Time flies indeed. I just realized several months have elapsed after I posted Part 11 of Lost in translation. Since then I’ve drawn a couple of new fanarts and uploaded different translations to my fanfics Love Never Fails and A Man in Love. Here I’d like to express my appreciation to you all, especially to those who have commented on my Facebook page lately. Your continued support have encouraged me to keep going. On the other hand, my recent promotion at work makes it harder for me to find spare time, so this change motivated me to wrap up this Lost in translation series.
Before I go on, I was told that the French version of Candy Candy Final Story, in particular the second volume that is called “Candy – Le prince sur la colline“, has encouraged many Albert fans but on the other hand upset some Terry fans. First, the suggestive subtitle, approved by the author Nagita sensei herself, had stirred up commotion in the fandom, and yet that was nothing when compared to reading the book themselves. Some pro-Terry fans have written negative reviews, complaining about the translation being unfair or biased or something like that. Although I did not personally read any of these reviews, two different friends wrote to me in private about this. One of them said that Volume 2 of the French version really suggested Albert as Anohito, which essentially affirms what we have believed all along.
Well, I sincerely wish some Terry fans could finally see the truth. 🙂 The good news is that Louna, a long-term Albert fan, has read the novel and eagerly shared some excerpts with us (mainly from the epilogue), translated to English. It looks like she has used a machine translator, and you can find her book review and her comment here on my blog post or similar comments to this Facebook post:
Candy’s Prince on the Hill <3
Posted by Ms Puddle’s Haven on Saturday, February 2, 2019
Like her, I consider these passages highlights in the epilogue too. Let me share my thoughts based on the original Japanese version.
However, I will skip the details of the first two letters to Albert from Candy in the epilogue, because I’ve already discussed them in length beginning in Lost in translation (part 3). Yet, it’s worth mentioning that Candy in Japanese did not call Albert “Little Prince on the Hill”, simply “Prince on the Hill”. After all, he was supposedly 17. 😉 Some teenagers might have reached their adult heights around that age.
Also, Candy said she had not forgotten about her prince, not that “she will not forget him”. I don’t know French, so this is totally based on the translation provided by Louna. At any rate, regardless of translations, Candy’s honest reactions and readiness to accept Albert as her prince proved that she was already in love with him (albeit in secret). If you disagree with me, imagine Albert as a spoiled brat worse than Neal or a much older man like Mr. McGregor…
See what I mean? Don’t forget that W.A.A. was an attractive young bachelor, coveted by many. He was not only a rich, highly-educated man but also capable of running a huge business enterprise.
Candy and Prince on the Hill
Albert in his reply to Candy (the second letter in the epilogue) asked her to write to him in a casual tone as usual. This means that ever since Candy moved back to Pony’s Home, they had kept in touch either by writing or in some family gatherings. Candy herself in her letter to Georges had indicated that she and Albert had spent some time together. I don’t think he could tell her various things in his past, about Georges and his late father, at Pony’s Home with the sensei and the kids around. 😀
In the third letter, I was glad to read that the French version used the verb “smile” rather than “laugh”. Candy wrote with many details about Albert’s confession and her inner feelings about him leading to that significant moment on the hill and afterwards. According to Louna’s comment, Albert’s response to Candy’s first question was “today you have the right to cry”. This seems odd. I hope it was a mistake of the machine translation, because Albert merely said to Candy that she looked pretty even when she cried now. Besides, about his voice, Candy said she had always found it comforting and/or soothing, not “loved his voice”. You can read more in my post Lost in translation (part 4).
Overall, I like the tone of Candy’s voice in this version; her eagerness to see her prince again was palpable. His next reply, in which he had to decline her magic spell, was also well translated. He knew her hopes would be dashed and already tried to make amends. His remarks about her smile was slightly different than the original however, but it’s not far off. For your interest, you can read Lost in translation (part 6).
