Our group decides to not proceed directly to the audience with the queen and instead stay at an inn called „The Ox“ (I guess). There they meet an old friend, Christopher Marlowe, a playwright and also spy under Walsingham. On hearing the name, Kaito gets very excited and wants to see the play, and also mentions that he could have written even greater plays if he could have lived a carefree life. This makes Jeoffrey wonder once again how Kaito can know these things. Jeoffrey comes up with a natural explanation but I wonder how many of these slips can happen until he gets really suspicious
Despite Marlowe working for Walsingham, Jeoffrey decides to tell Marlowe the truth about Kaito, asking him to keep it a secret. Marlowe helps them find a way that might possibly allow Kaito to stay with the Gloria crew instead of being snatched away by Walsingham.
Now we need to find out whether Marlowe really keeps his promise and whether the plan works out!
For the sentence we discussed before, it’s quoted with による = „concerning“, therefore I think my translation is still fitting.
They’ve arrived at Whitehall Palace. Prepare for more history lessons + new historical figures encounters.
Kaito is clearly start-struck by Walter Raleigh. I guess, it would be rather overwhelming to actually meet any historical figure you’ve read about. Not to mention, being in the location of Whitehall palace to boot. ^^’
Funny Engrish found on page 105. Kaito, likens Elizabeth with the Queen of Hearts. But rather than saying “off with their heads”, the kana says “off with my head” a sliiiiight difference XD
Kaito, manages to get away with being rude/impolite to the Queen. I guess, being stunned into inaction isn’t too fanciful, still I would probably not be able to hear people names for my focus on remembering to lol. XD
But, yeah, it doesn’t take long before the conversation turns into interrogation mode once Walshingham starts questioning Kaito’s every word. He’s dead set on proving Kaito of wrong-doing. And he lays a trap for Kaito to step right into!
Walshingham knows about Kaito’s ability to predict the future! And having not disclosed this information from the get-go, has come back to bite him.
This is really frustrating to read for me, as Walshingham is spinning arguments out of thin air, spreading unfounded accusations. There is little Kaito or even Drake can do to penetrate that wall of suspicion.
And soon enough, he brings up the prospect of torture to get the answers he wants from Kaito.
While, Kaito in the end is saved by Elizabeth from that fate, she appoints him as her fool. This clearly takes him away from Gloria. It’s out of the embers and into the fire it seems for Kaito…
Right! I was thinking the same! XD It’s fine, for now. I guess it matters what kind of slip Kaito does later on, to see if it raises too many questions for the lie to hold up.
I’m finally starting volume 4. I’ll still be fairly slow since I’m still pretty busy, but I was thinking about it last night, and I’m not going to be getting any less busy anytime soon, so I might as well start.
Looks like in Chapter 4 松岡先生 got a bit confused by the English geography
The book says ケント州サウスエンドとエセックス州シアネスに挟まれた広大な河口 but actually Southend-on-Sea is in Essex and Sheerness is in Kent, i.e. just the other way around.
Just finished up chapter 1; I gotta say, I was not expecting to meet Miguel de Cervantes here! My mental abilities to match up historical figures with their correct time periods is awful, so it was a pleasant surprise to find out such a big name was alive during this time! I also realized I don’t own a copy of Don Quixote, so I definitely need to get one. I don’t think I’ve ever read the full work; portions of it way back in school for Spanish or English class, but never the full thing. I wonder if Kaito would geek out over meeting the guy as well?
I’m not sure if I was just tired or what the first time I flipped through the opening pages, but everything read pretty smoothly for me here. I think one or two hiccups due to Cervantes using old man/knight speak, but nothing too bad.
Thank you for the links! I tried to find ディエゴ デ シルバ myself as I read and was unsuccessful, so this is really helpful!
Maybe, the main problem in this chapter was Cervantes in the end? XD I can’t say, honestly. It did seem like a problematic chapter, but I had less problem with the next, so maybe.
I must say, this all attests to Matsuoya’s ability to change tone of voice and give characters life! She’s clearly very versed in looking up facts to weave into her story, but what I find the most amazing is this ability to bring life to it all in dialogue. Dialogue is hard! Really. It’s the one thing many authors struggle with, imo, especially with the bit of making them individual speakers/tone of voice.
Some analysis of my own and a conclusion on Matsuoka’s way of using dialogue and tone of voice/character: I would consider this a spoiler myself, so tread carefully. *
I think here, it’s pretty clear how she’s positioned Kaito, Jeoffrey, and Nigel closer than other characters, in their use of language. They’re able to be pretty straight with each other, and so their interactions flows smoothly. It also makes them seem closer. But, Vincente isn’t all that far away. And so becomes a major player in this drama. I do think some other characters becomes too “embedded” in the historical scenario to be able to step out of their roles, likely, and this is signaled in a way due of tone of voice.
*unless I post this now, I never will remember to.
But, the conversation made me realize this for myself. This is my interpretation in how Matsuoka guides us as readers in how to engage the different characters emotionally for ourselves.
I would definitely agree with you with what we’ve read so far. She’s done a great job making these characters’ dialogue shine through, even for readers who aren’t native Japanese. I was thinking myself as I read through chapter 1, how would I translate these characters into English and have them keep the same “feel” in their dialogue that they have in Japanese?
