sometime soon, since, and this is just my opinion, the artist kinda posts two parts within a short interval and then takes a longer interval to post another one. The third part just came out today.

    Also, in terms of English translations, two whole volumes have been completely translated (excluding the one-page side story chapter of volume 2), and the first chapter of volume 3 has been recently translated. If you ask me, the English scanlators need to pick up the pace (but I can't really blame at the same time since scanlation teams have a bunch of other mangas to translate, and for free, might I add, and this series has already been through a bunch of different scanlation teams already):blobcry:.
     
    Last edited: Mar 25, 2022
  6. sovokop

    sovokop Shameless Clifford Simp

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    So the translation of volume 3 has cleared up the conversation between Octavia, as Maki, and the jerk god when Octavia just died as Maki.

    Although it's already translated, earlier comments of this thread believed that Octavia as Maki asked the jerk God to transfer her to the BL world.

    Allow me to clarify that that is completely false. Octavia was not given a choice in her transmigration. She never wanted to be in the BL world, but if she refused, she'd be in a much worse world where she would definitely suffer.

    Octavia as Maki tried to save a guy from incoming truck-kun, but she and both the guy died. She then met jerk god who told her that the guy was supposed to die but not her. The jerk god explained that the guy was a societal parasite who was practically a NEET, a bother to his parents and blamed society for his shortcomings. The guy believed that he could be great if he was born in another world (if you ask me, he must've read a bunch of isekai novels). However, such people are usually transferred to cruel worlds and are tortured. This is because of the jerk god and his associates' "curiosity". It was the jerk god's associate who killed the guy, and the jerk god said that Octavia was just "unlucky". She begged to go back, and but jerk god was like you're equivalent to a "bug" to us and the world won't be affected if you're dead, so no. Then he bullshitted that he was being kind and was gonna give her a choice unlike any of his other associates, but he wasn't.

    First, the jerk god said he would send her to her favorite BL novel. If I may speak from a psychological point of view, that was not a choice, rather he gave a leading question/statement. Octavia as Maki, although a huge fujoshi, was not stupid. She knew the distinction between the real world and BL world and even told him that she wanted her main ship to be happy BUT IN THE BL WORLD. In other words, Octavia did not ask to transmigrate to the BL world. When she showed her reluctance, the jerk god told her that it's either the BL world or a really cruel world in which she would absolutely suffer. So between a BL world or a cruel world, and an uncompromising jerk god, what did you think she chose? The BL world, because she wouldn't need to suffer (and she would also have some knowledge of the BL novel as an avid reader).

    Our girl is a normal high school girl, with no superpower. She enjoys BL and talks about it with her older sister and her female friends. She isn't a super cunning girl, because she had a good life (from what I can tell). She has PTSD because of jerk god and the "fucking abominable memories" of him and her death, and has gone into depression because she feels caged and helpless at BL world's system of making her baby-maker. But she decides to do something nonetheless (and when she meets Rust which revives her "fucking abominable memories", added with Queen Idearia's murder and her erasure from history as Esphere's queen, is made her have an attack until silently soothed by Clifford (not sure if she told him, but she does note his warmth and his comfort as well as him lending her his chest to cry on and hiding her tears from other with appreciation).). Octavia is not an idiot but a victim of cruel happenings with limited power as a woman and princess in a male-dominated BL world. :blobcry:

    Tbh, I couldn't really stomach this chapter. Poor Octavia. Justice for Octavia. She deserves Clifford, who has completely given his life to serve Octavia (hence why he's best boi for her and in general), and Clifford needs to find jerk god and reenact exactly how he became Ongarne. :blobhero:

    So please don't think that Octavia was stupid to ask to transmigrate to the BL world. She wasn't given a choice by the jerk gods, and now has PTSD. But she's still doing her best. She needs love and support. :blobnobully:
     
    Last edited: Apr 12, 2022
  7. sovokop

    sovokop Shameless Clifford Simp

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    You know, in regards to my last post emphasizing on how Octavia is a victim of jerk gods' "curiosity", it becomes even better on the fact that Clifford is her ml. In one of my other previous posts, I've explained why I think Clifford is best ml in general (he cold-looking and hot yet so polite and warm and hella loyal from the get-go:blobnosebleed::blobnosebleed::blobnosebleed::blobnosebleed:).

    Octavia died a sudden and unexpected death that wasn't even arranged by the jerk gods, forced to leave her happy life and her family. To the jerk god, Octavia was "unlucky", a "bug" and her death wouldn't affect the world. That incident led her to have "fucking abominable memories". After being forced into the BL world, she was stuck in a male-dominated BL world in which almost all the men around her, including her escort guards (one included her first love/crush) who eventually leave her for their gay lovers, are gay; her older brother who used to like her as his sister was brainwashed and hated Octavia, forgetting all the good memories with her, as she is forced into a narrative of becoming a royal baby-maker in which she may be given away in a political marriage (so far, King is alright with her freedom to love who she wants) and forced to give up her baby because Douche loves his boyfriend but wants to be king. He thinks she wants then throne when clearly she doesn't, and Douche's people apparently treat her like crap.

    Really, Octavia doesn't deserve any of this. :blobcry:

    And this is why Clifford is perfect.