About Georges’ tears, Albert said the only other time was Rosemary’s death, which had happened way before his runaway. More importantly, Albert said he had found his way of living on that hill, and he had not forgotten about Candy, but he didn’t mean the reason to live was Candy. You can read my own interpretation (and translation attempts) in Lost in translation (part 6) and Lost in translation (part 8).
Yet, I must say I like Albert’s plea at the end of his letter — he asked Candy not to address him as her Prince on the Hill anymore. This part is funny as expected. 😀 On the other hand, I sighed when I read Candy calling him Mr. Albert in her letters!! I’ve talked about this countless times, and I do hope that the readers will understand by calling him Albert-san does NOT mean they are NOT close. Her following letter proved that she had felt he had become closer to her.
Now let me pick up where I left off in Lost in translation (part 11). Candy surely had a happy day on her birthday but not without regrets. She wanted Albert’s company more than any present he had given her. Again, this part is undeniable in all translations. She was honest with him about her disappointment and teased him as “father”, using an ancient term. As explained in my earlier post, Candy and Prince on the Hill, 父上さま is one form of honorific for fathers, especially used in samurai families. It’s highly likely Candy was joking (bantering), because she appended かも (kamo) to the end of her question to soften the tone. She was basically asking, “Actually, do I have to call you ‘father’ (maybe not)!?”
What’s more, she called herself your beautiful adopted daughter , あなたの美しき養女. Note that she used the ancient version of the adjective, beautiful (the bolded words). You can tell she’s either teasing him again and/or gauging his reactions to her mentioning their legal relationship.
Albert’s response in his brief letter was borderline serious, at least to me. Right at the beginning, he wrote 取り急ぎ before Candy’s name. Note that this phrase is often used as an opening phrase in letters of high priority.
After the opening, he wrote (in a somewhat demanding tone):
一言、不満を述べておく。
In short, let me explain my displeasure.
Next, he reminded her of her promise to him earlier, that she would not make him bear anything again. He then repeated the two ancient terms she had used, with double quotes, as puzzling questions. I figure Candy might be able to sense that he was slightly offended; later he even added that he was a sensitive guy (even urged her not to laugh), so he seemed to be saying he was not to be trifled with, in this regard.
But this mood soon shifted. He admitted that she was 美しい (meaning ‘beautiful’, the modern form of the term Candy had used). If I’m not mistaken this could be the first time he said she was beautiful ever since his confession. Before this, he frequently used かわいい (meaning pretty or cute, about her and/or her smile). Those who are familiar with Japanese culture are aware these two adjectives are quite different. In my humble opinion, I’d say かわいい is more casually used than 美しい.
That’s why Albert comically added たぶん (meaning probably, perhaps, etc.) to immediately lessen the effect of his previous statement. 😛 I see this as his little revenge to her bantering questions, and yet he knew this would put her in a sulky mood. He asked if she was 膨れたか?, the same worry he had when he had informed her that her spell didn’t work. One can almost envision Candy’s facial expressions here. 😀 Besides, this reveals he really knew her and they were close friends.
After that, he admitted he was aware of their legal relationship, and yet he had forgotten that and was surprised to have an adopted daughter as a bachelor. I wonder if Albert (Nagita sensei) alluded to his amnesia and/or the instant he had recovered his memory. Otherwise, how could he have forgotten the adoption? 😆
Despite its uneasy beginning, this short letter was ended in a humorous way. Albert unintentionally referred himself as “the adoptive father”, and right afterwards, he wrote しまった, which is often translated to “Damn it!”. You can click the link for more real-life examples in English. Just imagine his face when he said “Damn it! Did I just call myself adoptive father…” 😂
The following letter was another long letter from Albert to Candy, and he had apparently remembered his previous complaint to her. He addressed her as “Dear probably… beautiful Candy”, re-using the ancient term she had used before. If I were Candy I would have laughed when I opened this letter. 😀 Can’t you see they were teasing each other (if not flirting)? 😉
Later in this letter Albert expressed his regret すまない for keeping his recovery a secret from Candy. The reason he gave her was that
僕もあのぬくもりのある生活から離れたくなかった。
I also did not want to depart from that heartwarming life.
