#Albert's journal posting is continuing until morale improves

[cyclist-of-guilt]

Talking about diplomatic journal of Albert Herrera again in case translation is so shit you can't fucking stand it. So rundown with best imo moments:

Total circus visits: 4 + one straight going to the private quarters

Albert thinking about Franz and Count so much "Albert you dumbfuck" ";-; Franz used to call me dumbfuck", "Albert we're going to fucking jail " ";-; That Man™ was in jail"

Albert called Count "his best friend" fucking rip Franz

Heidee and Albert are besties now trauma bonding hell yeah even if she doesn't have too much free time and thinks she killed Fernand. Albert catching himself talking way too informal to her in front of his superior

Max talking about how everyone who knew Edmond were in love with him and that he wants to be like him (young men will find the worst mf around as a role model)

Max giving Albert Edmond's old pictures but only one without his family on (sounds like Albert would try to get them all if he didn't say that lmao)

Albert meets empire diplomats and starts talking shit instantly

Peppo is absolutely thriving being the most beautiful woman in the entire universe (what happens when you ditch Albert. Eugene please take an example)

Albert's coworker got dumped but he got tickets for some famous circus that was brought by Anonymous Mysterious Billionaire (whomst that might be I wonder)

Albert wasn't in the theatre since the events can't remember the last play he saw just that Franz was around

Albert's coworker asks if he left gf in Paris because he falls into his thoughts so much when it's mentioned (no Mark, he's a double widower)

Eugene is famous enough to have tabloids go after her (hope she has stans too hope they all have irrational hatred for Albert) she gets photographed with some guy so he gets jealous.

When going out to drink with Baptistin and Berttucio he gets surprised by Peppo showing up too

Albert still sucks ass and is "whohohoho ShE gOt A pEnIs" about Peppo

Albert thinks Eugene cheating on him, asks Peppo if she knows the guy and her reaction is basically "she's not don't worry but a propos you 2 cheating there's this ringmaster guy in the circus you need to check out VERY CAREFULLY;)"

"what's the deal with the ringmaster?"

Empire is starting to fuck around sending fleet too close to Janina

Albert tries so hard to convince us he worked hard for this job (nepo baby)

Haidee's coronation is coming close

Albert meets Janina politician whose family was killed because of Fernand and thinks about apologizing but can't talk about personal matters

Albert is good with children, and promises the diplomat's kid to take her to the circus (enemy of women Albert when)

Albert gets bullied by other diplomat for not knowing shit

It's Albert's birthday now! "I would like to wish you happy birthday Albert and Franz" MAX STOP EXECUTING CIVILIANS

"I prayed for Franz's life":)))))

So now he's going to the circus with that diplomat's family and his coworker

Edmond is now circus ringmaster and that pretty much special type of clown so very fitting

Albert first recognised Edmond by his gestures but it can't be him of course

Wow Lucien you don't say the buyer of the circus is just as mysterious as Count. You all are idiots

Max arrives on Janina apparently he barely got home but Valentine begged him to get there because Albert thinks he's a big boy now and definitely will get his dumb ass killed

Max might be a spy too tho

Albert feels he is being protected by 6 years old

Lucien is Albert's new sugar daddy

Max disappears everyone tries to find him but coronation is too close to focus on that. Albert gets a note to go to the circus

Albert gets told to follow a specific person by someone whispering from behind him (Edmond?)

Turns out the guy was planning to assassinate Haidee he gets apprehend by circus performers and Albert

Turns out it's his superior because of course Albert must get manipulated by older men in the position of power over him

(hope Edmond is mad that someone else is taking his job)

Edmond shows up and just now Albert recognises his voice so conclusion is that he was making silly voices to throw him off

I'm thinking it's the novels continuity because when thinking about Count dying Albert remembers his strange expression but I think it's funnier if you think of it as anime verse

Max was hiding in the circus with Edmond's help

Mercedes comes to Janina too she's invited by Haidee. She still stares wistfully into space

Albert is very emotional over Haidee's coronation

Madame Villefort and her kid are in the palace sadly kid got brainwashed and doesn't talk shit anymore

Lucien thinks about transferring Albert back to Paris so his dumb ass wouldn't get killed

Haidee wants to sneak out of the palace to go to the circus with Albert and Mercedes. He's surprised Haidee calls him friend

Albert feels like def-not-edmond was looking directly at them this time

Mercedes seeing suspiciously Edmond Dantes shaped man, in true widow from shitty marriage fashion she decides to not get another parasite and nopes the fuck out of the planet (my mother behaviour fr fr)

It's ok she has Eugene to hang out with (are you still jealous, Albert?)

Albert thinks with eating out so much he's going to get fat soon

Servants have their suspicion tho but "that man wouldn't do anything to expose himself" lol

Berttucio tells Albert his backstory it's the same as in the manga

They go to Edmond's private quarters

Edmond is so fucking annoying. "Mr Berttucio you seem to be fond of that person:)" "friendship is irreplaceable:)"

"Could he be that person? Looks are different but they can be managed" HE DIDN'T EVEN SHAVE HE JUST CHANGED BANGS AND HAS PONYTAIL NOW "what matters is the soul" oh god Albert

I'm pretending it's anime verse and everyone collectively forgot he's brown now

There's a part with flashbacks but I'll go chronologically

"the night I spent with the circus Leader"

Berttucio: "you used to call yourself the Count of Monte Christo?" Edmond:"I know that name:)" please someone hit him

They're trying to approach the fucker with how much Haidee still loves him and wants to see him he basically says she has more important things to think about like crisis in the country, says that he wants to help but when they press more he just excuses himself that he's getting drunk

