Better late than never I guess 
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Chapter 7 thoughts
We’re back to Jeoffrey and Nigel waiting for Kit to return. In the meanwhile, there’s a ruckus as a Romani enters the inn and of course Jeoffrey wanna check out what the fuss is about. ^^’
new expressions:
珍紛漢紛 ちんぷんかんぷん nonsense; gibberish; gobbledygook
万々歳 ばんばんざい matter for great congratulation
Well, turns out the Romani is there as a messenger from Kit! They meet up outside of town, there Nigel and Jeoffrey learns about the musical performances the Romani has been doing for Princess Eboli.
Seems Ruka wasn’t too careful with the ship model and it’s a bit broken when handed over to Jeoffrey and Nigel. 
They now know that Jan is alive and well. 
They still need to figure out a way to infiltrate and extract Kaito. But, they’re close to acting I sense. Also, the chapter ends with the mention of Kit having used lemon juice or similar to get a secret message to Jeoffrey and Nigel. 
Great stuff as always! 
I’m learning a lot with these books. Though I can’t remember to mention all of it.
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Chapter 8
With the mild cliffhanger of last chapter, I just wanted to get started in on the next one! 
This chapter is from Vicente’s POV! Vincente’s day-dreaming about his desire for Kaito! I do find it rather odd that someone that has no interest in men, sexually or as a love interest, would somehow still start falling in love for a man. But this is BL and so all men shall fall! XD Vincente is finally accepting that he wants more from Kaito than merely being his guardian. Though, to me it seems he’s merely putting Kaito on a pedestal to adore. he also returns to Kaito’s ability to predict the future and how valuable he is (as an asset). But what Vincentey actually likes about Kaito, as a human being, remains very unclear to me. ^^;
While Vincente is lost in his thoughts, Kaito is doing his job for him. XD He’s playing the devil’s advocate by asking Eboli questions that might lead here to give them clues as to the treasonous nobles who are going behind Philip II’s back. They’re getting a confirmation for the coming treason from the duke of Medina Sidonia, which Kaito has predicted.
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Chapter 9, thoughts
Thanks for the link to the Flandern lace. I was scratching my head at that one at first. ^^’ Beautiful craftsmanship. I never did understand just how all those spools became lace. Some kind of magic, surely.
More info!
https://laceincontext.com/category/lacemakers-in-the-low-countries/
It was mentioned in the last chapter as well, but the men visiting the estate are going hunting and Mr. Blond and dashing, Alonso, has been trying to entice Vincente to join them, but he’s sticking with Kaito (well not this time though, so it’s just Eboli and Kaito chatting). ^^’ Eboli has also done hunting before. Anyway, Kaito seems to be spending most of his time entertaining Eboli, playing music or telling her interesting stories. So much for healing his throat? Though that might be done already? But, Kaito isn’t shy to ask some more difficult questions of Eboli either. Like if she loved the king!
I’m sure being that direct is seen as incredibly rude, but he’s also viewed as a kiddo, and so get away with a surprising amount. ^^’ Eboli is surprisingly frank about her love-life here.
The talk about undoing a bit of the corsetting, reminded me of a tour of the Royal opera house in Stockholm. We got to see backstage as well as the Royal box seat. As you exit the box for the intermission, there’s a room just to the right where the queen/princess could go inside and have their corsettes loosened by assistants, to allow for easier breathing and relaxation before the second act. ^^; Meanwhile, the men would go and have a cigar or drink champagne at the 3rd floor gilded mirror-filled bar room with adjacent balcony (The room is called Champangebaren"). I personally recommend pre-ordering coffee for the intermission (or anything else you want so) you get a seat. This old opera has way to few seating spaces.
Why humans created clothing that were basically instruments of torture (as matsuoka also phrased it), is beyond me. The culture of tying women’s feet in China is another example that gives me the shudders. 
back to reading…
Major SPOILERs below
The romani are back to perform, but this time, mingling among them are Jeoffrey and Nigel! Just as Kaito spots them, Raul startles him by whispering to him in English. O_O Things quickly start to heat up from that on. It’s clearly a time for revelations, and secrets being exposed. Raul, is the one is charge though and Kaito is just in for the ride!
While we already knew Raul would turn on Jeoffrey and Nigel eventually, this is much faster acting. In fact, getting Jeoffrey and Nigel being physically present gives Raul a way to force Kaito’s submission and cooperation - so they won’t be harmed. That’s why Raul was helping them so far! 
The plan is to use Kaito’s ability to predict the future for a planned trading company. 