    Clifford, through his own will, has completely given himself in servitude to Octavia. Although Octavia rarely gives an order (unless it's a serious situation in which she needs to do so) and cares about Clifford's opinion and in general, Clifford wants to do what he can for her. He doesn't say that, BUT his actions speak louder than words. :bloblove: He was shocked at Octavia's crying face and, apart from hiding her crying face as she ordered, he darkly ask who made her cry and would hurt them if she wanted him to. He was reluctant to give his dagger to her during the battle with a hypnotized Sill, and became angry when she cut her hand. He became worried about her injured hand for so many chapters in the novel, even when he was imprisoned. He has told her many times that he will follow all her orders, and he's done that, even if it's an order he doesn't like (like giving her his dagger).

    That's not to say that Octavia doesn't have other allies.

    There are her maids who are happy that she has a reliable guard. As kind and great as they are, they can't really protect her against Espehere and the sky god. They're just maids so their power (whether social, influential, or physical) is low.

    There's Alex, but Alex also has limited power since he's the unfavored prince by the King. Not to mention, he has his own issues going on.

    There's Daddy Duke Nightfellow, but he's a duke, so he has his own responsibility, like trying to bring out the rats potentially dangering Espehere. This shows his responsibility to Esphere as a whole rather than to Octavia completely, although Duke is neutral in terms of politics so he hasn't really sided with CP Douche, unlike his son. Plus, he has a family of his own.

    Clifford has completely given himself to her. If she tells him to murder (which she won't. I assure you), he'll do it. The others above wouldn't and/or couldn't. He does have an adopted family, but he doesn't seem to care since he doesn't talk about them (he's only referred to them once in the novel). In the two manga scenes which has Clifford's thoughts, Octavia is in them both (the first time is a flashback with the king; the second time is when he's changing into his white clothes). In all of his P.O.V.s in the novel, Octavia definitely occupies his thoughts. Even when he's talking to someone, his mind drifts to Octavia. :bloblove: . In other words, Octavia is the only person he thinks and cares about, both as her bounded servant and genuinely as a person (which he has yet to realize). He's someone Octavia can open up to, as Daddy Duke himself said that she hoped she would tell her problems to someone (meaning she can't be open with the Duke even though she admires him). This is also reflected when Octavia said "Up until now, all of my guards have quit after they found their cherished one. But now I can believe that I am Clifford's number one priority. ... I've long forgotten what it's like to have a reliable guard...".

    The three above also are part of a kingdom that worships the sky god. Clifford might act like he respects the sky god, but he doesn't really like the sky god, evidenced by him being mad when Octavia reasoned that she chose Clifford as her escort guard because it was an order from the heavens, a typical idiom in Esphere. He also calls Esphere a "distorted kingdom", further highlighting that he doesn't care about Esphere's social norm. As the princess's escort guard in Esphere, his awareness of the norms is simply a matter of etiquette. Clifford was originally from Tahren, so he hasn't internalized Espere's social norms like the ones born in the country, so he can be critical of the kingdom.

    That's why he's perfect. As Ongarne, the hellish devil in the Sazah religion, he's perfect. His indifference to Esphere and the sky god and complete loyalty to Octavia shows that he is by her side. This means he would be with her in struggle in Epshere as its princess and her "fucking abominable memories" against the jerk god. He doesn't fear any superstition (as far as I know) and doesn't fear the sky god. Unlike her previous escort guards, he won't leave her. His dislike for the sky god makes me think he won't allow himself to be hypnotized. I'm hoping for a showdown between jerk god and Clifford for hurting Octavia.

    Not to mention, he's a commoner who's titled as the fearsome Ongarne. The Royal family wouldn't be hoping she gets a guy who is not a noble (Douche's boyfriend is the adopted son of a baron and the male queen used to be a rich merchant), though he is the adopted son of the Alderton Countdom, and is considered as part of the Countdom, but the Alderton name has a bad reputation among the aristocracy, so it's perfect. Plus, he's given the title of the devil because of what he did in the war, and the superstitious-believing Esphere population would be horrified. In fact, at the ball, after Octavia and Clifford go off to find Rust, Derek and Sill overhear people's gossip. This included "Why would Her Highness be with a lowly former commoner-". (Interestingly, it was the male aristocrats who were gossiping about this. The women aristocrats were more excited about who Octavia's mysterious lover was. So male aristocrats hatin' on my boi). Therefore, marrying Clifford would be a great slap to all of them :blobowoevil_horns: Make that wedding happen



    EDIT: I forgot to add that in the manga, visually speaking, after Octavia has a good cry at the ball and goes to redo her make up by her maids, she realized that she lost her hair clip (she dropped it after running away from Rust for the first time as her PTSD was triggered). So she suggested the Lishran flowers that were planted outside the building of the ball. She recalls in her previous life, as Maki, her older sister used to put flowers in her hair. After a few minor scenes when Clifford comes back in his white suit and one of her maids told about the commoner legend of a man putting a flower in his lover's hair. Clifford then puts a flower in her hair. This is the second time he's done it, but I can't help but feel like Clifford is subtly a form of home (as much as he is a form of support to her) to Octavia as Maki when she was alive because that was her normal life. Loving BL (as fiction) and spending time with her older sister. Him putting flowers in her hair a bit after she remembered her older sister putting flowers in her hair is just awwww to me. It may be nothing symbolically but I can't help but feel the Clifford x Octavia from this~~~~

    Actually, in his P.O.V.s in the novel, after Clifford puts a Lishran flower in her hair for the first time in the royal garden, she has a nostalgic memory of her older sister putting flowers in her hair as Maki. Another implication of Clifford being like home.
     
