Roman 7a

p1.

The stories[roman] of the <<flames[lights]>> revolving around life and death...

The <<Twin Dolls>> who observe[look at] the stories[roman]...

The stories reflected in their eyes

Go towards one <<Winter[man]>>...

p2.

What do you see between morning and night?

p3.

Text: One instant, or perhaps an eternity...

Laurencin: He went away.
Hiver: Ah.

Hiver: Don't mess up
Laurencin.

Laurencin: Hah.
Right back at ya

Laurencin: Hiver...

p4.

Narration: A miracle nurtured by Mother Earth.
A gemstone said to be the largest in the world.
30 carat, red diamond...

p5.

Narration: A trail left behind through changing owners.
Its specialty is a reserved place in the ranks of the dead.
30 carat...
Queen Slaughter[Reine Michele]

p6.

Savant: ...bonsoir...
You look quite bored.

Savant: I take it that the show wasn't interesting?
...ah, a song is starting. The singer is quite the beauty.

Savant: Beautiful gemstones fit beautiful women.
Just look at that, that huge red diamond...

Savant: What?
It's a fake?
Of course, if that one's real, it could only be "Queen Slaughter[Reine Michele]"
Haha, I don't really want to see this place turned into a bloodbath.

p7.

Savant: You know about it too, right?
The story behind the jewel[stone] called "Queen Slaughter"...
It's famous enough to get a mention in museum pamphlets.
The story[episode] of the cursed jewel...

Lyrics: A locked glass case...
A jewel sleeping elegantly...
Within dreams of days past...

Stricken grief
Uncaring pride
Even the reaper is within her grasp...

"She" is the Queen[Reine], there are none who defy her

Savant: Even "Queen Slaughter", who led all her owners to death
Is nothing but jewel[stone] when locked up...
It is but a lifeless mineral, after all...

Lyrics: We won't allow her to escape her cage...

p8.

Lyrics: A sly girl...
An old woman who danced with shadows...
She decorated a great many necks...

p9.

Lyrics: A vain prostitute...
A queen stained by mud...
She cut off a great many necks...
A scene going round and round...a vivid dream

Savant: How about it? If you're bored, maybe you could listen to what I have to say.
A story not recorded on the pamphlets...

Lyrics: You won't be allowed to escape until you've lost it...

p10.

Savant: A "blessing" turned "curse". The irony of fate...
Concerning "her" birth, the unknown

Story[roman]

Noel: Brother
Brother Hiver!

p11.

Noel: Geez.

Noel: I've told you not to touch anything over there!
Hiver: Hahaha. Sorry.
You're getting pretty good, aren't you?
Noel.

Box: A small village deep in snow
Us two are siblings, all my ourselves

Box: After losing our parents, who were doll makers

Box: The one who inherited their talents
Is my sister[Noel] alone
Hiver: How cute.
Is she a girl?
Noel: He's a guy.

Box: Noel, my sister, makes them and I, the brother, sell them.
Hiver: .......
Noel: Ah.
That's why I told you not to touch it!

p12.

Hiver: I still think they're going to sell better if there's some kind of story[episode] behind them
Noel: There's nothing like that.

Hiver: There are times when prices change simply based on whether they have additional values or not...
Although I'm fine with them being just "Nice Dolls".

Noel: You mean, something like a doll that brings good luck?
Hiver: Yes yes, or something that brings love to fruition

Hiver: Or a cursed doll.
Noel: Nobody needs that!!

Hiver: Well, I was told that those fetched pretty high prices-
Noel: That's...

Noel: That's wrong
Saying that a doll doesn't matter as long as it has something behind it

Noel: And I hoped that you'd love them just as they are...
Hiver: Erm.
S-sorry.
I was kidding..
Noel: But...
Leaving aside curses or blessings...

p13.

Noel: ...it would be nice
If we could think of something more

Box: Selling dolls.
Buying materials.
I do my job in the city and live outside the village for more than half the year.
When I'm not there, Noel is by herself.

Box: But friends of our deceased parents - the village elder, his wife and son
Watched out for Noel.

Box: We lived like that
For years...

Hiver: 10....20...

p14.

Hiver: Not even worth counting, huh...

Text: -I
Received overflowing love from my parents.
Obviously, I'd want to give some of that to someone else.

Hiver: (All that left is what Mother Sacre's legacy, her ring...
...but I'll be putting the cart before the horse if I sell this)

p15.

Text: What's passed down isn't blood, but memories of love
A story[roman] woven from you to someone new...

Noel: You'll be out longer? How long?
Hiver: Ah....erm, a month...no, two months, three months....
Noel: You're not going to do anything dangerous, are you?
Hiver: No, no, no.

Hiver: Don't make that face.

Hiver: I won't do anything that saddens you.
Noel: ...I'm worried.
Hiver: I know.
Noel: ...write me letters.
Hiver: Yeah.
Noel: I'll reply...
Hiver: Yes, yes...
Noel, when I'm gone-

p16.

Hiver: Be nice to him.

