Priscilla Barielle (プリシラ・バーリエル) is the Matriarch of House Barielle and a candidate to become the 42nd King of Lugunica. While only a supporting character in Arc 3 and Arc 5, she has a major role in Arc 7 and Arc 8.
Appearance
Priscilla Barielle's long red blonde hair shines radiantly like the sun itself and flowed through a single barrette before spilling down her back. Her crimson eyes have a glimmer of strong will that betray her commanding personality. She has pale, white skin and faintly pink lips. She is considered a woman of true divine beauty. Additionally, her dainty figure possesses noticeably bountiful breasts and other shapely features. She stands at 164 centimeters (5'5"), making her the same height as Emilia.
Priscilla wears exquisite clothing that matched the crimson colour of her eyes. The dress she most frequently wears is an opulent black and red aristocratic dress with wrapped off-the-shoulder sleeves, a wide-hemmed heel-length red skirt, a black petticoat, a large black ribbon with red striping attached to the right side of her waist, and a black flowery ornament with red edging and emerald jewels decorating each petal that is adorned on the opposite side of Priscilla's waist. The dress is also backless and prettified by various emeralds fastened to the skirt. Under her dress, she wears translucent reddish-brown holdup stockings with a black elasticized band at the top. She also has a black choker, a pair of red high-heel shoes, and a pair of long black fingerless opera gloves. She often carries a crimson handheld folding fan that she claimed from a half-sister she felled. Finally, her middle fingers are bedecked with a single emerald ring each and similarly-colored teardrop-shaped earrings dangled from her earlobes. The jewels enriching Priscilla's figure are all of such fine craftsmanship that anyone could tell they were incredibly expensive at a glance. Natsuki Subaru estimated that her full outfit from top to bottom was worth at least a hundred times his own money.
When she is inside her mansion, she wears a red outfit that highlights her body a bit. She has a small coat with a black bow in the center and has a black clip on her hair, in which she has a ponytail. She also wears a pair of black studs. She keeps her fan between her breasts.
Personality
Priscilla is an arrogant, proud, and absurd woman. She has a conviction that the world works for her comfort, and according to her words, the events around her are working for her. She classifies people according to their interests, if someone is not of her interest, she will not remember their names and will not pay attention to them anymore;[1] this happened with Subaru a few days after meeting him. Her biggest enemy is boredom, so the things she does are to avoid it. She repeatedly hits Al, or orders him to do something to entertain her. She is also able to position herself in situations unimaginable to any gentleman, such as leading a dangerous expedition simply because she is curious.[2]
Priscilla shows confidence in her actions, because in the end she always comes out on top. She is also not afraid to fight, because she knows exactly how to fight and defend herself, and she was not intimidated when she had to face Sirius, when she encountered zombies in her territory, or when she went to search for the thieves who stole her domain. Though she is well known for being a woman who over the years ended up being a widow, Priscilla does not seem to mind at all. She considered Leip Barielle to be an old pervert and did not care for her marriage with him.
In her speech during the Royal Selection Ceremony, she declared that under her command, everyone would be able to get what they wanted.[3] She is, according to Aldebaran, very volatile and very dangerous when she's angry. Despite her self-centered attitude, Priscilla values people who keep their pride, as seen in Episode 17 SD while talking to Felt, where Priscilla offers her a quick and easy way out, but she refused. She usually urges others to humble themselves and thus earns her luck.
History
Priscilla was born in the Vollachian Empire as one of the many children of the then emperor Drizen Vollachia and Sandra Benedict. Her birth name was Prisca Benedict (プリスカ・ベネディクト, Purisuka Benedikuto). She grew up with Arakiya, who later became her sworn sword. Prisca took part in the Vollachian Empire's Imperial Selection Ceremony at the age of 12 after being deemed worthy by the Yang Sword. However, Arakiya ended up betraying her, fearing she would be killed by Vincent Vollachia and agreed to a deal of his that would involve setting up a plot to fake her death.[4] The plot succeeded and Prisca was regarded as dead. As a result, Vincent won the ceremony and became the emperor whilst Prisca took the name Priscilla, a name belonging to one of her deceased body doubles.[5]
After escaping certain death, Priscilla married her first husband, Jorah Pendleton, and she changed her name to Priscilla Pendleton (プリシラ・ペンダルトン, Purishira Pendaruton). A short time later, Serena Dracroy sent her servants Balleroy Temeglyph and Miles to the Pendleton Estate in order to invite Jorah and Priscilla to the Gladiator Island Ginunhive. While they were there, the gladiators attempted to spark a revolution that would render the island independent from the mainland. Priscilla feigned being Serena and was taken captive by the gladiators and their ringleader, a member of the Evil Eye Tribe named Ubilk. However, rather than seeking independence, Ubilk's true plan was to bring the Nine Divine Generals to the Gladiator Island for unknown reasons. After Priscilla used a broadcast to reveal Ubilk's plan, the rebellion ended up failing thanks to the intervention of the Imperial Army and a gladiator named Aldebaran. After the group left Ginunhive and returned to Serena's estate, Priscilla thanked her for the invitation in the stead of her resting husband.