    Last edited: Jun 12, 2022
  8. sovokop

    sovokop Shameless Clifford Simp

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    So you know when earlier comments thought that Clifford was future Sil because they kinda looked the same, but then you look at their color palette and you realize they're not the same at all.

    BUT THEN THE LATEST CHAPTER SPILLED SOME POSSIBLE TEA OF CLIFFORD AND SIL BEING POSSIBLY RELATED!

    Octavia herself in the latest chapter believed that they kinda looked the same, and had somewhat of the same expressionless face. This might explain why readers earlier thought Clifford was future Sil. Take away the color palette, they look similar.

    [​IMG]
    https://imgur.com/MnOs42i

    Before this scene, let us now take a look at the Shirushi bond. The Shirushi bond is the Shuu-jyuu (Master-servant) relationship. The Shirushi symbol can be seen on Octavia's hand. In the carriage scene, when Sil shows her the ring that his biological parents left him, she notices the Shirushi symbol on it. This maintains the hypothesis that there is a connection between Sil and the jyuu clan, and, in turn, with Clifford.

    Then we look at Sil himself. In updated chapters, there is a line "―― Clifford is a "subordinate". And Sill-sama is likely too...." (――クリフォードは『従』。そしてシル様も、十中八九……。―― Kurifōdo wa “ ju ”. Soshite Shiru-sama mo, jutchūhakku).

    Before I go on ....

    Here's a little Japanese linguism. So the translation, particularly Google Translate, says "And Sill-sama, too", emphasizing a hundred percent accuracy in the claim. However, upon a closer inspection, the Japanese word jutchūhakku (十中八九), which should have been translated for "too", according to Google Translate, called refers to "likely" or an 80-90 percent accuracy. Bing Translate actually translates the whole phrase as "And, Sill is also in all likelihood" (but Bing Translate did not pick up the honorific "-sama" like Google Translate did, as Octavia usually refers to Sil as Sil-sama).

    Continuing on, the phrase "―― Clifford is a "subordinate". And Sill-sama is likely too...." shows a suggestion by Octavia that perhaps Sil is also a member of the jyuu clan, but doesn't know his real heritage since he's the adopted son of a baron. That's why it's not a 100% certain that he is a member of the jyuu clan.

    Actually, in the novel, after Octavia cuts her hand to calm hypnotized Sil, she goes:

    "My 'Lord', ... why?"
    Then he
    [Sill] muttered.
    Muttering, like appealing.
    …………"Lord"? Sill-sama, did you say "lord"?

    Sill uses 『主』. While the romaji translation for this word is "nushi", which also means lord, the same word, specifically in brackets, is also used for Shuu which also means lord in this series. This itself acts as a shred of evidence, mostly to Octavia, of Sill possibly being a member of the jyuu clan.

    Taking everything into account, and assuming that Sill is indeed a member of the jyuu clan, this might mean that Clifford and Sil are part of the same clan. They may also be blood-related because of their similar appearances, such as siblings, half-siblings, cousins, etc, or something else that implicates a possible blood relation between the two. Because Sill doesn't know his heritage as a possible member of the jyuu clan, he obviously wouldn't know about the Shirushi bond.



    I wonder if there is some bad blood (pun not intended) from Clifford to Sil, or between their families/parents, since Clifford was indifferent to Sill from the start. His apology to Sil in the carriage when he said that he never met Sil before wasn't heartfelt (but I think he would've been the same to anyone else too). And after Octavia's hand injury for Sil, he disliked him even more (that's what I think at least, but he's doing well to hide it since he's still indifferently "polite" to him). Or Clifford simply doesn't care about Sill, which makes me wonder if Clifford cares about his clan. i mean, he just states about himself as a "jyuu" as a matter-of-factly, like he can't lie to his master (I still find that sus, sorry Cliffy bby i still love u tho). But, so far, he hasn't shown any form of shame or hatred to the jyuu clan if he's openly admitting (to Octavia since he thinks she's worthy to be his master) that he's part of the "jyuu" clan.
     
    Last edited: Apr 12, 2022
  9. sovokop

    sovokop Shameless Clifford Simp

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    There's a scene I want to talk about for fun. :aww: Nothing symbolic, just my own delusion. :blobmelt::blobsmilehappyeyes::blobmelt::blobsmilehappyeyes::blobmelt:

    So when the readers are first introduced to Alex in the training ground in the manga, Alex whispers to Octavia about Clifford, "Elder sister... That person, he didn't conceal his presence today, huh?" To which Octavia just goes (in her head), "Eh? Is that so?" This is similar to what happened in the novel. Octavia's first real interaction with Clifford, before knowing his name, was just after she lies to Douchebag and his boyfriend that she has a lover when he taunts her that she's single so she doesn't know true love (tbh I hate all the scenes that include him).

