Episode 43

## Chapter Link

Ep. 43

**Episode 43**, titled "**We Still Need to Talk**", is the 43rd episode of Cursed Princess Club.

## Characters

*Characters are linked in order of appearance. First appearances will be in bold.*

* Prez
* Saffron
* Gwendolyn
* Syrah
* Thermidora
* Monika
* Jolie

## Music

* CPC OST vol. 3
	+ Track 15 "Love Yourself"

## Location

* Pastel Kingdom
	+ Haunted Forest
		- Cursed Princess Club Headquarters
		- Pond

## Story

The Princels Mission Team gets back to the mansion to find Thermidora, Monika, and Jolie cleaning. Gwen immediately offers to help, but Prez stops her and insists they talk. They go to the pond for a quiet spot to discuss, but Thermidora, Jolie, and Monika secretly follow along to listen in.

Prez and Gwen have a heart to heart. Prez fully explains what she wanted Gwen to learn today. She reassures Gwen that she isn't cursed, and that she is being affected by something that can develop for anyone at some point in their lives. Gwen asks Prez what that thing is, and Prez tells her what her take on it is: everyone is born with a pure heart, untainted by the world's cruelties... but nobody passes through untarnished. She continues: Gwen has spent her life sheltered within her palace walls, and Frederick's words shattered her perception of herself, leaving her exposed to the thoughts of shame and comparison. She repressed those thoughts and focused on her other priorities instead, which left the feelings to grow unchecked. The feelings became so strong that Gwen saw them in the mirror. Prez compares the situation to what the Princels see, telling Gwen that it's an illusion.

Gwen asks Prez how to make the illusion go away; she confides that she feels like if she keeps staring at it, she'll find the answer and fix what's wrong with her. Her hands are shaking, tears being shed as she says this. Prez advises Gwen that what she just described is what she *shouldn't* do, for it could result in that broken self-perception defining and consuming the world around her. Gwen cries in frustration, asking what she's supposed to do if she can't ignore it. In response, Prez tells her that all she needs to do... is love herself. Exactly the way she is.

As Gwen cries, Prez searches for tissues, which she finds!... in Jolie's eye sockets. Thermidora, Syrah, and Jolie are discovered for eavesdropping. They all their own inputs, agreeing with Prez. When Gwen expresses doubt, Prez tells her that there's no easy path, and that they work on that in the club everyday. They hug, and Gwen apologizes for keeping it all to herself; Prez tells her that she doesn't need to be sorry for anything.

They all go back to the clubhouse, when Gwen suddenly remembers the notes she received. Prez asks Gwen to bring them around next time, and they all get to cleaning. Gwen opens up the junk cabinet, and the episode ends as she looks at the scraps of paper from the potion-making night.

## Episode credits

* Art, writing and music by LambCat
* Edited by Eunice Baik
* Art assistants:
	+ @sheidraws

## Trivia

* Items in the junk cabinet reference club members and events:
	+ A fake beard for Saffron
	+ Ping Pong paddles and balls, from the slumber party
	+ Bottles of wine for Syrah
	+ Bird seed and tea for Monika, presumably

## Gallery

Gwen and the club by the pond.Gwen and Prez settle down before talking.Someone fell asleep on the carriage ride...Prez picking up Gwen to stop her from scurrying away to clean."All you have to do... is love yourself. Exactly the way you are."Gwen cries as she talks.Jolie and Syrah chime in.Gwen with a tissue in hand, listening to Prez.