I just noticed that this series is slated for 20 episodes, which is both interesting and kind of reassuring. Surprising in the sense that you wouldn’t necessarily expect a relatively obscure jousei title to get- well what, 1 2/3 cours? But the fact is The Seven Knights of the Marronnier Kingdom is so laid-back and whimsical that you feel like not much would really happen in 12 or 13 episodes. I don’t know why it got more than that but it seems like a very good thing to me.

Do I like it? Yeah, it definitely has charm, even if it lacks any real pop so far. And the nature of the story makes the simplicity of the visuals seem almost fitting. It’s a pleasant place to spend some time, though I’m not sure if it’s a place you want to write about every week. We’ll see. I’m going to assume all seven brothers will eventually get a focus subplot – all the more reason we need more eps – though Chilly is definitely the main protagonist so far, followed by Insomniac. Chilly is fully smitten with “Bruno” – and getting some guff for it, both from his brothers and the castle staff. He seems quite undaunted by the fact that he’s a man – he likes Bruno, and that’s all there is to it.

Brynhilde’s inaptly-named “Little Squirrel” is more important than it first appeared. It’s either a magical beast or a familiar, I’m not sure which. It’s clearly sabotaging Brynhilde’s omiai meetings, which would make sense either as a jealous pet or the tool of someone who desires her (or simply wishes to sabotage her prospects for political reasons). Chilly figures out the nature of Bruno’s “curse”, though not yet that Risu-chan is causing it. But then Risu vibes the vibe between the two of them and turns its hex on him. Then Swordsman scolds Bruno for letting Risu get so fat and indolent, and gives him orders on how to rehabilitate the rotund rodent.

There’s a bit of focus on Hungry here too, who I believe is the youngest brother. He’s the subject of some bullying around the castle it seems, and falls under the protection of a young palace maid (if her name has been given, I’ve missed it). Potentially another romantic thread unspooling here, presumably. As for Insomniac, things are rather more complicated than first suggested with he and Elanora. She’s the daughter of the castellan and some of the landed gentry are not pleased with what they see as Baribara sinking her talons into another position of power.

The brothers have been given the green light to remain in the respective countries they’re visiting if they so choose, but I get the sense that most of them – if not all – would be disinclined to do so. Certainly Insomniac, who takes his responsibilities both to his nation and to his younger siblings very seriously. It’s too early to say what the underlying theme of Marronnier Oukoku no Shichinin no Kishi is – whether the emphasis is on the brothers themselves or their relationship with each other. But it’s an interesting oddity for sure, and certainly a series worth keeping an eye on.