    In the manga, she trips and Clifford elegantly catches her, and then she notices him, but in the novel, there's no such scene. According to the novel translation, as she's trying to find a fake lover, she tells the escort behind her that she's going to the training ground, and he replies yes with a small bow. She then notices him because he kills his presence and is like air, so she sometimes forgets that she has an escort near her. In both the manga and novel, she calls him out "You..." but leaves him kinda hanging because she can't have her escort guard as her potential lover because they all leave when they find male lovers, but can't really leave him awkwardly hanging so she tells him to continue protecting her.

    What I wanna know, reiterating Alex's question, when did Clifford decide to not kill his presence? :blobthinkingsmirk: Since he was there when Octavia lied that she has a lover, and he was revealed just afterward, did he reveal his presence so that waifu can notice him? :aww:I need that lover route. :blobcat_hyper::blobcat_hyper::blobcat_hyper::blobcat_hyper:
     
  10. sovokop

    sovokop Shameless Clifford Simp

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    I want to dissect the scene when the drug was injected into Sil by the enemies and its relation to the hooded guy.

    I've already established the possibility of the importance of the hooded figure who may be a warrior of the jyuu clan. So, when Sill is drugged by the enemies, he (and we, as readers, as well) see the image of the hooded figure kneeling and holding the hand of the former Queen Idearia in the manga. The words "『My Lord』" are written in this particular scene. After Octavia's uses her Royal blood to calm him down, he says to her, just before he faints, "My 'Lord', ... why?" This makes me think if Sill was injected with something that included the hooded figure's memories. Seem a little far-fetched, and I don't know if such technology is existent in this world, since there are various beliefs in Esphere which are simply superstitious. We know there's the existence of the (jerk) god and various other such beings since he did confirm of his associates who are like him and more sadist. So I don't have the line between the possible and the impossible (because I have analyzed other aspects which are impossible). But the leader of the enemies said, "It’s confirmation (this part is in the manga only). It's not poison. You’ll lose consciousness for a while." I think there is a chance that he may have wanted to confirm if Sil was a member of the jyuu clan (I need to check the leader's convo with Octavia for a better understanding), which may support the drug being related to the hooded figure in some way or something. These memories or something related to the jyuu clan would awaken Sill's inner instincts as a jyuu warrior. After being injected and seeing the hooded figure and the former queen, he says "...... Do I know [her?]? No, I don't know”. I was a bit confused about this, but I think it may be him getting a slight awareness of the hooded guy, or the drug and ig his own lack of understanding may just be confusing him. Again, seems a little far-fetched. Though, Sill is actually strong and good at fighting (but never as good as my baby Clifford).

    EDIT:
    In Clifford's P.O.V., there's a line "And the memories inherited by the 'Jyuus' and engraved within them steered them towards rejecting him [Sill]." This implies memories are inherited by the Jyuus. So would the drug in fact hold those memories, particularly of the hooded guy's? I wonder if that's how they get their memories via injections? :hmm:

    Plus, the setting was Queen Idearia's tomb, the same queen to which the hooded guy would show up next to. Interestingly, in the manga, when Octavia reads out the queen's name on her tomb, Sill attacks (but that may just be coincidental, as well).

    If there are any mistakes when the series updates, I'll just remove it, so that no false information/analysis can confuse the reader.
     
    Last edited: Apr 28, 2022
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  11. sovokop

    sovokop Shameless Clifford Simp

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    Here's a short excerpt of the details of Clifford and Octavia's conversation when Octavia and company go through a tunnel and Octavia wonders what she should do if there’s going to be a battle against the enemies. She looks at Clifford and wonders if she should ask for instructions in case of an emergency. As she’s wondering, Clifford turns his head to her and asks;

    Clifford: "--Is there something wrong?"
    Octavia: "Is it okay to talk to you now? When will the crooks appear?"
    Clifford: "No problem. What do you want to talk to me about?"
    Octavia: "... I wanted to ask how Clifford would find it easier to fight. I won’t be able to fight, will I?"

    She wanted to lessen the burden because she knows she can’t fight. However, Clifford delivered an unexpected answer to her expectations.

    Clifford: "Then, just like when you were being escorted. Your Highness should do as you please."
    Octavia: “… As I please?”
    Clifford: “Yes.”
    Octavia: “For example, what if I headed towards the enemy? Wouldn't you be in trouble?" (Not that she would)
    Clifford: "Before that, I'll defeat the enemy. Your Highness doesn't have to match me. I'll fight for Your Highness. So, do as you like. Of course, if you give me instructions, that's what I'll follow." :bloblove:
    Octavia: "You’re telling me to use you effectively, right?" :blobthinkingsmirk:

    This made a small smile form on Clifford's mouth.
     
    Last edited: Apr 4, 2022
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  12. sovokop

    sovokop Shameless Clifford Simp

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    In the tunnel, after some scenes (which I couldn’t accurately understand), Derek asks Octavia if it’s true that a ‘subordinate’ (jyuu) is involved here, to which she says that it’s according to Rust, so he can believe it if he wants to or not. He then asks if her involved with the “subordinate", and her mind goes to Sill’s ring and the Shirushi pattern on it. He then asks, apart from Rust’s words, does Octavia have any sufficient grounds to believed that ‘subordinates’ are involved. She wonders if Derek has any doubts about the importance to whether or not "subordinates" are aiming for Sil from the beginning. So, she asks if he knows anything about the "subordinates", which he just replies "Saza Shinto ... No". He spun his words as if he had reconsidered what to answer. Octavia wondered how the Saza Shinto religion and the "subordinates" are connected, and couldn’t see a connection in the original “King of Nobility” novel, nor in her new life as Princess Octavia.

