Scenario:Ange - Matching (Princely) Interpretations

Matching (Princely) Interpretations

Shaken by a dream she had, Ange decides to go out into town, where she happens to meet the author of her favorite book, Pledge of the Charming Prince. When she hears that the prince in the book is based on a real person, Ange tells the author about her own experience of meeting a prince in the past. Convinced that they are looking for the same prince, the two agree that fate has brought them together.

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Ange always had a routine of reading her favorite book, Pledge of the Charming Prince, every night before bed.

Perhaps it is because of this that she becomes the main character—the charming prince—in her dream.

Evil Marquis: Princess. Let us seal our vow of love for one another with a k-kiss!

Princess: I-I cannot. My heart already belongs to another... The charming prince!

Charming Prince: Stop right there!

Evil Marquis: Tch. So you've come, Charming Prince. How impertinent of you to stand in the way of our love.

Ange: I shall not allow an unrefined fellow such as yourself to take away the princess!

Ange: Haaah!

Evil Marquis: Gweeeh...

Princess: Charming Prince!

Ange: You're safe now, my destined princess. I shall devote my life to protecting you!

Princess: Oh, Ange...

Littany: Maybe you shouldn't try to become a prince...

Ange: Huh! Littany?

Littany: It's just that... you're too adorable. Your smile, the way you act, everything.

Ange: I-I told you, I'm not!

Littany: This is just a feeling I have, but... perhaps what you really want is to meet your own prince.

Ange: ...!

Ange: It was just a dream...

Feeling somewhat gloomy, Ange decides to go out into town for a change of pace.

Ange: I wonder what that is. Maybe I'll take a look...

She weaves her way through the crowd until she reaches the front of a bookshop. She sees stacks of a newly published book, the title of which catches her eye.

Ange: Pledge of the Charming Prince 2?

Ange: I-it's the sequel I've been waiting ages for!

???: Oh my. Seeing someone this happy certainly makes putting out the new book worth it.

Ange raises her head and locks eyes with a beautiful lady, who appears to be signing the books.

Ange: My lady... Could you be... the author of this book?

Author: Hehe. Please, no need to look at me with such adoring eyes. It's rather embarrassing.

Ange: An elegant manner of speaking, and such graceful movements...

Ange: Why, you're practically the princess in the book yourself!

Author: And somehow, you remind me very much of the charming prince.

Ange: Haha, there are no higher words of praise! The charming prince has always been my ideal!

Author: Hehe, you're a curious one. How would you like to have a cup of tea together after I'm done here?

Ange: It'd be my pleasure!

After the signing event, Ange and the author meet up at a cafe.

Ange: Wha! You based the charming prince on someone?

Author: That's right. Even now, I can feel my heart beating fast when I think about him from back then...

Ange: Wow... How did you meet him?

Author: It was nothing short of fate.

Ange: Fate!

Ange leans forward, eager for the rest of the story. Delighted by Ange's interest, the author continues.

Author: A few years ago... I traveled across different countries, looking for things to write about in my book.

Author: One day, I was wandering through a forest when I was unfortunate enough to encounter some monsters.

Ange: Uh-huh!

Author: I thought to myself, "Ah... Is this where I die?" But, just then!

Author: A dashing prince appears and defeats the monster in the blink of an eye.

Author: He wiped away the tears in my eyes, flashing a brilliant smile before departing.

Ange: Wow! He sounds like a prince straight from a fairy tale!

Author: Indeed. And that is why I decided to base the character of the charming prince on him.

Ange: Hehe. That's amazing.

Ange: Now I understand why I'm so drawn to the charming prince!

Ange: It's because we both had similar experiences that our ideals of the perfect prince align!

Author: Oh? Similar experiences? I would love to hear about it!

Ange: Then I shall tell!

And so, Ange begins to tell the author about what happened when she was little, and how a prince had saved her as well.

Author: W-wait a minute.

Ange: You look shaken... What's the matter?

Author: Could it be that the prince I met, and the prince you saw... are the same person?

Ange: Wha! Surely you're joking...

Author: It's hardly a joke!

Author: Think about it! The place, the forest, the prince's clothes and characteristics... Everything matches!

Ange: Could such a coincidence happen?

Ange: No, this can't be a coincidence. I mean, both of us experienced the same thing, and here we are now, meeting like this...

Ange: This must be fate at work again!

Author: Yes... Without a doubt. It's fate!

Enthralled by the magical idea called fate, the two join hands and leap with joy.

Matching (Princely) Interpretations: Scene 2

Hoping to convey her thanks to the prince who once saved her, Ange decides to join the book author on a journey to search for him. Arriving at a town, the two are told by a suspicious man that after the country fell to ruin, the prince had escaped as a fugitive. However, Ange and the author soon find out that the man is a bounty hunter with ill intentions. Determined to protect the prince, Ange challenges the man and deftly sends him packing.