And Eboli is part of it. They’ve been partners in crime all this time! But, first they need for Kaito to comply, and best then to dangle the lives of his friends and lover over this head, so he really only has one choice here. But, there’s more going on here. Kaito notices that Eboli believes Kaito will be staying with her indefinitely as part of their plan which means she’s likely also being being deceived by Raul! Not to mention, Vincente, who Raul says he take care off. (while he says he’ll set a trap for him, rather than kill him outright, that seems like wishful thinking to me…
As dangerous this is, Kaito really has to play along to try to find a way to turn Raul’s plans against him. He needs time to find out what his true aims are. And getting to see Jeoffrey, is a boost for sure, even if it’s just for a moment.
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Nigel isn’t wearing his eye-patch. That would be way suspicious. ^^; He’s having some kind of scarf wrapped around his head, hiding the eye. It was described back when they disguised themselves as wounded soldiers as well. This is something similar, but Romani style.
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Chapter 10, thougths
spoilers continues
So, the POV is back to Nigel and Jeoffrey, who’s spotted Kaito’s “it’s safe”-sign from below. And so, Jeoffrey is led into the castle to see Kaito! (poor Nigel again has to ceed visiting rights to his love rival, but yeah, if I’d been Kaito, it’d be rather miffed if Jeoffrey were not the one visiting him, but Nigel instead.
Once inside, Jeoffrey and Kit meet Raul, laying out how things will go down. But Raul is also making sure to fan the flames of jealousy for Jeoffrey, talking about how Vincente’s been constantly by Kaito’s side translating, or how he’s proclaimed Kaito “an immeasurable treasure”. I can see Jeoffrey’s blood pressure rising a lot during this conversation. ^^’ Especially at the mention of the mouth-to-mouth revival of Kaito during the poisoning. Raul is pure evil! ^^; 
I loved reading Jeoffrey’s mental journey of finally getting so see Kaito. 
he’s clearly overwhelmed by all the human doubts you might have, getting all nervous about meeting Kaito, and showing him how he looks like now, dirty, shorter and discolored hair, etc. It’s a powerful moment when they finally set eyes on each other again! And it’s also like we see the real Kaito for the first time; he’s lost weight clearly. Everything is not fine with him, clearly, during this whole ordeal. 
There is a lot more to unpack in this meeting, not the least once Jeoffrey and Kaito starts talking about Raul’s plans. But, I can’t write more tonight! 
Edit: so that finally meeting kiss was 
I wonder what Eboli and Raul are really thinking about this, I’m sure they’re listening in? Anyway, it’s an emotionally intense reunion for these two, as both had doubts about ever seeing each other again, struggling to keep up hope. 
They also share what they know about Raul and Eboli in turns, warning each other to take care around these. Especially Kaito’s suspicion that Eboli is played by Raul is something Jeoffrey picks up on, and so he plans on using his “charms” to see if he can turn the tides on these two! I loled when he proclaimed being relieved about knowing that they’re all bad guys besides themselves. 
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Okay, today is the day, I promise. I’ve got, like, five or six chapters worth of thoughts I haven’t typed out yet. orz I’m in the middle of, uh, chapter 10 I think? I’m going to try to be briefer than I usually am in the name in the name of time so it doesn’t take me six hours to write down all my thoughts. A quick TLDR; until I can get those thoughts up: loving this volume so far, it’s hitting all the right notes. Raul continues to be a piece of trash, I grow sadder and sadder at the thought of leaving Vicente behind. Normally I think I’m really good at reading → write down thoughts → read → etc., but I think it’s just been a bad combination of: sneaking in time to read between other obligations + the book is really good so I try to read a lot + having to return to those other obligations so I don’t have time to write thoughts + wow, I’ve got a little bit of time! let’s read. And so the cycle continues. It’s a hard, hard life I lead.
On a separate note, I’m planning on updating the next volume or two of bonus threads with their corresponding bonus stories within the next day or so!
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Famous last words. Anyhow, while I’m waiting on something:
Chapter 5
Interesting we’re adding another country to the mix here: Italy! I wonder if the Medici will show up in the books in some form or fashion? They were connected everywhere; Catherine de Medici knew Queen Elizabeth, for example.
I also had to wonder what was going through Kit’s head when he sees Kaito see him and almost certainly start to look fearful. I’ll admit I wasn’t quite expecting Kaito’s first reaction to see Kit to be “oh god he’s come here to poison me”, though it’s not particularly unexpected.
Got a laugh out of that. Vicente: Please stop thinking of food.