    Derek then says that if he can confirm it, he’ll tell her soon. She just nods.

    From Octavia’s mouth, she spills "Why the 'subordinates'?" which catches Rust’s attention. Octavia then says, "The throne gimmick, this secret passage ... Why did the 'subordinates' know these things?" She thinks that maybe her father, the king, and Duke of Nightfellow, Derek’s dad knew this already. Then Alex's face came to her mind, but she shook it away. Rust theorizes that maybe it’s because the 'subordinates' served the former King Us. He’s heard that 'subordinates' have a strong sense of companionship and the information was shared and for some reason, it was passed down to the present era. Octavia was skeptical and said that “There is no evidence that the 'subordinates' served King Us and were heavily used. King Us' attitude toward the 'subordinates' would be the opposite."

    Octavia has read the biographical story of King Us and other related books to him. She couldn't agree with Rust's theory. The service of "subordinate" means that King Us was the "lord". But she doesn’t that’s the case.

    There are “two opposite evaluations of King Us”.

    In the early days of the coronation, there is a myth that King Us' minister had a "subordinate" and King Us used it heavily. In most cases, the "subordinate" served the so-called legendary kings and heroes in posterity. Noth just in Esphere. Even the old hero Tan of neighboring country Kangina, which was translated by Sisi, has an unnamed mysterious "subordinate" who played an active role.

    HOWEVER

    Except for the early days, that fighting ability became a threat and the existence of "subordinates" itself was avoided. This is not just a biography, but multiple records have similar descriptions. So, it's highly credible.

    These “two opposite evaluations” of him were “caused by the difference between when he was the new King of Espehere and after growing up as a king.”

    But then Octavia had a thought that it's weird that this was done by one person. She asked herself “What if they were two? What if you were forced to combine what was evaluated by different people into one?” Who? “The Queen who was the sister of King Us and King Us. Then, if this is true, then the value and use of the "subordinates" in the early days, it was during the Queen's reign. Does that mean that the "subordinates" were serving the Queen?” (AAANNDDD another case in point of the hooded figure and the former Queen’s shuu-jyuu (master-servant) relationship :blobphone:).

    Rust snaps Octavia back to reality with his words "--It seems that Her Highness says that King Us, who used to use the "subordinates" in the early days, began to dislike the "subordinates" at a certain time." She questioned "A certain time?" He replies, "Didn't King Us change drastically after being rebelled by Count Alderton? ... Oh, by the way, is the escort knight of His Highness's with Count Alderton? It's an interesting sign." (Leave Clifford alone! :blob_thor: He’s innocent! :blobnobully::blobnobully::blobnobully:) Octavia recounts Esphere’s history that immediately after King Us took the throne, someone rebelled against him “... A person who appears as the first villain in the story of King Us” and that was Count Alderton. Octavia says that the rebellion ended with five lines but the praise of King Us, who gave a generous disposition to the mastermind who attempted to seize the throne after that, was endlessly long. (This says a lot about Esphere, really. :blobexpressionless:) Rust then asks her, "Why did Her Highness choose the Knight of Escort from Count Alderton, who had been treated coldly in closely serving the royal family because of his past work?"

    Octavia tried to search for an answer. She recalls that Alderton was strong (or brave) and that his only child (or children) were female(s). She kept thinking and simply recalled when Alex was interested in hearing Clifford's name, but she believed that it’s not like the current Count Alderton or Clifford did anything (in regards to the past rebellion, I assume). She simply says if it’s something that he would to ask, as if the Count Alderton's family would take vengeance on the royal family afterwards (I’m hoping that’s what she means). He says that apart from lower aristocrats like him, there are many people who were surprised, especially the older aristocrats. (In my culture, there’s a saying “What will people say” to which I would say “To hell with it!!!!” Clifford has already mastered the art of not giving a fuck with the many subtle insults given to him). Then they ask for Derek’s opinion and he says "I don't think the knight of Octavia's guard is from the Earl of Alderton. Why don't you turn the past and the present equal?" She was relieved but then had another fear of her older brother, since she remembers, during her dance with him, that Derek said that Douche had a bad impression of Clifford. But Derek says that he thinks the same as him and doesn’t care that he’s from the Count of Alderton (and, surprisingly enough, I must say he’s right. He dislikes Clifford because he’s Ongarne. His name as Alderton never came up during his and Derek’s convo, only that he’s the dangerously strong Ongarne).