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Ange: Wha! The coat of arms in the story is a royal crest that actually exists in real life?

Author: Yes. Although I was unable to ask for his name, the crest was engraved into his armor.

Ange can't help but jump out of her chair in excitement at this revelation.

Ange: You know, I've always wanted to meet the prince again to properly convey my thanks.

Ange: But since the only clue I had was my childhood memory... I'd given up on my dream of doing so.

Ange: However! If this royal crest really exists, maybe we can find the prince after all!

Author: Find... the prince?

Author: Hehe, yes... You're absolutely right, Ange! I'd like to meet the prince again too!

Ange: How about it? Let's go on a journey together to search for our prince!

Their spirits high, Ange and the author set out for the land where the prince once saved them.

At their destination, the two ask around about the crest, but to no avail.

Ange: I thought this would be a huge lead on where to look for him, but we haven't found out a single thing...

Author: Hmm... I wonder if the prince only happened to be visiting at the time.

Ange: It's possible, but I refuse to give up like this!

Author: Likewise. If the townspeople know nothing about it, let's try the castle.

Author: There may be someone familiar with the crest there.

Just then, the figure of a man abruptly appears from the shadows of a nearby building.

Suspicious Man: Yo.

Ange: ...

Suspicious Man: You're the ones sniffin' around town for info on the royal crest, right?

Author: He appears rather like the evil marquis in the story, don't you think?

Ange: Yeah, he's got to be a villain. Stand back, my lady.

Suspicious Man: Come on, I'm just a blacksmith who grew up around here. No need fer ya to be so alert.

Ange: You came to us looking like you wanted to pick a fight. It's only natural for us to be cautious.

Suspicious Man: Heh. There's a reason why everyone in this town's pretending to know nothin'.

Ange: You talk like you know something.

Suspicious Man: Info o' this sort is give-and-take.

Suspicious Man: Dependin' on the conditions, I could tell ya something useful. Whaddya think?

Ange: (We've got nothing to negotiate, so it's all or nothing... I have to be honest.)

Ange: We're looking for someone—a prince with armor that has a royal crest engraved on it.

Suspicious Man: Oho. And what're ya plannin' to do after you find your prince?

Ange: We don't have any specific plans. The both of us were once rescued by the prince. We just want to thank him.

The suspicious-looking man stares hard at the two for a moment before nodding, a satisfied expression on his face.

Suspicious Man: He is a good man. Sounds like somethin' he'd do, all right.

Ange: Does that mean you know him!

Suspicious Man: Whoa, keep your shirt on. Looks like we've got the same goal.

Suspicious Man: I'll tell ya why the folks around here are so set on keepin' quiet.

Ange: ...

Suspicious Man: A lotta quarrelin' happens around this region between adjoining small countries.

Suspicious Man: If diplomacy doesn't get 'em what they want, they resort to force... Basically, war ensues.

Suspicious Man: The royal family either becomes a puppet... or they get executed.

Ange: Are you saying that the prince has been...

Suspicious Man: I told ya—we've got the same goal. Most of the royal family was killed, but rumor has it that the prince barely escaped alive.

Ange: Phew...

Author: In other words, the country that used to be here is no longer. A foreign country now occupies this region...

Author: That's why you said earlier that you grew up "around here" and not in this country specifically.

Ange: So the townspeople refused to tell us anything... because they were cautious of anyone looking for the prince?

Suspicious Man: Yeah. You remember anythin' else? I'm outta ideas so I'm desperate for any clues that can lead to the prince.

Ange and the author sift through their memories, but nothing new comes to mind.

Ange: Since we're looking for the same person, why don't we work together?

Ange: It'll be easier to find someone the more people we have looking. after all.

Suspicious Man: Dammit! Here I thought you were hidin' something... but you're 'bout as lost as me!

The man's sudden change of attitude throws them off. Ange moves in front of the author to protect her, distancing them from the man.

Ange: Who exactly are you?

Suspicious Man: There's a huge bounty for the fugitive prince, ya know. All I want is his head.

Ange: You're... a bounty hunter!

In her fury, she flings a white glove at the man.

Ange: I challenge you to a duel!

Suspicious Man: Bring it. I don't take it easy on anyone—not even a kid like you.

Author: Ange, real life never goes as smoothly as in stories. We should run here!

Ange: The prince saved my life. I can't let a man trying to hurt him run loose like this.

Ange draws her sword and slowly exhales.

Ange: I'll stop you here!

Suspicious Man: Hah... Let's see you try!

Ange: (I guess my training's paid off... I can see exactly where the knife is going! It's so clear!)

Suspicious Man: Rragh!

Ange: Haaah!

With a flick of her sword, Ange sends the man's knife flying and points her blade at her opponent's throat.

Suspicious Man: D-don't kill me...