Chapter 6
Phew, this was a roller coaster of a chapter. On one hand you have feelings of, “yay! Kit’s here! The gang’s going to get back together!”, and on the other, Kit: “Hey, we all know how crazy persistent Santirillana can be; there’s basically no choice but to kill him.”
There’s gotta be, surely. They can’t kill of Vicente just like this. He’s spent too much time being an awesome guy to Kaito.
That last bit of the chapter, where Kit repeats Geoffrey’s words to Kaito to get plenty to eat and sleep, and Vicente endorses it…brutal. Just brutal. I was 
the whole time. Man, that chapter ended rather painfully; what will Kaito do? 
The image of Nigel sneezing as he took care of Blackie was adorable, haha. I’m surprised they brought him all the way inland as well.
Someone’s gotta bring Vicente to his senses, even if it’s an enemy spy! In all seriousness though, I wonder if Kit was also trying to partially shock Vicente into going, “whoa, we’re not like that. Let me just hang around Kaito less to prove it to you!” And/or he enjoys teasing closeted gay men. 
Ugh, we never got to talk to Cervantes. I was a bit let down.
Chapter 7
Ah, the chapter where I put down F&B temporarily to read the bonus story. Didn’t end up being necessary per se, but it was nice to have the extra background story when Geoffrey and Nigel started to talk about ミニア. Ack, why did the chapter have to end before we saw the rest of the secret message? 松岡先生 isn’t usually this cruel… Anyway, ルカ seems like a decent guy; we’ll have to see how helpful he’ll be in the future. I thought it was a nice moment for Nigel to sympathize with the gypsies; we really haven’t seen much of his early life, when he was persecuted for being a bastard. Makes me wonder what went on.
Where did we find out the time of year in this chapter? I was flipping through looking to double-check, but nothing jumped out at me. I was just skimming though, so I probably missed it.
Chapter 8
Now this was a fun chapter. I appreciate opening with one of Vicente’s wet dreams, which he’s been apparently been having for quite a while. 
Despite this the man still insists he just just loves Kaito, he’s definitely not in love with him. Gave me a good chance to review my 恋 vs. 愛, and I must say it’s a sign of progress on Vicente’s part. I feel like he wasn’t admitting any sort of love before this point; maybe familial, but I don’t feel like he said such in as many words.
I think Vicente’s confused here too, hahaha. So I will say, though, when was it mentioned that Vicente’s been with men before? And I don’t think at this point Kaito thinks Vicente loves him, right? It was only a few chapters ago (or felt like it, at least) that Kaito assured himself that Vicente didn’t think of him in that way. Heck, Kit even teased Vicente about it last chapter and Kaito barely even noticed.
Anyway, another sad chapter ender, with Vicente having noticed Kaito’s internal conflict re:Vicente being killed and mistakenly attributing it to Kaito having lingering fears of boyxboy contact after being sexually harassed by that ruffian Rockford. Vicente, I want you to be happy.
Chapter 9
Raul 
Whew, there we go. I’m hoping to finish the book this weekend; will probably have to sacrifice my other book club book for the moment, but if we start again in March I think it’s a fair trade.
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They were even relatives, as this article that you dug up reminded me! Catherine de’ Medici was the mother-in-law of Mary Queen of Scots who was the cousin once removed of Queen Elizabeth.
Geoffrey asks:
「一月って、あとどのぐらい日数が残っているんだ？ 彼らがいなくなってしまえば、連絡の手段も途切れてしまうぞ」
「聞いてみよう」 ナイジェルはすぐにその質問をルカにぶつけた。
『ん……と、あと二週間ぐらいかな』
i.e. about two weeks are left until January.
I took a note about that for Vol. 9 chapter 8, but I just skimmed through that chapter again and could not find the passage I had in mind. And it seems impossible for me to search for it, as I vaguely remember the contents but not the exact words, so I guess it’s hopeless. Maybe I just dramatically misinterpreted something after all 
Kaito being the naive Kaito, he doesn’t think so, I think. 
What are your exact plans now? Are you still planning to dive into the extra stories? Or should I ask you again a little bit later?
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Excellent catch! Although, I’m reading this like they’re already in January and there’s only two weeks left. Am I misreading?
So, my exact plans. This might be more detail than you need, but:
- This weekend: finish up F&B 11 (or get as close as possible)
- Next week: catch up on my reading for 七回死んだ男 (which would be for this current + next), finish all my F&B drama CD 1 listening and institute a plan to be better prepared for CD 2
- End of next week/Next weekend I’m hoping to have time to sit and read through a chunk of/the rest of another book I’ve had hanging around since December to finally get it off my plate and thus open up my “non-F&B book” slot back up (so the next book can sit there for months)
- Remaining time: probably not going to exist
I’m still planning to read the extras next if you are! Even if volume 11 ends on a huge cliffhanger, I’m willing to hold off on volume 12; it’ll let me sit in anticipation for a while. :3
Also, your username changed! :o Didn’t realize you could do that…
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Chapter 11 thoughts
MAJOR SPOILERS BELOW!