    As they were moving, something alerted Clifford and moved in front of Octavia. There were six armed men lying down in the hall. There weren’t dead, apparently, and there was no blood. They were the enemies after Sil. I think Clifford was examining the enemies (he had a habit of checking people’s weapons first). In the novel, Clifford, I think, “couldn't just leave the fake security of "The Sky" room, even when he picked up his weapon and took steps to keep him from moving. There was no tool that could be used as a restraint, so they used the uniforms they wore to stuff the fabric in their mouths and tie their wrists. Derek, who helped Clifford, seems to be accustomed to it.” So, Derek helped Clifford. However, in the manga, Derek went to examine the lying enemies and was already tearing their shirts to make a make-shift restraint. Clifford was still standing in front of Octavia, until Octavia told Clifford to Derek, which he did. So, here, Clifford, at the orders of Octavia, helped Derek.

    Rust then says that wouldn't it be more secure for Her Highness Octavia if he left it to the two of them, to which Octavia thinks he hasn’t helped in restraining the fake security this time either. A bit of scene later, Octavia asks if it’s possible that Sill defeated these people, but Derek’s convinced that he “couldn't find even a single drop of bloodstains, which means that Sill was overwhelmed so quickly that he couldn't resist multiple opponents."

    She then asks if Clifford’s noticed something. Clifford, who was on one knee next to a fallen enemy, stood up and had unsheathed an enemy’s longsword in his hand. He said that all six enemies have weapons from Tahren and are seemingly suitable users because of their physique. Nonetheless, everyone has been made unrecoverable(?) without any escape, only in this area, and wonders if the assailant is a "subordinate"? Derek says that he’s heard that "subordinates" don’t condone these things. Clifford, as he puts the sword back in its sheath, just mockingly smiles that it must be some sweet “subordinate” (jyuu). :blobnosebleed:
     
    Last edited: Apr 4, 2022
  13. sovokop

    sovokop Shameless Clifford Simp

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    Octavia wonders if there is a "subordinate" who fights in a way that doesn’t take the life of the other party even if it becomes disadvantageous to them. She then thought that Clifford might know such a "subordinate". She recalls hearing that "subordinates" have a strong sense of companionship (Rust said that), but, even if that’s the case, Clifford is more of a lone wolf (yeahhh but like, to you, he’s like a loyal dog. Don’t believe me, look at Chapter 5). She knows that she’s the only one who knows that Clifford is a "subordinate" (well, I know his first master knows, assuming he/she may still be alive).

    She has some thoughts about the “subordinates”, and then looks up at Clifford’s dark blue eyes. She opens her mouth to Clifford, who looked back at her, and “returned to [her]”.

    Don't do it. It is a secret that we are "master" and "subordinate". In front of Rust and Derek, Clifford cannot be considered a "subordinate”.

    This wasn’t in-between quotation marks, so I’m not sure if Clifford told her this, or he signaled her this line, or if that’s what Octavia inferred from the look he returned to her. In the manga, she’s just looking at Clifford’s back while she’s monologuing her thoughts. He didn’t look at her, so her inner thought, including this line was said by her to herself (rather than him to her).

    Anyways, Octavia wonder who defeated fallen enemies on the ground. Derek asks Rust "How many 'subordinates' are there? Is it a different person from the 'subordinates' that aim at Sill? Is it the same person?" Rust shrugs and says he thinks that it's the escort knight’s (aka Clifford) opinion the assailants are 'subordinates', and asks if they should ask the fallen enemies on the ground. But Derek shook his head at the idea, saying they won’t talk so easily, and it would take too long, at least a few days, to cross-examine. So Rust asks, "Why do you say so?", then Derek touches his left neck and says that everyone had a peculiar tattoo on their left necks part. “Those who carved that tattoo have something in common. They endure torture and aim for the opportunity to commit suicide rather than spit out information."

    Octavia, I think, then looks at one of their necks and sees that what Derek said is true after seeing a geometric pattern. She then remembers the sub-characters of the original ‘King of Nobility’ novel. The pattern was used for the cover design of the volume, and she remembered it because of it looked cool. She then unintentionally spills out "The tattoo of Saza Shinto religion?" which made all eyes turn to her. Derek made a suspicious face and said "-That's right. The elite believers of Saza Shinto have a tattoo on their neck, which is a proof of selection. They are well-trained and willing to die, so they’re difficult to handle. But ... I didn’t know that Your Highness Octavia knew that it is the crest of Saza Shinto religion, because it’s not the same tattoo normally used in Saza Shinto religion." She can’t tell him that’s it’s from the original “King of Nobility” BL novel. She wasn’t asked face-to-face, so she pretended to ignore that question and says that yeah, it would be hard to hear from the elite Saza Shinto soldiers and didn’t want to get herself into trouble. She then calls for Clifford, and tells him take away the fallen enemies’ weapons and restrain them before they wake up. Octavia prioritizes rescuing Sil over the debate if a “subordinate” attacked the fallen enemies. Clifford complies and begins to do what she ordered, and Derek helps him out.

    Tbh, this is a bit weird. In the manga, Derek started restraining the fallen enemies (by tearing of their shirts to make a make-shift rope), and Octavia ordered Clifford to help him. However, here, Octavia orders Clifford to restrain them and Derek joined in. Not sure why the manga artist when in this direction. In fact, the previous chapter of Clifford examining their swords happens before this scene, but in the manga, he examines it after restraining them.