Soon afterwards, Jorah was accused of attempting to overthrow Vincent Vollachia, from his position. As a result, Goz Ralfon visited his manor in an attempt to take custody of him and Priscilla for a scheduled execution. Jorah fended Goz and his escorts off for Priscilla's sake, knowing that he would meet his end in just mere moments. This bought time for Priscilla to escape until she had a chance meeting with Arakiya on the way. In the end, Arakiya let Priscilla escape and announced that she had committed suicide. At an unknown point in time after Jorah's execution, Serena ordered Balleroy and Miles to look for Priscilla, as there was a rumour going around about some bandits who kidnapped a girl looking like her. The duo successfully found her and managed to bring her to the estate. From there, Serena found a way to smuggle Priscilla out of the Empire and into the Kingdom of Lugunica. She was married six to six different men for a period of several years, but every husband of hers fell into ruin and met unnatural deaths, earning her the moniker “Bloody Bride”.
Priscilla eventually married Leip Barielle, the baron of the Barielle Barony. Leip found that she was one of the candidates for the Royal Selection and sought to use her as a tool to achieve his dream of power, but Priscilla proved to be much harder to manipulate than he thought and decided to make her into a puppet by using the abilities of a curse arts user he was acquainted with.[6][7] He also planned to prepare a knight who would look good alongside Priscilla as a sort of public relations strategy to improve her standing among citizens.[8] Around this time, Priscilla met a starving, impoverished, orphaned, and nameless boy from a farming village in her domain. Despite being on the brink of death, he caught her interest because they shared the same eye color. She decided to call him Schult and she took him back to her manor so he could become a butler.
One day, Leip organized a tournament to decide who Priscilla's knight would be. She quickly got bored with the fighting while viewing the tournament, causing her to ask Schult for his thoughts. Schult decided to recommend Al, as he believed that the man showed care for Priscilla, unlike the other combatants.[9] Priscilla thought Al was entertaining enough and that his fighting style was interesting, and she consequently selected him as her “clown”. This infuriated Leip, as he had tried to fix the tournament so that a winner would be under his control.
A few days later, Leip attempted to bring Al and Schult under his control, but he was refused when he revealed his intentions to make Priscilla into a puppet. Al clashed with Leip by using his ability, which resulted in the baron being incapacitated. In due time, Leip passed away before the commencement of the Royal Selection, leading Priscilla to take over as the governing lord of the Barielle Barony.[10] Under her rule, the land—which was previously ravaged by severe poverty—quickly got back on its feet, and its people started to live much happier and better lives all thanks to Priscilla's leadership of the territory.[11]
Abilities
Divine Protection (加護 Kago): Priscilla has the Divine Protection of the Sun (日輪の加護 Nichirin no Kago), which makes her stronger during the day and increases the effects of buffs.[12]
Soul Marriage Technique (魂婚術 Konkon-jutsu): Soul Marriage is a long-lost secret technique of the old world that has been forgotten by most people. By dividing her own Od and bestowing it onto someone of her choosing, Priscilla imbues them with power more or less reflective of her own, and she greatly boosts their healing capabilities to the point someone acting under her Soul Marriage can receive multiple fatal wounds and be healed completely in a few short moments. However, in order for Soul Marriage to work, Priscilla must not only love the receiver of this ability, but she must also be loved by that person in return. If this condition isn't met, Soul Marriage will not work. During the Flying Dragon Cataclysm in Guaral, Priscilla used this ability to protect Schult from being harmed by ensuring that he'd be healed from against any attack towards him. She can use this ability on herself, with her commenting that items like jewelry were bestowed to her by her past husbands and can be used to defend herself. Soul Marriage can also be used to block a lethal attack on the user by sacrificing one of the recipients of the user's Od.
Magic User (魔法使い Maho Tsukai): Priscilla is a relatively skilled user of Yang Magic.
- Akra (アクラ): Priscilla produces pale colored light around the target that envelops them in a veil of golden light. The veil presumably strengthens the target, allowing them to use their body more freely while at the same time making them more sensitive to pain. This magic was cut from the Light Novel.
Extraordinary Luck: Priscilla has unique luck, which she mentions makes "the world in her own favor", granting her extremely high luck in her daily life and in fights. She has also great intuition, which allowed to guess the right and safest path towards the lost Schult during their stay in Priestella. She claims that it doesn't matter what choice she makes, since she'll be always right and it will always be positive for her.
Private Army: The Crimson Battlefront (真紅戦線, Shinku Sensen), also called the Red Plates (赤拵え, Aka Koshirae), are a private army owned by Priscilla.
