I might be a little late with this post, but let’s have some fun with this cute shoujo anime.

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Episode 10: Day of Festival and Revelation

The day before an important ceremony, a storm rolls into the Beast country. The powerful winds blow away the magical miasma that lets the King retain his Beast form. Stuck in his human form, he spends the night in the underground sacrifice chamber. Sariphi keeps him company. Much to their shock, however, the miasma has not returned by morning. The skies are still clear, and Leo is still a human. For most of the episode, Sariphi helps him stay hidden from Anubis and everyone else who is desperately searching for him.

The doglike judge, Set, nearly discovers the truth. But by the time he forces open the door to the sacrifice chamber, Leo has returned to Beast form. There isn’t enough time for him to dress in royal regalia before the ceremony. Rather than be late for the ceremony, the King goes and addresses his people barechested. He says it’s important to break tradition sometimes to be the best possible leader. The Beast people seem to accept this.

For the last part of the episode, Anubis proposes a deal. Sariphi can become Acting Queen Consort for one year. If she succeeds, she becomes the true Queen, but if she fails, she will be banished from the country. On the other hand, if she choses to become the King’s pet and never try to be Queen, she can live forever in the palace. It’s a tough choice, but after some encouragement from Bennu the Phoenix, Sariphi decides to become Acting Queen Consort.

This episode was straightforward and needs little discussion. Nothing has really changed in the greater story, so this episode felt a bit pointless at first. However, it was important for showing how Leo can be frail and finds comfort and courage from Sariphi. Additionally, this episode established that Sariphi doesn’t want to be by the King’s side as merely a pet, even if that’s the safest option. She is willing to take a risk and work hard to be acknowledged in her serious relationship with the King. Good for you, Sari.

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Episode 11: Divine Protection and
the Acting Queen Consort

In the first part of the episode, Princess Amit makes two special amulets in the tradition of her country. Each cloth weave of the amulet is a charm imbued with divine protection. Amit gives one of them to Sariphi and one of them to Captain Jormungand – though the second part took some encouragement from Sariphi. The handsome Captain gracefully accepts the gift and tells Amit he will surely return safely from his next mission to honor the charms she put into the amulet. Amit is completely smitten.

For the rest of the episode, Sariphi and the King went to the vassal kingdom of Sarbul. There, Sariphi would have her first duty as Queen Consort: giving a blessing to the newborn baby Prince. However, Queen Carla doesn’t want any human to touch her baby, and conspires to make sure the blessing cannot be given. Sariphi is in danger of failing her first duty as Queen. But then one of Carla’s three daughters appears and offers to be Sariphi’s guide around the palace. That daughter was aware of her mother’s schemes, so we may be right in hoping that she will be on Sariphi’s side.

The episode leaves off here. As for my thoughts, I liked that we got some insight into Sariphi’s past. When she was confronted with the cold eyes of Queen Carla, Sariphi was reminded of her heartless parents, who were raising her knowing she would be a sacrifice. She said that living in that environment was like being in an icy sea all the time. She never even felt alive. It was an interesting psychological insight into Sariphi’s character. Naturally, I also loved how the King comforted her with nuzzles and his fluffy tail. It was adorable.

The designs for the feline creatures in the neighboring kingdom were pretty neat. I think they are supposed to be Caracals. If so, the names were a bit unimaginative – the baby is called Calcara. Anyway, the little daughter cat looks very cute and I hope my suspicion is correct that she is working against her mother. That’s about it for my thoughts on this episode.

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Episode 12: Blessings and a Vow for the Future

The young princess, Tetra, offers to “pull a few strings” for Sariphi if she will do whatever she is told for a few hours. It turns out what she wanted was someone to play with, although she has a bullying way of playing, making Sariphi carry her around and play fetch. Most people would be annoyed to play games with such a spoiled, bossy brat, but Sariphi actually has fun with Tetra. The little princess then reveals that she feels unwanted by her mother. She plans to make “a final headache” for her mother by jumping off the highest tower.

While Sariphi and others try to talk her out of jumping, Tetra slips and falls off the edge of the tower. Sariphi jumps after her and catches her in the air. Both are caught by the King’s Holy Beast. After receiving a blessing and comforting words from Sariphi, Tetra breaks down into tears and sobbing. Back on the ground, she is embraced by her mother Carla. She does love her daughter, but had not been paying enough attention to her lately with the newborn son. Carla apologizes and the family begins to heal. Sariphi performs the blessing ceremony on the baby without a problem.

That night, the King takes Sariphi to a moonlit tryst. He tells her that he has doubts about his bloodline, since his late father passionately hated his “demon blood” up until his very death. Nevertheless, Leo vows that children born of his union with Sariphi will always have his protection and love. Sariphi agrees to the idea of eventually bearing heirs, and feels more in love with Leo than ever when he says his vow. The next day, the two lovers return to their home in Ozmargo.

This was a great episode, but I hope Sariphi isn’t thinking about having kids anytime soon. She doesn’t seem strong or mature enough yet. I’m pretty sure she’s supposed to be a teenager. But I am happy that she and Leo love each other and don’t have a toxic relationship at all. Also, Tetra’s short character arc was pretty damn intense. She must have really felt desperate to turn to suicide as her best option. I’m very glad she’s safe and that she knows now Carla cares about her. That’s it from me today!

Thanks for reading~

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