Berttucio is sure it's him Albert for some reason isn't (WHY)

They get threatened by armed ppl on their way back

Albert is fucking strapped (I do not trust this twink with firearms)

Edmond shows up in "formal kimono " (return of the bathrobe?) with whip to save them

Of course Albert gets knocked out Edmond helps him get up. The nerd is wearing thick leather gloves (with that and whip I can see over Albert's head achievement unlocked: new kink)

The only conclusion they got is that the Leader isn't an ordinary person because that's reasonable with all of this

Edmond gives Albert a ride home talking about various bs

There's rumor Albert is dead because he hasn't been writing in a while

Eugene calls him "a carefree pom-pom" (that's so damn cute lmao)

There's an impending crisis (sorry I can't say much about it since translation is shit)

Max shows up to say Albert's former superior is missing, Albert notices something weird that turns out to be a bomb, he's injured but no one dies

When Albert wakes up Baptistin gives his some strong drugs

Embassy's central computer gets destroyed so it's out of commission

Albert wants to find out the truth what's happening

Of course he goes back to Edmond. When he's confused, injured and sad he's running to him like in the opera house again

And of course he's welcoming him in the middle of the night

"I feel like we're (Albert and 'the leader ') similar"

They're talking about the situation and if Edmond is a spy he reveals he has some special mission to do but refuses to tell him what it is but it won't bring any misfortune to empire or Janina

"can I still count on your help?" "Of course"

"his smile brightened up the dim room" good god ardors of youth do not fucking fade away

"trusting someone is always a gamble"

On his way home Max shows up and takes him to the ambassador who gives him mission to follow someone

At the train station it turns out that the person is Edmond accompanied by a mysterious woman (definitely not Haidee)

Albert and his coworker try to use some equipment to listen to what these 2 talk about but Edmond put up some interference device

They're ending up somewhere in desert

They're trying to rent animals that work like camels. the local warns them if it's hungry it loves to eat human brains. Albert thinks then it'll starve with him and the coworker

Turns out there are ancient ruins. They're following Edmond to them

A local guide tells them that according to legend a meteor fell there (aliens' ancient aliens)

At night Albert wakes up and notices moving light, turns out it's Edmond and Haidee going somewhere

They seem to be doing some kind of ritual. It opens passage to some place below. He's still following them

Break from the events for later to the war crimes and mechanics enthusiast that he was in this ruins acting like a monkey

Back to events Albert feels like an adventure book protagonist in that place seems to be a similar illusion like in Count's mansion

Edmond and Haidee talk about how legend turned out to be true

They reach what seems to be their destination and Albert finally sees it's Haidee.

He feels like everyone is playing with him he tries to go to argue with them for making fool out of him. But Edmond hugs Haidee what makes him freeze.

Then some strange light and sound starts. It's ancient aliens ship. Albert tries to get to Edmond and Haidee but he stops him but still all of them get transported to the ship.

Alien talks with Haidee in ancient janinian. Apparently some kind of tragedy related to the empire is about to hit Janina

Edmond tells Albert to not interfere with his mission both him and Haidee avoid eye contact with him

He tells Albert to go back and write his report also that there was another person following them

Albert draws sketch of his coworker taking shower like good heterosexual he is/s

When they're back in the capital they learn they will give live report in Paris

Albert imagines Eugene praising him but immediately thinks that she would call him green and weak

Albert wonders when he'll become real adult (never probably tbh)

Max shows up to talk they're going to Janina market

Albert finds a toy of clockwork castle like Haidee used to have in mansion this one has dolls with clothes of different cultures dancing together

In Paris Albert and coworker learn some special person will be giving speech with their report. It's Edmond of course

He says he found way to assure peace between Janina and the empire. There's some superweapon hidden in the ruins but claims him and Haidee sealed it for good and Albert is witness of that. Somehow some coffin like device is involved????

After that Albert and coworker drink coffee with chocolate with libertarian amount of sugar (jak wiesz to wiesz)

Edmond tries to sneak away but Albert feels like he'll never see him again again if he let's him go this time

Just read this shit yourself (the "be together part is something like "I believe fate tried us together " according to jisho but still the tying part seems to have romantic connotations)

Albert is now at Marseille's beach with his friends and Mercedes. Max and Valentine talk about their wedding. Albert falls asleep and Franz talks to him (we don't know what)

Albert returns to Janina. He has the gift from Edmond. He believes if he stays at Janina he'll for sure meet him again. He'll just be doing his job in meantime.

The end

Thoughts:

I find it hilarious how different it's from how ppl imagined grown up Albert: he's not more somber and quiet or depressed nor he recognises Edmond from 2 km radius. Until the very end he's still Albert

I wish there was way to peak into Edmond's side of things I know he's miserable crying into the watch (I just know he still has it). Also that's why I prefer to think it's anime verse. It would torture him more

And about him self sacrificing himself to give a better future to Albert and Haidee it seems pretty in character if he had 5 years for introspection. The revenge was basically elaborate suicide so his dumbass would opinion now to commit it in way that would benefit ppl that loved his undeserving ass the most

But he'll be back as Albert believes and he's always right about him and his true nature. Hope it'll take at least 25 years just so he can prove himself to be more faithful than Mercedes (who wasn't unfaithful at all it's just Edmond being delulu) (also then Albert would be similar age to Edmond and Fernand when shit hit the fan so he'll look like either shaved Fernand or what Edmond could never be either way NIGHTMARE for everyone involved)

Overall if you read it please tell me what you think I'm so curious