Kaito writes Vincente a message in his book. In other words, he’s getting ready to leave him behind. Understandably, the whole situation is making Kaito very anxious, knowing the different plans/counter plans and how much is at stake here.
Leo checks on Kaito since it’s time for dinner. But as they’re walking toward the dinner hall, a maid gives the message that Kaito is requested by Eboli. I like how much Kaito’s and Leo’s relationship has changed, and Kaito is quite sad to also leave Leo behind.
Anyway, they arrive at the dining hall, and apparently the men who has again been out hunting are making quite a ruckus, especially di Lieva who’s quite drunk. XD I’m trying to imagine him messing up Vincente’s hair, and the sour look Vincente would give him. it gets even better when Leo jumps in to defend his master’s honor, and so a drinking competition between him and Alonso gets underway! XD 
Instead, of sticking around Kaito ends up eating with Vincente, seated a bit ways off from the rest. Vincente talks about bringing Kaito with him horse riding (hunting), and Kaito knows this is no longer possible. So, it’s a sad moment. It’s clearly very emotionally stressy for Kaito to hold things inside, so again he doesn’t eat much. No wonder he’s losing weight with so much on his mind. :c
Cutting dinner short, Kaito ends up going alone to Eboli’s room. There Eboli asks Kaito to translate something Jeoffrey whispered to her during his short visit. Kaito is stuck with having to figure out if he’s to say what was said or lie, and frantically try to see through Jeoffrey’s reasoning here. Finally, he realize the aim should be to turn Eboli and Raul against each other. So, Kaito decides to follow up on Jeoffrey’s intentions, by pretending he doesn’t get the whispered message.
The situation escalates! Before Kaito has time to act, Eboli puts a knife to his throat! 
Apparently she keeps it in her corset? There’s a chilling moment when Eboli proclaims Kaito to be hers, in the meaning of owning him like a slave. Things quickly go into creepy psychopath territory, with Eboli deciding to kill Kaito to “keep him to herself”.
Well, things get physical for real after this. Once free from Eboli’s grip, Kaito tries to flee - only to find the door locked! 
In his frantic thinking of how to escape the situation, Eboli take her chance to cut him (though not deeply). Kaito fight back! Don’t just let her kill you!
Even as Vincente has arrived on the other side of the door, Kaito takes another hit from Eboli. (I confess reading a bit quick here, so I might have confused the events a bit?) Eboli also brings up Vincente’s feelings for Kaito, who’s still unaware about him actually loving him. In the end, what saves Kaito is Eboli’s wish to take revenge on Raul, by ensuring Kaito ends up being able to flee with Jeoffrey. I’m having a hard time with all these mental twists and turns, Eboli’s character is all over the place!
We also get another terrible realization, Kaito coughing up blood, wasn’t from Eboli hurting him, it was all himself. He’s actually down with tuberculosis, having likely gotten it from Santa Cruz who was at deaths bed when they visited, and who demanded Kaito to come closer to him.
But, Kaito is forced to hide his condition now, since Jeoffrey’s plans are to take place the very next day! And so, Vincente mustn’t end up staying behind to care for a sick Kaito. Kaito is overcome with despair and sorrow for his situation, and so, it falls on Eboli to make up a suitable explanation for Kaito sitting on the floor. I guess, she does manage to divert Vincente’s attention from what’s important. >:>
In the aftermath, we also get to hear Kaito’s worries about possibly infecting Vincete as well. But also, obviously, what will this mean for Kaito’s relationship with Jeoffrey?! Open-mouthed kisses is really off-limits now.
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I’m 100% sure it’s this one! (that’s my image of Kit as a character)
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I don’t know for sure, but I have a hunch that it means 今からあと… To make sure, I asked a Japanese friend with whom I had just finished chatting, but it seems he went offline before I could catch him, so I will let you know tomorrow.
I’m planning to go for the next doujin (誓い) first, and then reevaluate (as it’s pretty long…).
Actually I may have started to read the first two or so pages to check the POV 
and I like 
Yeah I figured I could do with a somewhat-less-cleartext name for a while
You need to change the name in WaniKani as the accounts are coupled. And then for the change to become visible to you, you need to log out of the forums and log in again (this is some kind of synchronization issue I guess). But one needs to wait for a month to be able to change the name again.