    Clifford reports to Octavia "Restraining is complete", and he restrained them quickly. Rust then tells them to hurry to Sil, but Octavia stops him before he takes the lead again (he was guiding them so he was in the front position). She takes on the longswords of the fallen enemies, I think the one already in Clifford’s hand. In the manga, she orders Clifford to give it to her. They’re all surprised, including Clifford, but he still gives her sword with both of his hands. Derek voiced his confusion, while Rust asks if she’s intending to fight the ‘subordinates’ herself. She basically tells him no, but you will and tries to hand him the sword. He asks her if she forget what he did in the garden (when he used the point part of his mask in trying to stab her). She replies that he didn’t mean to hurt her, and she knows that she can’t fight but he can so he should be able to fight with a weapon. She remembers that in the original “King of Nobility” novel, he was as strong as her older brother (but neither can ever be as strong as my baby Clifford :cookie:). And if he did try to attack her, there’s Clifford to stop him (again) and there’s also Derek (Clifford is all you need, gurl. Trust me :aww:). She then tells him that it will less of a burden for Clifford and Derek in the fight and Rust will also have the means to protect himself; his mask would only be effective against her (ig she means that his pointy mask isn’t going to help him defeat the “subordinates”). She asks if he doesn’t want the weapon, but he says he does and finally takes it. He notes that it's a longsword from Tahren, and she asks if he’s dissatisfied, but he denies that and thanks her for her kindness and will try not to lose the weapon.

    Then they went on again.

    It was extremely quiet. And when turned the aisle, it suddenly got brighter, and Octavia had to adjust her eyes. She noticed that there the fire torches lit up on the walls at both ends. From the length of the torch, she judged that it hasn’t been long since it was lit.

    There was one door at the back of the aisle, and she got a strange sense of déjà vu, muttering out loud Sky Room. Because the novel translation was strange, in the manga, Octavia asks Rust if this is another Sky Room, and he tells her this is the real Sky Room, the one that the former King Us loved most, which is hidden. In the novel, Alex's face came to Octavia’s mind, in which he told her not go to Sky Room. She then wondered if the Sky Room he meant was probably the other place that is the real Sky Room.
     
  14. sovokop

    sovokop Shameless Clifford Simp

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    Finally got around to translating when Octavia meets the enemies. Also, the enemies, in Japanese, are called kusemono (曲者) in the series, which means ruffians, villain, knave, thief and suspicious fellow.


    So, in the manga, when Octavia and company enter the Sky Room, the enemies are fighting each other. Her first thought is how to play the role of the princess. She gets their attention by saying good day, and says “Then the “obey”?” (それから『従』の方? Sorekara “jyuu” No kata) which I think is a question asking if they’re Jyuu members. The enemies stop fighting and look at her. She then introduces herself as the first princess of Esphere and asks if they’re willing to talk to her (I can sense the sarcasm XD). One of the enemies says “… The first princess. Is this real?” She then retorts if he thinks that’s fake as she wonders if he’s the leader. She then confirms that she is the only first princess who has two sky room (?) (sorry, but translation issues. There might be two sky rooms since Octavia and Alexis as kids did go to another sky room that looked different than this sky room and I think Octavia notes that the halls of that sky room were messy and unclean while the halls of this sky room was super clean). Clifford then stands in front of her as there’s slight movement from another enemy. He tried to attack but the leader immediately told him to stop. He then tells Octavia that doesn't remember inviting you here, to which she replies that "It did a bad thing. If you were looking for someone, you would be in a place like this" (「それは悪いことをしたわ。人を捜していたら、このような場所に」 `Sore wa warui koto o shita wa. Hito o sagashite itara, kono yōna basho ni'). He just replies "A person", which means that he was looking for a person. Octavia says that it’s Sil Burks, showing she already knows. She trying to “one cushion before going into full-scale combat” whatever that means, but she trying to negotiate as the princess with the power of status (and she does have that, I assure you, since she used her scene to socially annihilate one of Alex’s molester and help a guy and girl get engaged after getting rid of the guy’s rival threatening their love). To her, “In negotiations, it is more likely that a person with a high status will have an ear to hear!” and recalls the tale of the former King Us and the hero Tan of Kanguina and feels that “Pre-war negotiations are too important. The scale is different, but the situation is the same”. She wants to settle if peacefully, but if she can’t, she can still try to infer the enemy's situation from negotiations. The leader then asks why she, the first princess, would come all the way to search for an individual, to which Octavia replies that it’s because Sill is the beloved lover of her brother, the first prince Serius, and that alone is the reason she’s looking for him. As she talks, she looks around the room to find Sill, and sees his blue hair. She was worried if he was injured.

    Again, the other enemy tries to get ready to attack and Clifford gets ready too. But the leader stops him again and says “Is that action the life of your "lord"?” (その行動も お前の『主』の 命か? Sono kōdō mo omaeno “omo” no inochi ka?) (EDIT: I think he means if his action derives from the order of his master, which is Lilishana in this case.). I’m unsure what that means. However, notices the word that he used of lord and wonders if it’s the same lord in Shuu-Jyuu relations, thus wondering if the enemy is a Jyuu member. The guy replies that “It's not the order of his 'lord'” and the leader goes that's right. And the guy continues “But the royal family of Esphere…." Something tells me he hates the Royal family, but I’m facing translation issues. Meanwhile, Octavia recalls the two of them were fighting before she entered the sky room. She wonders if perhaps he didn’t kill the elite soldiers in the hall and maybe he’s a "subordinate" too. She found it strange that one of the enemies tried to attack her twice but the other one, the leader, stopped him twice.