Hiver: I'm off!

Text: A dress, all the flowers, light and blessings in the world for you, Noel...

p17.

Box: I'm aiming for a jewel
Strike it rich

Box: I've been here and there.
And I've decided on a target.

Box: After a giant gem was excavated from there
People seeking its "siblings" gathered and tore through the place
All that is left of the city is a legend
The forgotten mine-

Manager: It'll be nice if you find something

Hiver: ...is it true that I get 100% of the share if something comes up?
Manager: Of course! Take them all!
Put your name here.
I see you've paid beforehand.

Manager: (...I say only this since you won't find anything.)
Hiver: Ah.

Manager: W-what?
Hiver: A letter.
I want to send a letter.
Manager: A letter?!
Hiver: Yes
To my sister.

p18.

Hiver: (Something....
.........
Like...
....)

Text: For some reason, I held conviction.

Text: Since then, he continued to dig, paying no heed to the time..

p19.
[no text]

p20.

Lyrics: ...the man dug through the dark hole, not knowing that it would be his grave.

Lyrics: The man dug...not knowing that it's a cave leading to hell...

Lyrics: Embraced by destiny
Within the closed darkness...

Lyrics: Forgetting even food and sleep,
he dug.
As if dancing

Lyrics: Within the song brought to life....
The corroded gears....

Lyrics: Turn madly...

p21.

[Fortune]

Box: Ah...

[Fortune]

Box: My lovely sister[Noel] who put up with many hardships to this day..
Ah, with this, I can raise my chest high...
And send you of-

p22.

Manager: Hah
Hah

p23.

Lyrics: The mine concierge, whose eyes shone with greed...
The hook-nosed jeweler, whose eyes changed color...
The one-eyed artisan, who doubted his own eyes...
-Round and round goes....the roulette of the reaper-

p24.

Lyrics: At times, holes are easily opened...
Even in the seemingly firm wall of ethics...

Text: Even the enchanting "Queen" that men did not hesitate to kill for
Began with one man...
Even when embracing her in his arms and shedding blood for her, he loved not "her", but his family...

Text: The man's name was Hiver....Hiver Laurant...

Noel: ...

Guy: Noel.

p25.

Noel: ....
Guy: Waiting for a letter again?

Guy: It's been two years since all communication from your brother ceased.

Guy: I've done some research.
The mine your brother wrote letters from...
Was closed down after the family of the concierge disappeared.
And there were no records of your brother being sheltered there.

Guy: Later, the concierge's body was found...murdered...

Guy: I don't want to imagine the worst case scenario ...
...but maybe your brother...was involved in some kind of incident...and probably not coming ba...
Noel: Liar.

Noel: I don't want to hear things like that.

Guy: Noel!!

Guy: Everyone is worried about you!
You just keep waiting for those letters all by yourself!
Even if
Your brother is alive somewhere out there
Let's wait at my house
Noel
Noel

p26.

Noel: He's alive!!

Noel: Not 'even if'!
My brother is definitely alive!
Why do you
And your parents
And everyone insist that he's dead!

Noel: Don't kill Hiver Laurant!

Guy: ...even I

Guy: Even I'm waiting as well
Noel, because
I love you..
Noel
Noel...!

p27.
Noel: Ugh

Hiver: Hey there, Noel.

Hiver: Are these dolls your newest work?
How cute. They look a bit like you.

Noel: Yes.
Yes, indeed, brother.
They're my pride
I'm going to make clothes for them now
Cute and matching clothes...

p28.

Noel: Brother Hiver...!

Postman: A letter for you.
Noel: Thank you.

Postman: From your brother again?

p29.

Noel: -yes!

Box: A trivial conversation struck up whenever they met.
She talked about her brother as if she was discussing the weather.

Box: She seemed so natural

Box: So nobody was suspicious
Of the strangely graceful handwriting
Of her going out every weekend.

Box: Of where the "letters from her brother" came from-

Letter: -so, I don't think I'll be able to get back soon, even though I really want to spend new year with you...

It'll be a while before the snow melts, but stay healthy.

Noel: -geez!

p30.

Letter: -to my beloved sister[Noel] Hiver Laurant

Lyrics: -[Misfortune]- ...ah...a sister not marrying, waiting upon her brother, one never to return-

Noel: Geez...Brother Hiver...
Just when are you going to come back...

Lyrics: ...ah...a winter night sky waiting upon a love, one never to change...

Box: -eventually

p31.

Box: Letters
Diaries
Pocketbooks
She wrote down memories of her brother on every piece of paper found in her home

Box: Memories
Speech traits
Smell
Hair color
The feeling of his hand patting her hair
His gentle eyes and smile
A song he liked
Everything about her brother
His past
His future

Savant: That is a fantasy meant to separate her brother from death
Every single letter and word are his cells.
Her brother is right here
Wanting others to know of her brother's existence
She gathered up the overflowing papers in one pile and made a book out of them
Titling it
Fantasy Story[Roman]

p32-34.
[no text]