Yes, Albert wrote も, which translates to “I also did not want…”. Hence, he shared Candy’s sentiments — back then he wished to continue their living arrangement. Her presence / friendship / company had brought him warmth (tenderness, etc.). Remember she had written in her previous letter to him that she had enjoyed living with him in that tiny apartment as brother and sister, despite the empty-pocket days? In other words, she had always liked him and treasured his company. Their feelings were mutual.
He further added that he would lose his freedom once he returned to the Ardlays as the president. This part I don’t quite understand because undoubtedly, Albert had resumed working with Georges behind Candy’s back. Even his neighbors had seen him unexpectedly dressed up, accompanied by some gangsters.
Soon Albert mentioned London and their reunion, which I have paraphrased below:
僕はのん気に旅ばかりしていたわけでもないんだよ。イギリスにも進出する事業の準備のために行った。しかし、あんなふうにきみと偶然再会できたのも、いつもっている不思議な糸でつながっていたのだと思う。
It was not exactly a carefree trip (laid-back vacation) for me. I went with the goal to prepare to expand (advance) the business to England as well. However, I think, as you’ve always been telling me, we were connected by a mysterious thread, such that we could also run into each other by chance like that.
I don’t know about you, but I find this passage very interesting. First, Albert wanted to let Candy know he was actually busy working in London. Perhaps he wanted her to believe he was not leading a carefree life back then, like working only part-time in a zoo or something?
Secondly, whose idea was that to expand their family business to England? Was it his own idea or Aunt Elroy’s? Could it be that Albert was seriously afflicted by Anthony’s accident, so much that he wanted everyone, including his nephews, Candy and himself, to go somewhere far away to help alleviate the pain? Of course, just my two cents.
Most importantly, he mentioned the strange thread that connected or tied them together. We know that Candy referred this as “invisible thread”, which Albert interpreted as 不思議な糸 (mysterious or miraculous thread, the same adjective Candy used to describe the security his presence gave her). I figure she must have mentioned that they were connected by an invisible thread so many times that he said いつも (constantly, always, incessantly). I wonder if she wanted to explain her theory or convince him again and again?
When did she draw such a conclusion? Back in the tiny apartment? After she had discovered his true identity? Or after his confession?
Nevertheless, their lives were intertwined to such an extent that he was now in agreement with her (at last? 😛 ). She was not the only one who figured they were connected by some mysterious force. 🙂 Note that in her 30s she brought up this topic again, in present tense, when she recollected why she had wanted to help the amnesiac patient, which means that her theory had remained true — they were still connected — after all these years. Don’t you find this intriguing? 😉
Near the end of this lengthy letter, written some time after 2am in a hotel room somewhere in Brazil, Albert broached the subject of their unexpected encounter in the hospital in Chicago, where nobody had cared about him except Candy. The staff had despised him merely because of his suspicious origin, and yet Candy had chosen to take care of him and to cheer him up till his recovery. Her resolve had not weakened even after being fired by Dr Leonard. With Albert’s own words we know that the memories of her steadfast tenderness had deeply touched his heart even to this day. For your interest I’ve discussed this passage in another post, Her Happiness. In summary, he would do his utmost best to find what would make her happy (to get to the bottom of it), which subtly implies he would make this happen — bring her the happiness that would last.
Back to Louna’s comment, apparently in the French version this implication was spelled out, for which I don’t mind, because Candy clearly understood his intention, see I wish you were here…. No doubt she’d rather talk to him in person (was desperate to see him) than writing another long reply.
For the last two letters in the epilogue I’ve already discussed more than once in several series, including the ones listed below. Based on Louna’s aforementioned comment I’m relieved to see the translation of the famous Candy’s declaration of her happiness (her answer to Albert’s earlier question) is “My happiness ? My happiness is now.” This is already better than the one in the Italian version. Many thanks again for reading this long post. Bye for now and hope to hear from you soon.
Candy and Prince on the Hill
The day her life changed
More than words
Did Candy find her happiness?
Overwhelmed with emotions