Gankutsuou Ep 4 - Haha no Himitsu (My mother's secret)

Albert introduces the Count to his parents and his mother, Mercedes is visibly shaken upon seeing the Count. Albert's father, General Montcerf warmly welcomes the Count and invites him for dinner.

However, during the meal, Mercedes realises that the Count has not been touching the food and asks if dinner is not to his liking. The Count simply attributes this as a lack of appetite but drinks the seafood soup prepared by Mercedes instead. He remarks that this is a nostalgic flavour and asks her whether she is from Marseilles. However, General Montcerf is visibly unhappy at the mention of the place and says that Mercedes has nothing to do with such a lowly place.

After dinner, the Count and Mercedes meet at the terrace and start to chat. Mercedes remarks that in the Eastern Universe, people who share bread and salt under one roof will be friends forever and remarks that she hopes they will be like that since the Count has had a meal at her place. However, the Count rebukes that this is Paris where nobody shares bread and salt. In addition, there is no such thing as forever friends which makes Mercedes stunned. Unknown to them, Beppo and Albert are looking on from afar and Beppo says that Mercedes is visibly drawn to the Count and wonders if they are having an affair. Albert tells Beppo to stop spouting nonsense and walks away.

After sending the Count off, Albert has tea with his parents. Mercedes tells him to treat the Count with respect and not associate too closely with him. Later that night, Albert sees Mercedes holding a man's photo while in a daze and Beppo's words about the fact that Mercedes is in love with someone else other than his father makes Albert very uncomfortable.

The next morning, Albert wakes up to find Eugenie at his house and thinks that she is looking for him. However, Eugenie is waiting for Mercedes to go shopping. Albert walks past Mercedes' room and sees Beppo trying on his mother's jewellery. Beppo draws Albert's attention to the locked drawer and tells him that she can be of help if he wants since she's an expert at picking locks.

Albert prepares to go to the Count's house with Franz, Maximillian and Bauchean, dressed as a pirate because Beppo said he was too plain with his original suit. The four are surprised to see the Count living in an ordinary apartment but while they are waiting for the Count at the living room, they feel the ground sinking and reach a hall which is made of gold. They finally get to see the Count and Albert is especially stunned when he sees the scenery in his mother's painting which makes him more convinced that there is something between the Count and Mercedes. The Count gives Albert a sword as his companion for his journey from now on...

Albert is simply too easily swayed by other people especially Beppo who keeps trying to fan Albert's suspicion towards Mercedes' feelings towards the Count. He should learn to be more independent and less rash when it comes to his association with people.

From the next episode's trailer, the title is "Do you love your fiancee?" Is this directed at Albert only or does this include Franz too? It's obvious that Albert doesn't seem too attracted to Eugenie unlike what he feels towards Beppo and Franz doesn't seem to be that close to Valentine too. Well, we'll see from the next episode then.