Arifureta Season 3 Episode 3 Review: Hajime’s Plan Unfolds with Princess Liliana’s Marriage Announcement

Arifureta Season 3 Episode 3 premiered on October 28, 2024. This episode showcased the pivotal encounter between Princess Liliana and Emperor Gahard of the Hoelscher Empire. While their interaction was brief, primarily consisting of the Emperor inquiring about Hajime, the Princess skillfully persuaded him to provide assistance following the announcement of her impending marriage to the Emperor’s son.

However, the Emperor’s son, Baius, displayed his untrustworthy nature from his very first appearance, culminating in a horrifying incident where he assaulted Princess Liliana in preparation for their wedding. Fortunately, Hajime intervened unexpectedly, rescuing Liliana just in time.

Disclaimer: This article may contain spoilers regarding Arifureta Season 3 Episode 3 and reflects the views of the writer.

Arifureta Season 3 Episode 3: As Hajime Works in the Shadows, Princess Liliana Faces Threats from Prince Baius

Hajime and Yue from the anime (Image via asread) — Hajime and Yue as depicted in the anime (Image via asread)

The episode of Arifureta Season 3, titled “The Princess Ordeal,”kicked off with Hajime and his companions engaged in various antics across the Empire. The narrative then shifted to Princess Liliana’s significant meeting with Emperor Gahard D Hoelscher, accompanied by his dubious son, Baius D Hoelscher, who eyed the Princess unsettlingly.

As the plot unfolded, Liliana and the Emperor retreated to a private space for discussions regarding their alliance. The Emperor unexpectedly expressed curiosity about Hajime, asking the Princess several questions about him. In addition, he was keen to know more about the masked group that had intervened to free the Haulia tribe from captivity the previous night.

Embarrassed by her forces’ rebellious actions against the Hoelscher Empire, Liliana felt uneasy discussing the masked individuals, who were, in fact, part of Hajime’s group. Ultimately, the negotiations concluded similarly to what the Princess had anticipated, with the terms of her marriage to Baius being finalized.

Hajime in the anime (Image via asread) — Hajime portrayed in the anime (Image via asread)

Later, Liliana was visited by Hajime and the rest of the Hero’s party. Following some dramatic sequences outside the palace, they entered the castle, eagerly awaiting the Princess’s arrival. Once she appeared, Liliana questioned them about their recent rescue of the Haulia tribe.

During their audience with the Emperor, Hajime displayed a surprising level of respect; however, the Emperor laughed at his demeanor and encouraged him to be more relaxed. Gahard inquired about the artifacts Hajime had discovered in the dungeon and proposed a collaboration, which Hajime firmly rejected, asserting his ownership over the items he had found. After failure in convincing him, the Emperor ceased his pursuit for the artifacts and extended an invitation to the marriage ceremony later that evening. The Hero expressed concern over Liliana marrying someone she did not love, but she recognized the importance of strengthening her Kingdom’s diplomatic ties.

Baius and Liliana from the anime (Image via asread) — Baius and Liliana illustrated in the anime (Image via asread)

As preparations for the wedding ceremony began, the maids of the Hoelscher Empire were busy getting Liliana ready. As they admired her beauty, Baius stormed into her room, ordering the maids to leave. He then assaulted the Princess, relishing her unhappiness with the engagement.

Despite her attempts to resist, Baius began to tear her clothing and molested her. In a timely fashion, a metal spider—likely a creation of Hajime—emerged to incapacitate Baius, preventing him from harming her further. Meanwhile, Arifureta Season 3 Episode 3 transitioned to Liliana’s marriage ceremony as Hajime’s group made their way toward the venue.

Arifureta Season 3 Episode 3: Studio asread Maintains High Production Quality as the Story Progresses

Princess Liliana from the anime (Image via asread) — Princess Liliana as shown in the anime (Image via asread)

Overall, Arifureta Season 3 Episode 3 was fairly impressive, mirroring the quality of its two predecessors while hinting that the production team is striving to improve its previously criticized reputation. There isn’t much to notably critique regarding this episode other than its emphasis on advancing the plot.

However, a highlight of this episode, as seen in previous ones, is the exquisite character design, especially for Liliana. Looking ahead, the next episode could introduce a formidable entity, which will determine the series’ trajectory moving forward.

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