Equipment
- Yang Sword Vollachia (陽剣ヴォラキア, Youken Vorakia): As a member of the Imperial Family of Vollachia, Priscilla is capable of summoning and using the Yang Sword Vollachia, otherwise known as the Yang Sword, an ornate crimson sword with light that shines like the sun. She mentions that it has a terrible mana consumption rate and therefore has it dissipate back into the atmosphere when she's not using it. Priscilla's Yang Sword can incinerate anything upon contact and can also throw and extinguish at will some white flames which are said to be inextinguishable, as those ignited even water. The Yang Sword seems to have its own will which tends to obey its wielder, as it cut down and burn those that it wishes to cut down and burn,[13] rendering the slashes and fire harmless to everyone bar the desired target or targets, which is how Priscilla managed to destroy the parasites nested inside of the villagers with a swing of her Yang Sword, without harming their hosts. However, the Yang Sword's will doesn't necessarily always follow its wielder's will as Priscilla stated so,[14] resulting in the Sword losing its shine which then can come back with time, while the drawbacks are not clear, Priscilla mentioned that the sharpness disappeared,[15] but also said that the Yang Sword was still able to burn upon contact.[16]
- Beloved Articles: As a user of Soul Marriage, gifts that are loved by Priscilla and were given with love become viable substitutes for lethal damage. Some jewelry Priscilla wears have met these criterion.
Trivia
- According to the author, Priscilla's birthday is September 7.
- Priscilla likes most animals, but if she had to choose her favorite, it would be a white wolf.[17]
- According to the Author, Priscilla has the biggest breasts in all of Re:Zero.
- In a one on one fight between Crusch Karsten and Priscilla Barielle, the most likely winner would be the latter, even though it would be a good fight depending on the conditions, according to the author.
- In 2014, the author stated that Priscilla was among nine known characters introduced in the story up to that point who had the highest capacity for holding mana. However, he chose to not rank Priscilla or any of the other listed characters in order.[18] It is unknown if the list has changed since then.
References
- ↑ "Priscilla's word were neither joking nor mocking. That is to say, she was being genuine. Priscilla had completely forgotten about Subaru's existence." Arc 5: Chapter 16. Section 2
- ↑ "At first, I thought the disorder of such a grimy place held promise, but now that I am accustomed to it, it has nothing to draw my eye. It is quite useless for assuaging my boredom." Re:Zero Light Novel Volume 4: Chapter 2. Section 7.
- ↑ "Serving me means siding with the winner. You may have anything you desire; I allow it." Re:Zero Light Novel Volume 4: Chapter 4. Section 3.
- ↑ "Prisca-sama has passed away. However, your princess yet lives." Crimson Afterglow Part 3, Section 8.
- ↑ "She was a girl that really resembled me... but she's certainly come in handy twice." Crimson Afterglow Part 3, Section 9.
- ↑ “What, could you not hear me? That girl’s troublesome willfulness is in the way. I was able to overlook it before the start of the Royal Selection, but now that the importance of every single action is increasing, I can’t let it be. Once her debut at the royal castle is finished, I’ll take away her will and make her my puppet.” Re:Zero Tanpenshuu Volume 1, The Day I Gave Up on Being a Following Star, Section 7.
- ↑ “In this world, there are many demands for unimaginable dark deeds. I long ago made connections with a handy fellow who acted as an intermediary for a curse arts user.” Re:Zero Tanpenshuu Volume 1, The Day I Gave Up on Being a Following Star, Section 7.
- ↑ “The people love picturing a master and servant with a knightly knight as the servant. Since things have turned out such that someone who is not of the Royal Family will be taking the throne, the support of the citizens will not be unconditional as it has been up to this point.” Re:Zero Tanpenshuu Volume 1, The Day I Gave Up on Being a Following Star, Section 7.
- ↑ Re:Zero Prequel: Camp Formation Stories
- ↑ And thus, his young wife, Priscilla, took over from her ill husband as the governing lord. Priscilla's Cheers for Me, Drunk Father Part Section 2
- ↑ Her excellent skills purged the Barielle lands from their stagnant atmosphere in a flash. Priscilla's Cheers for Me, Drunk Father Part, Section 2.
- ↑ Narō Blogpost
- ↑ "My Yang Sword cuts down those that it wishes to cut down, and burns those that it wishes to burn." Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, Section 5.
- ↑ "The sun has been obscured, it seems. As usual, this sword does not abide by my will." Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, Section 8.
- ↑ "When I gave the final blow, the Yang Sword clouder over and its sharpness disappeared." Arc 5: Chapter 78. Section 2.
- ↑ "Even supposing that the sun is obscured, the smoldering heat will not die out." Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, Section 13.
- ↑ "Something like a white wolf, probably. If it's animals, Priscilla likes pretty much anything. Pets or livestock, each of them has their good points." Priscilla Birthday Q&A
- ↑ “Emilia, Roswaal, Echidna, Typhon, Carmilla, Daphne, Ferris, Priscilla, and Mimi have a large capacity. It’s scary to rank them, considering the future, so I will stop…” 2014 AskFM Q&A
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