    Derek then whispers to Octavia of the red-headed youth (who’s Daddy Duke’s spy and led Sil to the enemies to be bait). Octavia sees the guy and remembers him being the guy with the mask who asked Clifford for a dance.

    The enemy leader tells the other enemy "I don't know how you feel. For now, stay calm until we’re done" And the guy lowered his sword. The leader then asked Octavia what she wanted from them. She told him that she hoped that they will release Sill and surrender. The guy pretended to laugh as he said "Surrender? Us?”, then continued "You are the one who should walk away. I’m not interested in royalty. If you don't do anything extra, there’s no reason for you to die."

    Octavia: "--Your aim is only Sill?"

    Leader: "That's right."

    Octavia: "Why are you aiming for Sill? And what did you do [to him?]?"

    Leader: "... He's still alive"

    Octavia: "Do you mean you're not going to hurt Sill?"

    Leader: "... First princess. It is wise for you to return to where you should be."

    Octavia: "You should think about what it means of me being here. Do you think that I, the first princess, would enter into enemy territory with a small number of people without any preparation?" (in her inner thoughts: I entered with a small number of people without any preparation! (LOL))

    Leader: “…………

    Octavia: "In a little while, a large number of soldiers will rush into this 'sky room'. No matter how many 'subordinates' there are, can you defeat the power of numbers? I am here to give you a grateful opportunity. To give you the opportunity to surrender."

    Leader: "Bullshit! The princess has no authority to move soldiers."

    Octavia: (in her inner thoughts: Exactly!)

    Octavia tried to search for an answer and then saw the red-headed youth, Duke’s ally. She then tells the leader that if they’re private aristocratic soldiers, she can move them. The leader then sees Derek and asks if they’re Nightfellow’s private knights. She asks if he understood, and he quietly said he did, and exclaims to the others not to let their guards down. He tells Octavia "--It seems that there was a swearing because of 'obedience'. I was despising you." (「――『従』ゆえの驕りがあったようだ。貴女を侮っていた」 `――“ Jyuu ”-Yue no ogori ga atta yōda. Kijo o anadotte ita')

    He orders the other enemy (one who tried to attack twice) to lend him a hand, which he nods to. Octavia sees negotiations have failed. Derek says that they’re coming to which Rust says "Without doubt, I promise you the work of Her Highness for the Tarhen weapons, the next Duke." (I have no idea what this means.) Octavia tells Clifford that she’s going to Sill to which he tells her leave it to him (in the manga he’s darkly happy. Bby gonna fight the baddies lol). He blocks the other enemy (one who tried to attack twice) and he exclaimed in surprise “you…..?” (Yo, do you know Clifford!?!?!?!?)

    She then runs to Sil as Clifford blocks all attacks. She meets up with Sil and see Idearia’s tomb, and then Sil wakes up hypnotized and ready to attack.



    The scene above shows that Octavia essentially exercised soft power. She used negotiation, bluffing and her status against the enemies. With a bit of oomph and training, my gurl can even take down Celius-ly-A-Douchebag (with some motivation).
     
    Last edited: Apr 28, 2022
  15. sovokop

    sovokop Shameless Clifford Simp

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    In the manga, during the fight, leader of the enemies tries to attack Sil, and other enemy (one who nearly tried to attack Octavia twice during negotiations) gets in the way and stops the leader from attacking Sil. He yells at him “You! You’re still getting in my way!” (Note: the Japanese letters きさま (kisama) can mean you or you bastard. Either it’s not nice to say, if you’ve seen a ton of (subbed) anime, then you know.)

    This explains why they were fighting before Octavia and company entered the sky room.

    [​IMG]
     
  16. renuac

    renuac Well-Known Member

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    Volume 4 of the novel will come out on 15th May. Unfortunately, it's switching to digital only format, which usually means (far) fewer illustrations, but hopefully we'll still get some newly-written chapters or short extras (and if nothing else, we'll hopefully get a chapter update on Syoustesu).
     
  17. sovokop

    sovokop Shameless Clifford Simp

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    Wouldn't vol. 4 of the novel comprise of the chapters already released after vol. 3 on Syoustesu? That's what they did with the manga. The only thing missing mainly is the cover of vol. 4 of the novel. But I do hope you're right about a new chapter or two being released. Not sure about the short stories. I hope they're uploaded on Syoustesu. I still can't find "The world seen by the messenger of Ongarne" (オンガルヌの使者』が見る世界) of the series.
     
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  18. renuac

    renuac Well-Known Member

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    They would yes. What I meant by newly-written chapters were the Ongarn/Clifford POV chapters which get written for the novel version. The digital version of volume 3 also came with that short story featuring Guy, so I'm hoping vol.4 does something similar.
     
  19. sovokop

    sovokop Shameless Clifford Simp

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    Yessss! I need Clifford's P.O.V.! And I hope it's uploaded online.
     
  20. renuac

    renuac Well-Known Member

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    Don't you already have the Ongarn chapters? I kind of assumed you did from how you write about them.