Ange: Do you promise to never look for the prince again?

Suspicious Man: Y-yeah... I promise, okay? Just let me go...

Ange: Don't try to do anything fishy ever again.

Suspicious Man: O-okaaay!

Ange: Whew...

Author: Wow! That was spectacular, Ange! You were just like a prince!

Ange: Haha, thanks!

Relieved and happy with the progress of her training, Ange takes a moment to bask in the feeling.

Matching (Princely) Interpretations: Scene 3

As a large man suddenly approaches, the author recognizes him to be her prince. Though he's not the man she was looking for, Ange is happy for the author. He tells Ange that the prince who once saved her was likely visiting from another country. When the author wishes Ange her own success in romance, Ange clarifies that she merely wants to thank her savior, and dreams of meeting her destined princess, not prince. Yet, something in her heart wavers ever so slightly.

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???: ...

Ange: ...!

Author: Ange?

Ange: We're being watched...

Ange: I'm neither running nor hiding! So why don't you stop sneaking around and show yourself to us?

Ange's voice rings out across their surroundings, but there is no further sign of movement.

Author: Could it have been your imagination, or perhaps the adrenaline from the fight just now?

Ange: Hrm, I don't know...

Author: Now that we're certain the prince is still alive somewhere, perhaps we can ask the townspeople once more.

Author: If we explain our situation to them, they might sympathize with us.

Ange: That's true! We should focus on what we came here to do.

???: Please, wait!

When a large man jumps out from the shadows, Ange recoils in surprise.

Ange: Don't tell me you're... another bounty hunter!

???: No, I'm not. If you don't mind... will you listen to what I have to say?

Author: A-ah...

Ange: (The lady is trembling...)

Ange: It's going to be okay. Leave it to me.

Author: Um, well...

In one swift motion, Ange unsheathes her sword and points it at the stranger.

Ange: If you're a resident of this town, I'd like you to hear us out.

Ange: But if you're not... will you please back off? I don't want to fight you.

Author: I-it's... the prince!

Ange: Huh? Did you say... the prince?

Prince: Just as I thought... You're the one from back then.

Ange: Wha?

Author & Prince: I've so wanted to see you...

Ange: Whaaa!

Unable to hide her confusion at the unexpected turn of events, Ange looks up into the sky, dazed.

Prince: I apologize for frightening you earlier.

Ange: Oh, no, it's okay... Ahaha...

Ange: (All this time, I thought we were looking for the same person...)

Ange: (But his looks, his voice, his aura... He's totally different from the prince who saved me.)

Author: Siiigh...

Ange: (But I'm glad for her...)

Prince: I'm supposed to be keeping a low profile at my hideout, you see.

Prince: But when I heard that there was a lady looking for me, I couldn't help myself...

Ange: That's how much you wanted to see her again, right?

Prince: I... can't deny that.

Author: Oh my...

Prince: But right now, I'm a fugitive. I'll be nothing but an inconvenience if I remain by your side.

Prince: Just seeing you once more like this is enough for—

Author: What are you saying! Even if your country has fallen to ruin, to me, you will always be a prince... now and forever!

Prince: ...
Thank you.

Blushing, the two gaze into each other's eyes. Ange feels her eyes brimming with tears.

Ange: Both of you wished so dearly for one another...

Ange: It's a happy ending, just like in the story!

Author: Thank you, Ange... It's because you invited me to come with you on this journey that I was able to see him again.

Ange: Haha, the two of you are destined to be together! Congratulations!

The author takes Ange's hand, wrapping her own around it in appreciation.

Author: Hehe, but who would've thought?

Author: The prince you're looking for turned out to be someone completely different.

Ange: Yeah. Since we agreed on so many things, I was sure we were looking for the same person!

Prince: Hm. Another prince, huh...

Ange: Do you have any idea where he might be?

Prince: I'm afraid I'm the only prince in this area, but before it came to ruin, my homeland had friendly relations with many other countries.

Prince: Among the princes that have visited before, there may still be someone who is looking for you.

Prince: Our family's long-serving attendant lives with me at the hideout. I'll be sure to ask him later.

Ange: Really? I'd appreciate it!

Author: Oh, good... I wish with all my heart that you'll be able to find your own prince, Ange.

Ange: Huh?

Littany: This is just a feeling I have, but... perhaps all you really want is to meet your own prince.

Ange: (I wonder why both the lady and Littany said the same thing?)

Ange: Ah... That's not it! You misunderstand!

Ange: The reason I'm looking for my prince is so that I can thank him for saving me...

Ange: My real dream is to meet my own princess...

Ange: And finally become the ideal prince that I want to be!

Ange announces this loud and clear with a radiant smile on her face.

But is she truly dreaming of a fateful encounter with a princess?

Or is she perhaps waiting for a fateful encounter with her own prince? That is a story of its own.