Makes me sadly think of all the butchery that’s been done to BL light novels I’ve read translated. I won’t buy any more. I don’t need it. But, more importantly, that’s just too sad. Y:Y In the end, I think it’s only a matter of giving translators time to familiarize them with how characters speak. But, the “cheaper” a story is perceived, the less effort goes into it, no matter what.
Which makes me curious in what magazine this light novel got published in originally? I don’t know. This is more a conversation for the main thread though. Not this chapter, so let’s move it over there.
They arrive at the palace and get grilled by Walsingham. Apparently he knows about Kaito‘s power and turns that knowledge against him, announcing to torture him. Neither Drake nor Jeoffrey can help any more, but Elizabeth feels pity for the boy and turns him into her fool . Poor Kaito really got out of the frying pan into the fire
I think the text purposely plays with that, no? It says „She is the queen of hearts, but if I go against her, I will be beheaded“ which I guess makes a lot of sense given what we know of her
Chapter 2 done. That was definitely not a long chapter, but it took some concentration and thinking to get through some of that; Vicente’s giving me some good practice with formal language.
There’s a lot to think about after a chapter like that. Vicente’s starting to dive deeper into Spanish court politics; it seems like his finding of Kaito is what really kicked it off. I guess he stuck pretty firmly to the navy before that. Nothing too shocking so far for the savvy reader, but poor Vicente seemed caught a bit off-guard by all the revelations/untrustworthy people thrown his way. (On that note: adding to my wish list - ‘confrontation between Vicente and Perez’.)
Santa Cruz asking Vicente to kill Kaito if he had the chance also made sense to me. In fact, I’m kind of shocked this is the first time we’ve seen someone suggest that option. Kaito’s powers, especially manifesting in a foreigner, would definitely come off as works of the devil; maybe the powers that be are just that desperate for reassurance they’ll come out on top in this conflict? Anyway, I’m glad Vicente reaffirmed to himself that he won’t be killing Kaito.
Yeah, I was also relieved that at least it’s not Vincente’s will to do Kaito any more harm. But, you have to ask yourself if can he keep him from harm if he brings him to Spain?
Ah, but you see, this is the perfect set-up for Vicente to show his love defend Kaito and possibly, like, escape to France or Portugal? They’re a couple major of players we have yet to visit.
Kaito is clearly feeling stressed out by the whole situation. Who wouldn’t? He’s told to learn how to entertain Elizabeth when she feels like it and live on her beck and call. Also, by narrowly escaping the grasp of Walshingham, he’s made himself enemies of other people at the court.
At least, Jeoffrey is a clear support (unlike Drake, who doesn’t have any incentive to go against the wishes of the queen). Jeoffrey uses his silver tongue to whisk Kaito away for some sightseeing, before he has to be always available to serve Elizabeth, and she gracefully agrees. But before that, they have some fancy food.
We arrive at Elizabeth’s court where Kaito is enrolled. Interestingly enough, Jeoffrey and Drake are still with him, and Elizabeth starts flirting with Jeoffrey who is taking advantage of this by asking whether he can borrow Kaito for a day before he enters court service. Elizabeth agrees and is left alone with Drake. Kaito comes across another interesting historical figure at court: Elizabeth Throckmorton. I am genuinely surprised by how many people and events Kaito seems to remember - he must be a real history nerd!
Now the main question is, what will Jeoffrey and Kaito do in the meantime? First I thought they will run away, but I don’t think that would be a particularly smart move as they will become enemies of the state straight away. I can only guess that Jeoffrey is trying to build rapport with the queen and waiting for her to get fed up with Kaito, so that he can get him back later… Let’s see.
I was wondering about this encounter. thanks for naming them. As you say, it’s a bit of a suspense of belief at this point as to Kaito’s ability to remember historical facts. XD
Yea that one was a bit tricky again! Luckily jisho.org knows many of those katakana-ized names
One thing bugs me though. In the book she gives her nickname as Elsa while the wikipedia page says her nickname was Bess - that’s a bit inaccurate, is my feeling. But then again, the series does not claim to be historically accurate and I am more than impressed how accurate it in fact is!
Just finished chapter 3. So this is kind of random, but I hope Blackie doesn’t get lost on the way to London. That was my first thought when I saw Kaito wanted to bring him: “I really hope that cat doesn’t get loose.”
The callout to Land’s End took me a moment to remember; that was the place he and Kazuya took at a picture at on the very first page of the series, right? (Is that really a spoiler? lol)
Yeah, I laughed a bit at that one. I wonder how many of these minor slips it’ll take before things really start to pile up, haha. I liked his excuse, though. “The Spanish really like stories about knights!” Seems reasonable.
I thought he was the Secretary of State’s subordinate?
Lord. I was able to decipher what he was saying, but all katakana is painful. I’d have less trouble if he spoke in all hiragana, but no.
I guess, it would be rather overwhelming to actually meet any historical figure you’ve read about. Not to mention, being in the location of Whitehall palace to boot. ^^’
a sliiiiight difference XD
lol. XD
I’ll still be fairly slow since I’m still pretty busy, but I was thinking about it last night, and I’m not going to be getting any less busy anytime soon, so I might as well start. 
I wonder if Kaito would geek out over meeting the guy as well? 
. Poor Kaito really got out of the frying pan into the fire 
Just now realizing that’s a much more natural way to interpret the passage. 