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Turns out you were right!
He wrote: 今は1月で２週間後には1月が終わるという意味ですね！
So this means we’re in the middle of January already… Santa Cruz is soon to die. (If Kaito’s world stays faithful to ours in that detail.) Curious to see what disruptions that will bring about!
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Sounds like a plan to me! That was what I was going to read next as well; figured I’d basically go in order, and since that’s the only one for its volume…
I think I’ve finally confirmed the first (?) bonus story from Kaito’s POV! I was taking pictures of one of the stories last night and saw 海斗; not gonna lie, I was kind of wondering if we could somehow get ~100 bonus stories from everyone’s POV besides his, haha. Ah well, I’m not upset or anything; the streak’s been broken already, is all.
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Chapter 12 thoughts
It seems their plans are running on schedule, as Vincente has gotten word from a messenger that he’s to return to El Escorial. Leo is to stay by Kaito’s side in the meantime, keeping him from Eboli’s clutches.
Also, apparently Leo won the drinking competition last night against Leiva. That’s sailors for you! Leiva, feeling like he’s gotten a new friend in Vincente (and Leo presumably) has decided to join Vincente on his journey, since traveling alone isn’t much fun.
Alonso is apparently also capable of the truth of Vincente’s fondness for Kaito. I guess, Vincente was the last to realize? Or maybe that was Kaito?
Lol, for the chat between Vincente and Alonso, who really do become friends on this journey I feel. Vincente finally asks why Alonso has made it into Philip II’s inner circle, and Alonso says it’s probably to do with this blond hair and face. Blonds rule in this story, clearly! XD @eefara Sorry not sorry for the tag, but you brought it up. Read this once you get to chapter 12! XD
I guess, there’s a bit more to it thought. As apparently Philip II’s brother was blonde, and so Alonso reminds him of his brother. Though they were not on good terms.
As the talk turns to the letter Vincente received, Alonso demands to see it and immediately realize it’s a fake! Vincente and Alonso knows something is up now, and hurry to get back! 
Finally, Vincente realize the truth of Kit’s “joke” about him being in love with Kaito, as his rage and fear drive him back toward Pastrana. He really does love Kaito! and so, his animosity for Jeoffrey is also a given, the man that snatched Kaito away right from the beginning, even though Vincente met Kaito first! We get full Spanish fiery passion in this internal monologue! 
He even realize the cruelty of his actions toward Kaito, going forward, as it’s pure selfishness to keep him for himself.
An that was the end of this book!
There is only one way forward for me! Onto the next one! O_O
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Hehe enjoy! The thread is waiting for you 
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Yeah! Thank you for setting that up already! I’m gonna try get the artwork up as well! ^^
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My sister was flipping through volume 12 the other day; she can’t read Japanese, but she’s heard about the series from me and was curious about the artwork. I heard lots of “oh my” from her while she was looking, and she told me, “you better get to this volume soon. ” hahaha.
Chapter 10
So we’re back to Geoffrey’s POV! He and Nigel are waiting below the tower, watching Kaito. This whole chapter was 2/3 sweet reunion (except for Nigel you’re too much of a good boy! You better get serious after Kaito’s been rescued!) and 1/3 “what exactly is Raul planning?”. The man’s told Princess Eboli one thing, Kaito one thing, and G&N one thing; it’s a miracle he can keep his stories straight, haha. I’m starting to think they might have more of a chance of somehow fooling Raul than originally thought; he’s got so many moving pieces in play, it’d be real easy to shift one in a way he doesn’t like. Case in point, the princess: Geoffrey’s flash of inspiration (“if I believed in God, I’d say it came from him” was a great line) of “hmmm, how would she handle being told she’s being used?” is a good one.
I liked the detail of Kaito’s hair starting to show its roots, and I didn’t realize quite how emaciated he’d become in the meantime. Poor Vicente’s had it rough trying to keep the kid in shape. So now I’m seriously considering the possibility of Geoffrey rescuing Kaito basically in the here and now; Vicente’s away, and if he manages to abscond with Kaito then Raul doesn’t have as much incentive to kill Vicente yet, given he’s a ready-made Kaito hunting dog.
Raul truly is the devil’s advocate; Geoffrey’s going to need to know the depth of Vicente’s passion once he formally applies to join the harem.
I was really proud of our boys for whispering during most/all of their conversation. Let’s not leak everything to Raul in the next room, thank you.
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Around Kaito, Vincento is defo a pooch! 
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